Robinson, Hopper Lead Way Among App State’s All-Sun Belt Selections

Dec. 5, 2024

Contact: Joey Jones (jo*****@ap******.edu)

Lead writer: Bret Strelow (st******@ap******.edu)

ONLINE: https://appstatesports.com/news/2024/12/5/robinson-hopper-lead-app-states-all-sun-belt-football-selections.aspx

BOONE, N.C — App State Football had nine players receive All-Sun Belt recognition Thursday from a vote of league coaches and media members.
 
Wide receiver Kaedin Robinson and defensive end Santana Hopper were first-team selections, and center Jack Hollifield made the second team. Wide receiver Makai Jackson and running back Ahmani Marshall were selected to the third team, while honorable mention went to linebacker Brendan Harrington, tight end Eli Wilson, quarterback Joey Aguilar and offensive tackle Markell Samuel.
 
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.)
 
APP STATE HONOREE BIOS
ALL-SUN BELT FIRST TEAM
WR Kaedin Robinson
Ranks 10th nationally and No. 2 in the Sun Belt Conference at 93.3 receiving yards per game … Had 53 catches for 840 yards and two touchdowns in nine games before suffering a season-ending injury at the end of a touchdown catch at Coastal Carolina on Nov. 7 … Team’s receiving yardage leader in each of the first nine games of the 2024 season, with three 100-yard games and eight games of at least 75 yards following a 10-touchdown season in 2023 … Credited with nine contested catches by PFF to rank No. 3 among Sun Belt receivers … Finished career with App State totals of 147 catches (No. 8 in school history) for 2,164 yards (No. 7 in school history) and 14 touchdown receptions (T-No. 9 in school history) in just 34 games.
 
DL Santana Hopper
Ranked No. 1 among Sun Belt defensive linemen with a season-long defensive grade of 82.7, according to PFF … Credited with 36 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks and 2.0 forced fumbles to go along with 20 QB pressures, the No. 1 total among Sun Belt defensive linemen, according to PFF … Pass-rush grade of 79.1 ranked No. 2 among Sun Belt defensive linemen, according to PFF, and run-defense grade of 80.1 ranked No. 3 among Sun Belt defensive linemen … Ranked No. 6 in the Sun Belt in sacks per game and No. 8 in forced fumbles per game.
 
ALL-SUN BELT SECOND TEAM
OL Jack Hollifield
Started all 11 games at center, with a total blocking grade of 73.6 that ranked No. 2 among Sun Belt centers (and No. 6 among Sun Belt starting offensive linemen) … Played a key role on an offensive line that protected the Sun Belt leader in passing yards while ranking No. 2 in the league at just 15 sacks allowed … Allowed no sacks on the season, and run-blocking grade of 73.6 ranked No. 2 among Sun Belt centers.
 
ALL-SUN BELT THIRD TEAM
WR Makai Jackson
Finished season with back-to-back games of 150-plus receiving yards to end the year with 46 catches for 745 yards and five touchdowns … Ranked No. 6 in Sun Belt with 72.6 receiving yards per game in league play and No. 7 in the Sun Belt with 67.7 receiving yards per game for the whole season … Ranked No. 2 in Sun Belt with eight receptions of 30-plus yards and had six total touchdowns thanks to a 47-yard rushing touchdown … Made five catches for 162 yards and a touchdown against JMU before closing the regular season with eight catches for 157 yards and one touchdown against Georgia Southern.
 
RB Ahmani Marshall
Finished season with five straight 100-yard games to close the year with 713 rushing yards and seven touchdowns despite totaling just 32 carries over the first six games … Tied for No. 5 in Sun Belt at 83.0 rushing yards per league game while ranking No. 4 with seven rushing TDs in league play … During App State’s 3-2 finish to the regular season, rushed for 594 yards (118.8 per game) with five scores … Rushed for 115 yards off the bench against Georgia State before starting the first four games of his collegiate career in the next four games, posting totals of 120 yards (vs. ODU), 124 yards (vs. Coastal Carolina), 108 yards (vs. JMU) and 127 yards (vs. Georgia Southern) … Had two-touchdown games against Marshall and Coastal Carolina.
 
ALL-SUN BELT HONORABLE MENTION
LB Brendan Harrington
Two-time team captain led App State’s defense with 66 tackles after suffering season-ending injuries early in the 2022 season (shoulder injury in the opener vs. UNC) and 2023 season (knee injury in Week 2 vs. UNC) … Didn’t enter starting lineup until the sixth game of 2024 and had 35 tackles over the final four games, including a career-high-tying 11 in the win against James Madison … Ranked No. 10 among Sun Belt linebackers in tackles per game in league play … Also had double-digit tackles against Coastal Carolina during a season in which he had 3.0 tackles for loss and a big fumble recovery (inside the 10 to stop a potential touchdown for ODU).
 
TE Eli Wilson
Had 25 catches for 293 yards and five touchdowns in nine games and tied for No. 3 for touchdown catches among Sun Belt tight ends … Had three games with 50-plus receiving yards and one touchdown: against East Carolina, Louisiana and Georgia Southern … His 10 touchdowns over the last two seasons rank No. 1 among Sun Belt tight ends.
 
QB Joey Aguilar
Finished his second straight 3,000-yard passing season by throwing for a league-high 3,003 yards in just 11 games, good for a season average of 273.0 yards per game to rank No. 1 in the Sun Belt, No. 2 among G5 quarterbacks and No. 12 nationally … Threw 23 touchdown passes, including a combined seven in back-to-back home wins against Georgia State and ODU, to rank No. 3 in the Sun Belt, with a league-high 18 TD passes in Sun Belt games … Set career high with. a 424-yard passing game in a road win against ECU.
 
OL Markell Samuel
Started all 11 games at left tackle, playing the second-most snaps (817) among Sun Belt tackles … Recorded a pass-blocking grade of 67.5 from PFF, with an overall grade of 79.2 in the season finale against Georgia Southern, including a pass-blocking grade of 85.4.

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