Bringing you news, notes, stats from both the playing field and classroom from the Sun Belt Conference
James Madison redshirt senior linebacker Jacob Dobbs was named to the 2024 Academic All America football teams selected by College Sports Communicators.
Dobbs was a Second Team selection, after leading James Madison in tackles and earning Second Team All-Sun Belt recognition for his on-field performance in 2024. In nine starts, Dobbs tallied 74 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and a team-leading three fumble recoveries.
Including Dobbs, 57 Sun Belt student-athletes—representing all 14 football programs—were also recognized as 2024 Academic All District honorees.
The Academic All-America program recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.
Academic All-America
Jacob Dobbs, James Madison
Academic All-District
Kyle Arnholt, App State
Anderson Castle, App State
Max Drag, App State
Thomas Shrader, App State
Eli Wilson, App State
Jacob Bayer, Arkansas State
Jack Bullard, Arkansas State
Reed Linder, Arkansas State
Zak Wallace, Arkansas State
Kyre Duplessis, Coastal Carolina
Liam Gray, Coastal Carolina
Heston Edwards, Coastal Carolina
Emile Sebafundi, Coastal Carolina
Mack West, Coastal Carolina
Caleb Cook, Georgia Southern
Matthew Daniel, Georgia Southern
Tyler Fromm, Georgia Southern
Chance Gamble, Georgia Southern
David Mbadinga, Georgia Southern
Pichon Wimbley, Georgia Southern
Anthony Blume, Georgia State
Liam Rickman, Georgia State
Jacob Dobbs, James Madison
Bill Davis, Louisiana
Caden Jensen, Louisiana
Aidan Armenta, ULM
Sam Carson, ULM
David Godsey Jr., ULM
Max Larson, ULM
Jay Mickle, ULM
Charlie Norman, ULM
Travor Randle, ULM
Si Stovall, ULM
Logan Osburn, Marshall
Zach Barlev, Old Dominion
Michael Flores, Old Dominion
Colton Joseph, Old Dominion
Diante Vines, Old Dominion
Ricardo Williams Jr., Old Dominion
Maarten Woudsma, Old Dominion
Reed Buys, South Alabama
Todd Justice, South Alabama
Darius McKenzie, South Alabama
Aleksi Pulkkinen, South Alabama
Trent Thomas, South Alabama
Drew Lawson, Southern Miss
Brennen Milliron, Southern Miss
Darius Jackson, Texas State
Nash Jones, Texas State
James Neal, Texas State
John Oehrlein, Texas State
Beau Sparks, Texas State
KC Bradford, Troy
Tyler Cappi, Troy
Caleb Chappell, Troy
Peyton Higgins, Troy
Landon Parker, Troy
Sun Belt Pre Season Predictions
by George D'Alessandro
Lets first look at our Pre Season All Sun Belt Team
First team Second team
Offense
QB Jordan McCloud Teas State Joey Augliar App State
RB Ismail Mahdi Texas State Ja'Quez Cross Arkansas State
RB Jalen White Georgia Southern Kanye Roberts App State
WR Joey Hobert Texas State Jamaal Pritchett S. Alabama
WR Kaedin Robinson App State Derwin Burgess Georgia Southern
WR Kole Wilson Texas State Courtney Jackson Arkansas State
TE Kendall Karr Coastal Carolina Eli Wilson App State
T Makilan Thomas Arkansas State Nash Jones Texas State
T Nick Del Grande Coastal Carolina Thomas Shrader App State
G AJ Gillie Louisiana Eljiah Fisher ULM
G Daniel King Troy Pinchon Wimbley Georgia Southern
C Jacob Bayer Arkansas State Logan Osburn Marshall
K Mason Shipley Texas State Michael Hughes App State
Defense
DE Ben Bell Texas State Isaac Walker Georgia Southern
DE Jalil Cleamons S. Mississippi Jordan Lawson Louisiana
DT Justin Rhodes Georgia Southern Will Whitson Coastal Carolina
DT Tyqaze Leggs Marshall Denzel Lowery ODU
LB Jason Henderson ODU Nate Johnson App State
LB Marques Watson-Trent Georgia Southern K.C. Ossai Louisiana
LB Charles Willekes Arkansas State Justin Abraham Georgia State
CB Ethan Johnson App State Rasheed Reason ODU
CB Gavin Pringle Georgia State Ricky Fletcher S. Alabama
S Trevian Thomas Arkansas State Jordan Favors App State
S Jaden Voisin S. Alabama Kaleb Culp Texas State
P Ryan Hanson JMU Jack Martin S. Alabama
Player of the Year
Offense Defense
Ismail Mahdi Texas State Jason Henderson ODU
Teams strength and weakness are based upon returning starters
School Strength Weakness
Texas State 4 of 4 DB, QB, 4 of 5 O line 1 of 3 LB
Appalachian State 2 of 3 WR, 2 of 3 LB, QB 1 of 5 O line, 2 of 5 DB
Louisiana 4 of 5 O line, 3 of 4 DB 1 of 3 WR
Arkansas State 10 of 11 offense 2 of 4 DB, 2 of 4 D line
Coastal Carolina 3 of 5 DB, 3 of 5 O line 1 of 3 WR, 2 of 4 D line
Georgia Southern 4 of 4 D line, 2 of 2 Safeties 2 of 5 O line, 0 of 2 CB
Marshall Safeties 1 of 11 offense, 3 of 11 defense
James Madison 4 of 5 O Line, RB 3of 11 defense, WR's
Troy LB 2 of 11 offense, 0 of 4 DB
South Alabama DB, 2 of 3 WR 0 of 3 LB
Southern Mississippi 3 of 5 O Line 2 of 5 DB, 1 of 3 LB
Old Dominion QB, 2 of 3 WR 2 of 5 O Line, 0 of 4 DB
Georgia State 3 of 4 DB, 2 of 3 WR 1 0f 5 O Line, 1 of 3 WR
ULM 3 of 5 DB 2 of 11 Offense
Pre Season Prediction Records
School Conference Non Overall
w l w l w l
West
Texas State 6 0 5 1 11 1
Louisiana 5 1 3 3 8 4
Arkansas State 4 2 4 2 8 4
Troy 3 3 1 5 4 8
South Alabama 2 5 2 4 4 8
Southern Mississipp1 1 5 2 4 3 9
ULM 0 6 1 5 1 11
East
Appalachian State 6 0 4 2 10 2
Coastal Carolina 4 2 4 2 8 4
Georgia Southern 5 1 2 4 7 5
Marshall 3 3 4 2 7 5
James Madison 2 4 4 2 6 6
Old Dominion 1 5 1 5 2 10
Georgia State 0 6 2 4 2 10
Games to keep an eye on:
Marshall at Georgia Southern 10/12 This game will have serious bowl implications for the loser
Louisiana at Texas State 10/29 This Game will in all likelihood determine the champion of the West
Arkansas at Louisiana 11/9 Circle this game if Louisiana drop the game to Texas State this game could determine second in the West and bowl ramifications
Georgia Southern at Coastal Carolina 11/23 This matchup could determine second in the East as well as bowl selection.