A poll of head coaches didn't pick Arkansas State to win the Sun Belt Conference football title this season. But a poll of coaches and selected media members revealed the Red Wolves might have the most quality players.
ASU placed 12 on the first- and second-team preseason all-Sun Belt teams released by the league office Friday, the most of any league team. ASU, which was picked to finish second in the Sun Belt in a poll released Thursday placed eight players on the first team and four on the second. While South Alabama placed eight total players, preseason favorite Appalachian State and Louisiana-Lafayette each had six players picked.
Wide receiver Dijon Paschal, offensive lineman Jemar Clark from McCrory and offensive lineman Colton Jackson from Ozark were each picked to the first-team offense. Linemen Waylon Roberson and Ja'Von Rolland-Jones, linebacker Xavier Woodson-Luster and defensive back Cody Brown were each picked to the first-team defense. Blaise Taylor was picked as the first-team return specialist.
Taylor was also picked as a defensive back to the second team, along with offensive lineman Devin Mondie, linebacker Khari Lain and safety Chris Humes.
Georgia Southern and Georgia State, picked Thursday to finish third and fourth, respectively, each had five players picked. Idaho had four, while New Mexico State, Troy, Louisiana-Monroe and Texas State each had two picked.
New Mexico State running back Larry Rose III was picked as Offensive Player of the Year. Appalachian State linebacker John Law was named Defensive Player of the Year.
A'Jalen Holley, a Hot Springs Lakeside graduate now a wide receiver at Louisiana-Monroe, was picked to the second team.
Read Saturday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference teams
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB Taylor Lamb, Appalachian State
RB Matt Breida, Georgia Southern
RB Larry Rose III, New Mexico State
WR Dijon Paschal, Arkansas State
WR Robert Davis, Georgia State
WR Penny Hart, Georgia State
TE Gerald Everett, South Alabama
OL Parker Collins, Appalachian State
OL Jemar Clark, Arkansas State
OL Colton Jackson, Arkansas State
OL Andy Kwon, Georgia Southern
OL Antonio Garcia, Troy
DEFENSE
DL Waylon Roberson, Arkansas State
DL Ja'Von Rolland-Jones, Arkansas State
DL Bernard Dawson, Georgia Southern
DL Jay Ellison, Georgia Southern
DL Rashad Dillard, Troy
LB Eric Boggs, Appalachian State
LB John Law, Appalachian State
LB Xavier Woodson-Luster, Arkansas State
DB Cody Brown, Arkansas State
DB Bobby Baker, Georgia State
DB Savion Brown, Louisiana-Lafayette
DB Jeremy Reaves, South Alabama
SPECIAL TEAMS
P Austin Rehkow
K Austin Rehkow
RS Blaise Taylor, Arkansas State
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QB Matt Linehan, Idaho
RB Marcus Cox, Appalachian State
RB Elijahn McGuire, Louisiana-Lafayette
WR Callen Hightower, Idaho
WR A'Jalen Holley, Louisiana-Monroe
WR Johs Magee, South Alabama
TE Keith Rucker, Georgia State
OL Colby Gossett, Appalachian State
OL Devin Mondie, Arkansas State
OL Anthony McMeans, New Mexico State
OL Curtis Williams, South Alabama
OL Ryan Melton, Texas State
DEFENSE
DL Darrius Sapp, Georgia Southern
DL Shawanye Lawrence, Georgia State
DL Karmichael Dunbar, Louisiana-Lafayette
DL Taboris Lee, Louisiana-Lafayette
LB Khari Lain, Arkansas State
LB Otha Peters, Louisiana-Lafayette
LB Roman Buchanan, South Alabama
DB Chris Humes, Arkansas State
DB Blaise Taylor, Arkansas State
DB Tracy Walker, Louisiana-Lafayette
DB Tre' Hunter, Louisiana-Lafayette
DB Kalen Jackson, South Alabama
SPECIAL TEAMS
P Lumi Kaba, Texas State
K Aleem Sunanon, South Alabama
RS Xavier Johnson, South Alabama