NEW ORLEANS — Sun Belt Conference football coaches didn't pick Arkansas State as a league favorite when a poll was released Friday. But media members sure do like the Red Wolves' talent.
ASU landed a league-high 11 players on the preseason first and second all-Sun Belt teams that were announced Monday before the league's media day event at the Superdome in New Orleans. The 11 picks included six first-team members and five second-team members.
Quarterback Fredi Knighten, last year's Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year, wide receiver J.D. McKissic, defensive ends Ja'Von Rolland-Jones and Chris Stone, linebacker Xavier Woodson and kick returner Blaise Taylor were each picked to the first team.
Running back Michael Gordon, tight end Darion Griswold, offensive lineman Colton Jackson, cornerback Rocky Hayes and punter Luke Ferguson were each selected to the second team.
ASU's 11 selections were followed by Louisiana-Lafayette and Georgia Southern, each of which earned seven. Louisiana-Monroe had five selections while Texas State, Georgia State and Idaho each had three.
Louisiana-Lafayette running back Elijah McGuire was named the preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Texas State defensive back David Mims II was named preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Louisiana-Monroe defensive back Mitch Lane, a Watson Chapel graduate, and linebacker Hunter Kissinger, a Springdale Har-Ber graduate, were each named to the second team.
See Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.