NEW ORLEANS — Coastal Carolina redshirt junior quarterback Grayson McCall became the first-ever three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year to headline the 2022 Sun Belt Football Postseason Awards and All-Sun Belt Teams announced Thursday. The honors were voted upon by the conference’s 14 head coaches and select media representatives.
James Madison graduate student quarterback Todd Centeio was named the Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year; Troy senior linebacker Carlton Martial was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year; Coastal Carolina redshirt freshman wide receiver Jared Brown was picked as the Freshman of the Year and Troy head coach Jon Sumrall was honored as the Coach of the Year.
James Madison, which went 8-3 in its first FBS season, and Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship Game participants Coastal Carolina and Troy were the only programs to earn “of the Year” accolades.
McCall paced the Sun Belt and ranked second in the nation with a 176.10 passing efficiency, while ranking second in the conference and 21st in the nation with 16.7 points responsible for per game. The Indian Trail, N.C., native also ranked third in the Sun Belt with 275.4 yards of total offense per game and 257.1 passing yards per game. He led the Chanticleers to their second Sun Belt East Division title over the past three seasons, becoming the first Sun Belt football student-athlete to three-peat as the conference’s Player of the Year.
Centeio led the Sun Belt and ranked seventh nationally with 19.4 points responsible for per game, while ranking second in the conference and 14th in the nation with 309.0 yards of total offense per game. The West Palm Beach, Fla., product also ranked second in the Sun Belt with a 169.0 passing efficiency (5th nationally), 25 touchdowns (18th nationally) and 269.7 passing yards per game (21st nationally). As a graduate transfer from Colorado State, he guided the Dukes to an 8-3 record in their first season in the Sun Belt and at the FBS level.
Martial tallied 112 tackles—the second-most in the conference this season, becoming the all-time Sun Belt and NCAA record-holder for career tackles in the process. The former walk-on from Mobile, Ala., has been a key cog in the Trojans defense that ranks eighth in the nation in scoring defense (16.8), 11th in team passing efficiency defense (112.43) and 16th in total defense (316.4). Behind Martial, Troy has held eight of its opponents to under 100 yards rushing, the most in the program’s history and tied for the third-most in the nation this season.
Brown compiled 896 all-purpose yards—709 receiving and 187 rushing—and six touchdowns as one of the Chanticleers top two targets. The Lilburn, Ga., native ranked among the Top 20 in the Sun Belt in receiving touchdowns, all-purpose yards per game, receiving yards per game and yards per catch.
In his first season at the helm, Sumrall led Troy to a nine-game winning streak to close out the regular season, earning the Sun Belt West Division crown and the right to host the Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship Game in the process. The Trojans, who entered the year coming off three-straight five-win seasons, are bowl eligible for the first time since 2018 at 10-2.
Sun Belt East Division champion Coastal Carolina and Sun Belt West Division champion Troy paced all Sun Belt programs with nine All-Sun Belt honorees apiece. Georgia Southern, James Madison and Southern Miss followed closely with eight All-Sun Belt picks, while App State, Louisiana and South Alabama boasted seven All-Sun Belt selections.
Troy (9), Louisiana (4), App State (3) and Marshall (3) were the only programs to claim more than two All-Sun Belt First Team nods. All 14 teams produced multiple All-Sun Belt picks.
The
Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship Game will take place on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT in Troy, Ala., and will be nationally televised on ESPN.
2022 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS
Player of the Year
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (RS Jr., QB – Indian Trail, N.C.)
Offensive Player of the Year
Todd Centeio, James Madison (Gr., QB – West Palm Beach, Fla.)
Defensive Player of the Year
Carlton Martial, Troy (Sr., LB – Mobile, Ala.)
Newcomer of the Year
Todd Centeio, James Madison (Gr., QB – West Palm Beach, Fla.)
Freshman of the Year
Jared Brown, Coastal Carolina (RS Fr., WR – Lilburn, Ga.)
Coach of the Year
Jon Sumrall, Troy
All-Sun Belt First Team Offense
QB – Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (RS Jr., QB – Indian Trail, N.C.)
RB – Khalan Laborn, Marshall (6th Yr., RB – Virginia Beach, Fla.)
RB – La’Damian Webb, South Alabama (Jr., RB – Opelika, Ala.)
OL – Cooper Hodges, App State (RS Jr., OL – Glen St. Mary, Fla.)
OL – Austin Stidham, Troy (Sr., OL – Russellville, Ala.)
OL – Willie Lampkin, Coastal Carolina (Jr., OL – Lakeland, Fla.)
OL – Jake Andrews, Troy (Jr., OL – Millbrook, Ala.)
OL – Anderson Hardy, App State (RS Jr., OL – Raleigh, N.C.)
TE – Seydou Traore, Arkansas State (So., TE – London, England)
WR – Jamari Thrash, Georgia State (RS Jr., WR – LaGrange, Ga.)
WR – Kris Thornton, James Madison (RS Sr., WR – Manassas, Va.)
WR – Ali Jennings III, Old Dominion (Jr., WR – Richmond, Va.)
All-Sun Belt First Team Defense
DL – T.J. Jackson, Troy (So., DL – Millbrook, Ala.)
DL – Zi’Yon Hill-Green, Louisiana (RS Sr., DL – New Iberia, La.)
DL – Owen Porter, Marshall (RS Jr., DL – Huntington, W.Va.)
DL – Will Choloh, Troy (Sr., DL – Lawrenceville, Ga.)
DL – Isaac Ukwu, James Madison (RS Sr., DL – Upper Marlboro, Md.)
LB – Carlton Martial, Troy (Sr., LB – Mobile, Ala.)
LB – Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (So., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
LB – Nick Hampton, App State (RS Jr., LB – Anderson, S.C.)
DB – Yam Banks, South Alabama (So., DB – Ridgeland, Miss.)
DB – Micah Abraham, Marshall (RS Jr., DB – Tampa, Fla.)
DB – Reddy Steward, Troy (Jr., DB – Decatur, Ala.)
DB – Bralen Trahan, Louisiana (RS Sr., DB – Lafayette, La.)
All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams
K – Dominic Zvada, Arkansas State (Fr., K – Chandler, Ariz.)
P – Rhys Byrns, Louisiana (Sr., P – Rye, Australia)
RS – Eric Garror, Louisiana (Sr., RS – Mobile, Ala.)
AP – Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss (So., AP – Miami, Fla.)
All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense
QB – Todd Centeio, James Madison (Gr., QB – West Palm Beach, Fla.)
RB – Kimani Vidal, Troy (So., RB – Marietta, Ga.)
RB – Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss (So., RB – Miami, Fla.)
OL – Khalil Crowder, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., OL – Carrollton, Ga.)
OL – Pat Bartlett, Georgia State (RS Sr., OL – Newtown, Pa.)
OL – Nick Saldiveri, Old Dominion (RS Jr., OL – Waxhaw, N.C.)
OL – Malik Sumter, Georgia State (RS Sr., OL – Irmo, S.C.)
OL – Nick Kidwell, James Madison (RS Jr., OL – Knoxville, Md.)
TE – Henry Pearson, App State (Sr., TE – Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J.)
WR – Jalen Wayne, South Alabama (Sr., WR – Spanish Fort, Ala.)
WR – Tyrone Howell, ULM (5th Yr., WR – Idabel, Okla.)
WR – Khaleb Hood, Georgia Southern (Sr., WR – McDonough, Ga.)
All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense
DL – Levi Bell, Texas State (RS Jr., DL – Cedar Park, Texas)
DL – James Carpenter, James Madison (RS So., DL – Roanoke, Va.)
DL – Richard Jibunor, Troy (Jr., DL – Delta State, Nigeria)
DL – Jamare Edwards, James Madison (RS Sr., DL – Miami, Fla.)
DL – Josaiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina (So., DL – Bronx, N.Y.)
LB – Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern (RS So., LB – Beaver Falls, Pa.)
LB – Andre Jones, Louisiana (RS Sr., LB – Varnado, La.)
LB – Jourdan Quibodeaux, Louisiana (RS Sr., LB – Lafayette, La.)
DB – Steven Jones Jr., App State (RS Sr., DB – Rockingham, N.C.)
DB – Quavian White, Georgia State (Sr., DB – Greer, S.C.)
DB – Steven Gilmore, Marshall (Sr., DB – Rock Hill, S.C.)
DB – Lance Boykin, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., DB – High Point, N.C.)
All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams
K – Diego Guajardo, South Alabama (Jr., K – Spanish Fort, Ala.)
P – Devyn McCormick, ULM (5th, P – Port Charlotte, Fla.)
RS – Johnnie Lang Jr., Arkansas State (RS Sr., RS – Palmetto, Fla.)
AP – Johnnie Lang Jr., Arkansas State (RS Sr., AP – Palmetto, Fla.)
All-Sun Belt Third Team Offense
QB – Kyle Vantrease, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., QB – Stow, Ohio)
RB – Percy Agyei-Obese, James Madison (Gr., RB – Frederick, Md.)
RB – Jalen White, Georgia Southern (Jr., RB – Daleville, Ala.)
OL – James Jackson, South Alabama (Sr., OL – Moss Point, Miss.)
OL – Kyle Hergel, Texas State (RS Jr., OL – Toronto, Canada)
OL – Caleb Kelly, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., OL – Warner Robins, Ga.)
OL – Isaiah Helms, App State (Jr., OL – Hudson, N.C.)
OL – Antwine Loper, Coastal Carolina (Super Sr., OL – Conway, S.C.)
TE – Jacob Jenkins, Coastal Carolina (Jr., TE – Hoover, Ala.)
WR – Jason Brownlee, Southern Miss (Sr., WR – West Point, Miss.)
WR – Sam Pinckney, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., WR – Greenwood, S.C.)
WR – Michael Jefferson, Louisiana (Sr., WR – Mobile, Ala.)
All-Sun Belt Third Team Defense
DL – Kivon Bennett, Arkansas State (RS Sr., DL – Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
DL – Jerrod Clark, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., DL – Dorchester, Mass.)
DL – Justin Ellis, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., DL – Roswell, Ga.)
DL – Javon Solomon, Troy (So., DL – Tallahassee, Fla.)
LB – Taurus Jones, James Madison (RS So., LB – Portsmouth, Va.)
LB – JT Killen, Coastal Carolina (RS Jr., LB – Lake Wylie, S.C.)
LB – Santrell Latham, Southern Miss (RS Sr., LB – Meridian, Miss.)
DB – Jay Stanley, Southern Miss (Jr., DB – Greenwood, Miss.)
DB – Malik Shorts, Southern Miss (RS Jr., DB – Bassfield, Miss.)
DB – Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama (Sr., DB – Hattiesburg, Miss.)
DB – Antavious Lane, Georgia State (RS Jr., DB – West Palm Beach, Fla.)
DB – Derrick Canteen, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., DB – Evans, Ga.)
All-Sun Belt Third Team Special Teams
K – Briggs Bourgeois, Southern Miss (RS Sr., K – St. Amant, La.)
P – Mason Hunt, Southern Miss (RS Sr., P – Wiggins, Miss.)
RS – Milan Tucker, App State (RS So., RS – Lehigh Acres, Fla.)
AP – La’Damian Webb, South Alabama (Jr., AP – Opelika, Ala.)
All-Sun Belt Honorable Mentions
App State
QB – Chase Brice (RS Sr., QB – Grayson, Ga.)
RB – Nate Noel (So., RB – Miami, Fla.)
WR – Kaedin Robinson (RS So., WR – Asheville, N.C.)
LB – Jalen McLeod (So., LB – Washington, D.C.)
Arkansas State
QB – James Blackman (RS Sr., QB – South Bay, Fla.)
OL – Jordan Rhodes (RS Sr., OL – Fairburn, Ga.)
WR – Champ Flemings (RS Sr., WR – Pasadena, Calif.)
DL – TW Ayers (RS Jr., DL – Lamar, Mo.)
Coastal Carolina
RB – CJ Beasley (RS So., RB – Norfolk, Va.)
WR – Tyson Mobley (Jr., WR – Longwood, Fla.)
DL – Adrian Hope (Super Sr., DL – Ocala, Fla.)
LB – Shane Bruce (RS So., LB – Carrollton, Ga.)
Georgia Southern
WR – Derwin Burgess Jr. (So., WR – Riverdale, Ga.)
WR – Jeremy Singleton (RS Sr., WR – New Orleans, La.)
DB – Anthony Wilson (RS Jr., DB – Columbia, S.C.)
K – Alex Raynor (RS Jr., K – Kennesaw, Ga.)
Georgia State
QB – Darren Grainger (RS Sr., QB – Conway, S.C.)
RB – Tucker Gregg (Sr., RB – Chatsworth, Ga.)
DL – Javon Denis (RS Jr., DL – Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
K – Michael Hayes (RS Jr, K – Florence, S.C.)
James Madison
TE – Drew Painter (RS Sr., TE – Hershey, Pa.)
LB – Jailin Walker (So., LB – Richmond, Va.)
DB – Sam Kidd (RS Sr., DB – Reston, Va.)
DB – Jordan Swann (RS Sr., DB – Newark, Del.)
Louisiana
RB – Chris Smith (RS Jr., RB – Louisville, Miss.)
TE – Neal Johnson (Jr., TE – Mesquite, Texas)
TE – Johnny Lumpkin (RS Sr., TE – Atlanta, Ga.)
LB – Kris Moncrief (Sr., LB – Raleigh, Miss.)
ULM
DL – Caleb Thomas (Gr., DL – Mansfield, Texas)
LB – Quae Drake (Jr. LB – Wadley, Ala.)
LB – Zack Woodard (Gr., LB – Thomasville, Ala.)
K – Calum Sutherland (6th Yr., K – Keller, Texas)
Marshall
WR – Corey Gammage (RS Jr., WR – Delray Beach, Fla.)
DL – Koby Cumberlander (RS Sr., DL – Roswell, Ga.)
LB – Eli Neal (Jr., LB – Memphis, Tenn.)
DB – Andre Sam (6th Yr., DB – Iowa, La.)
Old Dominion
RB – Blake Watson (RS Jr., RB – Queens, N.Y.)
DL – Alonzo Ford Jr. (So., DL – Richmond, Va.)
DB – R’Tarriun Johnson (RS Sr., DB – Wiggins, Miss.)
P – Ethan Duane (So., P – Melbourne, Australia)
South Alabama
QB – Carter Bradley (Jr., QB – Jacksonville, Fla.)
WR – Devin Voisin (So., WR – Crestview, Fla.)
DL – Wy’Kevious Thomas (RS So., DL – Riverdale, Ga.)
DB – Jaden Voisin (So., DB – Crestview, Fla.)
Southern Miss
DL – Jalen Williams (RS So., DL – Tylertown, Miss.)
LB – Daylen Gill (Sr., LB – Louisville, Miss.)
LB – Averie Habas (Jr., LB – Rice Lake, Wis.)
DB – Natrone Brooks (Sr., DB – Starkville, Miss.)
Texas State
WR – Ashtyn Hawkins (So., WR – Desoto, Texas)
LB – Jordan Revels (Jr., LB – Houston, Texas)
DB – Tory Spears (RS Jr., DB – Houston, Texas)
K – Seth Keller (RS Jr., K – Colleyville, Texas)
Troy
WR – Tez Johnson (So., WR – Pinson, Ala.)
LB – KJ Robertson (Sr., LB – Alabaster, Ala.)
DB – Dell Pettus (Jr., DB – Harvest, Ala.)
DB – Craig Slocum Jr. (Sr., DB – Lake Butler, Fla.)