Though Old Dominion linebacker Jason Henderson was named the Sun Belt Conference’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, the Monarchs shouldn’t lack motivation.
ODU was predicted to finish last among the Sun Belt’s seven football teams in coaches’ balloting released Monday, the eve of the conference’s media day in New Orleans.
Henderson, who led the nation with 186 tackles last season, gained his latest honor after a record-setting 2022.Coastal Carolina redshirt senior quarterback Grayson McCall, the Sun Belt’s Player of the Year in 2020, ’21 and ’22, was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive season. His injury-related absence late last year contributed heavily to Coastal’s fade.
Old Dominion received 17 poll points, the fewest among the conference’s 14 teams, after going 3-9, 2-6 in the Sun Belt.
James Madison was named the East Division favorite with 78 points, edging Appalachian State (75), Coastal Carolina (71) and Marshall (68). Georgia State (31) and ODU rounded out the East voting.
Reigning conference champion Troy led the West Division balloting with 92 points, followed by South Alabama (85), the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (64), Southern Mississippi (62), Texas State (36), Arkansas State (33) and Louisiana Monroe (20).
𝗛𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗗.@ODUFootball junior linebacker @JasonH_42, who led the nation in tackles in 2022, dubbed the @SunBeltFB Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. ☀️🏈
📰 » https://t.co/4Nc2Lce7wn pic.twitter.com/jhDNjAzUTD
— Sun Belt (@SunBelt) July 24, 2023
Henderson was ODU’s only preseason first-team selection. He was joined on the first team by three JMU players: offensive lineman Nick Kidwell, defensive lineman James Carpenter and punter Ryan Hanson.
ODU punter Ethan Duane was chosen to the second team, as was JMU linebacker Taurus Jones, from Portsmouth’s Norcom High.
The Monarchs’ only Sun Belt victories in 2022 were over Arkansas State and Coastal Carolina, and they lost their last six league games. JMU (8-3, 6-2) rolled past the Chanticleers (9-4, 6-2) 47-7 in a regular-season finale to finish atop the division last year and celebrated with “Kings of the East” merchandise, though the Dukes weren’t allowed to go to the conference championship game or a bowl because they were beginning their transition from FCS to FBS. JMU was picked just sixth in the East last season.
ALL-SUN BELT PRESEASON AWARDS
First-team offense:
QB: Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina.
RB: La’Damian Webb, South Alabama; Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss.
OL: Isaiah Helms, App State; Khalil Crowder, Georgia Southern; Travis Glover, Georgia State; Nick Kidwell, James Madison; Logan Osburn, Marshall.
TE: Neal Johnson, Louisiana.
WR: Jared Brown, Coastal Carolina; Sam Pinckney, Coastal Carolina; Khaleb Hood, Georgia Southern.
First-team defense:
DL: James Carpenter, James Madison; Owen Porter, Marshall; TJ Jackson, Troy; Richard Jibunor, Troy.
LB: JT Killen, Coastal Carolina; Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern; Eli Neal, Marshall; Jason Henderson, Old Dominion.
DB: Micah Abraham, Marshall; Yam Banks, South Alabama; Jay Stanley, Southern Miss; Reddy Steward, Troy.
First-team special teams:
K: Dominic Zvada, Arkansas State.
P: Ryan Hanson, James Madison.
Return specialist: Milan Tucker, App State.
All-purpose: Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss.
Second-team offense:
QB: Carter Bradley, South Alabama.
RB: Rasheen Ali, Marshall; Kimani Vidal, Troy.
OL: Damion Daley, App State; Will McDonald, Coastal Carolina; AJ Gillie, Louisiana; Ethan Driskell, Marshall; Daniel King, Troy.
TE: Jjay Mcafee, Georgia Southern.
WR: Tyrone Howell, ULM; Caullin Lacy, South Alabama; Devin Voisin, South Alabama.
Second-team defense
DL: Javon Denis, Georgia State; Wy’Kevious Thomas, South Alabama; Jalen Williams, Southern Miss; Jordan Revels, Texas State; Javon Solomon, Troy.
LB: Jontrey Hunter, Georgia State; Jordan Veneziale, Georgia State; Taurus Jones, James Madison.
DB: Bryquice Brown, Georgia State; Keith Gallmon Jr., South Alabama; Jaden Voisin, South Alabama; Dell Pettus, Troy.
Second-team special teams:
K: Diego Guajardo, South Alabama.
P: Ethan Duane, Old Dominion.
RS: Matthew McDoom, Coastal Carolina.
AP: Kimani Vidal, Troy.
