NEW ORLEANS — The Sun Belt Conference placed numerous student-athletes on national preseason award watch lists heading into the 2025 season.
The Sun Belt led all non-autonomy conferences with three student-athletes on the preseason watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given annually to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player, and the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation’s best defensive back.
On special teams, Arkansas State junior kicker Clune Van Andel and Georgia Southern junior punter Alex Smith gave the Sun Belt representation on both the Lou Groza Award—given annually to the nation’s top collegiate placekicker—and the Ray Guy Award—given annually to the nation’s top collegiate punter—preseason watch lists to again pace the non-autonomy conferences.
Offensively, the Sun Belt led all non-autonomy conferences with three wide receivers on the preseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Award—given annually to the nation’s most outstanding college receiver—and both Preseason All-Sun Belt quarterbacks on the preseason watch list for the Davey O’Brien Award—given annually to the nation’s best quarterback.
The Sun Belt once again led the non-autonomy conferences with three student-athletes—App State redshirt senior defensive back Ja’Den McBurrows, ULM senior wide receiver Javon Campbell and Troy redshirt junior quarterback Goose Crowder—on the preseason watch list for the Comeback Player of the Year, an award given annually to a student-athlete overcoming injury, illness or other circumstances.
All 14 Sun Belt programs were represented on preseason award watch lists, with 12-of-14 teams earning multiple nods.
Sun Belt East Division preseason favorite James Madison led all Sun Belt programs, collecting 10 preseason watch list mentions. The Dukes were closely followed by Sun Belt West Division preseason favorite Louisiana (8), Old Dominion (8), Arkansas State (7), Georgia Southern (6) and Southern Miss (6). Reigning Sun Belt champion Marshall (5), App State (3), ULM (3), Texas State (3), Coastal Carolina (2) and South Alabama (2) also collected multiple preseason watch list nods.
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team (Community Service) – Announced July 15
197 on Nominee List
Ethan Johnson, App State (Sr., DB – Huntersville, N.C.)
Corey Rucker, Arkansas State (RS Sr., WR – Bentonia, Miss.)
Jayden Jackson, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., DB – Reedsville, Pa.)
Pichon Wimbley, Georgia Southern (Sr., OL – Newnan, Ga.)
Blake Kendall, James Madison (RS Jr., QB – Wellington, Fla.)
Caden Jensen, Louisiana (RS So., TE – Flower Mound, Texas)
Elijah Fisher, ULM (RS Sr., OL – Allen, Texas)
Toby Payne, Marshall (RS Jr., TE – Poca, W.Va.)
Koa Naotala, Old Dominion (RS Jr., LB – Newport News, Va.)
Devin Voisin, South Alabama (Gr., WR – Crestview, Fla.)
Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss (RS Sr., QB – Frisco, Texas)
Lincoln Pare, Texas State (RS Sr., RB – Germantown, Tenn.)
Maxwell Award (College Player of the Year) – Announced July 28
80 on Watch List
Corey Rucker, Arkansas State (RS Sr., WR – Bentonia, Miss.)
Alonza Barnett III, James Madison (RS Jr., QB – Whitsett, N.C.)
Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss (RS Sr., QB – Frisco, Texas)
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Nation’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player) – Announced July 29
60 on Watch List, Sun Belt Leads Non-Autonomy Conferences With 3 Selections
Immanuel Bush, James Madison (RS Sr., DL – Lancaster, S.C.)
Jordan Lawson, Louisiana (RS Sr., DL – Brandon, Miss.)
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (RS Sr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
Outland Trophy (Nation’s Most Outstanding Interior Lineman) – Announced July 29
50 on Watch List
Immanuel Bush, James Madison (RS Sr., DL – Lancaster, S.C.)
Pat McMurtrie, James Madison (Gr., OL – Verona, N.J.)
Butkus Award (Nation’s Best Linebacker) – Announced July 30
51 on Watch List
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (RS Sr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (Nation’s Best Defensive Back) – Announced July 30
35 on Watch List, Sun Belt Leads Non-Autonomy Conferences With 3 Selections
Chance Gamble, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., DB – Fitzgerald, Ga.)
Jacob Thomas, James Madison (Sr., DB – Ashburn, Va.)
Tyree Skipper, Louisiana (RS Sr., DB – New Orleans, La.)
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy (Community Service & Athletic & Academic Achievement) – Announced July 31
116 on Nominee List
Ethan Johnson, App State (Sr., DB – Huntersville, N.C.)
Corey Rucker, Arkansas State (RS Sr., WR – Bentonia, Miss.)
Jayden Jackson, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., DB – Reedsville, Pa.)
Pichon Wimbley, Georgia Southern (Sr., OL – Newnan, Ga.)
Blake Kendall, James Madison (RS Jr., QB – Wellington, Fla.)
Caden Jensen, Louisiana (RS So., TE – Flower Mound, Texas)
Elijah Fisher, ULM (RS Sr., OL – Allen, Texas)
Toby Payne, Marshall (RS Jr., TE – Poca, W.Va.)
Koa Naotala, Old Dominion (RS Jr., LB – Newport News, Va.)
Devin Voisin, South Alabama (Gr., WR – Crestview, Fla.)
Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss (RS Sr., QB – Frisco, Texas)
Lincoln Pare, Texas State (RS Sr., RB – Germantown, Tenn.)
Paul Hornung Award (Nation’s Most Versatile Player) – Announced July 31
46 on Watch List
Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS Sr., RB – Hampton, Ark.)
Zylan Perry, Louisiana (RS Jr., RB – Franklin, La.)
Lou Groza Award (Nation’s Top Collegiate Placekicker) – Announced August 1
30 on Watch List, Sun Belt Leads Non-Autonomy Conferences With 1 Selection
Clune Van Andel, Arkansas State (Jr., K – Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Ray Guy Award (Nation’s Top Collegiate Punter) – Announced August 1
15 on Watch List, Sun Belt Leads Non-Autonomy Conferences With 1 Selection
Alex Smith, Georgia Southern (Jr., P – Melbourne, Australia)
Walter Camp Award (Nation’s Most Outstanding Player) – Announced August 4
46 on Watch List
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (RS Sr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss (RS Sr., QB – Frisco, Texas)
Doak Walker Award (Nation’s Premier Running Back) – Announced August 5
103 on Watch List
Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS Sr., RB – Hampton, Ark.)
Bill Davis, Louisiana (RS So., RB – LaPlace, La.)
Zylan Perry, Louisiana (RS Jr., RB – Franklin, La.)
Jo’Shon Barbie, Marshall (RS Jr., RB – Harvey, La.)
Tony Mathis Jr., Marshall (RS Sr., RB – Orlando, Fla.)
Lincoln Pare, Texas State (RS Sr., RB – Germantown, Tenn.)
Biletnikoff Award (Nation’s Most Outstanding College Receiver) – Announced August 6
47 on Watch List, Sun Belt Leads Non-Autonomy Conferences With 3 Selections
Corey Rucker, Arkansas State (RS Sr., WR – Bentonia, Miss.)
Ted Hurst, Georgia State (Sr., WR – Savannah, Ga.)
Adrian Norton, Marshall (Jr., WR – Huber Heights, Ohio)
Davey O’Brien Award (Nation’s Best Quarterback) – Announced August 7
36 on Watch List, Sun Belt Leads Non-Autonomy Conferences With 2 Selections
Alonza Barnett III, James Madison (RS Jr., QB – Whitsett, N.C.)
Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss (RS Sr., QB – Frisco, Texas)
John Mackey Award (Nation’s Most Outstanding Tight End) – Announced August 8
46 on Watch List
River Helms, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., TE – Lester, Ala.)
Bednarik Award (College Defensive Player of the Year) - Announced August 11
90 on Watch List
Jacob Thomas, James Madison (Sr., DB – Ashburn, Va.)
Tyree Skipper, Louisiana (RS Sr., DB – New Orleans, La.)
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (RS Sr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
Josh Moten, Southern Miss (RS Sr., DB – Waldorf, Md.)
Lombardi Award (Nation’s Most Outstanding College Lineman) – Announced August 12
54 on Watch List
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (RS Sr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
Manning Award (Nation’s Best Quarterback) – Announced August 14
27 on Watch List
Colton Joseph, Old Dominion (RS So., QB – Newport Beach, Calif.)
Comeback Player of the Year (Overcoming Injury, Illness or Other Circumstances) – Announced August 19
75 on Watch List, Sun Belt Leads Non-Autonomy Conferences With 3 Selections
Ja’Den McBurrows, App State (RS Sr., DB – Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Javon Campbell, ULM (Sr., WR – King George, Va.)
Goose Crowder, Troy (RS Jr., QB – Gardendale, Ala.)
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Nation’s Top Upperclassman Quarterback) – Announced August 19
58 on Watch List
JC French IV, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., QB – Roswell, Ga.)
Alonza Barnett III, James Madison (RS Jr., QB – Whitsett, N.C.)