Troy Lands Three Players on Preseason All-Sun Belt Football Team

NEW ORLEANS – Troy defensive back Montres Kitchens was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team, while defensive end Tyler Roberts and offensive lineman Dalton Bennett were named to the second team, the Sun Belt announced Monday.

The release of the All-Sun Belt teams, which was voted on by the league's 11 head coaches and 11 media members, comes after the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll that tabbed the Trojans to finish eighth in the league.

Kitchens, Jim Thorpe Award Watch List nominee and a 2014 first team All-Sun Belt selection, finished the 2014 season seventh in the country with 0.5 interceptions per game and ninth with six total interceptions. The Waynesboro, Ga., native became just the eighth player in Sun Belt Conference history and the first Troy player to earn Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors. Kitchens intercepted three passes – on successive possessions – and returned one for a touchdown in Troy's victory at Idaho to warrant Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week recognition. Kitchens finished the year with a team-high 88 tackles and led the Sun Belt with his six interceptions. His interception total was the most by a Trojan since 2006 and he was one of just eight players in the country to intercept three passes in a game last season.

Roberts and Bennett, who were both named to the Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List, were named to the second team defense and offense teams, respectively.

Roberts, a defensive end from Hoover, Ala., was named to the All-Sun Belt team honorable mention last season. He finished ninth in the Sun Belt with five sacks, and 12^th with 9.5 tackles for loss. A veteran on the defense, Roberts led the Trojans with four quarterback hurries and two pass break ups. In the Trojans' victory over New Mexico State, he finished with six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. As a sophomore, Roberts was named to the All-Sun Belt second team after finishing the 2013 season sixth in the league in sacks, and 13^th in tackles for loss.

Bennett, an All-Sun Belt Team honorable mention selection last season and a Rimington Trophy Fall Watch List player this year, has started 24 straight games on the offensive line entering his senior season. As a junior, the Marianna, Fla., native recorded 30 knockdown blocks and graded out at 86.5 percent. Bennett was instrumental on an offensive line that allowed just one sack after the second game of the season, which protected NCAA record-setting quarterback Brand Silvers, who set the NCAA FBS freshman completion percentage record, hitting 191 of 271 pass attempts (70.5 percent). As a sophomore, Bennett graded out at over 82 percent with 32 knockdown blocks, allowing just half a sack all season.

The Trojans open fall practice on August 1. Fans can either purchase season tickets online at TroyTrojans.com, by calling 1-877-878-WINS (9467) or in person in the Tine Davis Fieldhouse.

2015 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Football Team

First Team Offense
Fredi Knighten (Arkansas State, Sr., QB, Interdisciplinary Studies)
Matt Breida (Georgia Southern, Jr., RB, Finance)
Elijah McGuire (UL Lafayette, Jr., RB, General Studies)
J.D. McKissic (Arkansas State, Sr., WR, Interdisciplinary Studies)
Donovan Harden (Georgia State, WR, Sr., Sociology)
Rashon Ceaser (UL Monroe, Sr., WR, Kinesiology)
Joel Ruiz (Georgia State, TE, Sr., Criminal Justice)
Jesse Chapman (Appalachian State, Sr., OL, Exercise Science/Pre-Professional)
Darien Foreman (Georgia Southern, Sr., OL, General Studies)
Chris May (South Alabama, Sr., OL, Physical Education)
Joseph Scelfo (South Alabama, Jr., OL, Leisure Studies)
Adrian Bellard (Texas State, Sr., OL, Criminal Justice)

First Team Defense
Ronald Blair (Appalachian State, Sr., DL, Health Promotion)
Ja'Von Rolland-Jones (Arkansas State, So., DL, Sports Management)
Chris Stone (Arkansas State, Sr., DL, Sports Management)
Gerrand Johnson (UL Monroe, Gr., DL, Communication)
John Law (Appalachian State, Jr., LB, Health Promotion)
Xavier Woodson (Arkansas State, Jr., LB, Sports Management)
Joseph Peterson (Georgia State, LB, Sr., Speech)
Doug Middleton (Appalachian State, Sr., DB, Business Management)
Mitch Lane (UL Monroe, Sr., DB, Kinesiology)
David Mims II (Texas State, Sr., DB, Philosophy)
Montres Kitchens (Troy, Sr., DB, Social Science)

First Team Special Teams
Aleem Sunanon (South Alabama, Jr., PK, Biomedical Sciences)
Austin Rehkow (Idaho, Jr., P, Exercise Science and Health)
Blaise Taylor (Arkansas State, So., RS, Business Administration)

Second Team Offense
Kevin Ellison (Georgia Southern, Jr., QB, General Studies)
Marcus Cox (Appalachian State, Jr., RB, Management)
Michael Gordon (Arkansas State, Sr., RB, Interdisciplinary Studies)
Jamal Robinson (UL Lafayette, Sr., WR, Criminal Justice)
Ajalen Holley (UL Monroe, Jr., WR, Kinesiology)
Teldrick Morgan (NM State, Sr., WR, Criminal Justice)
Darion Griswold (Arkansas State, Sr., TE, Interdisciplinary Studies)
Colton Jackson (Arkansas State, Jr., OL, Interdisciplinary Studies)
Octravian Anderson (UL Lafayette, Sr., OL, Criminal Justice)
Mykhael Quave (UL Lafayette, Sr., OL, Industrial Technology)
Ryan Melton (Texas State, Jr., OL, Agriculture)
Dalton Bennett (Troy, Sr., OL, Criminal Justice)

Second Team Defense
Jay Ellison (Georgia Southern, Jr., DL, General Studies)
Quinton Bradley (Idaho, Sr., DL, Psychology)
Darzil Washington (UL Lafayette, Sr., DL, General Studies)
Tyler Roberts (Troy, Sr., DL, Accounting)
Marc Millan (Idaho, Sr., LB, Organizational Sciences)
Dominique Tovell (UL Lafayette, Sr., LB, Exercise Science)
Hunter Kissinger (UL Monroe, Gr., LB, MBA)
Rocky Hayes (Arkansas State, Sr., DB, Finance)
Matt Dobson (Georgia Southern, Sr., DB, History)
Tracy Walker (UL Lafayette, Soph., DB, Sports Management)
Roman Buchanan (South Alabama, Jr., DB, Exercise Science)

Second Team Special Teams
Wil Lutz (Georgia State, PK, Sr., Criminal Justice)
Luke Ferguson (Arkansas State, Sr., P, Marketing)
Derek Keaton (Georgia Southern, Sr., RS, Justice Studies)

Preseason Sun Belt Conference Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Elijah McGuire (UL Lafayette, Jr., RB, General Studies)

Preseason Sun Belt Conference Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year
David Mims II (Texas State, Sr., DB, Philosophy)

Troy University Athletics

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Troy Lands Three Players on Preseason All-Sun Belt Football Team

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