NEW ORLEANS — The Sun Belt Conference placed numerous student-athletes on national preseason award watch lists heading into the 2023 season.
The Sun Belt led all non-autonomy conferences with seven student-athletes on the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award and two student-athletes on the preseason watch list for the Walter Camp Award—each given annually to the College Player of the Year.
The Sun Belt also paced all non-autonomy conferences with five student-athletes on the preseason watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given annually to the College Defensive Player of the Year.
Five-of-six Preseason All-Sun Belt wide receivers were named to the preseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nation's outstanding college receiver, helping the Sun Belt to again pace the non-autonomy conferences.
Three Sun Belt quarterbacks—including both Preseason All-Sun Belt picks—were listed on the preseason watch list for the Manning Award, given annually to the nation’s best college quarterback, helping the Sun Belt to lead the pack of non-autonomy conferences once again.
For the second-straight year, the Sun Belt paced the non-autonomy conferences in representation on the preseason watch lists for the Patrick Mannelly Award (Nation’s Best Long Snapper, 1); the Doak Walker Award (Nation’s Top College Running Back, 6); the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (Nation’s Best Defensive Back, 4); and the Rotary Lombardi Award (Nation’s Outstanding College Lineman, 4).
All 14 Sun Belt programs were represented on preseason award watch lists, with 13-of-14 having multiple student-athletes honored.
South Alabama led all Sun Belt programs, collecting 14 preseason watch list nods. The Jaguars were followed closely by Coastal Carolina (9), App State (7), Louisiana (7), Marshall (7), Old Dominion (7) and Troy (6). James Madison (5), Georgia Southern (4), Southern Miss (4), Georgia State (3), Texas State (3) and Arkansas State (2) collected multiple preseason watch list honors.
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominees (Community Service) – Announced July 11
73 on Nominee List
LaMareon James, Old Dominion (Jr., DB – Norfolk, Va.)
Alonzo Edwards Jr., Texas State (Jr., DB – Madison, Miss.)
Maxwell Award (College Player of the Year) – Announced July 31
85 on Watch List, Sun Belt Leads the Non-Autonomy Conferences with 7 Selections
Nate Noel, App State (Jr., RB – Miami, Fla.)
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., QB – Indian Trail, N.C.)
Jalen White, Georgia Southern (Sr., RB – Daleville, Ala.)
Darren Grainger, Georgia State (RS Sr., QB – Conway, S.C.)
Carter Bradley, South Alabama (Sr., QB – Jacksonville, Fla.)
La’Damian Webb, South Alabama (Sr., RB – Opelika, Ala.)
Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss (Jr., RB – Miami, Fla.)
Patrick Mannelly Award (Nation’s Best Long Snapper) – Announced July 31
25 on Watch List, Sun Belt Leads the Non-Autonomy Conferences with 1 Selection
Quentin Skinner, Troy (Sr., LS – Buford, Ga.)
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Nation’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player – Announced August 1
94 on Watch List
James Carpenter, James Madison (RS Jr., DL – Roanoke, Va.)
Micah Abraham, Marshall (RS Sr., DB – Tampa, Fla.)
Owen Porter, Marshall (RS Sr., DL – Huntington, W.Va.)
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (Jr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
Yam Banks, South Alabama (Jr., DB – Ridgeland, Miss.)
Reddy Steward, Troy (Sr., DB – Decatur, Ala.)
Outland Trophy (Nation’s Most Outstanding Interior Lineman) – Announced August 1
89 on Watch List
Isaiah Helms, App State (Sr., OL – Hudson, N.C.)
Bucky Williams, App State (RS Sr., OL – Ringgold, Ga.)
Kennedy Roberts, Coastal Carolina (Super Sr., DL – Clearwater, Fla.)
Khalil Crowder, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., OL – Carrollton, Ga.)
James Carpenter, James Madison (RS Jr., DL – Roanoke, Va.)
Nick Kidwell, James Madison (RS Sr., OL – Knoxville, Md.)
AJ Gillie, Louisiana (RS Jr., OL – Natchitoches, La.)
Lou Groza Award (Nation’s Top Placekicker) – Announced August 2
30 on Watch List
Dominic Zvada, Arkansas State (So., K – Chandler, Ariz.)
Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana (RS Jr., K – Clute, Texas)
Diego Guajardo, South Alabama (Sr., K – Spanish Fort, Ala.)
Ray Guy Award (Nation’s Best Collegiate Punter) – Announced August 2
49 on Watch List
Ryan Hanson, James Madison (RS Jr., P – Elgin, Texas)
Ethan Duane, Old Dominion (Jr., P – Melbourne, Australia)
Seamus O’Kelly, Texas State (Sr., P – Brisbane, Australia)
Paul Hornung Award (Nation’s Most Versatile Player) – Announced August 3
53 on Watch List
Milan Tucker, App State (RS Jr., DB – Lehigh Acres, Fla.)
Caullin Lacy, South Alabama (Jr., WR – Mobile, Ala.)
Wuerffel Trophy (Community Service & Leadership) – Announced August 3
110 on Watch List
Miller Gibbs, App State (RS Sr., TE – Davidson, N.C.)
Justin Parks, Arkansas State (Jr., DB – Gardendale, Ala.)
CJ Beasley, Coastal Carolina (RS Jr., RB – Norfolk, Va.)
Camden Wise, James Madison (RS Sr., K – Blacksburg, Va.)
Ben Wooldridge, Louisiana (RS Sr., QB – Pleasanton, Calif.)
Logan Osburn, Marshall (RS Jr., OL – Ona, W.Va.)
LaMareon James, Old Dominion (Jr., DB – Norfolk, Va.)
Carter Bradley, South Alabama (Sr., QB – Jacksonville, Fla.)
Clayton Ollendieck, Troy (Sr., TE – Cresco, Iowa)
John Mackey Award (Nation’s Most Outstanding Tight End) – Announced August 4
48 on Watch List
Neal Johnson, Louisiana (Sr., TE – Mesquite, Texas)
Rimington Trophy (Nation’s Premier Center) – Announced August 4
40 on Watch List
Isaiah Helms, App State (Sr., OL – Hudson, N.C.)
Biletnikoff Award (Nation’s Outstanding College Receiver) – Announced August 7
49 on Watch List, Sun Belt Leads the Non-Autonomy Conferences with 5 Selections
Sam Pinckney, Coastal Carolina (Super Sr., WR – Greenwood, S.C.)
Khaleb Hood, Georgia Southern (5th Yr., WR – McDonough, Ga.)
Tyrone Howell, ULM (6th Yr., WR – Idabel, Okla.)
Caullin Lacy, South Alabama (Jr., WR – Mobile, Ala.)
Devin Voisin, South Alabama (Sr., WR – Crestview, Fla.)
Davey O’Brien Award (Nation’s Best College Quarterback) – Announced August 8
35 on Watch List
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., QB – Indian Trail, N.C.)
Carter Bradley, South Alabama (Sr., QB – Jacksonville, Fla.)
Doak Walker Award (Nation’s Top College Running Back) – Announced August 9
75 on Watch List, Sun Belt Leads the Non-Autonomy Conferences with 6 Selections
Nate Noel, App State (Jr., RB – Miami, Fla.)
Marcus Carroll, Georgia State (Sr., RB – Union City, Ga.)
Dre’lyn Washington, Louisiana (RS So., RB – Hemphill, Texas)
Rasheen Ali, Marshall (Jr., RB – Cleveland, Ohio)
La’Damian Webb, South Alabama (Sr., RB – Opelika, Ala.)
Kimani Vidal, Troy (Jr., RB – Marietta, Ga.)
Butkus Award (Nation’s Best Linebacker) – Announced August 10
51 on Watch List
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (Jr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (Nation’s Best Defensive Back) – Announced August 10
35 on Watch List, Sun Belt Leads the Non-Autonomy Conferences with 4 Selections
Micah Abraham, Marshall (RS Sr., DB – Tampa, Fla.)
Yam Banks, South Alabama (Jr., DB – Ridgeland, Miss.)
Jay Stanley, Southern Miss (Sr., DB – Greenwood, Miss.)
Reddy Steward, Troy (Sr., DB – Decatur, Ala.)
Walter Camp Award (College Player of the Year) – Announced August 11
45 on Watch List, Sun Belt Leads the Non-Autonomy Conferences with 2 Selections
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., QB – Indian Trail, N.C.)
Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss (Jr., RB – Miami, Fla.)
Chuck Bednarik Award (College Defensive Player of the Year) – Announced August 14
85 on Watch List, Sun Belt Leads the Non-Autonomy Conferences with 5 Selections
Owen Porter, Marshall (RS Sr., DL – Huntington, W.Va.)
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (Jr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
Yam Banks, South Alabama (Jr., DB – Ridgeland, Miss.)
Jay Stanley, Southern Miss (Sr., DB – Greenwood, Miss.)
Reddy Steward, Troy (Sr., DB – Decatur, Ala.)
Manning Award (Nation’s Best College Quarterback) – Announced August 15
33 on Watch List, Sun Belt Leads the Non-Autonomy Conferences with 3 Selections
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., QB – Indian Trail, N.C.)
Darren Grainger, Georgia State (RS Sr., QB – Conway, S.C.)
Carter Bradley, South Alabama (Sr., QB – Jacksonville, Fla.)
Rotary Lombardi Award (Nation’s Outstanding College Lineman) – Announced August 15
78 on Watch List, Sun Belt Leads the Non-Autonomy Conferences with 4 Selections
JT Killen, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., LB – Lake Wylie, S.C.)
AJ Gillie, Louisiana (RS Jr., OL – Natchitoches, La.)
Owen Porter, Marshall (RS Sr., DL – Huntington, W.Va.)
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (Jr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award (College Offensive Player of the Year With a Texas Connection) – Announced August 17
69 on Watch List
Davis Brin, Georgia Southern (6th Yr, QB – Boerne, Texas)
Neal Johnson, Louisiana (Sr., TE – Mesquite, Texas)
Ashtyn Hawkins, Texas State (Jr., WR – DeSoto, Texas)
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Nation’s Top Upperclassman Quarterback) – Announced August 22
48 on Watch List
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., QB – Indian Trail, N.C.)
Carter Bradley, South Alabama (Sr., QB – Jacksonville, Fla.)