Jeremy Harper Appalachian State, Arkansas State Athletics, Arkansas State University, Cajuns, Coastal Carolina, Football, G5, Georgia Southern Eagles, Georgia State Panthers, James Madison University, Louisiana, Marshall, Old Dominion, Red Wolves, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Sun Belt, Texas State, Troy, Troy Trojans, ULM

Who’s Watching the Watchlists? The Sun Belt Players to Watch, According to the Awards People

August is Watchlist season, which means a heroically small staff from assorted organizations across the country are checking into preseason all-conference lists to consider names to add as candidates to their prestigious award – which will ultimately go to the Power 4 player who will generate the most clicks on their press announcement.

Listen, it’s an honor to be nominated. It means you’re doing something right. According to the mighty Sam Knehans, Sun Belt Sr. Associate Commissioner, ten of fourteen Sun Belt programs placed a player on a notable list. Also according to Sam, “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.” 

Maxwell Award (College Player of the Year)

  • 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)

  • Christian Johnstone, App State (RS Sr., LS – Loganville, Ga.) 
  • Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Nation’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player) 
  • 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) 

  • 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)

  • 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)

  • 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)

  • 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)
  • 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) 

  • Ryan Hanson, James Madison (RS Sr., P – Elgin, Texas)

Walter Camp Award (College Player of the Year)

  • Jordan McCloud, Texas State (RS Sr., QB – Tampa, Fla.) 

Doak Walker Award (Nation’s Most Outstanding College Running Back) 

  • 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)

  • 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) 

  • 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)

  • 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) 

  • Eli Wilson, App State (Sr., TE – Piedmont, S.C.) 

Rimington Trophy (Nation’s Most Outstanding Center)

  • Jacob Bayer, Arkansas State (Sr., OL – Grandview, Texas

The Manning Award (Nation’s Top Quarterback

  • Jaylen Raynor, Arkansas State (Soph., QB – Kernersville, N.C.)
  • Joey Aguilar, App State (Sr., QB – Antioch, Calif.)