2018 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Football Teams

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Justice Hansen (Arkansas State, QB, RS-Senior)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Clifton Duck (Appalachian State, DB, Junior)

* - named to 2017 Preseason Teams
^ - named to 2017 All-Sun Belt First Team
# - named to 2017 All-Sun Belt Second Team
$ - named to 2017 All-Sun Belt Third Team
! - named 2017 All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention

First Team Offense
QB - Justice Hansen (Arkansas State, RS-Senior) ^
RB - Jalin Moore (Appalachian State, Senior) *^
RB - Warren Wand (Arkansas State, Senior)
WR - Justin McInnis (Arkansas State, Senior) $
WR - Penny Hart (Georgia State, RS-Junior) *^
WR - Marcus Green (ULM, Senior)
TE - Collin Reed (Appalachian State, Junior) !
OL - Victor Johnson (Appalachian State, Junior) *^
OL - Lanard Bonner (Arkansas State, RS-Senior) ^
OL - Kevin Dotson (Louisiana, Junior) #
OL - Tristan Crowder (Troy, Junior) #
OL - Deontae Crumitie (Troy, Senior) *#

First Team Defense
DL - Ronheen Bingham (Arkansas State, Senior) #
DL - Logan Hunt (Georgia Southern, Senior) #
DL - Hunter Reese (Troy, Senior) ^
DL - Trevon Sanders (Troy, Senior) #
LB - Anthony Flory (Appalachian State, Senior) !
LB - Michael Shaw (Georgia State, RS-Senior) $
LB - Tron Folsom (Troy, Junior) #
DB - Clifton Duck (Appalachian State, Junior) *^
DB - Justin Clifton (Arkansas State, Senior) *#
DB - Monquavion Brinson (Georgia Southern, Junior) #
DB - Blace Brown (Troy, Senior) ^

First Team Special Teams
K - Gavin Patterson (South Alabama, Senior) ^
P - Corliss Waitman (South Alabama, Senior) ^
RS - Marcus Green (ULM, Senior) ^

Second Team Offense
QB - Caleb Evans (ULM, Junior) !
RB - Wesley Fields (Georgia Southern, Senior) !
RB - Trey Ragas (Louisiana, RS-Sophomore) $
WR - RJ Turner (ULM, Junior) $
WR - Jamarius Way (South Alabama, Senior) #
WR - Deondre Douglas (Troy, Senior) *#
TE - Ellis Richardson (Georgia Southern, RS-Senior)
OL - Jacob Still (Arkansas State, RS-Sophomore) !
OL - Curtis Rainey (Georgia Southern, Senior) !
OL - Hunter Atkinson (Georgia State, RS-Junior)
OL - Shamarious Gilmore (Georgia State, Sophomore) !
OL - Aaron Brewer (Texas State, Junior) *$

Second Team Defense
DL - Myquon Stout (Appalachian State, Senior) *!
DL - Marterious Allen (Georgia State, Senior) $
DL - Tyree Turner (South Alabama, Junior)
DL - Marcus Webb (Troy, Junior) !
LB - Silas Kelly (Coastal Carolina, Sophomore) !
LB - Bull Barge (South Alabama, Senior) !
LB - Bryan London II (Texas State, Junior) *!
DB - Tae Hayes (Appalachian State, Senior) #
DB - BJ Edmonds (Arkansas State, Junior) !
DB - Marcus Jones (Troy, Sophomore)
DB - Cedarius Rookard (Troy, Senior) $

Second Team Special Teams
K - Tyler Bass (Georgia Southern, RS-Junior) #
P - Cody Grace (Arkansas State, RS-Junior) $
RS - Marcus Jones (Troy, Sophomore) #

Cody Grace didn’t allow a punt return yard last season but has to settle for 2nd team because the guy who got first team punted 21 more times for a bad team that didn’t need nearly as many downed inside the 10.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(07-20-2018 11:03 AM)WolfBird Wrote:  Cody Grace didn’t allow a punt return yard last season but has to settle for 2nd team because the guy who got first team punted 21 more times for a bad team that didn’t need nearly as many downed inside the 10.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He also happened to be in the top 10 in average punting last year (and number one from last year was drafted and numbers 2-9 were seniors). He has also named as a preseason All-American this year. He was named to the Ray Guy watch list last year. I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t be named to it again this year (July 25) and I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t be the top punter in this league.

(07-20-2018 11:59 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(07-20-2018 11:03 AM)WolfBird Wrote:  Cody Grace didn’t allow a punt return yard last season but has to settle for 2nd team because the guy who got first team punted 21 more times for a bad team that didn’t need nearly as many downed inside the 10.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He also happened to be in the top 10 in average punting last year (and number one from last year was drafted and numbers 2-9 were seniors). He has also named as a preseason All-American this year. He was named to the Ray Guy watch list last year. I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t be named to it again this year (July 25) and I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t be the top punter in this league.

Because Cody is better and just doesn’t get showcased in the same spots because he’s on a good team with an offense that isn’t backed up for long punts often.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm shocked we only got one WR on the list. I understand that the first team is unstoppably good, but our receiving corps is better than Troy's

(07-20-2018 12:46 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  I'm shocked we only got one WR on the list. I understand that the first team is unstoppably good, but our receiving corps is better than Troy's

Where did the list imply that Troy's was better? Also, this is the best receiving corp we've had since '09 and '10. They will be everywhere.

(07-20-2018 12:10 PM)WolfBird Wrote:  

(07-20-2018 11:59 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(07-20-2018 11:03 AM)WolfBird Wrote:  Cody Grace didn’t allow a punt return yard last season but has to settle for 2nd team because the guy who got first team punted 21 more times for a bad team that didn’t need nearly as many downed inside the 10.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He also happened to be in the top 10 in average punting last year (and number one from last year was drafted and numbers 2-9 were seniors). He has also named as a preseason All-American this year. He was named to the Ray Guy watch list last year. I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t be named to it again this year (July 25) and I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t be the top punter in this league.

Because Cody is better and just doesn’t get showcased in the same spots because he’s on a good team with an offense that isn’t backed up for long punts often.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is a bit silly. Because of USA's, shall we say, limited offense, he was often punting from the shadow of his own goal. There is no greater pressure for a punter.
He flipped the field all year long - out of 70 punts, 21 were over 50 yards and his average was 45.2 yards.

Grace is a good punter but Waitman had the more impressive 2016.

You guys are too easy. I picked the punter spot and got you guys to debate.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(07-20-2018 01:15 PM)WolfBird Wrote:  You guys are too easy. I picked the punter spot and got you guys to debate.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, all just a clever ploy by an evil super-genius. I see it so clearly now.

Number of selections by team, if I counted correctly.

Troy: 11
Ark State: 9
App State: 7
Georgia Southern: 6
Georgia State: 5
South Alabama: 5
ULM: 4
Louisiana: 2
Texas State: 2
Coastal Carolina: 1

Funny thing is GS went from not having any preseason selections last year to having 6 this year after a 2-10 season.
Also good to see Monquavion Brinson finally being recognized as one of the league's top corners.

(07-20-2018 01:20 PM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  

(07-20-2018 01:15 PM)WolfBird Wrote:  You guys are too easy. I picked the punter spot and got you guys to debate.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, all just a clever ploy by an evil super-genius. I see it so clearly now.

You sir, have figured it out.

Got anymore silly preseason topics you wanna debate?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm a little surprised to see London only on second team, but I get it. The unit as a whole was not very successful, so his accomplishments will end up lost in the shuffle.

(07-20-2018 01:15 PM)WolfBird Wrote:  You guys are too easy. I picked the punter spot and got you guys to debate.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Actually your tactics aren’t lost on me. I only used your post as a platform to point out South Alabama has a preseason All-American, and happens to be the nation’s leading punter returning from last year. How many other teams have a preseason All-American? Thanks for the platform.

(07-20-2018 02:28 PM)WolfBird Wrote:  

(07-20-2018 01:20 PM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  

(07-20-2018 01:15 PM)WolfBird Wrote:  You guys are too easy. I picked the punter spot and got you guys to debate.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, all just a clever ploy by an evil super-genius. I see it so clearly now.

You sir, have figured it out.

Got anymore silly preseason topics you wanna debate?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Brats. Why is the one I got at AT&T Park in San Francisco better than the one I got at Miller Park in Milwaukee? This has haunted me for a few years.

(07-20-2018 07:31 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  [quote='WolfBird' pid='15392666' dateline='1532114916']


You sir, have figured it out.

Got anymore silly preseason topics you wanna debate?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't think you understand my shtick around here.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

ULM has no one on either defensive team? Color me shocked

(07-20-2018 04:18 PM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  

(07-20-2018 02:28 PM)WolfBird Wrote:  

(07-20-2018 01:20 PM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  

(07-20-2018 01:15 PM)WolfBird Wrote:  You guys are too easy. I picked the punter spot and got you guys to debate.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, all just a clever ploy by an evil super-genius. I see it so clearly now.

You sir, have figured it out.

Got anymore silly preseason topics you wanna debate?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Brats. Why is the one I got at AT&T Park in San Francisco better than the one I got at Miller Park in Milwaukee? This has haunted me for a few years.

Hmmm...thought there for a minute you were calling WB a brat. Not that it would be the first time....

(07-20-2018 02:53 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  I'm a little surprised to see London only on second team, but I get it. The unit as a whole was not very successful, so his accomplishments will end up lost in the shuffle.

Pfft
London had 141 TT in 2016/17 and only made Honorable Mention in SBC - even though he was #2 in FBS

Dropped to 91 TT last year and got 3rd team

Not so sure it's a - "the unit as a whole was bad" thing when most of the guys (in conference) that were ahead of him last season either graduated or are no longer in the conference (NMSU/Idaho) and maybe it's because he had more help in 2017 vs 2016

I was going to do a comparison but, apparently, the 2016 stats are nowhere to be found - archived stats end at 2015. Regular link only has last year (2017.)

anyway - here's last years top 4 TT leaders
London 91
Loyd 83
Griffin 74
Krawczyk 74