NEW ORLEANS – Ten Georgia Southern football players were honored by the league coaches and members of the media as the Sun Belt Conference announced Thursday the selections for its all-conference teams.
Senior linebacker
Marques Watson-Trent was voted as the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and was name first-team All-Sun Belt Conference for the second year in a row. He leads the conference and is eighth nationally tackles per game (10.0) and has 110 stops in 11 games.
Senior offensive lineman
Bryson Broadway, along with junior defensive backs
Chance Gamble and
Marc Stampley II were all named to the second team. Gamble and Stampley II led the team with three interceptions each. Gamble tallied 44.0 total tackles, six pass breakups, and added a fumble recovery while Stampley II recorded 36.0 total tackles with seven pass breakups and forced a fumble.
Redshirt sophomore
Caleb Cook and junior
Pichon Wimbley, both of the offensive line, were named to the third team.
Four Eagles - senior receiver
Derwin Burgess Jr., senior linebacker
Davon Gilmore, sophomore punter
Alex Smith and senior running back
Jalen White - earned honorable mention recognition. Burgess Jr. tallied 53 catches for 603 yards with three touchdown receptions. Gilmore totaled 57 tackles including four for loss and two sacks. In 54 punt attempts, Smith averaged 42.80 yards and including a season long 63 yarder against South Carolina State. White recorded 147 carries for 683 yards and rushed for 12 touchdowns.
The Sun Belt Conference's coaches and a member of the media representing each team voted on the list of candidates for the teams with points assigned for rankings for each position. The first, second and third teams are compromised of 12 offensive players (1 QB, 3 WR, 2 RB, 1 TE, 5 OL), 12 defensive players (4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB, 1 at large selection) and four special team players (K, P, Return Specialist and All-Purpose), unless there are ties.
Below are all the entire first, second and third teams, as well as the individual awards:
2024 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS
Player of the Year
Mike Green, Marshall (RS So., DL – Williamsburg, Va.)
Offensive Player of the Year
Ben Wooldridge, Louisiana (RS Sr., QB – Pleasanton, Calif.)
Defensive Player of the Year
Newcomer of the Year
Braylon Braxton, Marshall (RS Jr., QB – Frisco, Texas)
Freshman of the Year
Ahmad Hardy, ULM (Fr., RB – Monticello, Miss.)
Coach of the Year
Michael Desormeaux, Louisiana
All-Sun Belt First Team Offense
QB – Ben Wooldridge, Louisiana (RS Sr., QB – Pleasanton, Calif.)
RB – Ahmad Hardy, ULM (Fr., RB – Monticello, Miss.)
RB – Ismail Mahdi, Texas State (Jr., RB – Murphy, Texas)
OL – Pat McMurtrie, James Madison (RS Sr., OL – Verona, N.J.)
OL – Cole Potts, James Madison (Sr., OL – Johnstown, Ohio)
OL – Landon Burton, Louisiana (RS Sr., OL – Lafayette, La.)
OL – AJ Gillie, Louisiana (RS Sr., OL – Natchitoches, La.)
OL – Logan Osburn, Marshall (RS Sr., OL – Ona, W.Va.)
TE – Terrance Carter, Louisiana (RS So., TE – Killeen, Texas)
WR – Kaedin Robinson, App State (RS Sr., WR – Asheville, N.C.)
WR – Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama (Sr., WR – Jackson, Ala.)
WR – Devonte Ross, Troy (Jr., WR – Cartersville, Ga.)
All-Sun Belt First Team Defense
DL – Santana Hopper, App State (RS So., DL – Shelby, N.C.)
DL – Clev Lubin, Coastal Carolina (RS So., DL – Suffern, N.Y.)
DL – Eric O'Neill, James Madison (RS Jr., DL – Staten Island, N.Y.)
DL – Mike Green, Marshall (RS So., DL – Williamsburg, Va.)
LB – K.C. Ossai, Louisiana (Sr., LB – Conroe, Texas)
LB – Jaden Yates, Marshall (So., LB – Columbus, Ohio)
DB – Trevian Thomas, Arkansas State (Sr., DB – Americus, Ga.)
DB – Matthew McDoom, Coastal Carolina (Jr., DB – Winter Garden, Fla.)
DB – Terrence Spence, James Madison (Sr., DB – Ringwood, N.J.)
DB – J.J. Roberts, Marshall (RS Sr., DB – Ona, W.Va.)
DB – Jaden Voisin, South Alabama (RS Sr., DB – Crestview, Fla.)
All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams
K – Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana (RS Sr., K – Clute, Texas)
P – Bryce Lofton, Southern Miss (Gr., P – Sand Hill, Miss.)
RS – Ian Foster, Marshall (RS Fr., RS – Brundidge, Ala.)
AP – Devonte Ross, Troy (Jr., AP – Cartersville, Ga.)
All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense
QB – Braylon Braxton, Marshall (RS Jr., QB – Frisco, Texas)
RB – A.J. Turner, Marshall (RS So., RB – Hampton, Va.)
RB – Damien Taylor, Troy (Jr., RB – Northport, Ala.)
OL – Jack Hollifield, App State (RS Jr., OL – Shelby, N.C.)
OL – Jacob Bayer, Arkansas State (Sr., OL – Grandview, Texas)
OL – Mehki Butler, Arkansas State (RS Sr., OL – Omaha, Neb.)
OL – Daniel King, Troy (Sr., OL – Cairo, Ga.)
TE – Dorian Fleming, Georgia State (So., TE – Henrico, Va.)
WR – Corey Rucker, Arkansas State (RS Jr., WR – Bentonia, Miss.)
WR – Ted Hurst, Georgia State (Jr., WR – Savannah, Ga.)
WR – Joey Hobert, Texas State (Sr., WR – San Clemente, Calif.)
All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense
DL – Khairi Manns, James Madison (RS Sr., DL – New Rochelle, N.Y.)
DL – Jordan Lawson, Louisiana (RS Jr., DL – Brandon, Miss.)
DL – Kevontay Wells, ULM (Jr., DL – Jackson, Miss.)
DL – Wy'Kevious Thomas, South Alabama (RS Sr., DL – Riverdale, Ga.)
LB – Jacob Dobbs, James Madison (RS Sr., LB – Macomb, Mich.)
LB – Koa Naotala, Old Dominion (RS So., LB – Newport News, Va.)
LB – Blayne Myrick, South Alabama (RS So., LB – Fairhope, Ala.)
DB – Chance Gamble, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., DB – Fitzgerald, Ga.)
DB – Jacob Thomas, James Madison (Jr., DB – Ashburn, Va.)
DB – Tyrone Lewis, Louisiana (RS Sr., DB – Hammond, La.)
DB – Tyree Skipper, Louisiana (RS Jr., DB – New Orleans, La.)
All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams
K – Laith Marjan, South Alabama (RS Jr., K – Raleigh, N.C.)
P – James Allen, Georgia State (RS Jr., P – Australia)
RS – Devonte Ross, Troy (Jr., RS – Cartersville, Ga.)
AP – Ismail Mahdi, Texas State (Jr., AP – Murphy, Texas)
All-Sun Belt Third Team Offense
QB – Jordan McCloud, Texas State (RS Sr., QB – Tampa, Fla.)
RB – Ahmani Marshall, App State (Sr., RB – Winston-Salem, N.C.)
RB – Fluff Bothwell, South Alabama (Fr., RB – Oneonta, Ala.)
OL – Caleb Cook, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., OL – Brunswick, Ga.)
OL – Zach Barlev, Old Dominion (Jr., OL – Bolingbrook, Ill.)
OL – Jordan Davis, South Alabama (RS Jr., OL – Fairburn, Ga.)
OL – Alex Harkey, Texas State (RS Jr., OL – Austin, Texas)
TE – Pat Conroy, Old Dominion (RS Sr., TE – Reading, Mass.)
WR – Makai Jackson, App State (Jr., WR – Levittown, Pa.)
WR – Lance LeGendre, Louisiana (RS Sr., WR – New Orleans, La.)
WR – Isiah Paige, Old Dominion (Sr., WR – Richmond, Va.)
All-Sun Belt Third Team Defense
DL – Bryan Whitehead, Arkansas State (RS Jr., DL – Bartlett, Tenn.)
DL – Billy Pullen, ULM (Jr., DL – Kaufman, Texas)
DL – Deeve Harris, Marshall (RS Sr., DL – St. Louis, Mo.)
DL – Kris Trinidad, Old Dominion (RS Jr., DL – Richmond, Va.)
LB – Marvin Ham, Arkansas State (RS Sr., LB – Belleville, Mich.)
LB – Kevin Swint, Georgia State (Sr., LB – Carrollton, Ga.)
LB – Carl Glass Jr., ULM (Sr., LB – Monroe, La.)
LB – Brendan Jackson, Troy (Sr., LB – Statesboro, Ga.)
DB – Keyon Martin, Louisiana (Sr., DB – Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
DB – Wydett Williams Jr., ULM (Jr., DB – Lake Providence, La.)
DB – Jacobie Henderson, Marshall (RS So., DB – Charlotte, N.C.)
DB – Jahron Manning, Old Dominion (Jr., DB – New Orleans, La.)
All-Sun Belt Third Team Special Teams
K – Clune Van Andel, Arkansas State (So., K – Grand Rapids, Mich.)
P – Ryan Hanson, James Madison (RS Sr., P – Elgin, Texas)
RS – Cam Ross, James Madison (RS Sr., RS – Newark, Del.)
AP – Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama (Sr., AP – Jackson, Ala.)
All-Sun Belt Honorable Mentions
App State
QB – Joey Aguilar (Sr., QB – Antioch, Calif.)
OL – Markell Samuel (RS Jr., OL – Fayetteville, N.C.)
TE – Eli Wilson (Sr., TE – Piedmont, S.C.)
LB – Brendan Harrington (RS Sr., LB – Pittsboro, N.C.)
Arkansas State
RB – Zak Wallace (RS Sr., RB – Benton, Ark.)
LB – Justin Parks (Sr., DB – Gardendale, Ala.)
P – Ryan Heicher (Sr., P – Walled Lake, Mich.)
LS – Jack Bullard (Sr., LS – Chandler, Ariz.)
Coastal Carolina
RB – Braydon Bennett (RS Sr., RB – Greenville, S.C.)
OL – Nick Del Grande (RS So., OL – Lancaster, Pa.)
LB – Shane Bruce (RS Sr., LB – Carrollton, Ga.)
DB – Juan Powell (Gr., DB – Atlanta, Ga.)
Georgia Southern
RB – Jalen White (5th Yr., RB – Daleville, Ala.)
WR – Derwin Burgess Jr. (Sr., WR – Riverdale, Ga.)
LB – Davon Gilmore (6th Yr., LB – North Charleston, S.C.)
P – Alex Smith (So., P – Melbourne, Australia)
Georgia State
DL – Henry Bryant (RS Jr., DL – Delray Beach, Fla.)
LB – Damaine Wilson (Fr., LB – Pompano Beach, Fla.)
DB – Gavin Pringle (RS Sr., DB – Baltimore, Md.)
DB – Kenyatta Watson (RS Sr., DB – Loganville, Ga.)
James Madison
QB – Alonza Barnett III (RS So., QB – Whitsett, N.C.)
TE – Taylor Thompson (Sr., TE – Prattville, Ala.)
WR – Omarion Dollison (Sr., WR – Columbia, S.C.)
DL – Immanuel Bush (RS Jr., DL – Lancaster, S.C.)
Louisiana
RB – Zylan Perry (RS So., RB – Franklin, La.)
OL – Jax Harrington (RS Sr., OL – Erath, La.)
DL – Mason Narcisse (Sr., DL – Reserve, La.)
LB – Carmycah Glass (RS So., LB – Monroe, La.)
ULM
OL – Elijah Fisher (Jr., OL – Allen, Texas)
TE – Rylan Green (Jr., TE – West Monroe, La.)
TE – Julian Nixon (Jr., TE – Atlanta, Ga.)
DB – David Godsey Jr. (Jr., DB – Mansfield, Texas)
Marshall
OL – Jeremy Jones (Sr., OL – Lewisville, Texas)
TE – Toby Payne (RS So., TE – Poca, W.Va.)
WR – Christian Fitzpatrick (RS Sr., WR – Southfield, Mich.)
DB – Josh Moten (Jr., DB – Waldorf, Md.)
Old Dominion
QB – Colton Joseph (RS Fr., QB – Newport Beach, Calif.)
RB – Aaron Young (Sr., RB – Coatesville, Pa.)
DL – Denzel Lowry (RS Jr., DL – Virginia Beach, Va.)
LB – Mario Thompson (So., LB – Richmond, Va.)
South Alabama
QB – Gio Lopez (RS Fr., QB – Madison, Ala.)
OL – Reed Buys (RS Sr., OL – Vicksburg, Miss.)
TE – DJ Thomas-Jones (Sr., TE – Mobile, Ala.)
DL – Maurice Strong Jr. (Gr., DL – Raiford, Fla.)
Southern Miss
RB – Rodrigues Clark (Gr., RB – Starkville, Miss.)
DL – Kristin Booth (Sr., DL – Oxford, Ala.)
DL – Brodarius Lewis (Gr., DL – Prattville, Ala.)
LB – Tre Pinkney (RS Sr., LB – Atlanta, Ga.)
Texas State
OL – Nash Jones (Sr., OL – Nacogdoches, Texas)
WR – Kole Wilson (Jr., WR – Katy, Texas)
DL – Steven Parker (RS Sr., DL – Dallas, Texas)
DB – Jordan Polk (RS Sr., DB – Arlington, Texas)
Troy
OL – Eli Russ (Jr., OL – Ardmore, Okla.)
DL – Luis Medina (Jr., DL – Summerville, Ga.)
LB – Jordan Stringer (Jr., LB – Augusta, Ga.)
DB – Devin Lafayette (Jr., DB – Brunswick, Ga.)
