Sun Belt Players to Watch

There are lots of players to watch in the Sun Belt this fall throughout the conference. Let's take a look at a few from every team in the league:

Appalachian State: 

• Taylor Lamb, QB: 78 carries, 483 yards, 4 TD, 181-295 passing, 2,381 yards, 17 TD. 1 punt, 22 yards. Sun Belt freshman of the year.
• Marcus Cox, RB: 255 carries, 1,415 yards, 5.5 ypc., 19 TD, 16 catches, 180 yards. Second team All-Sun Belt.
• Barrett Burns, TE: 14 catches, 129 yards, 2 TD. All-Sun Belt Honorable mention.
• Beau Nunn, OL: 12 games played, 10 starts. Sun Belt All-Newcomer team.
• Parker Collins, OL: 12 games played, 7 starts. All-Sun Belt Honorable mention.
• John Law, LB: 91 tkl, 6 tfl, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 4 pbu, 5 pd, 1 fr. All-Sun Belt second team. 
• Ronald Blair, DL: 43 tkl, 13.0 tfl, 6 sacks, 1 pbu, 1 pd, 1 fr. All-Sun Belt second team.
• Doug Middleton, DB: 74 tkl, 6 tfl, 0.5 sacks, 4 INT, 6 pbu, 10 pd. All-Sun Belt first team. 

Arkansas State:

• Fredi Knighten, QB: 211 carries, 779 yards, 11 TD. 269-432 passing, 3,277 yards, 24 TD. 2 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD. 1st team All-Sun Belt. 
• Michael Gordon, RB: 159 carries, 1,100 yards, 13 TD. 25 catches, 191 yards, 1 TD. 2nd team All-Sun Belt.
• Tres Houston, WR: 53 catches, 685 yards, 4 TD. Honorable mention All-Sun Belt. 
• J.D. McKissic, WR: 9 carries, 115 yards, 1 TD. 0-1 passing. 52 catches, 629 yards. 8 kr, 23.8 avg. 
• Jemar Clark, Colton Jackson, Devin Mondie, OL: All three made 10+ starts on the offensive line in 2014.
• Chris Stone, DL: 48 tkl, 10 tfl, 7.5 sacks, 3 pbu, 1 fr. Honorable mention All-Sun Belt. 
• Ja'Von Rolland-Jones, DL: 30 tkl, 12 tfl, 8 sacks, 1 pbu, 1 fr, 2 ff. 2nd team All-Sun Belt. 
• Xavier Woodson, LB: 95 tkl, 9 tfl, 4 sacks, 3 pbu, 1 fr, 1 ff. Honorable mention All-Sun Belt.
• Money Hunter, DB: 65 tkl, 1 tfl, 1 sack, 2 INT, 2 pbu, 1 ff, 1 defensive TD.

Georgia Southern:

• Kevin Ellison, QB: 71-128 passing, 1,001 yards, 5 TD. 172 carries, 1,096 yards, 12 TD. 2nd team All-Sun Belt.
• Matt Breida, RB: 171 carries, 1,485 yards, 17 TD. 8 catches, 97 yards, 1 TD. 2 kr, 12.0 avg. 1 tkl. 12 starts. 1st team All-Sun Belt.
• Alfred Ramsby, RB: 148 carries, 691 yards, 12 TD. 6 catches, 100 yards. Sun Belt All Newcomer Team.
• Darien Foreman, OL: Only offensive lineman with 10+ starts back from 2014.
• Jay Ellison, DL: 36 tkl, 4 tfl, 2 sacks. Honorable mention All-Sun Belt.
• Antwione Williams, LB: 66 tkl, 8 tfl, 3 sacks, 4 pbu, 2 ff. Honorable mention All-Sun Belt.
• Matt Dobson, DB: 62 tkl, 3.5 tfl, 3 INT, 3 pbu, 1 ff. 2 defensive TDs. 2nd team All-Sun Belt.

Georgia State:

• Nick Arbuckle, QB: 259-429 passing, 3,283 yards, 23 TD. 73 carries, 10 yards, 2 TD. 1 tkl. 
• Joel Ruiz, TE: 39 catches, 478 yards, 3 TD. 2nd team All-Sun Belt. 
• Donovan Harden, WR: 60 catches, 885 yards, 7 TD. 7 pr, 11.0 avg. 5 tkl. 1st team All-Sun Belt. 
• Robert Davis, WR: 50 catches, 732 yards, 2 TD. 1 carry, 3 yards. 
• Shawayne Lawrence, DL: 50 tkl, 3.5 tfl, 1 sack, 2 pbu, 2 pd. 
• Joseph Peterson, LB: 97 tkl, 4 tfl, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 1 pbu, 2 pd, 1 ff. 2nd team All-Sun Belt. 
• Tarris Batiste, S: 86 tkl, 5.5 tfl, 1 sack, 3 pbu, 3 pd. 
• Wil Lutz, K/P: 7-8 FG, long of 48, 35-35 XP. 27 punts, 39.2 avg., long of 54, 3 inside the 20, 2 over 50 yards. 50 kickoffs, 19 touchbacks. 1 tkl. 

Idaho:

• Matt Linehan, QB: 221-379 passing, 2,540 yards, 11 TD. 86 carries, -66 yards, 1 TD. 2 tkl. Honorable mention All-Sun Belt. 
• Elijhaa Penny, RB: 139 carries, 589 yards, 12 TD. 12 catches, 107 yards, 1 TD. 8 kr, 17.9 avg. 4 tkl. Honorable mention All-Sun Belt.
• Deon Watson, WR: 37 catches, 343 yards, 1 TD. 
• Jordan Rose, OL: 8 games played, 6 starts. Sun Belt Newcomer Team.
• Quinton Bradley, DL: 52 tkl, 10 tfl, 6 sacks, 1 pbu, 1 pd, 1 ff. Honorable mention All-Sun Belt. 
• Marc Millan, LB: 102 tkl, 15.5 tfl, 2 sacks, 1 pbu, 1 pd, 2 ff. Honorable mention All-Sun Belt. 
• Jayshawn Jordan, DB: 62 tkl, 3 tfl, 2 INT, 3 pbu, 5 pd, 1 fr, 1 ff. 10 kr, 19.7 avg.
• Austin Rehkow, K/P: 11-19 FG, long of 47, 27-28 FG. 44 punts, 47.8 avg., long of 73, 17 inside the 20, 19 over 50 yards. 54 kickoffs, 14 touchbacks, 1st team All-Sun Belt at punter.

Louisiana:

• Brooks Haack, QB: 20-23 passing, 179 yards, 2 TD. 7 carries, 9 yards. 
• Elijah McGuire, RB: 166 carries, 1,264 yards, 14 TD. 0-1 passing. 45 catches, 468 yards, 2 TD. 15 pr, 7.7 avg. 1 tkl. Sun Belt Player of the Year. Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year. 1st team All-Sun Belt RB. 1st team All-Sun Belt All Purpose. 
• Al Riles, WR: 34 catches, 354 yards, 1 TD. 3 carries, 5 yards. 3 tkl. 
• Mykhael Quave, OL: 13 games played, 13 starts. 1 tkl. 2nd team All-Sun Belt. 
• Dominique Tovell, LB: 76 tkl, 9.5 tfl, 3 sakcs, 2 fr, 1 ff.   
• Tracy Walker, DB: 43 tkl, 2 INT, 3 pbu, 1 ff. 

Louisiana-Monroe:

• Alec Osborne, TE: 17 catches, 116 yards, 1 TD. 1 kr, -13 yards. 1 tkl. 
• Rashon Ceaser, WR: 77 catches, 872 yards, 3 TD. 12 pr, 9.5 avg. 1 kr, 20 yards. 1st team All-Sun Belt. 
• Ajalen Holley, WR: 57 catches, 863 yards, 7 TD. 2nd team All-Sun Belt. 
• Tyler Cain, WR: 63 carries, 214 yards. 45 catches, 273 yards. 36 kr, 21.7 avg. 
• Colby Mitchell, Chase Regian: Both made 10+ starts on the offensive line in 2014.
• Gerrand Johnson, DL: 93 tkl, 12.5 tfl, 6 sacks. 1st team All-Sun Belt. 
• Hunter Kissinger, LB: 85 tkl, 10.5 tfl, 5 sacks, 2 INT, 1 pbu, 3 pd, 1 fr.  2nd team All-Sun Belt. 
• Mitch Lane, DB: 1 defensive TD. 91 tkl, 4.5 tfl, 3 INT, 4 pbu, 7 pd. 1st team All-Sun Belt.

New Mexico State:

• Tyler Rogers, QB: 268-436 passing, 2,779 yards, 19 TD. 69 carries, 200 yards, 2 TD. 1 catch, 11 yards.
• Larry Rose III, RB: 186 carries, 1,102 yards, 9 TD. 23 catches, 172 yards, 1 TD. 
• Teldrick Morgan, WR: 75 catches, 903 yards, 7 TD. 2 carries, 16 yards. 5 pr, 14.6 avg. 16 kr, 23.1 avg. 8 tkl, 1 tfl. 
• Valerian Ume-Ezeoke, Isaiah Folasa-Lutu, Houston Clemente, OL: All three made 10+ starts on the offensive line in 2014.
• Kalei Auelau, DL: 43 tkl, 2.5 tfl, 0.5 sacks, 1 ff. 
• Rodney Bulter, LB: 119 tkl, 7.5 tfl, 1 INT, 1 pbu, 2 pd, 2 ff, 1 defensive TD. 
• Kawe Johnson, DB: 85 tkl, 3 tfl, 1 INT, 3 ff. 
• Dalton Herrington, DB: 85 tkl, 3 tfl, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 pbu, 2 pd, 2 fr, 1 ff. 1 kr, -1 yard. 

South Alabama:

• Cody Clements, QB: UAB Transfer. (11 games started at UAB in 2014). 
• Braedon Bowman, TE: 18 catches, 234 yards. Sun Belt All-Newcomer Team.
• Chris May/Joseph Scelfo, OL: 13 games played, 13 starts.
• Cameron Blankenship, OL: UAB Transfer. (24 career starts at UAB).
• Jimmie Gipson III, DL: 28 tkl, 6.5 tfl, 3 sacks, 2 pbu, 1 ff. 
• Blake Dees, LB: Texas Tech Transfer. (77 career tkl at Texas Tech).
• Roman Buchanan, DB: 74 tkl, 3.5 tfl, 7 pbu, 1 ff. 
• Aleem Sunanon, K: 15-18 FG, long of 46, 5-6 from 40+, 24-26 XP. 64 kickoffs, 10 touchbacks.
• Brandon McKee, P: 73 punts, 42.3 avg, long of 76, 28 inside the 20, 17 over 50 yards. 

Texas State:

• Tyler Jones, QB: 246-376 passing, 2,670 yards, 22 TD. 166 carries, 539 yards, 6 TD. 
• Robert Lowe, RB: 185 carries, 1,091 yards, 12 TD. 24 catches, 207 yards, 1 TD. 2 tkl. 
• C.J. Best, WR: 37 catches, 355 yards, 2 TD. 36 carries, 326 yards, 1 TD. 
• Adrian Bellard, OL: 6-5, 314, Sr.: 12 games played, 12 starts. 2nd team All-SBC. 
• Karee Berry, DL: 27 tkl, 2.5 tfl, 1.5 sacks. 
• Jerrid Jeter-Gilmon, LB: 46 tkl, 3.5 tfl, 1.5 sacks, 1 pbu, 1 pd, 1 ff. 
• David Mims II, DB: 48 tkl, 3.5 tfl, 5 INT, 3 pbu, 8 pd, 1 defensive TD. 1st team All-SBC.

Troy:

• Brandon Silvers, QB: 100 carries, 196 yards, 5 TD. 191-271 passing, 1,836 yards, 11 TD. 
• Brandon Burks, RB: 96 carries, 584 yards, 3 TD. 23 catches, 181 yards, 1 TD.
• Bryan Holmes, WR: 34 catches, 474 yards, 5 TD. 4 pr, 2.5 avg., 1 kr, 22 yards. 
• Antonio Garcia, OL: 6-7, 295, Jr.: 12 games played, 12 starts.    
• Dalton Bennett, OL: 6-3, 301, Sr.: 12 games played, 11 starts. 
• Jamal Stadom, DL: 55 tkl, 6.5 tfl, 4.5 sacks, 2 fr, 2 ff.
• Montres Kitchens, DB: 88 tkl, 1 tfl, 6 INT, 1 pbu, 7 pd, 1 defensive touchdown. 1st team All-Sun Belt. 
• Ryan Kay, K/P: 10-14 FG, long of 47 yards, 30-30 XP. 62 punts, 39.9 avg., 22 inside the 20, 6 over 50 yards, 1 blocked.