Latest News: Not Shocking Winners-Sun Belt Announces 2024 Football Postseason Awards & All-Conference Teams

Marshall redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Mike Green was named the Sun Belt Player of the Year, leading the 2024 Sun Belt football postseason awards and All-Sun Belt teams announced on Thursday. These honors were determined by a vote from the conference’s 14 head coaches and select media members.

Louisiana redshirt senior quarterback Ben Wooldridge received the Offensive Player of the Year award, while Georgia Southern redshirt senior linebacker was honored as the Defensive Player of the Year. Marshall redshirt junior quarterback Braylon Braxton was recognized as the Newcomer of the Year, ULM freshman running back Ahmad Hardy was named Freshman of the Year, and Louisiana head coach Michael Desormeaux was awarded Coach of the Year.

Green topped the nation with 21.0 tackles for loss—tying the Sun Belt record for most since 2010—and ranked second nationally with a Sun Belt single-season record of 16.0 sacks. The Williamsburg, Va., native also led the country with 150 yards lost on tackles for loss and 139 sack yards. This season, the redshirt sophomore recorded a tackle for loss in 11 out of 12 regular-season games and a sack in 9 of those games.

Wooldridge ranks 11th in the nation with a passing efficiency of 159.42 and 12th with a completion percentage of .683. The quarterback from Pleasanton, California, threw for 2,392 yards and 17 touchdowns over 10 games before suffering an injury against South Alabama, which caused him to miss the last two games of the regular season. The redshirt senior ranks third in the Sun Belt with an average of 239.20 passing yards per game and fourth in total offense with an average of 258.40 yards per game.

Watson-Trent is fifth nationally with four forced fumbles and eighth with 110 tackles this season, despite missing one game due to illness. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native recorded three consecutive seasons with over 100 tackles for the Eagles. The redshirt senior linebacker also had 7.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, along with six games of double-digit tackles this year.

Braxton ranks 17th in the country with a passing efficiency of 154.61 and 21st with an average of 13.50 yards per completion. The Frisco, Texas product passed for 1,431 yards and 17 touchdowns while rushing for 544 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games, starting in only seven as the Thundering Herd’s quarterback. The redshirt junior is the only quarterback and one of three Sun Belt players to have multiple rushing games over 140 yards this season.

Hardy ranks 10th nationally with 1,351 rushing yards and 23rd with 13 rushing touchdowns. The Monticello, Mississippi native rushed for 277 more yards than any other freshman in the country and tied for the national lead among freshmen in both rushing and total touchdowns. The freshman running back was the only Sun Belt player with multiple 200-plus yard rushing games. He also ranked second in the conference with 1,423 all-purpose yards and co-led the league with 78 points scored by a non-kicker.

Desormeaux guided Louisiana to its fourth 10-win season in six years and its conference-leading fifth appearance in the Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship, marking the seventh year of the event. The Ragin’ Cajuns ranked second in the nation in red zone offense (.947), second in fumbles lost (2), third in turnovers lost (8), ninth in turnover margin (+1.00), 11th in team passing efficiency (161.98), 15th in scoring offense (35.6), 16th in fourth down conversion rate (.684), 18th in third down conversion rate (.464), and 18th in total offense (445.7).

Louisiana topped the conference with 11 All-Sun Belt selections, followed closely by James Madison and Marshall, each with nine, and South Alabama with eight. Other teams with five or more All-Sun Belt honorees include Arkansas State (7), Georgia Southern (6), Old Dominion (6), Troy (6), Appalachian State (5), ULM (5), and Texas State (5).

Louisiana’s offense, James Madison’s defense, Louisiana’s defense, and Marshall’s defense each received five All-Sun Belt selections. Appalachian State’s offense, Texas State’s offense, and ULM’s defense garnered four honors each. The special teams units from James Madison, South Alabama, and Troy each led the conference with two All-Sun Belt picks.

Louisiana (6), Marshall (5), and James Madison (4) were the only programs to secure more than two All-Sun Belt First Team selections. All 14 teams had at least one player recognized as an All-Sun Belt selection.

The Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship Game is scheduled for Saturday, December 7, at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT at Cajun Field in Lafayette, Louisiana, and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

2024 Sun Belt Conference Football Postseason Awards

Player of the Year
Mike Green, Marshall (RS Sophomore, DL – Williamsburg, Va.)

Offensive Player of the Year
Ben Wooldridge, Louisiana (RS Senior, QB – Pleasanton, Calif.)

Defensive Player of the Year
Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern (RS Senior, LB – Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Newcomer of the Year
Braylon Braxton, Marshall (RS Junior, QB – Frisco, Texas)

Freshman of the Year
Ahmad Hardy, ULM (Freshman, RB – Monticello, Miss.)

Coach of the Year
Michael Desormeaux, Louisiana

All-Sun Belt First Team Offense

QB: Ben Wooldridge, Louisiana (RS Senior, QB – Pleasanton, Calif.)
RB: Ahmad Hardy, ULM (Freshman, RB – Monticello, Miss.)
RB: Ismail Mahdi, Texas State (Junior, RB – Murphy, Texas)
OL: Pat McMurtrie, James Madison (RS Senior, OL – Verona, N.J.)
OL: Cole Potts, James Madison (Senior, OL – Johnstown, Ohio)
OL: Landon Burton, Louisiana (RS Senior, OL – Lafayette, La.)
OL: AJ Gillie, Louisiana (RS Senior, OL – Natchitoches, La.)
OL: Logan Osburn, Marshall (RS Senior, OL – Ona, W.Va.)
TE: Terrance Carter, Louisiana (RS Sophomore, TE – Killeen, Texas)
WR: Kaedin Robinson, App State (RS Senior, WR – Asheville, N.C.)
WR: Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama (Senior, WR – Jackson, Ala.)
WR: Devonte Ross, Troy (Junior, WR – Cartersville, Ga.)

All-Sun Belt First Team Defense

DL: Santana Hopper, App State (RS Sophomore, DL – Shelby, N.C.)
DL: Clev Lubin, Coastal Carolina (RS Sophomore, DL – Suffern, N.Y.)
DL: Eric O’Neill, James Madison (RS Junior, DL – Staten Island, N.Y.)
DL: Mike Green, Marshall (RS Sophomore, DL – Williamsburg, Va.)
LB: Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern (RS Senior, LB – Pittsburgh, Pa.)
LB: K.C. Ossai, Louisiana (Senior, LB – Conroe, Texas)
LB: Jaden Yates, Marshall (Sophomore, LB – Columbus, Ohio)
DB: Trevian Thomas, Arkansas State (Senior, DB – Americus, Ga.)
DB: Matthew McDoom, Coastal Carolina (Junior, DB – Winter Garden, Fla.)
DB: Terrence Spence, James Madison (Senior, DB – Ringwood, N.J.)
DB: J.J. Roberts, Marshall (RS Senior, DB – Ona, W.Va.)
DB: Jaden Voisin, South Alabama (RS Senior, DB – Crestview, Fla.)

All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams

K: Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana (RS Senior, K – Clute, Texas)
P: Bryce Lofton, Southern Miss (Graduate, P – Sand Hill, Miss.)
RS: Ian Foster, Marshall (RS Freshman, RS – Brundidge, Ala.)
AP: Devonte Ross, Troy (Junior, AP – Cartersville, Ga.)

All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense

QB: Braylon Braxton, Marshall (RS Junior, QB – Frisco, Texas)
RB: A.J. Turner, Marshall (RS Sophomore, RB – Hampton, Va.)
RB: Damien Taylor, Troy (Junior, RB – Northport, Ala.)
OL: Jack Hollifield, App State (RS Junior, OL – Shelby, N.C.)
OL: Jacob Bayer, Arkansas State (Senior, OL – Grandview, Texas)
OL: Mehki Butler, Arkansas State (RS Senior, OL – Omaha, Neb.)
OL: Bryson Broadway, Georgia Southern (5th Year, OL – Dawsonville, Ga.)
OL: Daniel King, Troy (Senior, OL – Cairo, Ga.)
TE: Dorian Fleming, Georgia State (Sophomore, TE – Henrico, Va.)
WR: Corey Rucker, Arkansas State (RS Junior, WR – Bentonia, Miss.)
WR: Ted Hurst, Georgia State (Junior, WR – Savannah, Ga.)
WR: Joey Hobert, Texas State (Senior, WR – San Clemente, Calif.)

All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense

DL: Khairi Manns, James Madison (RS Senior, DL – New Rochelle, N.Y.)
DL: Jordan Lawson, Louisiana (RS Junior, DL – Brandon, Miss.)
DL: Kevontay Wells, ULM (Junior, DL – Jackson, Miss.)
DL: Wy’Kevious Thomas, South Alabama (RS Senior, DL – Riverdale, Ga.)
LB: Jacob Dobbs, James Madison (RS Senior, LB – Macomb, Mich.)
LB: Koa Naotala, Old Dominion (RS Sophomore, LB – Newport News, Va.)
LB: Blayne Myrick, South Alabama (RS Sophomore, LB – Fairhope, Ala.)
DB: Chance Gamble, Georgia Southern (RS Junior, DB – Fitzgerald, Ga.)
DB: Marc Stampley II, Georgia Southern (Junior, DB – Peachtree City, Ga.)
DB: Jacob Thomas, James Madison (Junior, DB – Ashburn, Va.)
DB: Tyrone Lewis, Louisiana (RS Senior, DB – Hammond, La.)
DB: Tyree Skipper, Louisiana (RS Junior, DB – New Orleans, La.)

All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams

K: Laith Marjan, South Alabama (RS Junior, K – Raleigh, N.C.)
P: James Allen, Georgia State (RS Junior, P – Australia)
RS: Devonte Ross, Troy (Junior, RS – Cartersville, Ga.)
AP: Ismail Mahdi, Texas State (Junior, AP – Murphy, Texas)

All-Sun Belt Third Team Offense

QB: Jordan McCloud, Texas State (RS Senior, QB – Tampa, Fla.)
RB: Ahmani Marshall, App State (Senior, RB – Winston-Salem, N.C.)
RB: Fluff Bothwell, South Alabama (Freshman, RB – Oneonta, Ala.)
OL: Caleb Cook, Georgia Southern (RS Junior, OL – Brunswick, Ga.)
OL: Pichon Wimbley, Georgia Southern (Junior, OL – Newnan, Ga.)
OL: Zach Barlev, Old Dominion (Junior, OL – Bolingbrook, Ill.)
OL: Jordan Davis, South Alabama (RS Junior, OL – Fairburn, Ga.)
OL: Alex Harkey, Texas State (RS Junior, OL – Austin, Texas)
TE: Pat Conroy, Old Dominion (RS Senior, TE – Reading, Mass.)
WR: Makai Jackson, App State (Junior, WR – Levittown, Pa.)
WR: Lance LeGendre, Louisiana (RS Senior, WR – New Orleans, La.)
WR: Isiah Paige, Old Dominion (Senior, WR – Richmond, Va.)

All-Sun Belt Third Team Defense

DL: Bryan Whitehead, Arkansas State (RS Junior, DL – Bartlett, Tenn.)
DL: Billy Pullen, ULM (Junior, DL – Kaufman, Texas)
DL: Deeve Harris, Marshall (RS Senior, DL – St. Louis, Mo.)
DL: Kris Trinidad, Old Dominion (RS Junior, DL – Richmond, Va.)
LB: Marvin Ham, Arkansas State (RS Senior, LB – Belleville, Mich.)
LB: Kevin Swint, Georgia State (Senior, LB – Carrollton, Ga.)
LB: Carl Glass Jr., ULM (Senior, LB – Monroe, La.)
LB: Brendan Jackson, Troy (Senior, LB – Statesboro, Ga.)
DB: Keyon Martin, Louisiana (Senior, DB – Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
DB: Wydett Williams Jr., ULM (Junior, DB – Lake Providence, La.)
DB: Jacobie Henderson, Marshall (RS Sophomore, DB – Charlotte, N.C.)
DB: Jahron Manning, Old Dominion (Junior, DB – New Orleans, La.)

All-Sun Belt Third Team Special Teams

K: Clune Van Andel, Arkansas State (Sophomore, K – Grand Rapids, Mich.)
P: Ryan Hanson, James Madison (RS Senior, P – Elgin, Texas)
RS: Cam Ross, James Madison (RS Senior, RS – Newark, Del.)
AP: Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama (Senior, AP – Jackson, Ala.)

All-Sun Belt Honorable Mentions

App State

QB: Joey Aguilar (Senior, QB – Antioch, Calif.)
OL: Markell Samuel (RS Junior, OL – Fayetteville, N.C.)
TE: Eli Wilson (Senior, TE – Piedmont, S.C.)
LB: Brendan Harrington (RS Senior, LB – Pittsboro, N.C.)

Arkansas State

RB: Zak Wallace (RS Senior, RB – Benton, Ark.)
LB: Justin Parks (Senior, DB – Gardendale, Ala.)
P: Ryan Heicher (Senior, P – Walled Lake, Mich.)
LS: Jack Bullard (Senior, LS – Chandler, Ariz.)

Coastal Carolina

RB: Braydon Bennett (RS Senior, RB – Greenville, S.C.)
OL: Nick Del Grande (RS Sophomore, OL – Lancaster, Pa.)
LB: Shane Bruce (RS Senior, LB – Carrollton, Ga.)
DB: Juan Powell (Graduate, DB – Atlanta, Ga.)

Georgia Southern

RB: Jalen White (5th Year, RB – Daleville, Ala.)
WR: Derwin Burgess Jr. (Senior, WR – Riverdale, Ga.)
LB: Davin Gilmore (6th Year, LB – North Charleston, S.C.)
P: Alex Smith (Sophomore, P – Melbourne, Australia)

Georgia State

DL: Henry Bryant (RS Junior, DL – Delray Beach, Fla.)
LB: Damaine Wilson (Freshman, LB – Pompano Beach, Fla.)
DB: Gavin Pringle (RS Senior, DB – Baltimore, Md.)
DB: Kenyatta Watson (RS Senior, DB – Loganville, Ga.)

James Madison

QB: Alonza Barnett III (RS Sophomore, QB – Whitsett, N.C.)
TE: Taylor Thompson (Senior, TE – Prattville, Ala.)
WR: Omarion Dollison (Senior, WR – Columbia, S.C.)
DL: Immanuel Bush (RS Junior, DL – Lancaster, S.C.)

Louisiana

RB: Zylan Perry (RS Sophomore, RB – Franklin, La.)
OL: Jax Harrington (RS Senior, OL – Erath, La.)
DL: Mason Narcisse (Senior, DL – Reserve, La.)
LB: Carmycah Glass (RS Sophomore, LB – Monroe, La.)

ULM

OL: Elijah Fisher (Junior, OL – Allen, Texas)
TE: Rylan Green (Junior, TE – West Monroe, La.)
TE: Julian Nixon (Junior, TE – Atlanta, Ga.)
DB: David Godsey Jr. (Junior, DB – Mansfield, Texas)

Marshall

OL: Jeremy Jones (Senior, OL – Lewisville, Texas)
TE: Toby Payne (RS Sophomore, TE – Poca, W.Va.)
WR: Christian Fitzpatrick (RS Senior, WR – Southfield, Mich.)
DB: Josh Moten (Junior, DB – Waldorf, Md.)

Old Dominion

QB: Colton Joseph (RS Freshman, QB – Newport Beach, Calif.)
RB: Aaron Young (Senior, RB – Coatesville, Pa.)
DL: Denzel Lowry (RS Junior, DL – Virginia Beach, Va.)
LB: Mario Thompson (Sophomore, LB – Richmond, Va.)

South Alabama

QB: Gio Lopez (RS Freshman, QB – Madison, Ala.)
OL: Reed Buys (RS Senior, OL – Vicksburg, Miss.)
TE: DJ Thomas-Jones (Senior, TE – Mobile, Ala.)
DL: Maurice Strong Jr. (Graduate, DL – Raiford, Fla.)

Southern Miss

RB: Rodrigues Clark (Graduate, RB – Starkville, Miss.)
DL: Kristin Booth (Senior, DL – Oxford, Ala.)
DL: Brodarius Lewis (Graduate, DL – Prattville, Ala.)
LB: Tre Pinkney (RS Senior, LB – Atlanta, Ga.)

Texas State

OL: Nash Jones (Senior, OL – Nacogdoches, Texas)
WR: Kole Wilson (Junior, WR – Katy, Texas)
DL: Steven Parker (RS Senior, DL – Dallas, Texas)
DB: Jordan Polk (RS Senior, DB – Arlington, Texas)

Troy

OL: Eli Russ (Junior, OL – Ardmore, Okla.)
DL: Luis Medina (Junior, DL – Summerville, Ga.)
LB: Jordan Stringer (Junior, LB – Augusta, Ga.)
DB: Devin Lafayette (Junior, DB – Brunswick, Ga.)