Preseason All-Sun Belt- Apps blanked for first time ever

[AppState2014]

For the first time I can ever remember, App State is left of it's preseason All-Conference squad. Really thought Critcher, Cox, or Lamm would make 2nd team. Knew it wouldn't be more than 1 or 2 guys but Georgia Southern had 2. Good motivation for our team.


Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Honors
As Selected by the Sun Belt Conference Head Coaches and Select Members of the Media

Offensive Player of the Year
Terrance Broadway (UL Lafayette, Sr., QB)

Defensive Player of the Year
Qushaun Lee (Arkansas State, Sr., LB)

First Team Preseason Offense
Terrance Broadway (UL Lafayette, Sr., QB)
Alonzo Harris (UL Lafayette, Sr., RB)
Elijah McGuire (UL Lafayette, So., RB)
J.D. McKissic (Arkansas State, Jr., WR)
Jamal Robinson (UL Lafayette, Sr., WR)
Rashon Ceaser (UL Monroe, Jr., WR)
Wes Saxton (South Alabama, Sr., TE)
Daniel Quave (UL Lafayette, Sr., OL)
Mike Marboe, (Idaho, Sr., OL)
Chris May (South Alabama, Jr., OL)
Ucambre Williams (South Alabama, Sr., OL)
Terrence Jones (Troy, Sr., OL)

First Team Preseason Defense
Chris Stone (Arkansas State, Jr., DL)
Justin Hamilton (UL Lafayette, Sr., DL)
Gerrand Johnson (UL Monroe, Jr., DL)
Tyler Roberts (Troy, Jr., DL)
Qushaun Lee (Arkansas State, Sr., LB)
Dominique Tovell (UL Lafayette, Jr., LB)
David Mayo (Texas State, Sr., LB)
Michael Orakpo (Texas State, Sr., LB)
Rocky Hayes (Arkansas State, Jr., DB)
Sterling Young (Arkansas State, Sr., DB)
Trevence Patt (UL Lafayette, Sr., DB)
Craig Mager (Texas State, Sr., DB)

First Team Special Teams
Jason Dann (Texas State, Sr., PK)
Austin Rehkow (Idaho, So., P)
J.D. McKissic (Arkansas State, Jr., Returner)

Second Team Preseason Offense
Tyler Jones (Texas State, So., QB)
Michael Gordon (Arkansas State, Jr., RB)
Robert Lowe (Texas State, Jr., RB)
Jeremé Jones (South Alabama, Sr., WR)
Shavarez Smith (South Alabama, Sr., WR)
Bryan Holmes (Troy, Jr., WR)
Darion Griswold (Arkansas State, Jr., TE)
Colton Jackson (Arkansas State, So., OL)
Garrett Frye (Georgia Southern, Sr., OL)
Mykhael Quave (UL Lafayette, Jr., OL)
Joseph Treadwell (UL Monroe, Sr., OL)
Adrian Bellard (Texas State, Jr., OL)

Second Team Preseason Defense
Dexter Blackmon (Arkansas State, Sr., DL)
Maxx Forde (Idaho, Sr., DL)
Christian Ringo (UL Lafayette, Sr., DL)
Joey Gautney (UL Monroe, Sr., DL)
Jesse Kelley (South Alabama, Sr., DL)
Edwin Jackson (Georgia Southern, Jr., LB)
Joseph Peterson (Georgia State, So., LB)
Maleki Harris (South Alabama, Sr., LB)
Artez Brown (Arkansas State, Sr., DB)
Mitch Lane (UL Monroe, Jr., DB)
Qudarius Ford (South Alabama, Sr., DB)
Ethan Davis (Troy, Sr., DB)

Second Team Special Teams
Aleem Sunanon (South Alabama, So., PK)
Justin Manton (UL Monroe, Sr., P)
Brandon Smith (Texas State, Jr., Returner)

[Maddog1956]

That's why you play the game!

[DoubleA]

we will get our share once we earn respect within the conference. I like being the dogs going into the season.

[Gonzo]

Pin this up in the locker room. Especially against ASU, USA, and ULL.

[hapapp]

Appears that only App State and NM State were without players on the preseason teams.

[BearlyDoug]

Now that this is merged, my original post (a duplicate of the OP) is no longer necessary.

[BearlyDoug]

One thing that was picked up on, almost right away, was the fact that there is not even a SINGLE Mountaineer on that list.

A Georgia Southern fan wanted to know your opinions on this (I will also ask Coach Satterfield his thoughts, as well).

On the flip side of the Georgia Southern coin, though... Marcus Cox is getting quite a bit of respect.

So... what say you?

[EastHallApp]

I'm really not sweating it. Much more concerned about the team projections and results, and we fared reasonably well there. If App wins our share of games, I think the individual recognition will follow.

[BearlyDoug]

If you want to see a Class and Team breakdown, look towards the middle of http://twocentsradio.net/r/2014SBCPreseasonTeams.html

For the record, I'm of the mindset that if Appalachian State defeats Michigan AGAIN, that will get a LOT of attention for not only your school, but the Sun Belt Conference, as a whole.

Part of the biggest issue I've seen in the four years I've been keeping tabs on the SBC is that none of the other conferences (P5, The American and Conference USA) seems to have any respect for the SBC Conference, as a whole.

I'm looking at both Appalachian State and Georgia Southern to start slamming exclamation marks on the conference, as a whole.

[fjblair]

Why would there be any ASU players on the list? Makes sense to me although the GS gift is surprising. Who cares, we have to make our bones.

[BearlyDoug]

I do apologize for starting a second thread on this. I didn't see this thread when I started mine. I'll go report mine to see about a merge in with this one.

[moonshine]

The Mountaineer who had a 2013 season worthy of individual recognition was Cox. With him just being a Sophomore (5 total Sophomore players on the entire list, 2 of which were ST), the number of good backs in the Sun Belt and playing on an unknown new conference team, I'm not concerned. He's got time to be on a first name basis with opposing coaches and earn his way onto the list!

I'd like to see Blair and Law break into the 2nd team by season's end. That would give the D a solid foundation to build upon going into 2015. Outside of Cox obviously, my sleeper on offense has to be Burns. With his size and App's ineptness in red zone touchdowns (60%), SS and Ponce have got to find ways to to increase the team's production and Burns could be a key part of that equation.

Congrats to the GS players. I'm sure they are digging the pub.

[BurlingtonApp]

Honestly I wasn't too surprised to see Cox left off. I disagree with it, but can see how it's possible.
I was shocked Bentlee Critcher didn't make it though. The ball is probably the only thing that doesn't get any bigger from FCS to FBS

[AppState2014]

Honestly I wasn't too surprised to see Cox left off. I disagree with it, but can see how it's possible.
I was shocked Bentlee Critcher didn't make it though. The ball is probably the only thing that doesn't get any bigger from FCS to FBS

I was a little on the opposite. I thought with Cox making the Doak Walker list (one of just four from the SBC) he would make the 2nd team here. I didn't think Critcher would make this list because of the numbers of the other two.

Here is the stat comparison

2013 stats
Rehkow- 47.8avg, 15 FC, 24 I20, 34 50+ yards, 2014 Ray Guy Watch List
Manton- 45.8avg, 16 FC, 24 I20, 28 50+ yards, 2014 Ray Guy Watch List
Critcher- 45.9avg, 11 FC, 15 I20, 18 50+ yards

Rehkow was an All-American and Manton is a returning All-SBC player.

[AtlAppMan]

Don't cry over it, just go out and take care of business this year and the SBC and FBS world will line up to respect us.

Like Gonzo said, pin it up in the locker room along with our projected #7 SBC finish, and #126 FBS finish (or whatever bottom of the FBS poll you want to use) and pound it into our kids heads how little respect everybody has for this team. This team has tremendous upside potential. Use it as motivation material.

[luvyosef]

If we are undefeated when South Alabama comes to Boone, you best believe this will up on the bulletin board. In the words of "Carmine Lorenzo" (Dennis Franz) from DIE HARD 2, "it's time to KICK ASS!"

[AppState2014]

Don't cry over it, just go out and take care of business this year and the SBC and FBS world will line up to respect us.

Like Gonzo said, pin it up in the locker room along with our projected #7 SBC finish, and #126 FBS finish (or whatever bottom of the FBS poll you want to use) and pound it into our kids heads how little respect everybody has for this team. This team has tremendous upside potential. Use it as motivation material.

Honestly, I'm glad they aren't giving us respect. We didn't do anything to earn it based on last year and this just means our team should be hungry. In FCS our program became arrogant and expected to win every week. The sting of early exits the last few years and now this disrespect should do nothing but make our coaches and players very hungry.

We are going to be underrated and are now the under dog. The most heart I have ever seen from our teams were with their backs to the wall. The playoff run where we beat Troy, WKU, and almost beat Montana on the road after barely getting in. Or how about when we lost to Wofford and then again later in the 2007 season but rebounded to win a 3rd straight title. We were 6-5 in 2004 with it looking like our coaching staff would be gone if they don't improve and we won the NC. Hopefully this is just another case of us not getting the respect and we have that chip on our shoulder.

This season can't get here soon enough! I would be willing to bet we have several all-SBC players and we don't end up 7th or 8th in the SBC. This will make future success sweeter knowing we were doubted! Go Apps!

[DaphneUrquhart]

I usually pay no mind to any preseason list. The All SunBelt Team that's named at the end of the season will mean something to me. Personally, I'm hoping Critcher doesn't get much punting practice in games this year.

[WVAPPeer]

Agree - it makes little difference at this point in time --- the SB coaches know little of our individual personnel at this point whereas they are quite familiar with guys they played against last season - as has been mentioned a couple of times, we'll see where our guys stand at the end of the season ---

[BearlyDoug]

I usually pay no mind to any preseason list. The All SunBelt Team that's named at the end of the season will mean something to me. Personally, I'm hoping Critcher doesn't get much punting practice in games this year.

Funnily enough, Coach Satt said (essentially) the same thing as the underlined part of your post above.