BOONE, N.C. — With a combined seven first-team selections on offense and defense, App State led the way as Athlon Sports named its preseason All-Sun Belt teams for 2020.
The Mountaineers' 17 total selections among the first, second, third and fourth teams tied for the league lead. Last season, App State went 13-1, secured a fourth straight Sun Belt title and finished in the top 20 of both national polls.
App State's first-team selections on offense were quarterback
Zac Thomas, center
Noah Hannon, offensive guard
Baer Hunter and offensive tackle
Cooper Hodges. Defensive end
Demetrius Taylor, cornerback
Shaun Jolly and linebacker
D'Marco Jackson were included on the first-team defense.
The Mountaineers added eight second-team selections overall, with cornerback
Shemar Jean-Charles being joined by offensive players
Ryan Neuzil (offensive guard),
Thomas Hennigan (receiver),
Corey Sutton (receiver) and
Marcus Williams Jr. (running back). Hennigan also made the second team as a punt returner, and
Jalen Virgil is listed as the second-team kickoff returner.
Xavier Subotsch was named the third-team punter, while defensive tackle
George Blackstock and kicker
Chandler Staton were included on the fourth team.
Athlon Preseason All-Conference Teams
First-Team Offense
QB:
Zac Thomas, App State
RB: Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana
RB: Josh Johnson, ULM
AP: CJ Marable, Coastal Carolina
WR: Kaylon Geiger, Troy
WR: Jonathan Adams, Arkansas State
TE: Josh Pederson, ULM
C:
Noah Hannon, App State
OL:
Cooper Hodges, App State
OL: Shamarious Gilmore, Georgia State
OL:
Baer Hunter, App State
OL: Max Mitchell, Louisiana
First-Team Defense
DL:
Demetrius Taylor, App State
DL: Tarron Jackson, Coastal Carolina
DL: Raymond Johnson, Georgia Southern
DL: Will Choloh, Troy
LB: Carlton Martial, Troy
LB:
D'Marco Jackson, App State
LB: Joe Dillon, Louisiana
CB: Corey Straughter, ULM
CB:
Shaun Jolly, App State
S: Kenderick Duncan, Georgia Southern
S: Dell Pettus, Troy
First-Team Specialists
K: Blake Grupe, Arkansas State
P: Rhys Byrns, Louisiana
KR: Reggie Todd, Troy
PR: Eric Garror, Louisiana
Second-Team Offense
QB: Levi Lewis, Louisiana
RB: Trey Ragas, Louisiana
RB:
Marcus Williams Jr., App State
AP: Wesley Kennedy, Georgia Southern
WR:
Corey Sutton, App State
WR:
Thomas Hennigan, App State
TE: Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina
C: Jacob Still, Arkansas State
OL: Jarrett Horst, Arkansas State
OL:
Ryan Neuzil, App State
OL: Austin Stidham, Troy
OL: Trey Carter, Coastal Carolina
Second-Team Defense
DL: C.J. Brewer, Coastal Carolina
DL: Dontae Wilson, Georgia State
DL: Zi'Yon Hill, Louisiana
DL: Forrest Merrill, Arkansas State
LB: Teddy Gallagher, Coastal Carolina
LB: Rashad Byrd, Georgia Southern
LB: Caleb Bonner, Arkansas State
CB: Jarron Morris, Texas State
CB:
Shemar Jean-Charles, App State
S: Antonio Fletcher, Arkansas State
S: Percy Butler, Louisiana
Second-Team Specialists
K: Massimo Biscardi, Coastal Carolina
P: Jared Porter, ULM
KR:
Jalen Virgil, App State
PR:
Thomas Hennigan, App State
Third-Team Offense
QB: Logan Bonner, Arkansas State
RB: Marcel Murray, Arkansas State
RB: B.J. Smith, Troy
AP: Kawaan Baker, South Alabama
WR: Cornelius McCoy, Georgia State
WR: Reggie Todd, Troy
TE: Roger Carter, Georgia State
C: Malik Sumter, Georgia State
OL: Jacob Shoemaker, South Alabama
OL: T.J. Fiailoa, ULM
OL: O'Cyrus Torrence, Louisiana
OL: Andre Harris, Arkansas State
Third-Team Defense
DL: Kerry Starks, ULM
DL: Caeveon Patton, Texas State
DL: Chauncey Manac, Louisiana
DL: Hardrick Willis, Georgia State
LB: Riley Cole, South Alabama
LB: Randy Wade, Georgia Southern
LB: Trajan Stephens-McQueen, Georgia State
CB: Terence Dunlap, Troy
CB: Eric Garror, Louisiana
S: T.J. Harris, Troy
S: Keith Gallmon, South Alabama
Third-Team Specialists
K: Noel Ruiz, Georgia State
P:
Xavier Subotsch, App State
KR: Wesley Kennedy, Georgia Southern
PR: Wesley Kennedy, Georgia Southern
Fourth-Team Offense
QB: Shai Werts, Georgia Southern
RB: Destin Coates, Georgia State
RB: J.D. King, Georgia Southern
WR: Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama
WR: Dahu Green, Arkansas State
WR: Jamal Bell, Louisiana
TE: Aubry Payne, Georgia State
C: Shane Vallot, Louisiana
OL: Drew Wilson, Georgia Southern
OL: Ivory Scott, Arkansas State
OL: Reece Jordan, Texas State
OL: Dylan Bradshaw, Troy
Fourth-Team Defense
DL: Nico Ezidore, Texas State
DL: C.J. Wright, Georgia Southern
DL:
George Blackstock, App State
DL: Richard Jibunor, Troy
LB: Rashaad Harding, ULM
LB: Kris Moncrief, Louisiana
LB: Reynard Ellis, Georgia Southern
CB: Khambrail Winters, Texas State
CB: Asjlin Washington, Louisiana
S: Tyler Glass, ULM
S: Kam Pedescleaux, Louisiana
Fourth-Team Specialists
K:
Chandler Staton, App State
P: Anthony Beck II, Georgia Southern
KR: DeJordan Mask, Texas State
PR: Perry Carter Jr., ULM
