UNT was picked to finish eighth in Sun Belt Conference in the preseason coaches’ poll that just came out. Florida International was picked to win the league with Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette and Western Kentucky following in the next three spots. All four of those teams received first-place votes in the poll.
UNT had two players named to the All-Sun Belt team — offensive lineman Cyril Lemon and punter Will Atterberry.
This is the first season UNT has not had at least two position players named to the team since 2009, when UNT didn’t have a player named to the team.
The only two teams that finished behind UNT in the poll were Florida Atlantic and South Alabama. In a somewhat surprising twist, UNT was picked behind Middle Tennessee, which the Mean Green hammered 59-7 at the end of last season.
Arkansas State quarternack Ryan Aplin was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Florida International defensive lineman Tourek Williams was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
The only teams that had fewer players selected for the all-conference team were Louisiana-Monore, Middle Tennessee, Florida Atlantic and South Alabama, which were all shut out.
The Sun Belt Network schedule has yet to be released, but UNT’s game against Louisiana-Lafayette (EPSN2) and at Houston (CSS) are on the TV slate at this point.
Here is the poll:
School – Points (First place votes in parentheses)
1. FIU – 92 (5)
2. Arkansas State – 85 (2)
3. Louisiana-Lafayette – 81 (2)
4. WKU – 70 (1)
5. Troy – 60
6. Louisiana-Monroe – 47
7. Middle Tennessee – 42
8. North Texas – 36
9. Florida Atlantic – 23
10. South Alabama – 14
Here is the full all-conference team:
Offense
Ryan Aplin (Arkansas State, Sr., QB)
Kedrick Rhodes (FIU, Jr., RB)
Alonzo Harris (Louisiana-Lafayette, So., RB)
Josh Jarboe (Arkansas State, Sr., WR)
Javone Lawson (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., WR)
Eric Thomas (Troy, Jr., WR)
Jack Doyle (WKU, Sr., TE)
Zack McKnight (Arkansas State, Sr., OL)
Rupert Bryan (FIU, Sr., OL)
Caylin Hauptmann (FIU, Sr., OL)
Leonardo Bates (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., OL)
Cyril Lemon (North Texas, So., OL)
Defense
Isame Faciane (FIU, Jr., DL)
Tourek Williams (FIU, Sr., DL)
Tony Davis (Troy, Sr., DL)
Quanterus Smith (WKU, Sr., DL)
Winston Fraser (FIU, r-Sr., LB)
Kanorris Davis (Troy, Sr., LB)
Andrew Jackson (WKU, Jr., LB)
Don Jones (Arkansas State, Sr., DB)
Jonathan Cyprien (FIU, Sr., DB)
Melvin White (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., DB)
Brynden Trawick (Troy, Sr., DB)
Special Teams
Brett Baer (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr. PK)
Will Atterberry (North Texas, Sr., P)
John Evans (WKU, So., Return Specialist)
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Ryan Aplin (Arkansas State, Sr., QB)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Tourek Williams (FIU, Sr., DL)