NEW ORLEANS — The Sun Belt Conference unveiled its 2020 Preseason All-Sun Belt Football teams and individual awards on Tuesday afternoon, and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns placed a total of 10 players on the teams, including three earning first-team honors.
UL running back Elijah Mitchell, linebacker Joe Dillon and punter Rhys Burns all earned first-team honors. Quarterback Levi Lewis, running back Trey Ragas, offensive lineman Max Mitchell, O’Cyrus Torrence, defensive tackle Zi’Yon Hill and defensive back-return specialist Eric Garror earned second-team honors.
The All-SBC Preseason teams were voted on by the 10 SBC head football coaches and selected media representatives.
App State senior quarterback Zac Thomas was tabbed as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while Troy’s junior linebacker Carlton Martial meanwhile was voted as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
App State was also predicted to win the Sun Belt East Division title while UL was picked to claim the West Division title.
2020 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Football Teams
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Zac Thomas (App State, Senior)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Carlton Martial (Troy, Junior)
First Team Offense
QB – Zac Thomas, App State
RB – Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana
RB – Josh Johnson, ULM
OL – Noah Hannon, App State
OL – Baer Hunter, App State
OL – Cooper Hodges, App State
OL – Jarrett Horst, Arkansas State
OL – Shamarious Gilmore, Georgia State
TE – Josh Pederson, ULM
WR – Corey Sutton, App State
WR – Jonathan Adams, Arkansas State
WR – Kaylon Geiger, Troy
First Team Defense
DL – Demetrius Taylor, App State
DL – Tarron Jackson, Coastal Carolina
DL – Raymond Johnson III, Georgia Southern
DL – Will Choloh, Troy
LB – Rashad Byrd, Georgia Southern
LB – Joe Dillon, Louisiana
LB – Carlton Martial, Troy
DB – Shaun Jolly, App State
DB – Kenderick Duncan Jr, Georgia Southern
DB – Corey Straughter, ULM
DB – Dell Pettus, Troy
First Team Special Teams
K – Blake Grupe, Arkansas State
P – Rhys Byrns, Louisiana
RS – Wesley Kennedy III, Georgia Southern
Second Team Offense
QB – Levi Lewis, Louisiana
RB – Trey Ragas, Louisiana
RB – CJ Marable, Coastal Carolina
OL – Ryan Neuzil, App State
OL – Jacob Still, Arkansas State
OL – Max Mitchell, Louisiana
OL – O’Cyrus Torrence, Louisiana
OL – TJ Fiailoa, ULM
TE – Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina
WR – Thomas Hennigan, App State
WR – Cornelius McCoy, Georgia State
WR – Reggie Todd, Troy
Second Team Defense
DL – Forrest Merrill, Arkansas State
DL – C.J. Brewer, Coastal Carolina
DL – Dontae Wilson, Georgia State
DL – Zi’Yon Hill, Louisiana
LB – Teddy Gallagher, Coastal Carolina
LB – Trajan Stephens-McQueen, Georgia State
LB – Riley Cole, South Alabama
DB – Shemar Jean-Charles, App State
DB – Antonio Fletcher, Arkansas State
DB – Quavian White, Georgia State
DB – Eric Garror, Louisiana
Second Team Special Teams
K – Massimo Biscardi, Coastal Carolina
P – Anthony Beck II, Georgia Southern
RS – Eric Garror, Louisiana
The Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll has the App State Mountaineers
at the top of the East Division with nine first place votes.
Louisiana was picked to be the West Division representative with seven first place votes.
Two-time defending champion App State was picked to win the Sun Belt Championship.
2020 Sun Belt Football Coaches Predictions
(First-place votes in parentheses)
East Division
1. App State (9)
3. Troy (1)
4. Georgia State
5. Coastal Carolina
West Division
1. Louisiana (7)
2. Arkansas State (2)
3. South Alabama (1)
4. Texas State
5. ULM