University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Photo by: Joe Harper/bgnphoto.com
Camron Harrell Picked Preseason All-Sun Belt; Golden Eagles Picked Fifth in West Division
7/25/2022 12:00:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss senior defensive back Camron Harrell (Bradley, Ill.) earned a spot on the Sun Belt Conference preseason second team as return specialist, while the Golden Eagles were picked to finish fifth in the West Division in a vote released Monday by the league's 14 head coaches.
Harrell returned 26 kicks for a 25.5 yard per return average last season that included a 95-yard kickoff return for a score against Rice. For his career, Harrell has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, including one against Florida Atlantic in 2020 for 100 yards.
As a defensive back last season, he collected 37 tackles, four for loss for nine yards, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
In the West Division poll, Louisiana got 12 of 14 first-place votes to be picked to win the division, while South Alabama was voted second as they garnered the other two first-place votes. Troy was picked third in the West, followed by Texas State, the Golden Eagles, Arkansas State and ULM.
App State garnered 10 first-place votes in being picked to win the East, followed by Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, Marshall, Georgia Southern, James Madison and Old Dominion. CCU registered two first-place votes, while Georgia State and Georgia Southern each collected one apiece.
The Sun Belt Media Days will take place Tuesday and Wednesday in New Orleans. ESPN+ will broadcast each day from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and then from 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Southern Miss coach Will Hall, along with players Jason Brownlee and Swayze Bozeman, will be featured on ESPN+, Wednesday, July 27, at 2 p.m.
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
Harrell returned 26 kicks for a 25.5 yard per return average last season that included a 95-yard kickoff return for a score against Rice. For his career, Harrell has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, including one against Florida Atlantic in 2020 for 100 yards.
As a defensive back last season, he collected 37 tackles, four for loss for nine yards, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
In the West Division poll, Louisiana got 12 of 14 first-place votes to be picked to win the division, while South Alabama was voted second as they garnered the other two first-place votes. Troy was picked third in the West, followed by Texas State, the Golden Eagles, Arkansas State and ULM.
App State garnered 10 first-place votes in being picked to win the East, followed by Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, Marshall, Georgia Southern, James Madison and Old Dominion. CCU registered two first-place votes, while Georgia State and Georgia Southern each collected one apiece.
The Sun Belt Media Days will take place Tuesday and Wednesday in New Orleans. ESPN+ will broadcast each day from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and then from 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Southern Miss coach Will Hall, along with players Jason Brownlee and Swayze Bozeman, will be featured on ESPN+, Wednesday, July 27, at 2 p.m.
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
Players Mentioned
Christian Ostrander Preseason Press Conference
Monday, January 19
Blake Anderson Introductory Press Conference
Monday, December 15
2025 Bowl Practice Press Conference
Wednesday, December 10
Charles Huff 2026 Early Signing Day Press Conference
Wednesday, December 03