Check out the CSD preview for the Sun Belt Conference’s 2019 season in this loaded preview featuring in-depth coverage of everything you need to know about all ten teams, projected records based on thousands of computer simulations, and a list of the top players in the conference.
2019 Unit Rankings
| QB | RB | WR/TE | OL | DL | LB | DB |
| 1. APPALACHIAN STATE | 1. LOUISIANA | 1. APPALACHIAN STATE | 1. LOUISIANA | 1. ARKANSAS STATE | 1. TEXAS STATE | 1. GEORGIA SOUTHERN |
| 2. UL-MONROE | 2. APPALACHIAN STATE | 2. ARKANSAS STATE | 2. APPALACHIAN STATE | 2. TROY | 2. APPALACHIAN STATE | 2. TEXAS STATE |
| 3. TROY | 3. TROY | 3. GEORGIA STATE | 3. UL-MONROE | 3. UL-MONROE | 3. LOUISIANA | 3. ARKANSAS STATE |
All-Sun Belt Team
Offense
QB – Zac Thomas, Appalachian State
RB – Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State
RB – BJ Smith, Troy
WR – Kirk Merritt, Arkansas State
WR – Corey Sutton, Appalachian State
WR – Ja’Marcus Bradley, Louisiana
TE – Collin Reed, Appalachian State
C – Noah Hannon, Appalachian State
OL – Kevin Dotson, Louisiana
OL – Robert Hunt, Louisiana
OL – Victory Johnson, Appalachian State
OL – Tristan Crowder, Troy
Defense
DE – Tyree Turner, South Alabama
DE – Raymond Johnson, Georgia Southern
DT – Forrest Merrill, Arkansas State
DT – Ty Phillips, Georgia Southern
LB – Frankie Griffin, Texas State
LB – Bryan London, Texas State
LB – Jordan Fehr, Appalachian State
LB – Jacques Boudreaux, Louisiana
CB – Kindle Vildor, Georgia Southern
CB – Monquavion Brinson, Georgia Southern
S – Desmond Franklin, Appalachian State
S – Tyler Murray, Troy
Awards
Offensive POY: QB Zac Thomas, Appalachian State
Defensive POY: CB Kindle Vildor, Georgia Southern
Freshman OTY: WR Sam Pickney, Georgia State
Newcomer OTY: QB Gresch Jensen, Texas State
Coach OTY: Chip Lindsey, Troy
Game OTY: Appalachian State @ Troy (November 30th)
Breakout Player: DE William Bradley-King, Arkansas State
EAST
1. Appalachian State
Top Returning Players: QB Zac Thomas, RB Darrynton Evans, WR Corey Sutton, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, S Desmond Franklin, S Josh Thomas
Notable Players Leaving: IDL Myquon Stout, LB Anthony Flory, CB Tae Hayes, CB Clifton Duck, S Austin Exford
Final 2018 CSD Prime Ranking: 59th
Projected 2019 CSD Prime Ranking: 52nd
Average Projected Record: 8.7 wins, 3.3 losses (6.1 wins, 1.9 losses)
Click Here to Read the 2019 Appalachian State Mountaineers Team Preview
2. Troy
Top Returning Players: EDGE Jarvis Hayes, LB Carlton Martial, CB Tyler Murray
Notable Players Leaving: WR Damion Willis, EDGE Hunter Reese, IDL Tevon Sanders, LB Tron Folsom, CB Blace Brown, CB Marcus Jones, S Cedarius Rookard
Final 2018 CSD Prime Ranking: 94th
Projected 2019 CSD Prime Ranking: 77th
Average Projected Record: 8.1 wins, 3.9 losses (5.5 wins, 2.5 losses)
3. Georgia Southern
Top Returning Players: QB Shai Werts, EDGE Raymond Johnson III, CB Kindle Vildor, CB Monquavion Brinson
Notable Player Leaving: RB Wesley Fields
Final 2018 CSD Prime Ranking: 97th
Projected 2019 CSD Prime Ranking: 93rd
Average Projected Record: 6.7 wins, 5.3 losses (4.6 wins, 3.4 losses)
Click Here to Read the 2019 Georgia Southern Eagles Team Preview
4. Georgia State
Top Players Returning: EDGE Terry Thomas
Final 2018 CSD Prime Ranking: 125th
Projected 2019 CSD Prime Ranking: 120th
Average Projected Record: 4.1 wins, 7.9 losses (2.6 wins, 5.4 losses)
Click Here to Read the 2019 Georgia State Panthers Team Preview
5. Coastal Carolina
Top Returning Players: EDGE Tarron Jackson
Final 2018 CSD Prime Ranking: 129th
Projected 2019 CSD Prime Ranking: 128th
Average Projected Record: 3.5 wins, 8.5 losses (1.8 wins, 6.2 losses)
Click Here to Read the 2019 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Team Preview
WEST
1. Arkansas State
Top Returning Players: RB Marcel Murray, WR Kirk Merritt, IDL Forrest Merrill, IDL Kevin Thurmon, CB Jerry Jacobs
Notable Players Leaving: QB Justice Hansen, RB Warren Wand, EDGE Ronheen Bingham, S Justin Clifton
Final 2018 CSD Prime Ranking: 69th
Projected 2019 CSD Prime Ranking: 76th
Average Projected Record: 8.2 wins, 3.8 losses (5.7 wins, 2.3 losses)
Click Here to Read the 2019 Arkansas State Red Wolves Team Preview
2. Louisiana
Top Returning Players: RB Trey Ragas, WR Ja’Marcus Bradley, T Robert Hunt, G Kevin Fotson, EDGE Chauncey Manac, IDL Bennie Higgins
Final 2018 CSD Prime Ranking: 82nd
Projected 2019 CSD Prime Ranking 88th
Average Projected Record: 7.0 wins, 5.0 losses (4.7 wins, 3.3 losses)
Click Here to Read the 2019 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Team Preview
T3. UL Monroe
Top Returning Players: IDL Larance Shaw
Notable Players Leaving: CB Marcus Hubbard
Final 2018 CSD Prime Ranking: 101st
Projected 2019 CSD Prime Ranking: 109th
Average Projected Record: 5.0 wins, 7.0 losses (3.5 wins, 4.5 losses)
T3. Texas State
Top Returning Player: C Aaron Brewer, IDL Caeveon Patton, LB Bryan London II, LB Nikolas Daniels, LB Frankie Griffin, CB Anthony J. Taylor, CB Jarron Morris, S JaShon Waddy, S Josh Newman
Notable Players Leaving: TE Keenen Brown
Final 2018 CSD Prime Ranking: 107th
Projected 2019 CSD Prime Ranking: 112th
Average Projected Record: 5.1 wins, 6.9 losses (3.5 wins, 4.5 losses)
Click Here to Read the 2019 Texas State Bobcats Team Preview
5. South Alabama
Top Returning Players: IDL Tyree Turner
Notable Players Leaving: CB Tobias Moss
Final 2018 CSD Prime Ranking: 119th
Projected 2019 CSD Prime Ranking: 123rd
Average Projected Record: 3.3 wins, 8.7 losses (1.9 wins, 6.1 losses)
Click Here to Read the 2019 South Alabama Jaguars Team Preview