NEW ORLEANS – James Madison redshirt senior quarterback Jordan McCloud was named the Sun Belt Player of the Year to headline the 2023 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.
Troy junior running back Kimani Vidal was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while James Madison senior defensive lineman Jalen Green was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year. App State junior quarterback Joey Aguilar was picked as the Newcomer of the Year, Arkansas State freshman quarterback Jaylen Raynor was dubbed the Freshman of the Year and James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti was honored as the Coach of the Year.
McCloud paced the Sun Belt in points responsible for (20.2, 5th in the nation), yards of total offense per game (310.3, 10th in the nation), passing efficiency (167.4, 10th in the nation) and completion percentage (.689, 11th in the nation). The Tampa, Fla., native threw for 3,400 yards and 32 touchdowns—ranking second in the conference and among the Top 15 in the country in both categories. The redshirt senior quarterback led the Dukes to a 10-0 start and an 11-1 overall record, earning the first bowl berth in program history.
Vidal ranked second in the Sun Belt and seventh in the nation with 1,349 rushing yards and added nine rushing touchdowns on the year. The Marietta, Ga., product became Troy’s single-game, single-season and career rushing yards leader during the 2023 campaign—while matching the Troy single-season record with six 100-yard outings. The junior running back led the Trojans to a 10-2 record and the Sun Belt West Division title, earning the right to host the Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship Game for the second-straight season.
Despite playing in just nine games due to a season-ending injury, Green led the nation with a Sun Belt record 15.5 sacks and paced the Sun Belt in tackles for loss (21, 2nd in the nation). The Baltimore, Md., product tied the Sun Belt and James Madison single-game record with 5.0 sacks at Marshall. The senior defensive lineman led the highly-regarded Dukes defense that contributed to an 11-1 overall record and the first bowl berth in program history.
Aguilar led the Sun Belt with 33 touchdown passes (3rd in the nation) and ranked second with 17.5 points responsible for per game (10th in the nation), 295.1 yards of total offense per game (14th in the nation) and a 157.5 passing efficiency (21st in the nation). The Antioch, Calif., native threw for 3,271 yards—ranking fourth in the conference and 17th in the nation. The junior quarterback led the Mountaineers to an 8-4 mark, including handing James Madison its lone loss of the 2023 season, to secure the Sun Belt East Division title and App State’s conference-record fourth berth to the Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship Game.
Despite not earning his first career start until Week 4, Raynor threw for 2,293 yards and 15 touchdowns, while rushing for 331 yards and five scores. Among freshmen, the Kernersville, N.C., product led the nation with 12.2 points responsible for per game and ranked second in the country with 262.4 yards of total offense per game and 229.30 passing yards per game. The freshman quarterback led the Red Wolves to a 6-4 record in the 10 games in which he appeared to earn their first bowl berth since 2019.
Cignetti led James Madison to a 10-0 start and an 11-1 record, securing the Dukes highest-ever rankings in the AP Top 25 (No. 18) and US LBM Coaches Poll (No. 21) in the process. His Dukes also earned the first bowl berth in program history.
James Madison (13), Troy (12) and App State (10) each produced double-digit All-Sun Belt honorees. Marshall followed closely with eight All-Sun Belt selections, while Georgia Southern, South Alabama and Texas State boasted seven All-Sun Belt picks apiece.
Troy’s offense, James Madison’s defense and Troy’s defense were the most decorated units with six selections each. App State’s offense and James Madison’s offense earned five All-Sun Belt honors apiece, while Texas State’s special teams paced the conference with three All-Sun belt picks.
James Madison (6), App State (4), Troy (4) and Marshall (3) were the only programs to claim more than two All-Sun Belt First Team nods. All 14 teams produced at least one All-Sun Belt pick.
The
Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship Game will take place on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT in Troy, Ala., and will be nationally televised on ESPN.
2023 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS
Player of the Year
Jordan McCloud, James Madison (RS Sr., QB – Tampa, Fla.)
Offensive Player of the Year
Kimani Vidal, Troy (Jr., RB – Marietta, Ga.)
Defensive Player of the Year
Jalen Green, James Madison (Sr., DL – Baltimore, Md.)
Newcomer of the Year
Joey Aguilar, App State (Jr., QB – Antioch, Calif.)
Freshman of the Year
Jaylen Raynor, Arkansas State (Fr., QB – Kernersville, N.C.)
Coach of the Year
Curt Cignetti, James Madison
All-Sun Belt First Team Offense
QB – Jordan McCloud, James Madison (RS Sr., QB – Tampa, Fla.)
RB – Marcus Carroll, Georgia State (Sr., RB – Union City, Ga.)
RB – Kimani Vidal, Troy (Jr., RB – Marietta, Ga.)
OL – Isaiah Helms, App State (Sr., OL – Hudson, N.C.)
OL – Bucky Williams, App State (RS Sr., OL – Ringgold, Ga.)
OL – Jacob Bayer, Arkansas State (Jr., OL – Grandview, Texas)
OL – Khalil Crowder, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., OL – Carrollton, Ga.)
OL – Travis Glover, Georgia State (RS Sr., OL – Vienna, Ga.)
TE – Zach Horton, James Madison (Jr., TE – Roanoke, Va.)
WR – Reggie Brown, James Madison (RS Sr., WR – Lakeland, Fla.)
WR – Elijah Sarratt, James Madison (So., WR – Stafford, Va.)
WR – Caullin Lacy, South Alabama (Jr., WR – Mobile, Ala.)
All-Sun Belt First Team Defense
DL – Jalen Green, James Madison (Sr., DL – Baltimore, Md.)
DL – Jamree Kromah, James Madison (RS Sr., DL – Glenarden, Md.)
DL – Owen Porter, Marshall (RS Sr., DL – Huntington, W.Va.)
DL – Richard Jibunor, Troy (Sr., DL – Delta State, Nigeria)
DL – Javon Solomon, Troy (Jr., DL – Tallahassee, Fla.)
LB – Andrew Parker Jr., App State (RS Sr., LB – New Orleans, La.)
LB – Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., LB – Pittsburgh, Pa.)
LB – Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (Jr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
DB – Tyrek Funderburk, App State (RS Sr., DB – Indian Trail, N.C.)
DB – Micah Abraham, Marshall (RS Sr., DB – Tampa, Fla.)
DB – Jaden Voisin, South Alabama (RS Jr., DB – Crestview, Fla.)
DB – Reddy Steward, Troy (Sr., DB – Decatur, Ala.)
All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams
K – Mason Shipley, Texas State (RS So., K – Liberty Hill, Texas)
P – William Przystup, Arkansas State (RS Sr., P – Oviedo, Fla.)
RS – Jayden Harrison, Marshall (RS Jr., RS – Antioch, Tenn.)
AP – Ismail Mahdi, Texas State (So., AP – Murphy, Texas)
All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense
QB – Joey Aguilar, App State (Jr., QB – Antioch, Calif.)
RB – Rasheen Ali, Marshall (Jr., RB – Cleveland, Ohio)
RB – Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss (Jr., RB – Miami, Fla.)
OL – Makilan Thomas, Arkansas State (RS So., OL – Little Rock, Ark.)
OL – Rasheed Miller, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., OL – Lake Wales, Fla.)
OL – Tyler Stephens, James Madison (Jr., OL – Virginia Beach, Va.)
OL – Grant Betts, Troy (Sr., OL – Spanish Fort, Ala.)
OL – Daniel King, Troy (Jr., OL – Cairo, Ga.)
TE – Eli Wilson, App State (Jr., TE – Piedmont, S.C.)
WR – Sam Pinckney, Coastal Carolina (Super Sr., WR – Greenwood, S.C.)
WR – Khaleb Hood, Georgia Southern (5th Yr., WR – Atlanta, Ga.)
WR – Joey Hobert, Texas State (Jr., WR – San Clemente, Calif.)
All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense
DL – James Carpenter, James Madison (RS Jr., DL – Roanoke, Va.)
DL – Mikail Kamara, James Madison (RS So., DL – Ashburn, Va.)
DL – Adin Huntington, ULM (Jr., DL – Stafford, Va.)
DL – Ben Bell, Texas State (Jr., DL – Cedar Park, Texas)
DL – T.J. Jackson, Troy (Jr., DL – Milbrook, Ala.)
LB – Nate Johnson, App State (Fr., LB – Gaffney, S.C.)
LB – Quentin Wilfawn, South Alabama (RS Sr., LB – Oxford, Miss.)
LB – Brian Holloway, Texas State (RS Sr., LB – Clear Lake, Texas)
DB – Ethan Johnson, App State (So., DB – Huntersville, N.C.)
DB – Shemar Bartholomew, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., DB – Houston, Texas)
DB – D’Angelo Ponds, James Madison (Fr., DB – West Park, Fla.)
DB – Dell Pettus, Troy (Sr., DB – Harvest, Ala.)
All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams
K – Michael Hughes, App State (Jr., K – Charleston, W.Va.)
P – Ryan Hanson, James Madison (RS Jr., P – Elgin, Texas)
RS – Ismail Mahdi, Texas State (So., RS – Murphy, Texas)
AP – Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss (Jr., AP – Miami, Fla.)
All-Sun Belt Third Team Offense
QB – Gunnar Watson, Troy (Sr., QB – Butler, Ga.)
RB – Jalen White, Georgia Southern (Sr., RB – Daleville, Ala.)
RB – La’Damian Webb, South Alabama (Sr., RB – Opelika, Ala.)
OL – Jack Murphy, App State (RS So., OL – Fairfax, Va.)
OL – Will McDonald, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., OL – Matthews, N.C.)
OL – AJ Gillie, Louisiana (RS Jr., OL – Natchitoches, La.)
OL – Ethan Driskell, Marshall (RS Sr., OL – Louisville, Ky.)
OL – Brey Walker, Texas State (RS Sr., OL – Moore, Okla.)
TE – Neal Johnson, Louisiana (Sr., TE – Mesquite, Texas)
WR – Robert Lewis, Georgia State (RS Jr., WR – Covington, Ga.)
WR – Jabre Barber, Troy (Jr., WR – Dothan, Ala.)
WR – Chris Lewis, Troy (So., WR – Pleasant Grove, Ala.)
All-Sun Belt Third Team Defense
DL – Thurman Geathers, Arkansas State (RS Sr., DL – Acworth, Ga.)
DL – Isaac Walker, Georgia Southern (RS So., DL – Greensboro, N.C.)
DL – Elijah Alston, Marshall (RS Jr., DL – Chesapeake, Va.)
DL – Wy’Kevious Thomas, South Alabama (RS Jr., DL – Riverdale, Ga.)
LB – Jontrey Hunter, Georgia State (RS Sr., LB – Tampa, Fla.)
LB – Aiden Fisher, James Madison (So., LB – Fredericksburg, Va.)
LB – Eli Neal, Marshall (Sr., LB – Memphis, Tenn.)
LB – Wayne Matthews III, Old Dominion (RS So., LB – Largo, Md.)
DB – Clayton Isbell, Coastal Carolina (Super Sr., DB – St. Charles, Ill.)
DB – Gavin Pringle, Georgia State (Sr., DB – Baltimore, Md.)
DB – Yam Banks, South Alabama (Jr., DB – Ridgeland, Miss.)
DB – Irshaad Davis, Troy (Sr., DB – Carol City, Fla.)
All-Sun Belt Third Team Special Teams
K – Camden Wise, James Madison (RS Sr., K – Blacksburg, Va.)
P – John McConnell, Marshall (RS So., P – Morgantown, W.Va.)
RS – Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS So., RS – Hampton, Ark.)
AP – Caullin Lacy, South Alabama (Jr., AP – Mobile, Ala.)
All-Sun Belt Honorable Mentions
App State
RB – Kanye Roberts (RS Fr., RB – Teachey, N.C.)
WR – Kaedin Robinson (RS Jr., WR – Asheville, N.C.)
DL – Santana Hopper (RS Fr., DL – Shelby, N.C.)
DB – Jordan Favors (RS So., DB – Griffin, Ga.)
Arkansas State
OL – Jalen Cunningham (RS Sr., OL – Odenville, Ala.)
WR – Courtney Jackson (RS Jr., WR – Monroeville, Pa.)
LB – Charles Willekes (RS Jr., LB – Rockford, Mich.)
DB – Samy Johnson (Sr., DB – Little Rock, Ark.)
Coastal Carolina
OL – Nick Del Grande (RS Fr., OL – Lancaster, Pa.)
WR – Jared Brown (RS So., WR – Lilburn, Ga.)
DL – Micheal Mason (Super Sr., DL – Florence, S.C.)
DB – Matthew McDoom (So., DB – Winter Garden, Fla.)
Georgia Southern
QB – Davis Brin (6th Yr., QB – Boerne, Texas)
TE – Jjay Mcafee (6th Yr., TE – Charleston, S.C.)
WR – Derwin Burgess Jr. (Jr., WR – Riverdale, Ga.)
DB – TJ Smith (RS Jr., DB – Atlanta, Ga.)
Georgia State
QB – Darren Grainger (RS Sr., QB – Conway, S.C.)
WR – Tailique Williams (RS Jr., WR – Pine Mountain, Ga.)
LB – Kevin Swint (Sr., LB – Carrollton, Ga.)
DB – Jeremiah Johnson (Sr., DB – Anguilla, Miss.)
James Madison
WR – Phoenix Sproles (RS Sr., WR – New Hope, Minn.)
LB – Jailin Walker (Jr., LB – Richmond, Va.)
DB – Chauncey Logan (So., DB – Salem, Va.)
DB – Francis Meehan (RS Sr., DB – Wilmington, N.C.)
Louisiana
OL – Nathan Thomas (RS Jr., OL – New Orleans, La.)
WR – Peter LeBlanc (Sr., WR – New Iberia, La.)
LB – Kendre’ Gant (Jr., LB – Port St. Joe, Fla.)
LB – K.C. Ossai (Jr., LB – Conroe, Texas)
ULM
OL – Elijah Fisher (So., OL – Allen, Texas)
OL – Zarian McGill (Jr., OL – Taylorsville, Miss.)
WR – Tyrone Howell (6th Yr., WR – Idabel, Okla.)
DL – Kenard Snyder (So., DL – Vero Beach, Fla.)
Marshall
OL – Logan Osburn (RS Jr., OL – Ona, W.Va.)
OL – Dalton Tucker (RS Sr., OL – Paris, Ky.)
DL – Sam Burton (RS Sr., DL – Boca Raton, Fla.)
DB – J.J. Roberts (RS Jr., DB – Ona, W.Va.)
Old Dominion
DL – Denzel Lowry (RS So., DL – Virginia Beach, Va.)
DB – Shawn Asbury II (Jr., DB – Stafford, Va.)
DB – LaMareon James (Jr., DB – Norfolk, Va.)
DB – Terry Jones (RS Jr., DB – Baltimore, Md.)
South Alabama
QB – Carter Bradley (Sr., QB – Jacksonville, Fla.)
OL – Reggie Smith (Sr., OL – Pensacola, Fla.)
WR – Jamaal Pritchett (So., WR – Jackson, Ala.)
LB – Trey Kiser (Sr., LB – Sulphur, Okla.)
Southern Miss
WR – Jakarius Caston (Sr., WR – Natchez, Miss.)
DL – Quentin Bivens (Sr., DL – Waynesboro, Miss.)
LB – Swayze Bozeman (RS Sr., LB – Flora, Miss.)
DB – Jay Stanley (Sr., DB – Greenwood, Miss.)
Texas State
QB – TJ Finley (RS So., QB – Ponchatoula, La.)
WR – Ashtyn Hawkins (Jr., WR – DeSoto, Texas)
WR – Kole Wilson (So., WR – Katy, Texas)
DB – Shawn Holton (Sr., DB – Fort Worth, Texas)
Troy
DL – Buddha Jones (Sr., DL – Tallahassee, Fla.)
DB – O’shai Fletcher (Sr., DB – Huntsville, Ala.)
DB – Caleb Ransaw (Jr., DB – Harvest, Ala.)
LS – Quentin Skinner (Sr., LS – Buford, Ga.)