Sun Belt Predictions

When people hear the Sun Belt Conference, they tend to think of the bad and the teams that left for CUSA among other places. In reality, the Sun Belt is an up and coming conference that has been smart in adding Georgia Southern and Appalachian State. Let's take a look at the Sun Belt and how I see things shaking down.

1. Georgia Southern: Expectation are through the roof for the Eagles heading into the 2015 season with the return of Matt Breida (171/1,485/17TD) and Alfred Ramsby (148/691/12TD) to the running back position along with quarterback Kevin Ellison (71-128/1,001/5 TD, 172/1,096/12TD). Ellison, a 2nd team All-Sun Belt selection in 2014, will miss the first two games of the season but will be back for conference play. Offensive line may be an issue with only Darien Foreman returning after making 10+ starts last fall. 2nd team All-Sun Belt defensive back Matt Dobson (62 tkl, 3.5 tfl, 3 INT, 2 def TDs) leads a defense that includes Jay Ellison (36 tkl, 4 tfl, 2 sacks) and Antwione Williams (66 tkl, 8 tfl, 3 sacks) among others. Missing Arkansas State and Louisiana on the schedule is a huge break as those would have been two of the hardest games on the slate.
2. Louisiana: 2015 will be an interesting season as running back Elijah McGuire (166/1,264/14TD) will be expected to see an even higher work rate than in 2014. McGuire also caught 45 passes for 468 yards and 2 touchdown and returned 15 punts in route to Sun Belt Player of the Year, Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, 1st team All-Sun Belt running back, and 1st team All-Sun Belt All Purpose honors. 2nd team All-Sun Belt lineman Mykhael Quave will be leading the way for McGuiere to have a huge season this fall. Dominique Tovell (76 tkl, 9.5 tfl, 3 sacks) and Tracy Walker (43 tkl, 2 INT) lead a defense that must show it can stop the pass this fall. A three week stretch that includes trips to Louisiana Tech and Arkansas State while hosting Texas State will make or break the Ragin' Cajuns. 
3. Arkansas State: Another quality QB/RB duo in the Sun Belt comes from the Red Wolves with quarterback Fredi Knighten (211/779/11TD, 269-432/3,277/24TD) and running back Michael Gordon (159/1,100/13TD) back for 2015 after accounting for 49 touchdowns last fall. Honorable mention All-Sun Belt wide receiver Tres Houston (53/685/4TD) and J.D. McKissic (52/629/0TD) are back at wide receiver and linemen Jemar Clark, Colton Jackson, and Devin Mondie made 10+ starts last fall. Defense was a struggle on the ground but the Red Wolves return Chris Stone (48 tkl, 10 tfl, 7.5 sacks), 2nd team All-Sun Belt honoree Ja'Von Rolland-Jones (30 tkl, 12 tfl, 8 sacks), Xavier Woodson (95 tkl, 9 tfl, 4 sacks) and Money Hunter (65 tkl, 1 tfl, 1 sack, 2 INT). A stretch of Toledo, Idaho, South Alabama, and Louisiana will be a tough part of the schedule to navigate for the Red Wolves.
4. Appalachian State: Led by one of the better QB/RB duos in all of the G5, the Mountaineers look to continue the momentum of a strong finish in 2014 and turn it into a bowl this fall. 2014 Sun Belt freshman of the year Taylor Lamb (78/483/4TD, 181-295/2,381/17TD) and running back Marcus Cox (255/1,415/19TD) make up the duo that accounted for 40 touchdowns in 2014. Linemen Beau Nunn (All-Newcomer team) and Parker Collins (All-Sun Belt Honorable mention) will lead the way on the offensive line for the Mountaineers. Appalachian State returns two second team All-Sun Belters in linebacker John Law (91 tkl, 6 tfl, 2 sacks) and defensive lineman Ronald Blair (43 tkl, 13.0 tfl, 6 sacks) as well as All-Sun Belt first team honoree Doug Middleton (74 tkl, 6 tfl, 0.5 sacks, 4 INT, 6 pbu, 10 pd) on defense. The Mountaineers have a rough end to the schedule with Arkansas State, Louisiana, and South Alabama in the final four weeks with Idaho sprinkled in for flavor. 
5. South Alabama: For those that followed UAB in the past, South Alabama may look like UAB junior this season with all of the transfers that could make an impact this fall for the Jaguars. None are bigger than the duo of offensive tackle Cameron Blankenship (24 career starts at UAB) and quarterback Cody Clements (11 games started at UAB in 2014). Both are expected to start immediately and become integral parts of the USA offense. Tight end Braedon Bowman (18/234/0TD) should be a reliable target after making the Sun Belt All-Newcomer Team last fall. Texas Tech transfer linebacker Blake Dees (77 career tkl at Texas Tech) should find his way onto the playing field on defense alongside defensive back Roman Buchanan (74 tkl, 3.5 tfl, 7 pbu, 1 ff). The Jaguars also return two of the better kickers in the conference in kicker Aleem Sunanon (15-18 FG, 24-26 XP) and punter Brandon McKee (73 punts, 42.3 avg). USA ends the season with Louisiana, Georgia State, Georgia Southern, and Appalachian State which could prove quite difficult. 
6. Texas State: The Bobcats have yet another quality QB/RB combo back this fall in quarterback Tyler Jones (246-376/2,670/22TD, 166/539/6TD) and running back Robert Lowe (185/1,091/12TD). The two will be playing behind 2nd team All-Sun Belt lineman Adrian Bellard (12 starts in 2014), part of a solid offensive line. Karee Berry (27 tkl, 2.5 tfl, 1.5 sacks), Jerrid Jeter-Gilmon (46 tkl, 3.5 tfl, 1.5 sacks),  and  1st team All-SBC defensive back David Mims II (48 tkl, 3.5 tfl, 5 INT) will anchor the Bobcats defense. Texas State takes care of the toughest portion of the Sun Belt slate with Louisiana, South Alabama, and Georgia Southern in the month of October. 
7. Louisiana-Monroe: Expect the Warhawks to throw the ball all over the field this fall with tight end Alec Osborne (17/116/1TD) and wide receivers Rashon Ceaser (77/872/3TD), Ajalen Holley (57/863/7TD), and Tyler Cain (45/273/0TD) all viable receiving options with experience. Offensive linemen Colby Mitchell and Chase Regian both made 10+ starts on the offensive line in 2014 and should be solid players in the trenches for ULM. 1st team All-Sun Belt defensive lineman Gerrand Johnson (93 tkl, 12.5 tfl, 6 sacks) was explosive last fall and will be flanked by fellow first teamer Mitch Lane (91 tkl, 4.5 tfl, 3 INT, 4 pbu, 7 pd) at defensive back and second teamer Hunter Kissinger (85 tkl, 10.5 tfl, 5 sacks, 2 INT) at linebacker. The Warhawks have a bit of a breather between every game against the top of the Sun Belt except for back to back games versus Arkansas State and Texas State. 
8. Troy: The Trojans improved as the season went along last fall and could be one of the teams on the rise in the Sun Belt this fall. Quaterback Brandon Silvers (191-271/1,836/11TD) and running back Brandon Burks (96/584/3/TD) wille be led by offensive linemen Antonio Garcia (12 starts in 2014) and Dalton Bennett (11 starts in 2014). Defensive end Tyler Roberts (43 tkl, 8.5 tfl, 4 sacks) will lead a defense that has a few unproven parts but does get defensive back Montres Kitchens (88 tkl, 1 tfl, 6 INT, 1 pbu, 7 pd, 1 defensive touchdown) again after a 1st team All-Sun Belt selection in 2014. Kicker/punter Ryan Kay (10-14 FG, 30-30 XP. 62 punts, 39.9 avg.) should give the Trojans some much needed stability on special teams in 2014. If the Trojans can get through the stretch of Wisconsin, South Alabama, and Mississippi State healthy, then 2015 can be a slight return to glory for Troy.
9. Georgia State: The Panthers are looking for 2015 to be a springboard to future success and much of that relies on the arm of quarterback Nick Arbuckle (259-429/3,283/23TD). If Arbuckle is able to duplicate his success of 2014, tight end Joel Ruiz (39/478/3TD) and wide receivers Donovan Harden (60/885/7TD) and Robert Davis (50/732/2TD) will have ot play pivotal roles. Shawayne Lawrence (50 tkl, 3.5 tfl, 1 sack), Joseph Peterson (97 tkl, 4 tfl, 3 sacks, 1 INT) and Tarris Batiste (86 tkl, 5.5 tfl, 1 sack) will lead a defense that is just looking to be respectable this fall. With all of the top six projected Sun Belt finishers on the schedule, it will not be easy for Georgia State to break through this fall. 
10. New Mexico State: Few people in the nation knew that the Aggies had a 2,500 yard passer in Tyler Rogers (268-436/2,779/19TD) and a 1,000 yard rusher in Larry Rose III (186/1,102/9TD). Only Arkansas State and Texas State of the Sun Belt can also claim that distinction. THe Aggies also have a good reciever in Teldrick Morgan (75/903/7TD) and three lineman that made 10+ starts last fall in Valerian Ume-Ezeoke, Isaiah Folasa-Lutu, and Houston Clemente. Defense is an issue but NMSU does return Rodney Bulter (119 tkl, 7.5 tfl, 1 INT), Kawe Johnson (85 tkl, 3 tfl, 1 INT), and Dalton Herrington (85 tkl, 3 tfl, 1 sack, 1 INT). A three game stretch of Texas State, Louisiana, and Arkansas State will be tough for the Aggies to overcome.
11. Idaho: If you are a college football fan and do not like watching Elijhaa Penny (139/589/12TD) run the ball, I do not know what to say. Penny is a bruising 6-2, 234 pound battering ram that is flanked by quarterback Matt Linehan (221-379/2,540/11TD) with both making the Honorable mention All-Sun Belt team last fall. Offensive lineman Jordan Rose was a part of the Sun Belt Newcomer Team. The defense has some pieces in Quinton Bradley (52 tkl, 10 tfl, 6 sacks), Marc Millan (102 tkl, 15.5 tfl, 2 sacks), and Jayshawn Jordan (62 tkl, 3 tfl, 2 INT) but will struggle as a whole this fall. Kicker/Punter Austin Rehkow may be the best weapon after making 11-19 ifeld goals with a long of 47, 27-28 PAT attemps as well as punting 44 times for a 47.8 avg., a long of 73, 17 inside the 20, and 19 over 50 yards. Rehkow was the 1st team All-Sun Belt selection at punter.

Sun Belt Champions:

• Georgia Southern

Bowl Berths:

The New Orleans Bowl LOUISIANA versus Conference USA
The GoDaddy Bowl ARKANSAS STATE versus MAC
The Camellia Bowl APPALACHIAN STATE versus MAC
The Cure Bowl GEORGIA SOUTHERN VERSUS the American