JONESBORO, Ark. (7/21/25) – Junior kicker Clune Van Andel was tabbed the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year and was among four Red Wolves named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt teams, announced by the league office Monday.
Representing A-State on the Preseason All-Sun Belt team are Van Andel (first-team), senior wide receiver Corey Rucker (first-team), senior defensive end Bryan Whitehead (first-team) and senior running back Ja'Quez Cross (first-team all-purpose / second-team running back and return specialist). The Red Wolves' four first-team selections tie Southern Miss for the second most in the league while the six total selections ties Louisiana for the third most in the league.
The Sun Belt Conference also announced today its 2025 Preseason Coaches Poll, and Arkansas State was picked to finish third in the league's West Division. Louisiana topped the West Division coaches poll with 86 points and six first-place nods. Texas State was second with 78 points and six first-place votes, A-State with a first-place vote and 64 points and South Alabama with a first-place vote and 50 points. Southern Miss (47), Troy (43) and ULM (24) rounded out the West Division coaches poll.
James Madison topped the East Division poll with 94 points and 11 first-place votes. Georgia Southern (1) and Marshall (1) also received first-place nods. Georgia Southern (76) was second in the East Division poll followed by App State (60), Coastal Carolina (49), Old Dominion (48), Marshall (42) and Georgia State (23).
The place-kicker in all 13 games last season, Clune Van Andel finished the year 21-for-25 in field goal attempts, including a program-record 17 consecutive field goals made. He hit 7-of-9 from 40-plus yards and had a career-long of 52 yards against Georgia State. He was a perfect 33-for-33 in point-after attempts and tallied 96 points on the season, fourth-most in single season program history. He was a First Team Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference choice by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.
A Second Team All-Sun Belt pick in 2024 starting all 13 games, Rucker became A-State's seventh player to total 1,000 receiving yards in a season with 1,053 yards on 69 catches, the fourth-most in program history. He ranked 18th nationally in total receiving yards, averaged 81.0 yards per game and had five games with 100-plus yards receiving. He had a season-high 193 receiving yards on 12 catches against Troy and a long reception of 79 yards in the 68 Ventures Bowl victory against Bowling Green. He finished the season with seven touchdowns, four coming in the final three games, including a pair of scores in the 68 Ventures Bowl.
Rucker enters the 2025 season with the most career receiving yards in Arkansas State history (3,037), second-most career touchdown catches (23) and second-most career receptions (180). He is a First Team Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference pick by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.
Named Third Team All-Sun Belt Conference last season, Whitehead made 10 starts and appeared in all 13 games totaling 24 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. He led the team with 15 quarterback hurries and his team-high 10.5 TFL were for 29 yards. He was named SBC Defensive Player of the Week following a career-high 3.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble at Georgia State. Whitehead is a First Team Preseason All-Sun Belt selection by Athlon Sports and Second Team Preseason All-Sun Belt pick by Phil Steele.
Cross appeared in all 13 games last season and totaled 638 rushing yards and a pair of scores. He posted back-to-back 100-plus yard rushing games against Texas State and Southern Miss. Cross added 35 catches for 228 receiving yards and snagged his first receiving touchdown in win at Southern Miss. He possesses four career 100-yard rushing games in his time at A-State.
Cross has been the primary kickoff returner the past two seasons at A-State totaling 1,129 yards on kickoff return in that span. Last season, he returned 24 kickoffs for 475 yards and holds a career average of 24.0 yards per return. He had a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in 2023 against Texas State. Cross was named Third Team Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.
Sun Belt Conference media days begin Tuesday with the West Division and conclude Wednesday with the East Division teams. Coverage is available on ESPN+. Head Coach Butch Jones, along with quarterback Jaylen Raynor and safety Brandon Barnes take the main stage at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
The Red Wolves are coming off back-to-back bowl appearances, including a win in the 2024 68 Ventures Bowl against Bowling Green. A-State is among four FBS programs to increase its regular season win total every season since 2022.
Arkansas State will kick off its 2025 season at home on Aug. 30, when the Red Wolves host Southeast Missouri at 6:00 p.m. Season tickets may be purchased by calling the Red Wolves Foundation at 870-972-2401 or online by visiting AStateRedWolves.com/Tickets.
Among season ticket options, a Family 4-Pack promotion exists that includes four tickets in the upper east stands for just $170. The Family 4-Pack promotion is only available for purchase by calling the Red Wolves Foundation at 870-972-2401.
2025 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON AWARDS
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Blayne Myrick, South Alabama
Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year
Clune Van Andel, Arkansas State
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Offense
QB – Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss
RB – George Pettaway, James Madison
RB – Kentrel Bullock, South Alabama
OL – Nick Del Grande, Coastal Carolina
OL – Caleb Cook, Georgia Southern
OL – Pichon Wimbley, Georgia Southern
OL – Pat McMurtrie, James Madison
OL – Zach Barlev, Old Dominion
TE – Toby Payne, Marshall
WR – Corey Rucker, Arkansas State
WR – Josh Dallas, Georgia Southern
WR – Ted Hurst, Georgia State
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Defense
DL – Bryan Whitehead, Arkansas State
DL – Latrell Bullard, Georgia Southern
DL – Jordan Lawson, Louisiana
DL – Kevontay Wells, ULM
DL – Brodarius Lewis, Southern Miss
LB – Brendan Harrington, Georgia Southern
LB – Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
LB – Blayne Myrick, South Alabama
DB – Chance Gamble, Georgia Southern
DB – Jacob Thomas, James Madison
DB – Tyree Skipper, Louisiana
DB – Josh Moten, Southern Miss
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams
K – Clune Van Andel, Arkansas State
P – Alex Smith, Georgia Southern
RS – Ian Foster, Southern Miss
AP – Ja'Quez Cross, Arkansas State
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense
QB – Alonza Barnett III, James Madison
RB – Ja'Quez Cross, Arkansas State
RB – Bill Davis, Louisiana
OL – Jax Harrington, Louisiana
OL – George Jackson, Louisiana
OL – Jalen Slappy, Marshall
OL – Jordan Davis, South Alabama
OL – Eli Russ, Troy
TE – Kyirin Heath, Southern Miss
WR – Dalton Stroman, App State
WR – Jameson Tucker, Coastal Carolina
WR – Dalen Cobb, Georgia Southern
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense
DL – Henry Bryant, Georgia State
DL – Immanuel Bush, James Madiso
DL – Kris Trinidad, Old Dominion
DL – Luis Medina, Troy
LB – Shane Bruce, Coastal Carolina
LB – Trent Hendrick, James Madison
LB – Cameron Whitfield, Louisiana
LB – Koa Naotala, Old Dominion
DB – Tracy Hill Jr., Georgia Southern
DB – DJ Barksdale, James Madison
DB – Wesley Miller, South Alabama
DB – Devin Lafayette, Troy
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams
K – Scott Taylor Renfroe, Troy
P – Aleksi Pulkkinen, South Alabama
RS – Ja'Quez Cross, Arkansas State
AP – George Pettaway, James Madison
2025 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
(First-Place Votes)
East Division
1. James Madison – 94 Points (11)
2. Georgia Southern – 76 Points (1)
3. App State – 60 Points
4. Coastal Carolina – 49 Points (1)
5. Old Dominion – 48 Points
6. Marshall – 42 Points (1)
7. Georgia State – 23 Points
West Division
1. Louisiana – 86 Points (6)
2. Texas State – 78 Points (6)
3. Arkansas State – 64 Points (1)
4. South Alabama – 50 Points (1)
5. Southern Miss – 47 Points
6. Troy – 43 Points
7. ULM – 24 Points
