NEW ORLEANS — The Sun Belt Conference placed numerous student-athletes on national preseason award watch lists heading into the 2024 season.
The Sun Belt led all non-autonomy conferences with six student-athletes on the preseason watch list for the Lombardi Award—given annually to the nation’s most outstanding college lineman.
11-of-14 Sun Belt programs were represented on preseason award watch lists, with 10-of-14 teams earning multiple nods.
Sun Belt East Division preseason favorite App State led all Sun Belt programs, collecting 15 preseason watch list mentions. The Mountaineers were closely followed by Sun Belt West Division preseason favorite Texas State (10), Arkansas State (8), Georgia Southern (7), Louisiana (6), Old Dominion (6) and South Alabama (6). James Madison (4), reigning Sun Belt champion Troy (4) and Marshall (2) also collected multiple preseason watch list honors.
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team (Community Service) – Announced July 17
178 on Nominee List
Anderson Castle, App State (RS Jr., RB – Boone, N.C.)
Justin Parks, Arkansas State (Sr., DB – Gardendale, Ala.)
David Dallas, Georgia Southern (RS So., QB – Sharpsburg, Ga.)
Jacob Dobbs, James Madison (RS Sr., LB – Macomb, Mich.)
K.C. Ossai, Louisiana (Sr., LB – Conroe, Texas)
Logan Osburn, Marshall (RS Sr., OL – Ona, W.Va.)
Stephon Dubose-Bourne, Old Dominion (RS Jr., OL – Chesapeake, Va.)
Jaden Voisin, South Alabama (RS Sr., DB – Crestview, Fla.)
Peyton Higgins, Troy (Jr., WR – Florence, Ala.)
Maxwell Award (College Player of the Year) – Announced July 29
80 on Watch List
Joey Aguilar, App State (Sr., QB – Antioch, Calif.)
Ismail Mahdi, Texas State (Jr., RB – Murphy, Texas)
Jordan McCloud, Texas State (RS Sr., QB – Tampa, Fla.)
Patrick Mannelly Award (Nation’s Best Long Snapper) – Announced July 29
30 on Watch List
Christian Johnstone, App State (RS Sr., LS – Loganville, Ga.)
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Nation’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player) – Announced July 30
75 on Watch List
Nate Johnson, App State (So., LB – Gaffney, S.C.)
Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., LB – Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (Sr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
Jaden Voisin, South Alabama (RS Sr., DB – Crestview, Fla.)
Outland Trophy (Nation’s Most Outstanding Interior Lineman) – Announced July 30
75 on Watch List
Makilan Thomas, Arkansas State (RS Jr., OL – Little Rock, Ark.)
AJ Gillie, Louisiana (RS Sr., OL – Natchitoches, La.)
Daniel King, Troy (Sr., OL – Cairo, Ga.)
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (Nation’s Best Defensive Back) – Announced July 31
42 on Watch List
Jordan Favors, App State (RS Jr., DB – Griffin, Ga.)
Ethan Johnson, App State (Jr., DB – Huntersville, N.C.)
Gavin Pringle, Georgia State (RS Sr., DB – Baltimore, Md.)
Jaden Voisin, South Alabama (RS Sr., DB – Crestview, Fla.)
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy (Community Service & Leadership) – Announced August 1
111 on Watch List
Anderson Castle, App State (RS Jr., RB – Boone, N.C.)
Justin Parks, Arkansas State (Sr., DB – Gardendale, Ala.)
David Dallas, Georgia Southern (RS So., QB – Sharpsburg, Ga.)
Jacob Dobbs, James Madison (RS Sr., LB – Macomb, Mich.)
K.C. Ossai, Louisiana (Sr., LB – Conroe, Texas)
Logan Osburn, Marshall (RS Sr., OL – Ona, W.Va.)
Stephon Dubose-Bourne, Old Dominion (RS Jr., OL – Chesapeake, Va.)
Jaden Voisin, South Alabama (RS Sr., DB – Crestview, Fla.)
Peyton Higgins, Troy (Jr., WR – Florence, Ala.)
Paul Hornung Award (Nation’s Most Versatile Player) – Announced August 1
48 on Watch List
Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS Jr., RB – Hampton, Ark.)
Zylan Perry, Louisiana (RS So., RB – Franklin, La.)
Ismail Mahdi, Texas State (Jr., RB – Murphy, Texas)
Lou Groza Award (Nation’s Top Collegiate Placekicker) – Announced August 2
33 on Watch List
Michael Hughes, App State (Sr., K – Charleston, W.Va.)
Mason Shipley, Texas State (RS Jr., K – Liberty Hill, Texas)
Ray Guy Award (Nation’s Top Collegiate Punter) – Announced August 2
34 on Watch List
Ryan Hanson, James Madison (RS Sr., P – Elgin, Texas)
Walter Camp Award (College Player of the Year) – Announced August 5
50 on Watch List
Jordan McCloud, Texas State (RS Sr., QB – Tampa, Fla.)
Doak Walker Award (Nation’s Most Outstanding College Running Back) – Announced August 6
87 on Watch List
Kanye Roberts, App State (RS So., RB – Wallace, N.C.)
Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS Jr., RB – Hampton, Ark.)
Dre’lyn Washington, Louisiana (RS Jr., RB – Hemphill, Texas)
Biletnikoff Award (Nation’s Most Outstanding College Receiver) – Announced August 7
49 on Watch List
Kaedin Robinson, App State (RS Sr., WR – Asheville, N.C.)
Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama (Sr., WR – Jackson, Ala.)
Joey Hobert, Texas State (Sr., WR – San Clemente, Calif.)
CSC Comeback Player of the Year (Overcoming Injury, Illness or Other Circumstances) – Announced August 7
89 on Watch List
Sam Kenerson, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., WR – Baton Rouge, La.)
Dexter Williams II, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., QB – Macon, Ga.)
David Dallas, Georgia Southern (RS So., QB – Sharpsburg, Ga.)
Lincoln Pare, Texas State (RS Jr., RB – Germantown, Tenn.)
Davey O’Brien Award (Nation’s Best College Quarterback) – Announced August 8
36 on Watch List
Joey Aguilar, App State (Sr., QB – Antioch, Calif.)
Jordan McCloud, Texas State (RS Sr., QB – Tampa, Fla.)
John Mackey Award (Nation’s Most Outstanding Tight End) – Announced August 9
48 on Watch List
Eli Wilson, App State (Sr., TE – Piedmont, S.C.)
Rimington Trophy (Nation’s Most Outstanding Center) – Announced August 9
40 on Watch List
Jacob Bayer, Arkansas State (Sr., OL – Grandview, Texas)
Landon Burton, Louisiana (RS Sr., OL – Lafayette, La.)
Chuck Bednarik Award (College Defensive Player of the Year) – Announced August 12
90 on Watch List
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (Sr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
Jaden Voisin, South Alabama (RS Sr., DB – Crestview, Fla.)
Ben Bell, Texas State (Sr., DL – Cedar Park, Texas)
Butkus Award (Nation’s Best Linebacker) – Announced August 13
51 on Watch List
Jacob Dobbs, James Madison (RS Sr., LB – Macomb, Mich.)
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (Sr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Nation’s Top Upperclassman Quarterback) – Announced August 14
63 on Watch List
Joey Aguilar, App State (Sr., QB – Antioch, Calif.)
Manning Award (Nation’s Best College Quarterback) – Announced August 15
29 on Watch List
Joey Aguilar, App State (Sr., QB – Antioch, Calif.)
Jaylen Raynor, Arkansas State (So., QB – Kernersville, N.C.)
Lombardi Award (Nation’s Outstanding College Lineman) – Announced August 15
90 on Watch List, Sun Belt Leads the Non-Autonomy Conferences With 6 Selections
Nate Johnson, App State (So., LB – Gaffney, S.C.)
Makilan Thomas, Arkansas State (RS Jr., OL – Little Rock, Ark.)
Isaac Walker, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., DL – Greensboro, N.C.)
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (Sr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
Ben Bell, Texas State (Sr., DL – Cedar Park, Texas)
Daniel King, Troy (Sr., OL – Cairo, Ga.)