Punter Bryce Lofton Earns First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference Honors

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss graduate punter Bryce Lofton (Sand Hill, Miss.) earned first-team honors by the Sun Belt Conference in an announcement by the league office Thursday morning.

Lofton, who completed his second year holding the punting duties for the Golden Eagles, showed his consistency among league leaders by finishing first in 50-plus yard punts with 17 of 61 boots this fall and second in the league in punting average 44.49 (just 0.16 yards behind the league leader).

His number of 50-plus punts was five more than the second most among the Top 10 punters in the league. Lofton currently ranks No. 23 nationally in punting average and his season average finished fifth highest in school history.

Lofton added 18 punts inside the opponent's 20, 21 fair catches and just three touchbacks. In conference games, he led the league in punting average at 44.83 over 46 punts with 13, 50-plus boots and 13 inside the opponent's 20.

Lofton is the second Golden Eagle to earn first-team honors for the program in its three-year league history, joining Frank Gore, Jr., who was first-team all-purpose back in 2022.

Southern Miss also added four honorable mention selections including defensive lineman Kristin Booth (Oxford, Ala.), running back Dreke Clark (Starkville, Miss.), defensive lineman Brodarius Lewis (Prattville, Ala.) and linebacker Tre' Pinkney (Atlanta, Ga.).

Despite being injured for a pair of games, Booth recorded 10 tackles for the Golden Eagles with 2.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. He also added two quarterback hurries for Southern Miss. He played 48 career games for the program with 26 starts and was just one of four 2024 seniors to play his entire collegiate career in Hattiesburg.

Clark led the team in rushing yards with 604 over 124 carries with an average of 4.9 per carry. He collected his longest run of the year of 54 yards against South Alabama en route to a 115-yard performance for his lone 100-yard rushing contest of the season. He led the team in rushing five times during the campaign.

Lewis played in all 12 games and recorded 10 starts for the Golden Eagles. Lewis led all Southern Miss defensive linemen with 39 tackles, including team highs for both tackles for loss (8.0) and sacks (4.0). His best game of the year came against South Alabama in which he tallied a season-best seven tackles with two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. Lewis also tallied at least a half tackle for loss in each of the final four games and in eight games total. He finished the year averaging 6.5 total tackles over his final two games and had at least three tackles in seven contests, including in each of the final four games.

Pinkney, who played in just one season for Southern Miss after transferring from Coastal Carolina, led the Golden Eagles in tackles with 74 to go along with five tackles for loss, a half sack and two quarterback hurries. Pinkney ended his regular season ranked No. 18 in the league in tackles overall and No. 25 in conference games. He enjoyed a season-high 13 stops against USF and added 12 versus Louisiana. He had seven or more tackles in five games in 2024.

2024 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS
Player of the Year
Mike Green, Marshall (RS So., DL – Williamsburg, Va.)

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

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

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

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

Coach of the Year
Michael Desormeaux, Louisiana

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

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

All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams
K – Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana (RS Sr., K – Clute, Texas)
P – Bryce Lofton, Southern Miss (Gr., P – Sand Hill, Miss.)
RS – Ian Foster, Marshall (RS Fr., RS – Brundidge, Ala.)
AP – Devonte Ross, Troy (Jr., AP – Cartersville, Ga.)

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

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

All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams
K – Laith Marjan, South Alabama (RS Jr., K – Raleigh, N.C.)
P – James Allen, Georgia State (RS Jr., P – Australia)
RS – Devonte Ross, Troy (Jr., RS – Cartersville, Ga.)
AP – Ismail Mahdi, Texas State (Jr., AP – Murphy, Texas)

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

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

All-Sun Belt Third Team Special Teams
K – Clune Van Andel, Arkansas State (So., K – Grand Rapids, Mich.)
P – Ryan Hanson, James Madison (RS Sr., P – Elgin, Texas)
RS – Cam Ross, James Madison (RS Sr., RS – Newark, Del.)
AP – Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama (Sr., AP – Jackson, Ala.)

All-Sun Belt Honorable Mentions
App State
QB – Joey Aguilar (Sr., QB – Antioch, Calif.)
OL – Markell Samuel (RS Jr., OL – Fayetteville, N.C.)
TE – Eli Wilson (Sr., TE – Piedmont, S.C.)
LB – Brendan Harrington (RS Sr., LB – Pittsboro, N.C.)

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

Coastal Carolina
RB – Braydon Bennett (RS Sr., RB – Greenville, S.C.)
OL – Nick Del Grande (RS So., OL – Lancaster, Pa.)
LB – Shane Bruce (RS Sr., LB – Carrollton, Ga.)
DB – Juan Powell (Gr., DB – Atlanta, Ga.)

Georgia Southern
RB – Jalen White (5th Yr., RB – Daleville, Ala.)
WR – Derwin Burgess Jr. (Sr., WR – Riverdale, Ga.)
LB – Davin Gilmore (6th Yr., LB – North Charleston, S.C.)
P – Alex Smith (So., P – Melbourne, Australia)

Georgia State
DL – Henry Bryant (RS Jr., DL – Delray Beach, Fla.)
LB – Damaine Wilson (Fr., LB – Pompano Beach, Fla.)
DB – Gavin Pringle (RS Sr., DB – Baltimore, Md.)
DB – Kenyatta Watson (RS Sr., DB – Loganville, Ga.)

James Madison
QB – Alonza Barnett III (RS So., QB – Whitsett, N.C.)
TE – Taylor Thompson (Sr., TE – Prattville, Ala.)
WR – Omarion Dollison (Sr., WR – Columbia, S.C.)
DL – Immanuel Bush (RS Jr., DL – Lancaster, S.C.)

Louisiana
RB – Zylan Perry (RS So., RB – Franklin, La.)
OL – Jax Harrington (RS Sr., OL – Erath, La.)
DL – Mason Narcisse (Sr., DL – Reserve, La.)
LB – Carmycah Glass (RS So., LB – Monroe, La.)

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

Marshall
OL – Jeremy Jones (Sr., OL – Lewisville, Texas)
TE – Toby Payne (RS So., TE – Poca, W.Va.)
WR – Christian Fitzpatrick (RS Sr., WR – Southfield, Mich.)
DB – Josh Moten (Jr., DB – Waldorf, Md.)

Old Dominion
QB – Colton Joseph (RS Fr., QB – Newport Beach, Calif.)
RB – Aaron Young (Sr., RB – Coatesville, Pa.)
DL – Denzel Lowry (RS Jr., DL – Virginia Beach, Va.)
LB – Mario Thompson (So., LB – Richmond, Va.)

South Alabama
QB – Gio Lopez (RS Fr., QB – Madison, Ala.)
OL – Reed Buys (RS Sr., OL – Vicksburg, Miss.)
TE – DJ Thomas-Jones (Sr., TE – Mobile, Ala.)
DL – Maurice Strong Jr. (Gr., DL – Raiford, Fla.)

Southern Miss
RB – Dreke Clark (Gr., RB – Starkville, Miss.)
DL – Kristin Booth (Sr., DL – Oxford, Ala.)
DL – Brodarius Lewis (Gr., DL – Prattville, Ala.)
LB – Tre Pinkney (RS Sr., LB – Atlanta, Ga.)

Texas State
OL – Nash Jones (Sr., OL – Nacogdoches, Texas)
WR – Kole Wilson (Jr., WR – Katy, Texas)
DL – Steven Parker (RS Sr., DL – Dallas, Texas)
DB – Jordan Polk (RS Sr., DB – Arlington, Texas)

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

Punter Bryce Lofton Earns First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference Honors

Players Mentioned

Kristin Booth

Frank Gore, Jr.

Brodarius Lewis

Bryce Lofton

Tre Pinkney

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