Athlon honors the best in the Sun Belt for 2017.
Appalachian State, Arkansas State and Troy are projected as the clear frontrunners in the Sun Belt this year, and these three teams comprise a huge part of the 2017 All-Sun Belt team. The Mountaineers lead the way with 15 selections, while the Trojans and Red Wolves are tied with 13 apiece. South Alabama checks in third with 12 picks, and FBS newcomer Coastal Carolina features five selections on the 2017 All-Sun Belt team.
Athlon Sports has released its top 25 for 2017. Now, it’s time to take a look at the best of the best and honor the top players in the league with a release of first, second, third and fourth all-conference teams for 2017.
An important note on the all-conference teams: These are based on how players will perform in 2017. Career statistics and awards matter in the evaluation, but choosing players for the 2017 all-conference team is largely based on predicting and projecting the best for the upcoming year.
Sun Belt Football 2017 All-Conference Team
|
First-Team Offense |
Second-Team Offense |
Third-Team Offense |
Fourth-Team Offense |
|
| QB |
Brandon Silvers Troy |
Matt Linehan Idaho |
Taylor Lamb App. State |
Justice Hansen Ark. State |
| RB |
Jalin Moore App. State |
Xavier Johnson South Alabama |
L.A. Ramsby Georgia Southern |
Johnston White Ark. State |
| RB |
Larry Rose NMSU |
Warren Wand Ark. State |
Wesley Fields Georgia Southern |
Aaron Duckworth Idaho |
| AP |
Jordan Chunn Troy |
Isaiah Saunders (RB) Idaho |
Terrence Upshaw (RB) App. State |
Osharmar Abercrombie (RB) Coastal Carolina |
| WR |
Penny Hart Georgia State |
Shaedon Meadors App. State |
Keenan Barnes Louisiana |
Alfonso Onunwor Idaho |
| WR |
Emanuel Thompson Troy |
Deondre Douglas Troy |
Dijon Paschal Ark. State |
Marcus Green ULM |
| TE |
Blake Mack Ark. State |
Maaseiah Francis South Alabama |
Ari Werts Georgia State |
Gabe Schrade Texas State |
| C |
Aaron Brewer Texas State |
Gabe Mobley Georgia State |
Deontae Crumitie Troy |
Curtis Rainey Georgia Southern |
| OL |
Jordan Rose Idaho |
Kevin Dotson Louisiana |
Jeremiah Culbreth Georgia Southern |
Robert Hunt Louisiana |
| OL |
Victor Johnson App. State |
Steven Rowzee Troy |
Adam Lawhorn Coastal Carolina |
Ryan Northrup Georgia Southern |
| OL |
Beau Nunn App. State |
Frank Sutton ULM |
Sage Doxtater NMSU |
Hunter Atkinson Georgia State |
| OL |
Colby Gossett App. State |
Noah Fisher South Alabama |
Noah Johnson Idaho |
Jaypee Philbert Ark. State |
|
First-Team Defense |
Second-Team Defense |
Third-Team Defense |
Fourth-Team Defense |
|
| DL |
Aikeem Coleman Idaho |
Tre Alford South Alabama |
Jimmie Gipson South Alabama |
Taboris Lee Louisiana |
| DL |
Joe Dillon Louisiana |
Baron Poole Troy |
Kourtland Busby NMSU |
Jamal Stadom Troy |
| DL |
Tee Sims App. State |
Dee Liner Ark. State |
Myquon Stout App. State |
Tyree Turner South Alabama |
| DL |
Ja'Von Rolland-Jones Ark. State |
Mackendy Cheridor Georgia State |
Finesse Middleton South Alabama |
Caleb Tucker ULM |
| LB |
Eric Boggs App. State |
Michael Shaw Georgia State |
Devan Stringer App. State |
Gabe Loyd Texas State |
| LB |
Bryan London Texas State |
Terrill Hanks NMSU |
Tony Lashley Idaho |
Chris DeLaRosa Georgia Southern |
| LB |
Kyle Wilson Ark. State |
Kaden Elliss Idaho |
David Griffith ULM |
Shane Johnson Coastal Carolina |
| CB |
Clifton Duck App. State |
Chandon Sullivan Georgia State |
Darrell Songy South Alabama |
Blace Brown Troy |
| CB |
Latrell Gibbs* |
Kamryn Melton Troy |
Jalen Thompson South Alabama |
Jerome Smith Georgia State |
| S |
Justin Clifton Ark. State |
A.J. Howard App. State |
Kris Weatherspoon Troy |
Joshua Moon Georgia Southern |
| S |
Jeremy Reaves South Alabama |
Jaden Wright NMSU |
Blaise Taylor (CB) Ark. State |
Tracy Walker Louisiana |
|
First-Team Specialists |
Second-Team Specialists |
Third-Team Specialists |
Fourth-Team Specialists |
|
| K |
Stevie Artigue Louisiana |
Michael Rubino App. State |
Parker Davidson NMSU |
Gavin Patterson South Alabama |
| P |
Payton Theisler NMSU |
Brandon Wright Georgia State |
Evan Rabon Coastal Carolina |
Craig Ford ULM |
| KR |
Jabir Frye Troy |
Daryl Rollins-Davis Ark. State |
Xavier Johnson South Alabama |
Darrynton Evans App. State |
| PR |
Blaise Taylor Ark. State |
Chris Jones Coastal Carolina |
Cedarius Rookard Troy |
Marcus Green ULM |
Team-by-Team Breakdown of Athlon's 2017 All-Sun Belt Team
| First | Second | Third | Fourth | |
|
Appalachian State
|
Offense: 4 Defense: 3 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
|
Arkansas State
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 3 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 3 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Coastal Carolina
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Georgia Southern
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 3 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Georgia State
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 3 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Idaho
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Louisiana
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
|
New Mexico State
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
|
South Alabama
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 3 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 4 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
|
Texas State
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Troy
|
Offense: 3 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
|
ULM
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 2 |
* CB Latrell Gibbs is not on Appalachian State's roster for 2017 and was not a member of the team in 2016.
