A look around the Sun Belt Conference on Signing Day 2013

The Sun Belt Conference programs, coaches and staff recruited big this 2013 signing class, I love the talent they have brought in all SBC programs, especially the size of the players. I think the SBC programs can now put together a rooster for this fall that will be very competitive with other FBS schools.

Trent Miles signs his first class at Georgia State

Two three star recruits in OLB Knight Dallas and DT Jalen Lawrence both of Georgia leads the 2013 signing class for the Georgia State Panthers.  Dallas is a 6’1 220lbs OLB from Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain and Lawrence is a 6’0 265lb Defensive tackle from Westside High School in Macon, Ga, both of these recruits should get immediate reps and make an immediate impact on the team.

Texas State goes big with it’s 2013 signing class

The Bobcats brings in (2) four star recruits in running back Jamel James 5’11 220lbs of Katy, TX and Brice Gunter 6’3 190lbs a wide receiver from Stephenville, Texas. The Bobcats 2013 recruiting talent continues with (4) three star recruits in Dila Rosemond 5’10 166lbs of Cypress, TX,  JUCO Marcus Dallas a 6’4 245lbs from Reedly, CA, Demun Mercer 6’2 180lbs of La Marque, Texas and offensive guard Jackson Hoskins 6’5 290lbs from Drippings Springs, Texas.

Western Kentucky signs 33 in 2013

Head coach Bobby Petrino's first Western Kentucky recruiting class includes 33 players and some talented players that will help WKU to have a winning program. All Twenty-five prospects signed on Wednesday and the other eight are mid-year enrollees eligible to participate in the Hilltoppers' spring practices.

One four star recruit in Offensive tackle Joe Fennell 6’5 310lbs of South Ft. Myers, FL, and (3) three star offensive linemen stand outs on signing day in JUCO Connor Popeck 6’3 280lbs of Itawamba CC, Olive Branch, MS, Issac Turner 6’0 201lbs of Tampa, FL and Donald Rocker 6’4 301lbs of Sandalwood High, Jacksonville, Fla.

Arkansas State head football coach Bryan Harsin first signing class looking good

Coach Harsin brought in some talent in the Red Wolves 2013 signing class in Offensive line backer Xavier Woodson 6’1 210lbs of Eufaula, Alabama,Carl Lee a 6’3 188lbs wide receiver from Mobile, Alabama,Wide receiver Marquez Lanton 6’1 170lbs from Memphis, TN and  Logan Cart a 6’3 300lbs defensive tackle from Owensboro, Kentucky.

All of these guys plus many other talented players should get immediate reps and playing time with the Arkansas State Red Wolves.

ULL head coach Mark Hudspeth calls his class the most talented in school history

The UL-Lafayette class consists of 22 players, including 18 from high school and four junior college players.

ULL signing day stand outs includes JUCO Cedrick Tillman a 5’9 190lbs corner back from Grenada, MS and JUCO Corey Trim a 5’11 180lbs corner back from Baton Rouge, LA and both are rated at three stars.  Also signing with the Ragin Cajuns on signing day were three start wide receiver Scott Austin 6’3 180lbs of Biloxi, MS, three star offensive line backer James Clark 6’2 205lbs from Sebastian, FL, and Simeon Thomas a 6’3 172lb three star safety from Miami, FL.

UL-Monroe signs talent on Signing Day

Coach Todd Berry brought in a decent class in during the 2013 National Signing Day period. Coach Berry and his staff worked hard this off season in recruiting to land two big recruits in Tevin Horton and Chase Regian and also picking up Bivins Caraway in the process.

(1)    Tevin Horton is a three star RB from River Ridge, LA and stands at 5’10 190lbs.

(2)    Chase Regian is a three star offensive guard from Heath, TX and he stands at 6’3 276lbs.

(3)    Bivins Caraway is a talented QB/DT from Longview, TX and he stands at 5’11 210lbs.

All of these recruits among several others should make an immediate impact on the Warhawks squad in 2013. 

Sun Belt Conference has just two weeks remaining, who will it be?

Sun Belt Conference football season is coming to an end with just two weeks left, who will carry the crown of conference champs back home with them?

New comer South Alabama came in with a bang, surprising many that they too can hang on to the big boys and their conference members.  The Jaguars also have given their conference foes a tough time on the field with no easy wins. They had to earn it.

North Texas and FIU didn't do any better than the last season, in fact FIU panthers did worse to be the pre-season favorite to win the conference after they are schedule to depart the conference along with North Texas to C-USA.  It wasn’t what the Golden Panthers was looking for this season, and the Mean Green of North Texas was looking for a bowl season this year.

Western Kentucky started the season on a positive note and a scared one for other conference foes as if they were the team to beat early on. Now that the Hilltoppers have lost their last two games, their  title hopes have faded and now they have to try and get a bowl bid, something they was overlooked for last season. With another winning season Coach Willie Taggert and his team have nothing to hold their heads down for?  The Hilltoppers defeated (SEC) Kentucky and gave No. 1 (SEC) Alabama some problems on the field.

UL-Monroe falls on my #1 Most Improved Sun Belt Conference team, coming from seasons of losing records to a season of top ten defeats and conference title run. Coach Berry and his staff have really turned some heads with the work in his program. This team is a team to be proud of.  They knocked off No. 6 (SEC) Arkansas in their first game of the season, and then turn around and nearly defeated (SEC) Auburn in overtime. When they came back home to face (BIG 12) Baylor, they nearly defeated them as well in a close game. QB Browning really has showed his ability and talent with the help of his team mates to turn that program around.

FAU has gotten them two conference wins so far this season to put them at (3) wins thus far, and with a new staff and head coach Carl Pelini, the OWLS are making some noise. They may not be bowl eligible or have a winning season, but the OWL S have fought hard this season, and I expect them to improve in the near future and come back to the top and be bowl eligible in the future.

UL-Lafayette is another great program and has come off to a great start in hopes of doing better or repeating the season of last year. They have fallen short of couple games but still have some favor of making it to bowl eligibility. The Ragin Cajuns nearly defeated (SEC) No. 6 Florida a couple weeks ago.

Troy improved their second from last year, they showed their conference new comer South Alabama, which will be their new in-state conference rival that they are strong and some to be deal with. The Trojans went to (SEC) Tennessee and almost upset them, and defeated soon to be (BIG EAST) member Navy.  They too still have a chance to get to six wins to make it to bowl eligibility.

Arkansas State and their new head coach Gus Malzahn have really held on to what they have and be to in the running for the conference title once again for the second straight year. Many thought it would have been tough for Coach Malzahn in his first year as head coach, but he has proven many to be wrong.

Middle Tennessee has stepped back into the title hunt; they have been running the table on their conference foes.  It is my projection that Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders and Arkansas State Red Wolves contend for the conference title, if these two teams don’t lose in the two final games. Middle Tennessee also defeated a BCS member Georgia Tech.

This has been an impressive season for the Sun Belt Conference and their members.  Many teams have improved and it has translated on the field with big wins and being tough players.  This is the conference that I envision for the South, a conference that is second to the SEC with tough games and tough players. This season the Sun Belt Conference has really shown that they are moving on up and if you are on their schedule in the near future, then you need to be ready for a tough battle.

Texas State is preparing to enter the Sun Belt Conference they too are a solid program with a great coach. This team with three wins for the season so far has defeated in-state foe Houston, and there goes Georgia Sate in Atlanta. This team has built a great program under the legendary Coach Bill Curry who has retired from the Panthers. Now that the Panthers is searching for a new coach, we all hope that it will be someone to carry on the momentum of this new football program as we welcome them into the Sun Belt Conference.  

Week 11 Scores:

On Friday FIU travel up to FAU and defeated the OWLS to get their second conference win of the season, and stack up on their already poor season that so many had hoped to be a positive one.  Now that the season is over, Florida International have no chance of winning the conference crown before they depart for C-USA.  FIU 34 FAU 24

Middle Tennessee one of the conference crown contenders traveled to Mobile, Alabama to take on the Sun Belt Conference new comer in football South Alabama. The Blue Raiders held off the Jaguars in a close game to remain in the crown hunt.  

Middle Tennessee 20- South Ala 12

Arkansas State is that team that keeps on running. The Red Wolves defeated the Troy Trojans in Troy. Arkansas State is also in the hunt for the conference title for the second time in a row. 

Arkansas State 41 – Troy 34

North Texas just can’t get to games to reach it to a bowl. UL-Monroe improved their record for the season to get to a bowl for the first time. They held on the Mean Green of North Texas. 

North Texas 16 – ULM 42

Western Kentucky let another game go on the road this time to UL-Lafayette. The Ragin Cajuns held here grown at home to defeat the Hilltoppers. West Kentucky 27 – ULL 31

Sun Belt Preseason Men's Basketball All-Conference Team

Basketball season is almost here and players of the year and possible conference champions are already being mention.

Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year Tony Mitchell was named 2012-13 Men’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, while Middle Tennessee and North Texas were unanimous selections to win the SBC East and West Divisions, respectively, the league office announced Wednesday.

In conference games last season, Mitchell averaged a double-double and led the league in points per game (15.9), rebounds per game (11.8), three-point percentage (.471) and blocked shots (50). The sophomore forward also shot 58.1 percent from the field which placed second in the league.

MT was tabbed to win the SBC East after taking all 11 preseason first place votes. The Blue Raiders won the SBC Regular Season crown in 2011-12 with a 14-2 mark and earned votes in this year’s USA Today coaches’ preseason poll for the first time in program history.

North Texas was placed to finish first in the SBC West after receiving all 11 preseason first place votes.

The Blue Raiders return 10 of their top 12 leading scorers from last season, including Preseason All-SBC First Team selection Marcos Knight. The senior guard from Rentz, Ga., registered 11.8 points and 3.0 assists per game last year. His 1.6 assist:turnover ratio in conference play ranked third in the league.

Picked to finish second in the SBC East was South Alabama under the direction of 14th-year head coach Ronnie Arrow. The Jaguars return seven letterwinners and their top three scorers from last year’s 17-12 squad, with Preseason All-SBC First Team selection Augustine Rubit leading the way.

Rubit, a junior forward from Houston, Texas, earned All-SBC First Team accolades last year and was the only Jaguar to start all 29 games. He led the league in rebounding for the second consecutive season and ranked 38th in the nation with 9.2 per game. He also returns as the league’s leading scorer after dropping in 15.2 points a game last season, second best in the conference.

After leading UALR to a first-place finish in the SBC West last season, sophomore Will Neighbour inked his name on the Preseason All-SBC First Team. In his rookie season, the big man poured in 10.5 points per game while pulling down 5.3 rebounds. He also proved his shooting accuracy by knocking down 81.5 percent from the free throw line and 41.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Neighbour was a Second Team All-SBC selection last season and will look to lead a young UALR team that welcomes nine newcomers. The Trojans are guided by 10th-year head coach Steve Shields and are projected to finish third in the SBC West as they return three letterwinners.

Arkansas State senior guard Trey Finn rounded out the Preseason All-SBC First Team after sinking 11.6 points per game last season for the Red Wolves. Finn tallied 21 double-digit scoring games last season and also brought down 5.3 rebounds per game. He started 29 of 30 contests for ASU and connected on a team-high 61 three-pointers while shooting 45.9 percent from long-range.

Under the direction of fifth-year head coach John Brady, ASU was picked to finish second in the SBC West Division. The Red Wolves return four starters from last year’s team, including leading scorer and Preseason All-SBC Third Team selection Marcus Hooten.

Defending SBC Tournament champions WKU was tabbed for a third place finish in the SBC East and returns 63.3 percent of its scoring from last season. The Hilltoppers knocked off Mississippi Valley State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season and have won at least one game in its last three NCAA Tournament appearances (2008, 09, 12).

WKU returns four starters and nine letterwinners from last year’s team, including Preseason All-SBC Second Team selection George Fant. The Hilltoppers have made it to at least the SBC Tournament semifinals in eight consecutive seasons.

The SBC will have two regular-season nationally televised games on ESPN2 in addition to the SBC Championship finals in Hot Springs on March 11. Florida Atlantic will travel to Indiana on Dec. 21 in the first nationally televised game, and either WKU at MT or UALR at NT will be aired on ESPN2 on Jan. 26.

Four SBC contests will be nationally televised on ESPNU, and an additional eight matchups can be seen on ESPN3.com. The Sun Belt Network will air seven regular-season games and the SBC Championship quarterfinals and semifinals.

2012-13 Men’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference First Team

 ■Will Neighbour (UALR, Jr., Forward)

 ■Trey Finn (Arkansas State, Sr., Guard)

 ■Marcos Knight (Middle Tennessee, Sr., Guard)  

 ■Tony Mitchell (North Texas, So., Forward)

 ■Augustine Rubit (South Alabama, Jr., Forward)

2012-13 Men’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Second Team

 ■Brandon Peterson (Arkansas State, Sr., Forward)

 ■Greg Gantt (Florida Atlantic, Sr., Guard)

 ■JT Sulton (Middle Tennessee, Sr., Forward)

 ■Bruce Massey (Middle Tennessee, Sr., Guard)

 ■George Fant (WKU, So., Forward)

2012-13 Men’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Third Team

 ■Marcus Hooten (Arkansas State, Sr., Guard)

 ■Raymond Cintron (Middle Tennessee, Sr., Guard)

 ■Javier Carter (South Alabama, Sr., Forward)

 ■Freddie Goldstein (South Alabama, Sr., Guard)

 ■T.J. Price (WKU, So., Guard)

2012-13 Men’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year

 ■Tony Mitchell (North Texas, So., Forward)

2012-13 Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

(First place votes in parentheses)

EAST DIVISION

1. Middle Tennessee – 65 points (11)

2. South Alabama – 51 points

3. WKU – 47 points

4. Florida Atlantic – 29 points

5. Troy – 22 points

6. FIU – 17 points

WEST DIVISION

1. North Texas – 55 points (11)
2. Arkansas State – 40 points
3. UALR – 33 points
4. Louisiana-Lafayette – 24 points
5. Louisiana-Monroe – 13 points

UL-Monroe rolls over Florida Atlantic

UL-Monroe Warhawks are on a roll and they just kept on rolling as they defeated FAU at home to improve their conference standing.

Kolton Browning tossed a pair of touchdown passes and Monterrell Washington ran for two more, as Louisiana-Monroe rolled to a 35-14 win over Florida Atlantic in Sun Belt Conference action Saturday night.

The Warhawks (4-2, 2-0) jumped on the board first when Browning completed a 3-yard score to Brent Leonard. Washington followed that up with a 36-yard touchdown run, and then Mitchell Bailey scooped up a muffed punt attempt in the end zone to stretch the advantage to 21-0.

Louisiana-Monroe held FAU (1-4, 0-3) to 1.2 yards per carry and outgained the Owls 195-46 on the ground with no runner accounting for more than 60 yards.

The win makes Louisiana-Monroe one of three remaining undefeated teams in the Sun Belt.

FAU QB Graham Wilbert was 26-of-39 passing for 261 yards for the Owls.