JONESBORO, Ark. (7/25/22) – The Arkansas State football team placed three players on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team that was announced Monday.

Arkansas State’s three preseason all-conference picks were made up of two first-team and one second-team selection.  Representing the Red Wolves on the first team were senior linebacker Kivon Bennett and senior return specialist Johnnie Lang.  Senior wide receiver Te’Vailance Hunt was a second-team choice.

Bennett, who moved to linebacker ahead of spring practices, was a Second Team All-Sun Belt, Phil Steel Third Team All-Sun Belt and PFF First Team All-Sun Belt selection last season after starting all 12 contests at defensive end.  He ranked first on the team and sixth in the Sun Belt with 8.0 sacks for 42 yards. He led the team with 16.5 tackles for loss and also had a team-high five quarterback hurries.

Lang, named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List last week, played in all 12 games last season, finishing the year ranked second on the team with 263 rushing yards on 65 carries.  He was named a Phil Steele and PFF First Team All-Sun Belt punt returner.  He led the Red Wolves with 124 punt return yards on 15 attempts, including a 63-yard return for a touchdown against Tulsa. He led the Sun Belt Conference with a punt return average of 8.3 yards per return.

Hunt, named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List last week, was tabbed a Third Team All-Sun Belt selection as well as Phil Steel and PFF all-conference choice last season. He hauled in 51 receptions for 740 yards and six touchdowns with his 67.3 receiving yards per game, ranking sixth in the league.

The Sun Belt Conference also announced today its 2022 Preseason Coaches Poll, and Arkansas State was picked to finish sixth in the league’s West Division.  Louisiana topped the West Division coaches poll with 95 points and 12 first-place nods. South Alabama was second with 79 points and two first-place votes, followed by Troy (76), Texas State (41), Southern Miss (40), Arkansas State (37) and ULM (24).

Appalachian State topped the East Division poll with 94 total points and 10 first-place votes. Coastal Carolina (2), Georgia State and Georgia Southern also received first-place nods. Coastal Carolina (77) was second in the East Division poll followed by Georgia State (68), Marshall (62), Georgia Southern (35), James Madison (31) and Old Dominion (25).

Sun Belt Conference media days begin Tuesday with the East Division and conclude Wednesday with the West Division teams. Coverage is available on ESPN+. Head Coach Butch Jones, along with quarterback James Blackman and linebacker Kivon Bennett, take the main stage at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Season tickets for the Red Wolves’ 2022 campaign are available for purchase through the A-State Ticket Office, located at First National Bank Arena’s lower red entrance, in person, by phone at 870-972-2781 or online at AStateRedWolves.com.

2022 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON AWARDS 

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year 
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina 

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year 
Josaiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina 

Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Offense 
QB – Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina 
RB – Rasheen Ali, Marshall 
RB – Camerun Peoples, App State
OL – Willie Lampkin, Coastal Carolina 
OL – Dalton Cooper, Texas State 
OL – Austin Stidham, Troy 
OL – Malik Sumter, Georgia State 
OL – Cooper Hodges, App State 
TE – Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion 
WR – Ali Jennings, Old Dominion 
WR – Kris Thornton, James Madison 
WR – Tez Johnson, Troy 

Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Defense 
DL – Josaiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina
DL – Javon Solomon, Troy 
DL – Zi’Yon Hill, Louisiana 
DL – Will Choloh, Troy 
LB – Carlton Martial, Troy 
LB – Blake Carroll, Georgia State 
LB – Kivon Bennett, Arkansas State 
DB – Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama
DB – D’Jordan Strong, Coastal Carolina
DB – Antavious Lane, Georgia State
DB – Eric Garror, Louisiana 
DB – Keith Gallmon, South Alabama 

Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams 
K – Seth Keller, Texas State 
P – Rhys Byrns, Louisiana 
RS – Johnnie Lang, Arkansas State 
AP – Chris Smith, Louisiana 

Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense 
QB – Chase Brice, App State 
RB – Nate Noel, App State 
RB – Tucker Gregg, Georgia State
OL – Travis Glover, Georgia State 
OL – Kyle Hergel, Texas State 
OL – Damion Daley, App State 
OL – Pat Bartlett, Georgia State 
OL – Nick Saldiveri, Old Dominion 
TE – Aubry Payne, Georgia State 
WR – Te’Vailance Hunt, Arkansas State 
WR – Jalen Wayne, South Alabama 
WR – Boogie Knight, ULM   

Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense
DL – Richard Jubinor, Troy
DL – Thomas Gore, Georgia State 
DL – Jerrod Clark, Coastal Carolina 
DL – Justin Ellis, Georgia Southern 
LB – Nick Hampton, App State 
LB – Abraham Beauplan, Marshall 
LB – Andre Jones, Louisiana 
LB – Trey Cobb, App State 
DB – Steven Jones Jr., App State
DB – Derrick Canteen, Georgia Southern
DB – Steven Gilmore, Marshall
DB – TJ Harris, Troy 

Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams 
K – Calum Sutherland, ULM 
P – Anthony Beck II, Georgia Southern 
RS – Camron Harrell, Southern Miss 
AP – Amare Jones, Georgia Southern  

2022 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL 
East Division 
1. App State – 94 Points (10) 
2. Coastal Carolina – 77 Points (2) 
3. Georgia State – 68 Points (1) 
4. Marshall – 62 Points 
5. Georgia Southern – 35 Points (1) 
6. James Madison – 31 Points 
7. Old Dominion – 25 Points  
West Division 
1. Louisiana – 95 Points (12) 
2. South Alabama – 79 Points (2) 
3. Troy – 76 Points 
4. Texas State – 41 Points 
5. Southern Miss – 40 Points 
6. Arkansas State – 37 Points 
7. ULM – 24 Points

COURTESY ARKANSAS STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS