All-Sun Belt Team Features 7 Red Wolves; Picked 3rd in Poll

 

NEW ORLEANS  – The Arkansas State Red Wolves football team placed a league-high seven players on the 2013 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team, announced Monday at the league’s annual media day in New Orleans.

The Red Wolves, picked to finish third in the conference’s 2013 preseason coaches poll, had three offensive, three defensive and one special teams players make the squad.  Louisiana-Monroe followed A-State with five choices, including Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Kolton Browning.

Senior running back David Oku (Midwest City, Okla.), sophomore wide receiver J.D. McKissic (Phenix City, Ala.) and sophomore center Bryce Giddens (Moultrie, Ga.), a Rimington Trophy Watch List selection, all represented the Arkansas State offense on the preseason squad.

ASU’s defensive players earning a spot on the team were Bednarik Award and Outland Trophy Watch List selection Ryan Carrethers (Sr., DL, Nashville, Tenn.), junior linebacker Qushaun Lee (Prattville, Ala.) and junior safety Sterling Young (Hoover, Ala.).  Western Kentucky senior linebacker Andrew Jackson was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Arkansas State senior kicker Brian Davis (Brentwood, Tenn.), a Lou Groza Award Watch List selection, also made the list after earning second team all-conference honors at the end of his junior season in 2012.

The Red Wolves finished 12 points behind both Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe in the preseason coaches poll, also announced at today’s media day.  UL Lafayette and ULM both collected 57 points and the Ragin’ Cajuns received a league-high four first-place votes, while the Warhawks and Red Wolves split the other four championship votes.

Following Arkansas State, Western Kentucky was picked fourth, Troy fifth, Texas State sixth, South Alabama seventh and Georgia State eighth.

A-State is coming off back-to-back Sun Belt Conference championships and holds a 15-1 league record over that span.  The Red Wolves will open their 2013 campaign on Aug. 31 with a home game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.  Season tickets remain on sale and may be purchased by visiting astateredwolves.com or by contacting the Arkansas State ticket office at 870-972-2781.

2013 Preseason Sun Belt Poll

As voted on by the league’s eight head coaches.

First place votes in parentheses.

School Points (First Place Votes)

T-1. Louisiana-Lafayette, 57 (4)

T-1. Louisiana-Monroe, 57 (2)

3. Arkansas State, 45 (2)

4. WKU, 44

5. Troy, 35

6. Texas State, 23

7. South Alabama, 19

8. Georgia State, 8

2013 Preseason All-Sun Belt Team

As voted on by the league’s eight head coaches and eight selected media members.

Offense

Kolton Browning (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., QB)

David Oku (Arkansas State, Sr., RB)

Antonio Andrews (WKU, Sr., RB)

J.D. McKissic (Arkansas State, So., WR)

Je’Ron Hamm (ULM, Sr., WR)

Eric Thomas (Troy, Sr. WR)

Wes Saxton (South Alabama, Jr., TE)

Bryce Giddens (Arkansas State, So., OL)

Andre Huval (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., OL)

Josh Allen (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., OL)

Terrence Jones (Troy, Jr., OL)

Sean Conway (WKU, Sr., OL)

Defense

Ryan Carrethers (Arkansas State, Sr., DL)

Christian Ringo (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr., DL)

Kentarius Caldwell (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., DL)

Alex Page (South Alabama, Sr., DL)

Qushaun Lee (Arkansas State, Jr., LB)

Justin Anderson (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., LB)

Andrew Jackson (WKU, Jr., LB)

Sterling Young (Arkansas State, Jr., DB)

Isaiah Newsome (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., DB)

Tyrell Pearson (South Alabama, Sr., DB)

Jonathan Dowling (WKU, Sr., DB)

Special Teams

Brian Davis (Arkansas State, Sr., K)

Will Scott (Troy, Sr., P)

Antonio Andrews (WKU, Sr., Return Specialist)

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year

Kolton Browning (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., QB)

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year

Andrew Jackson (WKU, Jr., LB)

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