Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll

[JustinS09]

Looks like we are going to be the underdog in pretty much every game. At least in the minds of the coaches.
Press Release below.

Sun Belt Releases Preseason Football Poll​

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Sun Belt Conference released the results of its preseason football coaches’ poll on Thursday in advance of the conference's media day that begins Monday, July 22. In the polling of the league's 10 head coaches, Texas State was picked to finish fifth in the West Division.



The 2019 season marks the second year that the Sun Belt is split into two divisions for football. The East and West Division champions will square off in the second Sun Belt Championship at the conclusion of the regular season.



West Division

Louisiana was selected as the preseason favorite to win the West Division, garnering six first-place votes and a total of 46 points. The Ragin’ Cajuns edged Arkansas State, which took second place with three first-place votes and 42 points.



ULM took third place with 27 points, while South Alabama was picked to finish fourth after receiving one first-place vote and 19 points.


Entering its first season under first-year head coach Jake Spavital, Texas State rounded out the division with 16 points.



East Division

Appalachian State was chosen as the overall preseason favorite after winning the first Sun Belt Championship game and finished 7-1 in the conference during the regular season. Troy, which, finished 7-1 in conference alongside App State in 2018, finished second in the East Division with one first-place vote and a total of 39 points.



Georgia Southern, which received two first place votes, earned 35 points to finish third. Coastal Carolina (17 points) and Georgia State (13 points) were picked to finish fourth and fifth place, respectively, to round out the East Division.



The Sun Belt will release its Preseason All-Conference Teams on Friday at 10 a.m. The conference's annual football media day is July 22 in New Orleans, La., at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

2019 Sun Belt Football Coaches Predicted Order of Finish

first-place votes in parentheses​

East Division

1. Appalachian State (7) - 46 pts

2. Troy (1) - 39 pts

3. Georgia Southern (2) - 35 pts

4. Coastal Carolina - 17 pts

5. Georgia State - 13 pts



West Division

1. Louisiana (6) - 46 pts

2. Arkansas State (3) - 42 pts

3. ULM - 27 pts

4. South Alabama (1) - 19 pts

5. Texas State - 16 pts



2019 Sun Belt Football Coaches Predicted Championship Game Winner

Appalachian State

 

[_x_]

Haha at South with a 1st place vote.....

If I had a vote I'd have voted TXST 4 and South 5 in the west. Seems most coaches did just that, but the one first place vote for them puts them ahead of us.

 

[_x_]

Here are the preseason all-conference teams:

Sun Belt Announces 2019 Preseason All-Conference Football Teams

NEW ORLEANS - The Sun Belt Conference announced its 2019 Preseason All-Sun Belt Football teams and individual awards Friday, as voted upon by the 10 head football coaches and selected media representatives.

sunbeltsports.org

First Team Offense
QB - Zac Thomas (Appalachian State, Junior) #
RB - Darrynton Evans (Appalachian State, Junior) ^
RB - B.J. Smith (Troy, Senior) ^
WR - Corey Sutton (Appalachian State, Junior) #
WR - Kirk Merritt (Arkansas State, Senior) ^
WR - Ja'Marcus Bradley (Louisiana, RS-Senior) $
TE - Javonis Isaac (Arkansas State, RS-Junior) #
OL - Noah Hannon (Appalachian State, Junior) #
OL - Victor Johnson (Appalachian State, Senior) *^
OL - Kevin Dotson (Louisiana, RS-Senior) *^
OL - Robert Hunt (Louisiana, RS-Senior) #
OL - Kirk Kelley (Troy, Senior) ^

First Team Defense
DL - William Bradley-King (Arkansas State, RS-Junior) #
DL - Forrest Merrill (Arkansas State, Junior) #
DL - Raymond Johnson (Georgia Southern, Junior) #
DL - Tyree Turner (South Alabama, Senior) *#
LB - Akeem Davis-Gaither (Appalachian State, Senior) #
LB - Jordan Fehr (Appalachian State, Senior) ^
LB - Bryan London II (Texas State, Senior) *^
DB - Desmond Franklin (Appalachian State, Senior) ^
DB - Jerry Jacobs (Arkansas State, Junior) #
DB - Monquavion Brinson (Georgia Southern, Senior) *#
DB - Kindle Vildor (Georgia Southern, Senior) ^

First Team Special Teams
K - Tyler Bass (Georgia Southern, RS-Senior) *^
P - Brandon Wright (Georgia State, RS-Senior) ^
RS - Tra Minter (South Alabama, Senior) #

Second Team Offense
QB - Caleb Evans (ULM, Senior) *$
RB - Elijah Mitchell (Louisiana, Junior) #
RB - Trey Ragas (Louisiana, RS-Junior) *$
WR - Omar Bayless (Arkansas State, RS-Senior) !
WR - Kawaan Baker (South Alabama, Junior) !
WR - Tray Eafford (Troy, Junior)
TE - Collin Reed (Appalachian State, Senior) *$
OL - Jacob Still (Arkansas State, RS-Junior) *!
OL - Hunter Atkinson (Georgia State, RS-Senior) *$
OL - T.J. Fiailoa (ULM, RS-Junior) $
OL - Aaron Brewer (Texas State, Senior) *!
OL - Tristan Crowder (Troy, Senior) *$

Second Team Defense
DL - Kevin Thurmon (Arkansas State, RS-Senior) !
DL - Tarron Jackson (Coastal Carolina, RS-Junior) $
DL - Zi'Yon Hill (Louisiana, RS-Sophomore) $
DL - Jarvis Hayes (Troy, Senior) $
LB - Jacques Boudreaux (Louisiana, Senior) $
LB - Nikolas Daniels (Texas State, Senior) $
LB - Carlton Martial (Troy, Sophomore)
DB - Josh Thomas (Appalachian State, Senior) !
DB - B.J. Edmonds (Arkansas State, Senior) *
DB - Darreon Jackson (Arkansas State, RS-Senior) $
DB - Michael Jacquet III (Louisiana, RS-Senior)

Second Team Special Teams
K - Tyler Sumpter (Troy, Junior) $
P - Cody Grace (Arkansas State, RS-Senior) *#
RS - Darrynton Evans (Appalachian State, Junior)

 

[Bobkat34]

Screw it!!! Clip Board for the locker room. Tell players... this is what Coaches in Belt think of you. BOOM!!!! Eat'EM UP!

 

[carmanjello325]

So App has 8 players in the First team and we have 3 players in total that made a team altogether? After App has to play @ UNC and @ South Carolina they looked to have secured a "home bye week".

In other news, Nicholls doesn't have their home opener until the 2nd week of October after playing 4 games in a row on the road including one in Manhattan, KS. They'll be good and warmed up but how healthy or exhausted will they be? I'm concerned about the game but I'm not yet worried given the circumstances. While they beat hapless KU in OT, they also lost to an average mcneese squad and were blown out by ACU and Tulane. Their offense averaged just 13 points in their regular season losses, we could win this game (granted we play smart) just with our defense putting the ball in their end zone alone

 

[_x_]

Saw Nicholls was picked to win the Southland today with 20 of 21 first place votes.

 

[Bobkat34]

Yeah X... someone on twitter noted it too (Keff I think). I feel that if we can't win that game, season is already a bust and same about Jake too. No excuse to lose that game.

 

[TheRevSWT]

We currently have a good record of NOT losing to a team with less scholarships than us. At least since we've been "fully" FBS. I'd HATE to see that trend end.

 

[JustinS09]

@TheRevSWT did UTSA have all their scholarships when we played them that first year?

 

[TheRevSWT]

I THINK they did. I was under the assumption (probably mistakenly) that we were both full FBS conference members of the WAC.

But damn, man... I think it's well documented my memory is slightly better than that of a goldfish.

 

[JustinS09]

I think they were still in their 2nd year of transition. They played 3 FCS teams that year (2012). I just don't know if they were at full scholarships yet.

Looking back at our series with them so far, they really are like ULL to us. We should have beaten them that first year and last year. Had 2 of our worst performances of the season in those games.

Getting back on topic though. I really hope that Spavital and Company can surprise people, because it's clear we are going to be given no respect this year.

 

[TheRevSWT]

I don't think saying we are getting no respect is a fair statement though.

Three years of horrible records (2 wins, 2 wins, 3 wins), new coach, new offensive and defensive system, potentially (likely even) new QB, questions along the line, the WR's, the RB's... And a ST game that is questionable right now.

I get it, we got potential to be good this year, but that's if the stars align for us.

 

[JustinS09]

Yea, that's fair. Pretty sure the coaches poll is exactly how the final standings were last year anyways.

 

[TheRevSWT]

I just want for Spav to show that all our potential is NOT unrealized. If we can get to 5 wins this season, it will position us nicely for a step forward next season.

 

[JustinS09]

Unfortunately, we will take a step back next season. We lose a ton of guys and our recruiting class was not very successful, which means we aren't back filling players we're going to lose very effectively.

I think Spav could be the best coach in the world and next year would still be a rebuilding year.

This is the year we need to take advantage of. This is not one of those years that us Bobcat fans love to say "next year" about.

 

[TheRevSWT]

Call me crazy, and you'd probably be right, but one thing I can't hate on is Withers' recruiting. He brought in talent.

And we didn't lose a TREMENDOUS amount from what I recall due to attrition. Plus our line should be mostly seniors (though we lose one of our best in Brewer).

The defense will most definitely take a step back to losing our heart and soul, but with a seasoned QB another year in San Marcos, a seasoned offensive line, and a chance to really get comfortable in the system... I'm counting on this team to flip between a defensive team to an offensive one.

In short, my expectations are for the offense to take a much bigger step forward than our defense takes it's steps back.

 

[_x_]

It's an interesting first season for Spav. Usually when a coach is fired after 2-10, 2-10, 3-9 seasons the new coach inherits a personnel mess and kind of gets a first season pass. That's not really the case this year. We're pretty senior heavy in 2019. I think there's definitely a chance we see the 2019 team have more talent than the 2020 team. As rev said though, that 2017 Withers class was one of our best ever on paper. Those guys are gonna have to step up in 2020 if we're gonna move in the right direction from 2019 to 2020. I'd hate to see regression in Spav's 2nd season.