PFN Preseason All-Sun Belt Team 2022: Old Dominion trio headline the honors

The new era of Sun Belt football is here and indicated on our All-Sun Belt Team for 2022. The new additions to the conference are heavily featured across the board, but old reliable Coastal Carolina returns the conference’s top quarterback in Grayson McCall. Presented in conjunction with our release of our College Football All-Americans, we at PFN debut our 2022 preseason All-Sun Belt Team, as voted on by our team of national analysts and NFL draft evaluators.

PFN’s 2022 All-Sun Belt Team

It’s important to note that these teams may look a bit different than the All-Conference teams listed by each individual conference. Our teams mirror our All-Americans, taking into consideration not only what a player has accomplished to date but looking forward to what we expect to see based on the growth of the athlete’s career.

Offense | First team

QB: Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
RB: Rasheen Ali, Marshall
RB: Blake Watson, Old Dominion
WR: Kris Thornton, James Madison
WR: Ali Jennings, Old Dominion
WR: Jalen Wayne, South Alabama
TE: Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion
FLEX: Te’Vailance Hunt, Arkansas State
OT: Austin Stidham, Troy
G: Willie Lampkin, Coastal Carolina
C: Logan Langemeier, Georgia Southern
G: Kyle Hergel, Texas State
OT: Nick Kidwell, James Madison

Defense | First team

EDGE: Javon Solomon, Troy
DT: Zi’Yon Hill, Louisiana
DT: Tony Thurston, James Madison
EDGE: Josaiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina
LB: Carlton Martial, Troy
LB: Trey Cobb, Appalachian State
LB: A.J. DeShazor Jr., South Alabama
CB: Steven Jones Jr., Appalachian State
CB: D’Jordan Strong, Coastal Carolina
CB: Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama
S: Kam Pedescleaux, Louisiana
S: Keith Gallmon Jr., South Alabama
FLEX: Eric Garror, Louisiana

Specialists | First team

PK: Seth Keller, Texas State
P: Ryan Hanson, Arkansas State
KR: LaMareon James, Old Dominion
PR: Eric Garror, Louisiana
LS: Travis Drosos, South Alabama

Marshall, Old Dominion, and James Madison each make waves on the first team in their first season of Sun Belt football. Rasheen Ali led the country in rushing touchdowns, while ODU’s Blake Watson, Ali Jennings, and Zack Kuntz are one of the country’s top trio of skill players at any program. Kris Thornton should be counted on to haul in some big-time numbers in 2022 as well for the Dukes.

Offense | Second team

QB: Darren Grainger, Georgia State
RB: Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss
RB: Chris Smith, Louisiana
WR: Boogie Knight, UL-Monroe
WR: Jason Brownlee, Southern Miss
WR: Javen Banks, Texas State
TE: Lincoln Sefcik, South Alabama
FLEX: Corey Gammage, Marshall
OT: Cooper Hodges, Appalachian State
G: Isaiah Helms, Appalachian State
C: Malik Sumter, Georgia State
G: Damion Daley, Appalachian State
OT: Anderson Hardy, Appalachian State

Defense | Second team

EDGE: Kivon Bennett, Arkansas State
DT: Will Choloh, Troy
DT: Thomas Gore, Georgia State
EDGE: Isaac Ukwu, James Madison
LB: Zack Woodard, UL-Monroe
LB: Santrell Latham, Southern Miss
LB: Josh Carr Jr., Southern Miss
CB: Steven Gilmore, Marshall
CB: Micah Abraham, Marshall
CB: Jordan Swann, James Madison
S: R’Tarrius Johnson, Old Dominion
S: Jarius Reimonenq, James Madison
FLEX: Richard Jibunor, Troy

Specialists | Second team

PK: Calum Sutherland, UL-Monroe
P: Rhys Byrns, Louisiana
KR: Chris Smith, Louisiana
PR: Johnnie Lang, Arkansas State
LS: Christian Johnstone, Appalachian State

The other newcomer to the conference — Southern Miss — has their first representative on our All-Sun Belt team as Frank Gore Jr.’s dynamic ability from the backfield earns him a spot. Santrell Latham and Josh Carr Jr. showcase how talented this Southern Miss linebacker corps is, even with the unfortunate season-ending injury to Hayes Maples.

Offense | Honorable mention

QB:
Chase Brice, Appalachian State
Gunnar Watson, Troy

RB:
Nate Noel, Appalachian State
Camerun Peoples, Appalachian State
Braydon Bennett, Coastal Carolina
Latrele Palmer, James Madison

WR:
Marcell Barbee, Texas State
Michael Jefferson, Louisiana
Tez Johnson, Troy
Peter LeBlanc, Louisiana
Reggie Brown, James Madison
Derwin Burgess Jr., Georgia Southern

TE:
Xavier Gravette, Coastal Carolina
Beau Johnson, Georgia Southern

FLEX:
Caullin Lacy, South Alabama
Daetrich Harrington, Appalachian State

OT:
Antwine Loper, Coastal Carolina
Dalton Cooper, Texas State
Kendrick Sartor, Marshall
Carlos Rubio, Louisiana

G:
AJ Gillie, Louisiana
Anterrious Gray, South Alabama
Leroy Thomas, Old Dominion
Peyton Dunn, UL-Monroe

C:
Logan Osburn, Marshall
Tanner Morris, James Madison

Defense | Honorable mention

EDGE:
Justin Ellis, Georgia Southern
Jordan Revels, Texas State
Dillon Springer, Georgia Southern
Charles Coleman III, South Alabama

DT:
Wy’Kevious Thomas, South Alabama
Caleb Thomas, UL-Monroe
Jerrod Clark, Coastal Carolina
Sir’Darrius Ellis, Ul-Monroe

LB:
KJ Robertson, Troy
Melique Straker, Arkansas State
Charlie Gray, Marshall
Quae Drake, UL-Monroe
Blake Carroll, Georgia State
Eli Neal, Marshall

CB:
Natrone Brooks, Southern Miss
Lance Boykin, Coastal Carolina
Bryquice Brown, Georgia State
Trey Amos, Louisiana
Quavian White, Georgia State
Reddy Steward, Troy

S:
Bralen Trahan, Louisiana
Sam Kidd, James Madison
Jabari Johnson, UL-Monroe
Antavious Lee, Georgia State
Anthony Wilson, Georgia Southern

FLEX:
TJ Harris, Troy
Dell Pettus, Troy

Specialists | Honorable mention

PK:
Diego Guajardo, South Alabama
Alex Raynor, Georgia Southern

P:
Anthony Beck II, Georgia Southern
Devyn McCormick, UL-Monroe

KR:
Donnovan Moorer, Texas State
Khaleb Hood, Georgia Southern

PR:
Tez Johnson, Troy
Caullin Lacy, South Alabama

LS:
Trey Corley, UL-Monroe
Jack Bullard, Arkansas State

For other Pro Football Network’s All-Conference Teams, view each conference here: ACC | B1G | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC | Independents | AAC | C-USA | MAC | MWC