Five Football Players Represent Preseason All-Sun Belt Teams; Braxton Named Offensive POY
7/21/2025 12:00:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss Football posted five players on the 2025 preseason All-Sun Belt team announced Monday in a vote by the league's coaches and selected media members.
Golden Eagle quarterback Braylon Braxton, the reigning SBC Newcomer of the Year at Marshall last season, highlighted the group by being named Sun Belt preseason Offensive Player the of the Year and first-team quarterback. Braxton was joined on the first team by defensive lineman Brodarius Lewis (Prattville, Ala.), defensive back Josh Moten (Waldorf, Md.) and return specialist Ian Foster (Brundidge, Ala.), along with tight end Kyirin Heath (Mansfield, Texas) on the second team.
Braxton, the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year, played in 11 games and started in eight games for Marshall, helping lead the Thundering Herd to the 2024 SBC championship. His play in the SBC title game earned him Most Valuable Player honors. He went 8-0 as a starter as he threw for 1,624 yards on 124-of-206 throws with 19 touchdowns and only two interceptions as he averaged 147.6 yards per game passing. Also ranked second on the team in rushing with 610 yards on 134 carries with four touchdown runs and averaged 55.5 rushing yards per contest. He ranked top 40 nationally following the league championship at No. 16 in passing efficiency (154.9), No. 25 in yards per completion (13.1) and No. 39 in passing touchdowns.
Lewis, a Sun Belt honorable mention pick last fall for the Golden Eagles, played in all 12 games with 10 starts. He led the team's defensive line in tackles with 39, including 19 solos, along with eight for a loss of 24 yards and four sacks for 16 yards. Both his TFL and sack totals were tops on the team as he recorded at least one tackle in every game and posted a season-best seven versus South Alabama (Nov. 23), which also included season-highs of two sacks and 2.5 TFLs.
Moten, also a Sun Belt honorable mention selection last season at Marshall, garnered a HERO G5 honorable mention All-American nod as well. He started in all 12 games that he played and finished the year with five interceptions, which tied for 3rd in the FBS and tops in the Sun Belt. Moten secured an interception in four of the final five games in which he saw action in the 2024 season, including a diving interception against Louisiana in the Herd's 31-3 win over the Ragin' Cajuns in the 2024 SBC Championship.
Foster appeared in 13 games as a reserve defensive back and return specialist last season at Marshall, earning All-SBC First Team honors as a return man after leading the FBS in return average among qualifying players (32.4). He posted 16 kick returns for 518 yards and led the FBS in 50-plus-yard kickoff returns (3) and 40-plus-yard kickoff returns (5). Foster also finished the season with 48 tackles, including 5.0 tackles for loss with a fumble recovery and 4 pass breakups.
Heath saw action in 10 games and made four starts in 2024 for the Golden Eagles. He caught 15 passes for 220 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His longest grab of the year was 34 yards which came against Kentucky (8/31) in the season opener. Heath added a touchdown catch of nine yards versus Southeastern Louisiana (9/7) and a 19-yard scoring grab against USF (9/14). He also collected 22.0 receiving yards per game and 14.7 per catch.
The Golden Eagles were also picked fifth in the Sun Belt preseason poll in the West Division behind Louisiana, Texas State, Arkansas State and South Alabama, and ahead of Troy and ULM. James Madison collected enough points to be chosen preseason East Division winner, followed by Georgia Southern, App State, Coastal Carolina, Old Dominion, Marshall and Georgia State.
Here is a look at the preseason teams and postseason polls (with first place votes in parenthesis):
2025 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON AWARDS
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss (RS Sr., QB – Frisco, Texas)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Blayne Myrick, South Alabama (RS Jr., LB – Fairhope, Ala.)
Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year
Clune Van Andel, Arkansas State (Jr., K – Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Offense
QB – Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss (RS Sr., QB – Frisco, Texas)
RB – George Pettaway, James Madison (RS Jr., RB – Suffolk, Va.)
RB – Kentrel Bullock, South Alabama (Sr., RB – Columbia, Miss.)
OL – Nick Del Grande, Coastal Carolina (RS Jr., OL – Lancaster, Pa.)
OL – Caleb Cook, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., OL – Brunswick, Ga.)
OL – Pichon Wimbley, Georgia Southern (Sr., OL – Newnan, Ga.)
OL – Pat McMurtrie, James Madison (Gr., OL – Verona, N.J.)
OL – Zach Barlev, Old Dominion (Sr., OL – Bolingbrook, Ill.)
TE – Toby Payne, Marshall (RS Jr., TE – Poca, W.Va.)
WR – Corey Rucker, Arkansas State (RS Sr., WR – Bentonia, Miss.)
WR – Josh Dallas, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., WR – Sharpsburg, Ga.)
WR – Ted Hurst, Georgia State (Sr., WR – Savannah, Ga.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Defense
DL – Bryan Whitehead, Arkansas State (RS Sr., DL – Bartlett, Tenn.)
DL – Latrell Bullard, Georgia Southern (Sr., DL – Smyrna, Ga.)
DL – Jordan Lawson, Louisiana (RS Sr., DL – Brandon, Miss.)
DL – Kevontay Wells, ULM (Sr., DL – Jackson, Miss.)
DL – Brodarius Lewis, Southern Miss (Gr., DL – Prattville, Ala.)
LB – Brendan Harrington, Georgia Southern (7th Yr., LB – Moncure, N.C.)
LB – Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (RS Sr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
LB – Blayne Myrick, South Alabama (RS Jr., LB – Fairhope, Ala.)
DB – Chance Gamble, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., DB – Fitzgerald, Ga.)
DB – Jacob Thomas, James Madison (Sr., DB – Ashburn, Va.)
DB – Tyree Skipper, Louisiana (RS Sr., DB – New Orleans, La.)
DB – Josh Moten, Southern Miss (RS Sr., DB – Waldorf, Md.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams
K – Clune Van Andel, Arkansas State (Jr., K – Grand Rapids, Mich.)
P – Alex Smith, Georgia Southern (Jr., P – Melbourne, Australia)
RS – Ian Foster, Southern Miss (RS So., RS – Brundidge, Ala.)
AP – Ja'Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS Sr., AP – Hampton, Ark.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense
QB – Alonza Barnett III, James Madison (RS Jr., QB – Whitsett, N.C.)
RB – Ja'Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS Sr., RB – Hampton, Ark.)
RB – Bill Davis, Louisiana (RS So., RB – LaPlace, La.)
OL – Jax Harrington, Louisiana (RS Sr., OL – Erath, La.)
OL – George Jackson, Louisiana (RS Sr., OL – Stone Mountain, Ga.)
OL – Jalen Slappy, Marshall (RS Jr., OL – Columbus, Ohio)
OL – Jordan Davis, South Alabama (RS Sr., OL – Fairburn, Ga.)
OL – Eli Russ, Troy (Sr., OL – Ardmore, Okla.)
TE – Kyirin Heath, Southern Miss (Sr., TE – Mansfield, Texas)
WR – Dalton Stroman, App State (RS Sr., WR – Rockingham, N.C.)
WR – Jameson Tucker, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., WR – Mauldin, S.C.)
WR – Dalen Cobb, Georgia Southern (Sr., WR – Washington, Ga.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense
DL – Henry Bryant, Georgia State (RS Sr., DL – Delray Beach, Fla.)
DL – Immanuel Bush, James Madison (RS Sr., DL – Lancaster, S.C.)
DL – Kris Trinidad, Old Dominion (RS Sr., DL – Richmond, Va.)
DL – Luis Medina, Troy (Sr., DL – Summerville, Ga.)
LB – Shane Bruce, Coastal Carolina (Gr., LB – Carrollton, Ga.)
LB – Trent Hendrick, James Madison (Sr., LB – Richmond, Va.)
LB – Cameron Whitfield, Louisiana (RS Sr., LB – Houston, Texas)
LB – Koa Naotala, Old Dominion (RS Jr., LB – Newport News, Va.)
DB – Tracy Hill Jr., Georgia Southern (RS Jr., DB – Athens, Ga.)
DB – DJ Barksdale, James Madison (Jr., DB – Rock Hill, S.C.)
DB – Wesley Miller, South Alabama (RS Jr., DB – Columbia, Miss.)
DB – Devin Lafayette, Troy (Sr., DB – Brunswick, Ga.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams
K – Scott Taylor Renfroe, Troy (Sr., K – Troy, Ala.)
P – Aleksi Pulkkinen, South Alabama (Jr., P – Helsinki, Finland)
RS – Ja'Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS Sr., RS – Hampton, Ark.)
AP – George Pettaway, James Madison (RS Jr., AP – Suffolk, Va.)
2025 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
(First-Place Votes)
East Division
1. James Madison – 94 Points (11)
2. Georgia Southern – 76 Points (1)
3. App State – 60 Points
4. Coastal Carolina – 49 Points (1)
5. Old Dominion – 48 Points
6. Marshall – 42 Points (1)
7. Georgia State – 23 Points
West Division
1. Louisiana – 86 Points (6)
2. Texas State – 78 Points (6)
3. Arkansas State – 64 Points (1)
4. South Alabama – 50 Points (1)
5. Southern Miss – 47 Points
6. Troy – 43 Points
7. ULM – 24 Points
Golden Eagle quarterback Braylon Braxton, the reigning SBC Newcomer of the Year at Marshall last season, highlighted the group by being named Sun Belt preseason Offensive Player the of the Year and first-team quarterback. Braxton was joined on the first team by defensive lineman Brodarius Lewis (Prattville, Ala.), defensive back Josh Moten (Waldorf, Md.) and return specialist Ian Foster (Brundidge, Ala.), along with tight end Kyirin Heath (Mansfield, Texas) on the second team.
Braxton, the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year, played in 11 games and started in eight games for Marshall, helping lead the Thundering Herd to the 2024 SBC championship. His play in the SBC title game earned him Most Valuable Player honors. He went 8-0 as a starter as he threw for 1,624 yards on 124-of-206 throws with 19 touchdowns and only two interceptions as he averaged 147.6 yards per game passing. Also ranked second on the team in rushing with 610 yards on 134 carries with four touchdown runs and averaged 55.5 rushing yards per contest. He ranked top 40 nationally following the league championship at No. 16 in passing efficiency (154.9), No. 25 in yards per completion (13.1) and No. 39 in passing touchdowns.
Lewis, a Sun Belt honorable mention pick last fall for the Golden Eagles, played in all 12 games with 10 starts. He led the team's defensive line in tackles with 39, including 19 solos, along with eight for a loss of 24 yards and four sacks for 16 yards. Both his TFL and sack totals were tops on the team as he recorded at least one tackle in every game and posted a season-best seven versus South Alabama (Nov. 23), which also included season-highs of two sacks and 2.5 TFLs.
Moten, also a Sun Belt honorable mention selection last season at Marshall, garnered a HERO G5 honorable mention All-American nod as well. He started in all 12 games that he played and finished the year with five interceptions, which tied for 3rd in the FBS and tops in the Sun Belt. Moten secured an interception in four of the final five games in which he saw action in the 2024 season, including a diving interception against Louisiana in the Herd's 31-3 win over the Ragin' Cajuns in the 2024 SBC Championship.
Foster appeared in 13 games as a reserve defensive back and return specialist last season at Marshall, earning All-SBC First Team honors as a return man after leading the FBS in return average among qualifying players (32.4). He posted 16 kick returns for 518 yards and led the FBS in 50-plus-yard kickoff returns (3) and 40-plus-yard kickoff returns (5). Foster also finished the season with 48 tackles, including 5.0 tackles for loss with a fumble recovery and 4 pass breakups.
Heath saw action in 10 games and made four starts in 2024 for the Golden Eagles. He caught 15 passes for 220 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His longest grab of the year was 34 yards which came against Kentucky (8/31) in the season opener. Heath added a touchdown catch of nine yards versus Southeastern Louisiana (9/7) and a 19-yard scoring grab against USF (9/14). He also collected 22.0 receiving yards per game and 14.7 per catch.
The Golden Eagles were also picked fifth in the Sun Belt preseason poll in the West Division behind Louisiana, Texas State, Arkansas State and South Alabama, and ahead of Troy and ULM. James Madison collected enough points to be chosen preseason East Division winner, followed by Georgia Southern, App State, Coastal Carolina, Old Dominion, Marshall and Georgia State.
Here is a look at the preseason teams and postseason polls (with first place votes in parenthesis):
2025 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON AWARDS
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss (RS Sr., QB – Frisco, Texas)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Blayne Myrick, South Alabama (RS Jr., LB – Fairhope, Ala.)
Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year
Clune Van Andel, Arkansas State (Jr., K – Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Offense
QB – Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss (RS Sr., QB – Frisco, Texas)
RB – George Pettaway, James Madison (RS Jr., RB – Suffolk, Va.)
RB – Kentrel Bullock, South Alabama (Sr., RB – Columbia, Miss.)
OL – Nick Del Grande, Coastal Carolina (RS Jr., OL – Lancaster, Pa.)
OL – Caleb Cook, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., OL – Brunswick, Ga.)
OL – Pichon Wimbley, Georgia Southern (Sr., OL – Newnan, Ga.)
OL – Pat McMurtrie, James Madison (Gr., OL – Verona, N.J.)
OL – Zach Barlev, Old Dominion (Sr., OL – Bolingbrook, Ill.)
TE – Toby Payne, Marshall (RS Jr., TE – Poca, W.Va.)
WR – Corey Rucker, Arkansas State (RS Sr., WR – Bentonia, Miss.)
WR – Josh Dallas, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., WR – Sharpsburg, Ga.)
WR – Ted Hurst, Georgia State (Sr., WR – Savannah, Ga.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Defense
DL – Bryan Whitehead, Arkansas State (RS Sr., DL – Bartlett, Tenn.)
DL – Latrell Bullard, Georgia Southern (Sr., DL – Smyrna, Ga.)
DL – Jordan Lawson, Louisiana (RS Sr., DL – Brandon, Miss.)
DL – Kevontay Wells, ULM (Sr., DL – Jackson, Miss.)
DL – Brodarius Lewis, Southern Miss (Gr., DL – Prattville, Ala.)
LB – Brendan Harrington, Georgia Southern (7th Yr., LB – Moncure, N.C.)
LB – Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (RS Sr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
LB – Blayne Myrick, South Alabama (RS Jr., LB – Fairhope, Ala.)
DB – Chance Gamble, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., DB – Fitzgerald, Ga.)
DB – Jacob Thomas, James Madison (Sr., DB – Ashburn, Va.)
DB – Tyree Skipper, Louisiana (RS Sr., DB – New Orleans, La.)
DB – Josh Moten, Southern Miss (RS Sr., DB – Waldorf, Md.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams
K – Clune Van Andel, Arkansas State (Jr., K – Grand Rapids, Mich.)
P – Alex Smith, Georgia Southern (Jr., P – Melbourne, Australia)
RS – Ian Foster, Southern Miss (RS So., RS – Brundidge, Ala.)
AP – Ja'Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS Sr., AP – Hampton, Ark.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense
QB – Alonza Barnett III, James Madison (RS Jr., QB – Whitsett, N.C.)
RB – Ja'Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS Sr., RB – Hampton, Ark.)
RB – Bill Davis, Louisiana (RS So., RB – LaPlace, La.)
OL – Jax Harrington, Louisiana (RS Sr., OL – Erath, La.)
OL – George Jackson, Louisiana (RS Sr., OL – Stone Mountain, Ga.)
OL – Jalen Slappy, Marshall (RS Jr., OL – Columbus, Ohio)
OL – Jordan Davis, South Alabama (RS Sr., OL – Fairburn, Ga.)
OL – Eli Russ, Troy (Sr., OL – Ardmore, Okla.)
TE – Kyirin Heath, Southern Miss (Sr., TE – Mansfield, Texas)
WR – Dalton Stroman, App State (RS Sr., WR – Rockingham, N.C.)
WR – Jameson Tucker, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., WR – Mauldin, S.C.)
WR – Dalen Cobb, Georgia Southern (Sr., WR – Washington, Ga.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense
DL – Henry Bryant, Georgia State (RS Sr., DL – Delray Beach, Fla.)
DL – Immanuel Bush, James Madison (RS Sr., DL – Lancaster, S.C.)
DL – Kris Trinidad, Old Dominion (RS Sr., DL – Richmond, Va.)
DL – Luis Medina, Troy (Sr., DL – Summerville, Ga.)
LB – Shane Bruce, Coastal Carolina (Gr., LB – Carrollton, Ga.)
LB – Trent Hendrick, James Madison (Sr., LB – Richmond, Va.)
LB – Cameron Whitfield, Louisiana (RS Sr., LB – Houston, Texas)
LB – Koa Naotala, Old Dominion (RS Jr., LB – Newport News, Va.)
DB – Tracy Hill Jr., Georgia Southern (RS Jr., DB – Athens, Ga.)
DB – DJ Barksdale, James Madison (Jr., DB – Rock Hill, S.C.)
DB – Wesley Miller, South Alabama (RS Jr., DB – Columbia, Miss.)
DB – Devin Lafayette, Troy (Sr., DB – Brunswick, Ga.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams
K – Scott Taylor Renfroe, Troy (Sr., K – Troy, Ala.)
P – Aleksi Pulkkinen, South Alabama (Jr., P – Helsinki, Finland)
RS – Ja'Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS Sr., RS – Hampton, Ark.)
AP – George Pettaway, James Madison (RS Jr., AP – Suffolk, Va.)
2025 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
(First-Place Votes)
East Division
1. James Madison – 94 Points (11)
2. Georgia Southern – 76 Points (1)
3. App State – 60 Points
4. Coastal Carolina – 49 Points (1)
5. Old Dominion – 48 Points
6. Marshall – 42 Points (1)
7. Georgia State – 23 Points
West Division
1. Louisiana – 86 Points (6)
2. Texas State – 78 Points (6)
3. Arkansas State – 64 Points (1)
4. South Alabama – 50 Points (1)
5. Southern Miss – 47 Points
6. Troy – 43 Points
7. ULM – 24 Points
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