JONESBORO, Ark. (8/25/20) – Picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference's West Division according to the league's 2020 coaches poll, the Arkansas State football team placed six players on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team that was announced Tuesday.
 
Arkansas State's six preseason all-conference picks were made up of three first-team and three second-team selections.  Representing the Red Wolves on the first team were senior offensive lineman Jarrett Horst, senior wide receiver Jonathan Adams Jr. and junior kicker Blake Grupe.
 
A-State's second-team choices included senior offensive lineman Jacob Still, senior defensive lineman Forrest Merrill and junior safety Antonio Fletcher.
 
The Red Wolves' six selections tied Coastal Carolina for the third most in the conference, while Appalachian State placed a league-high 10 different players on the preseason team.  Louisiana followed with nine players appearing on the team and 10 total selections.
 
Collecting two first place votes and 40 total points, A-State was picked second in the preseason coaches poll behind West Division-favorite Louisiana with 47 points and seven first-place nods.  South Alabama was tabbed third with 22 points and one first-place vote, while Texas State and ULM were predicted to finish fourth and fifth, respectively.
 
Appalachian State was picked to win the Sun Belt's championship game and led the East Division with nine first place votes and 49 points. Appalachian State quarterback Zac Thomas was named the league's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and Troy linebacker Carlton Martial was selected the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Five-time Sun Belt champions, the Red Wolves have appeared in nine consecutive bowl games for the 14th longest active streak in the nation.  A-State has piled up 75 victories over the last nine years to tie for the 24th most in the country over that span.
 
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Zac Thomas (App State, Senior)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Carlton Martial (Troy, Junior)
 
2020 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Football Teams
First Team Offense
QB – Zac Thomas, App State
RB – Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana
RB – Josh Johnson, ULM
OL – Noah Hannon, App State     
OL – Baer Hunter, App State         
OL – Cooper Hodges, App State
OL – Jarrett Horst, Arkansas State           
OL – Shamarious Gilmore, Georgia State           
TE – Josh Pederson, ULM
WR – Corey Sutton, App State     
WR – Jonathan Adams, Arkansas State
WR – Kaylon Geiger, Troy
 
First Team Defense
DL – Demetrius Taylor, App State
DL – Tarron Jackson, Coastal Carolina
DL – Raymond Johnson III, Georgia Southern
DL – Will Choloh, Troy       
LB – Rashad Byrd, Georgia Southern   
LB – Joe Dillon, Louisiana
LB – Carlton Martial, Troy 
DB – Shaun Jolly, App State         
DB – Kenderick Duncan Jr, Georgia Southern
DB – Corey Straughter, ULM       
DB – Dell Pettus, Troy

First Team Special Teams
K – Blake Grupe, Arkansas State
P – Rhys Byrns, Louisiana
RS – Wesley Kennedy III, Georgia Southern     

Second Team Offense
QB – Levi Lewis, Louisiana
RB – Trey Ragas, Louisiana
RB – CJ Marable, Coastal Carolina
OL – Ryan Neuzil, App State         
OL – Jacob Still, Arkansas State   
OL – Max Mitchell, Louisiana       
OL – O'Cyrus Torrence, Louisiana
OL – TJ Fiailoa, ULM         
TE – Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina       
WR – Thomas Hennigan, App State       
WR – Cornelius McCoy, Georgia State   
WR – Reggie Todd, Troy   

Second Team Defense
DL – Forrest Merrill, Arkansas State       
DL – C.J. Brewer, Coastal Carolina       
DL – Dontae Wilson, Georgia State
DL – Zi'Yon Hill, Louisiana
LB – Teddy Gallagher, Coastal Carolina
LB – Trajan Stephens-McQueen, Georgia State           
LB – Riley Cole, South Alabama 
DB – Shemar Jean-Charles, App State 
DB – Antonio Fletcher, Arkansas State   
DB – Quavian White, Georgia State       
DB – Eric Garror, Louisiana         

Second Team Special Teams
K – Massimo Biscardi, Coastal Carolina
P – Anthony Beck II, Georgia Southern
RS – Eric Garror, Louisiana
 
2020 Sun Belt Football Coaches Predicted Order of Finish (First-place votes in parentheses)
2020 Sun Belt Football Coaches Predicted Championship Game Winner:  Appalachian State

East Division
1. App State (9) - 49 pts
2. Georgia Southern - 36 pts
3. Troy (1) - 32 pts
4. Georgia State - 20 pts
5. Coastal Carolina - 13 pts

West Division
1. Louisiana (7) - 47 pts
2. Arkansas State (2) - 40 pts
3. South Alabama (1) - 22 pts
4. Texas State - 21 pts
5. ULM - 20 pts