JONESBORO, Ark. (7/13/26) – The Arkansas State football team has placed a league-high seven selections on the 2026 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference First Team, the league office announced Monday.

Representing Arkansas State on the first team were senior running back Kenyon Clay, senior offensive lineman Tristian Smith, junior wide receiver Chauncy Cobb, senior safety AG McGhee and senior kicker Clune Van Andel. Cobb was a first team selection at wide receiver, return specialist and all-purpose back.

A-State's seven selections tied Georgia Southern for the second-most in the conference. Marshall led the league with nine overall picks to the first and second teams.

The Sun Belt Conference also announced today is 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll, and Arkansas State was picked to finish third in the league's West Division. Troy topped the West Division coaches poll with 96 points and 12 first-place nods while Louisiana (1) and Southern Miss (1) also received a first-place selection. Louisiana was second in the West Division poll with 75 points followed by A-State (69), Louisiana Tech (55), Southern Miss (47), South Alabama (31) and ULM (19).

James Madison topped the East Division poll with 94 points and 11 first-place votes. Old Dominion, Georgia Southern and Coastal Carolina also received first-place votes. Old Dominion (73) was second in the East Division poll followed by Marshall (67), Georgia Southern (53), Coastal Carolina (45), App State (43) and Georgia State (17).

A Walter Camp Second Team Preseason All-America kick returner, Cobb earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors as a return specialist and Third Team recognition as an all-purpose player in 2025. One of only four FBS players to return multiple kickoffs for touchdowns in 2025, he ranked eighth nationally with 538 kickoff return yards, averaging 26.9 yards on 20 returns with touchdown returns of 98 yards against Arkansas and 93 yards versus Louisiana. A key offensive contributor at wide receiver, he appeared in all 13 games with 12 starts, recording 73 receptions for 797 yards and a touchdown, including a season-high 126 receiving yards at ULM. He also hauled in a touchdown reception in A-State's 34-28 Xbox Bowl victory over Missouri State.

Clay saw action in all 13 games for the Red Wolves with five starts and finished second on the team with 523 rushing yards. He recorded a career-high 124 rushing yards with a touchdown against Georgia Southern. He completed the season with three rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns.

Smith started in the first nine games of last season at left guard before suffering a season-ending injury. Prior to injury, he recorded 679 total snaps and was rated the team's top offensive lineman across the board per Pro Football Focus. Per PFF, he had a run block grade of 77.1 and pass block grade of 90.5 while allowing one sack all year.  He helped A-State average 382.7 total yards per game.

McGhee started in all 13 games for the Red Wolves defense and was named Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt. He finished with 83 total tackles and 45 solo stops with his 83 tackles ranking third on the team. He had a career-high 12 tackles against Louisiana … Recorded one interception, broke up five passes and also recorded a quarterback hurry.

Appearing in all 13 games as the Red Wolves' place kicker, Van Andel finished the season with 21 of 27 field goals made (77.8 percent) and 36 of 37 extra points converted, totaling a career-high 99 points and ranking among the team's top scorers.  He connected on multiple long field goals, including a 54-yard field goal in the 34-28 victory over Missouri State in the inaugural Xbox Bowl. He helped lift A-State to a 15-14 comeback win at South Alabama with a 38-yard game-winning field goal as time expired.  

Sun Belt Conference media days begin Wednesday with the East Division and conclude Thursday with the West Division teams. Coverage is available on ESPN+. Head Coach Butch Jones, along with Cobb and junior safety Brandon Barnes take the main stage at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday.

The Red Wolves are coming off back-to-back bowl wins, defeating Bowling Green in the 2024 68 Ventures Bowl and Missouri State in the 2025 Xbox Bowl. Season tickets are on sale now for the Red Wolves' 2026 home schedule, and fans are encouraged to lock in their seats early by visiting AStateRedWolves.com/Tickets or by calling the A-State Ticket Office at 870-972-2781. Season tickets start as low as $40 for general-admission seating in the upper-east stands at Centennial Bank Stadium.
 
The 2026 home campaign features five Saturday contests and a prime-time national television showcase on Thursday, Oct. 8.

2026 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON AWARDS
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, Marshall (RS Sr., QB – Atlanta, Ga.)
 
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Donnie Smith, Troy (Sr., DL – Greenville, Miss.)
 
Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year
Evan Crenshaw, Troy (Sr., P – Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.)
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Offense
QB – Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, Marshall (RS Sr., QB – Atlanta, Ga.)
RB – Kenyon Clay, Arkansas State (RS Sr., RB – Union, Miss.)
RB – Devin Roche, Old Dominion (RS Jr., RB – Baltimore, Md.) 
OL – Tristian Smith, Arkansas State (RS Sr., OL – Crossett, Ark.)
OL – Zach Greenberg, James Madison (Gr., OL – Livingston, N.J.)
OL – AJ Vinson, ULM (Sr., OL – Social Circle, Ga.)
OL – Tariq Montgomery, Marshall (RS Sr., OL – Akron, Ohio)
OL – Jalen Slappy, Marshall (RS Sr., OL – Columbus, Ohio)
TE – Toby Payne, Marshall (RS Sr., TE – Poca, W.Va.)
WR – Chauncy Cobb, Arkansas State (RS Jr., WR – Clewiston, Fla.)
WR – Shelton Sampson Jr., Louisiana (RS Jr., WR – Baton Rouge, La.)
WR – Adrian Norton, Marshall (Sr., WR – Huber Heights, Ohio) 
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Defense
DL – Aiden Benton, App State (RS Jr., DL – Clayton, Ga.)
DL – MJ Stroud, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., DL – Covington, Ga.)
DL – Amar Thomas, James Madison (RS Sr., DL – Upper Marlboro, Md.)
DL – Donnie Smith, Troy (Sr., DL – Greenville, Miss.)
LB – Colton Phares, App State (RS Jr., LB – Beaufort, S.C.)
LB – Noah Flemmings, ULM (Sr., LB – Austin, Texas)
LB – Kolbe Fields, Louisiana Tech (Gr., LB – New Orleans, La.)
DB – AG McGhee, Arkansas State (RS Sr., DB – Chipley, Fla.)
DB – Ja'Marion Wayne, Coastal Carolina (Gr., DB – St. Louis, Mo.)
DB – Chance Gamble, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., DB – Fitzgerald, Ga.)
DB – Brent Gordon Jr., Louisiana (So., DB – Cecilia, La.)
DB – Daytione Smith, Marshall (RS Sr., DB – East Highland Park, Va.) 

Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams
K – Clune Van Andel, Arkansas State (Sr., K – Grand Rapids, Mich.)
P – Evan Crenshaw, Troy (Sr., P – Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.)
RS – Chauncy Cobb, Arkansas State (RS Jr., RS – Clewiston, Fla.)
AP – Chauncy Cobb, Arkansas State (RS Jr., AP – Clewiston, Fla.)
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense
QB – Goose Crowder, Troy (Sr., QB – Gardendale, Ala.)
RB – George Pettaway, James Madison (RS Sr., RB – Suffolk, Va.)
RB – Keenan Phillips, South Alabama (Jr., RB – Bainbridge, Ga.)
OL – Tyriq Poindexter, App State (RS Sr., OL – Roanoke, Va.)
OL – Kaden Moreau, Louisiana (RS Sr., OL – Pineville, La.)
OL – Ethan Hubbard, South Alabama (RS Jr., OL – Hoover, Ala.) 
OL – Kenton Jerido, South Alabama (RS Sr., OL – Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
OL – Jordon Jones, Troy (Sr., OL – Ashland, Ky.)
TE – Eli Finley, Louisiana Tech (Sr., TE – Heath, Texas)
WR – Josh Dallas, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., WR – Sharpsburg, Ga.)
WR – Nic Trujillo, ULM (Sr., WR – Rio Rancho, N.M.)
WR – Anthony Eager, South Alabama (RS Jr., WR – Mobile, Ala.)
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense
DL – Anthony Bynum, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., DL – Covington, Ga.)
DL – Fitzgerald West Jr., Louisiana (RS Sr., DL – Lafayette, La.)
DL – Braydin Ward, Marshall (RS Jr., DL – Montgomery, W.Va.) 
DL – Chris Forbes, Old Dominion (RS So., DL – Upper Marlboro, Md.)
LB – Tray Brown, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., LB – Margate, Fla.)
LB – Brandon Tyson, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., LB – Whiteville, N.C.)
LB – Javae Gilmore, Marshall (RS Sr., LB – Amite, La.)
DB – Myles Woods, Coastal Carolina (Jr., DB – Grayson, Ga.)
DB – Jabari Tiller, ULM (Sr., DB – Sumter, S.C.)
DB – Mario Easterly, Old Dominion (RS Sr., DB – Harrisburg, Pa.)
DB – Zion Frink, Old Dominion (RS Jr., DB – Chesapeake, Va.) 
DB – Justin Powe, Troy (Sr., DB – Mobile, Ala.)
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams
K – Tripp Bryant, Georgia Southern (So., K – Lexington, S.C.)
P – Alex Smith, Georgia Southern (Sr., P – Melbourne, Australia)
RS – Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw, Marshall (RS Sr., RS – Bluefield, Va.)
AP – Jordan Lovett, Troy (Jr., AP – Statesboro, Ga.) 

2026 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL 
(First-Place Votes)

East Division
1. James Madison – 94 Points (11) 
2. Old Dominion – 73 Points (1)
3. Marshall – 67 Points
4. Georgia Southern – 53 Points (1)
5. Coastal Carolina – 45 Points (1)
6. App State – 43 Points
7. Georgia State – 17 Points
 
West Division
1. Troy – 96 Points (12)
2. Louisiana – 75 Points (1)
3. Arkansas State – 69 Points
4. Louisiana Tech – 55 Points
5. Southern Miss – 47 Points (1)
6. South Alabama – 31 Points
7. ULM – 19 Points