Blake Anderson was beginning practices for his first season as Arkansas State coach four months ago and wasn't very complimentary of Fredi Knighten and his other quarterbacks.
Anderson can look back and laugh about those hot August sessions now.
All-Sun Belt Conference
• The All-Sun Belt Conference footblal teams voted on by league coaches and selected members of the media:
PLAYER OF THE YEAR Elijah McGuire, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Elijah McGuire, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR David Mayo, LB, Texas State
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Taylor Lamb, QB, Appalachian State
COACH OF THE YEAR Willie Fritz, Georgia Southern
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB Fredi Knighten, Arkansas State
RB Matt Breid, Georgia Southern
RB Elijah McGuire, Louisiana-Lafayette
WR Donovan Harden, Georgia State
WR Joshua McCain, Idaho
WR Rashon Ceaser, Louisiana-Monroe
TE Brad Miller, Texas State
OL Kendall Lamm, Appalachian State
OL Garrett Frye, Georgia Southern
OL Manrey Saint-Amour, Georgia Southern
OL Daniel Quave, Louisiana-Lafayette
OL Valerian Ume-Ezeoke, New Mexico State
DEFENSE
DL Justin Hamilton, Louisiana-Lafayette
DL Christian Ringo, Louisiana-Lafayette
DL Gerrand Johnson, Louisiana-Monroe
DL Michael Odiari, Texas State
LB Qushaun Lee, Arkansas State
LB Edwin Jackson, Georgia Southern
LB David Mayo, Texas State
DB Dough Middleton, Appalachian State
DB Artez Brown, Arkansas State
DB Mitch Lane, Louisiana-Monroe
DB Montres Kitchens, Troy
DB David Mims, Texas State
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Justin Manton, Louisiana-Monroe
P Austin Rehkow, Idaho
RS Chandler Worthy, Troy
AP Elijah McGuire, Louisiana-Lafayette
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QB Kevin Ellison, Georgia Southern
RB Marcus Cox, Appalachian State
RB Michael Gordon, Arkansas State
WR Ajalen Holley, Louisiana-Monroe
WR Teldrick Morgan, New Mexico State
WR Shavarez Smith, South Alabama
TE Joel Ruiz, Georgia State
OL Mike Marboe, Idaho
OL Mykheal Quave, Louisiana-Lafayette
OL Ucambre Williams, South Alabama
OL Terrence Jones, Troy
OL Adrian Bellard, Texas State
DEFENSE
DL Ronald Blair, Appalachian State
DL Ja’Von Rolland-Jones, Arkansas State
DL Jerome McClain, South Alabama
DL Theo Rich, South Alabama
LB John Law, Appalachian State
LB Joseph Peterson, Georgia State
LB Hunter Kissinger, Louisiana-Monroe
LB Maleki Harris, South Alabama
DB Matt Dobson, Georgia Southern
DB Corey Trim, Louisiana-Lafayette
DB Terrell Brigham, South Alabama
DB Craig Mager, Texas State
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Hunter Stover, Louisiana-Lafayette
P Justin Manton, Louisiana-Monroe
RS Blaise Taylor, Arkansas State
AP Chandler Worthy, Troy
"We were probably being a little tougher on [Knighten] than we should have been," Anderson said Wednesday.
If 12 games of highlights hadn't proved it, then Wednesday's release of the All-Sun Belt teams probably did, when it was revealed Knighten as the first-team quarterback.
The junior from Little Rock completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 2,874 yards with 19 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in his first season as a starter. Knighten also rushed for 775 yards and 11 touchdowns and his 3,649 yards of total offense led the Sun Belt, which is 13th nationally. His performance was the third most prolific offensive season in ASU history.
Knighten joined linebacker Qushaun Lee and cornerback Artez Brown as first-team selections for ASU, while running back Michael Gordon, defensive end Ja'Von Rolland-Jones and punt returner Blaise Taylor earned second-team. Wide receiver Tres Houston, defensive end Chris Stone, cornerback Andrew Tryon and linebacker Xavier Woodson each received honorable mention.
Wide receiver Dijon Paschal was named to the All-Newcomer team.
Louisiana-Lafayette sophomore running back Elijah McGuire, who ran for 265 yards and four touchdowns against ASU on Oct. 21, was named Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year. Texas State linebacker David Mayo, who led the FBS with 154 tackles, was named Defensive Player of the Year.
Appalachian State quarterback Tyler Lamb earned Freshman of the Year honors, and Georgia Southern's Willie Fritz earned Coach of the Year after leading the Eagles to an 8-0 league record in their first season.
Knighten became the second ASU quarterback to be named first-team All-Sun Belt, joining Ryan Aplin, who earned the honor in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Not bad for a first-year starter who didn't look all that impressive to his new coaches in the spring or fall practices.
"It's pretty nerve-wracking when you see balls skipping off the turf," Anderson said. "But I think he was testing himself, too. I think he threw some balls into some places that he learned he couldn't. He turned the ball over a lot in the spring and fall practices. He learned by making mistakes."
Turnovers were the biggest concern of Anderson and offensive coordinator Walt Bell. But Knighten stemmed those quickly. He didn't commit a turnover in the first two games, before losing three fumbles and throwing three interceptions in games against Miami, Utah State and Louisiana-Monroe.
Since, Knighten has thrown four interceptions in seven games.
"I think he exceeded expectations throwing the ball all year," Anderson said.
ASU will begin practice today in preparation for the Jan. 4 GoDaddy Bowl against Toledo in Mobile, Ala.
Sports on 12/11/2014