Sun Belt Announces Preseason All-Conference Teams

Preseason all conference teams are meaningless fun that reminds us who's got talent in the conference. After all, a long summer can make you forget the big-legged brilliance of Austin Rehkow or how loaded Georgia State is at wide receiver. So thanks, Sun Belt, for releasing your preseason All Sun Belt First and second Teams. You've reminded us once again that the Belt is bursting with playmakers this year.

2016 Preseason All Sun Belt First Team

First Team Offense

Taylor Lamb (Appalachian St. Mountaineers, QB, Jr.)

Matt Breida (Georgia Southern Eagles, RB, Sr.)

Larry Rose III (New Mexico State Aggies, RB, Jr.)

Dijon Paschal (Arkansas State Red Wolves, WR, Jr.)

Robert Davis (Georgia State Panthers, WR, Jr.)

Penny Hart (Georgia State Panthers, WR, So.)

Gerald Everett (South Alabama Jaguars, TE, Sr)

Parker Collins (Appalachian St. Red Wolves, OL, Sr.)

Jemar Clark (Arkansas State Red Wolves, OL, Sr.)

Colton Jackson (Arkansas State Red Wolves, OL, Sr.)

Andy Kwon (Georgia Southern Eagles, OL, Sr.)

Antonio Garcia (Troy Trojans, OL, Sr.)

First Team Defense

Waylon Roberson (Arkansas State Red Wolves, DL, Sr.)

Ja’Von Rolland-Jones (Arkansas State Red Wolves, DL, Jr.)

Bernard Dawson (Georgia Southern Eagles, DL, Sr.)

Jay Ellison (Georgia Southern Eagles, DL, Sr.)

Rashad Dillard (Troy Trojans, DL, Sr., Psychology)

Eric Boggs (Appalachian St. Mountaineers, LB, Jr.)

John Law (Appalachian St. Mountaineers, LB, Sr.)

Xavier Woodson-Luster (Arkansas State Red Wolves, LB, Sr.)

Cody Brown (Arkansas State Red Wolves, DB, Sr.)

Bobby Baker (Georgia State Panthers, DB, Sr.)

Savion Brown (Louisiana Ragin Cajuns, DB, Sr.)

Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama Jaguars, DB, Jr.)

First Team Special Teams

Austin Rehkow (Idaho Vandals, P, Sr.)

Austin Rehkow (Idaho Vandals, PK, Sr.)

Blaise Taylor (Arkansas State Red Wolves, RS, Jr.)

2016 Preseason All Sun Belt Second Team

Second Team Offense

Matt Linehan (Idaho Vandals, QB, Jr.)

Marcus Cox (Appalachian St. Mountaineers, RB, Sr.)

Elijah McGuire (Louisiana Ragin Cajuns, RB, Sr.)

Callen Hightower (Idaho Vandals, WR, Sr.)

Ajalen Holley (ULM Warhawks, WR, Sr.,)

Josh Magee (South Alabama Jaguars, WR, Sr.)

Keith Rucker (Georgia State Panthers, TE, Sr.)

Colby Gossett (Appalachian St. Mountaineers, OL, Jr.)

Devin Mondie (Arkansas State Red Wolves, OL, Sr.)

Anthony McMeans (New Mexico State Aggies, OL, Sr.)

Curtis Williams (South Alabama Jaguars, OL, Sr.)

Ryan Melton (Texas State Bobcats, OL, Sr.)

Second Team Defense

Darrius Sapp (Georgia Southern Eagles, DL, Jr.)

Shawanye Lawrence (Georgia State Panthers, DL, Sr.)

Karmichael Dunbar (Louisiana Ragin Cajuns, DL, Sr.)

Taboris Lee (Louisiana Ragin Cajuns, DL, Jr.)

Khari Lain (Arkansas State Red Wolves, LB, Jr.)

Otha Peters (Louisiana Ragin Cajuns, LB, Sr.)

Roman Buchanan (South Alabama Jaguars, LB, Sr.)

Chris Humes (Arkansas State Red Wolves, DB, Sr.)

Blaise Taylor (Arkansas State Red Wolves, DB, Jr.)

Tracy Walker (Louisiana Ragin Cajuns, DB, Jr.)

Tre’ Hunter (ULM Warhawks, DB, Sr.)

Kalen Jackson (South Alabama Jaguars, DB, Sr.)

Second Team Special Teams

Lumi Kaba (Texas State Bobcats, P, Sr.,)

Aleem Sunanon (South Alabama Jaguars, PK, Sr.)

Xavier Johnson (South Alabama Jaguars, RS, Jr.)

Preseason Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year

Larry Rose (New Mexico State Aggies, RB, Jr.)

Preseason Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year

John Law (Appalachian State Mountaineers, LB, Sr.)

Observations, Takeaways, and Bursts of Genius

• Arkansas State lead the Sun Belt with 12 total selections, twice as many as the 2nd place Louisiana and Appalachian State (six each). Sun Belt coaches voted the Red Wolves to finish second in the conference.
• Larry Rose adds Preseason Sun Belt Offensive POY honors in addition to being named to three national preseason watch lists. Rose is the only junior among the four RB selections (Cox, Breida and McGuire are seniors).
• John Law's selection as Preseason Sun Belt Defensive POY is a bit of a surprise. Law was not named to any major preseason watch list, and though he finished 2015 with four sacks, that's five fewer than conference leader, Ja'Von Rolland-Jones.
• Idaho's powerful place kicker, Austin Rehkow, earned two First Team selections (Kicker and Punter). Arkansas State's Blaise Taylor also earned two positions, but one for First Team (Kick Returner) and one for Second Team (defensive back).
• Eight of twelve First Team defensive positions are occupied by Red Wolves, Mountaineers, and Eagles. The three defensive units should be entertaining to watch.
• Louisiana placed only one player on the preseason Sun Belt First Team (Savion Brown, DB), but placed five on the Second Team, including four on defense.
• Texas State and ULM have only two selections each, all on the Second Team. Both teams enter the season with new head coaches.