Troy Lands 11 Selections on Preseason All-Sun Belt Team

TROY, Ala. – A day after being picked to finish second in the East Division in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, Troy received 11 selections on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team, the league office announced Friday. The preseason team is voted on by the league's 12 head coaches and a media representative from each school.

Offensive linemen Tristan Crowder and Deontae Crumitie, defensive linemen Hunter Reese and Tevon Sanders, linebacker Tron Folsom and defensive back Blace Brown were named to the first team. Wide receiver Deondre Douglas, defensive lineman Marcus Webb, and defensive backs Marcus Jones and Cedarius Rookard were named to the second team. Marcus Jones was honored as both a second team defensive back and second team return specialist.

Troy's 11 selections were the most in the conference. The Trojans will be represented by Crumitie and Reese at Monday's Sun Belt Conference Media Day at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

Crumitie, a senior from Lake City, Fla., started all 13 games at center on his way to being named 2017 All-Sun Belt Second Team; he is also one of just two Sun Belt players on the 2018 Preseason Rimington Trophy Watch List. Cumitie allowed just one sack in more than 700 snaps last season and graded out at a career-high 92 percent in Troy's Sun Belt title-clinching win at Arkansas State.

Crowder, a junior from Carrollton, Ga., started 12 games at right guard for the Trojans last season. He was named to the 2017 All-Sun Belt Second Team after allowing just two sacks in more than 800 snaps. Crowder recorded a season-high 10 knockdown blocks and three great blocks against Alabama State and played a key role on an offensive line that finished 12^thnationally in fewest sacks allowed and rated sixth in offensive line efficiency.

Reese, a senior from Wetumpka, Ala., earned 2017 All-Sun Belt honors after finishing fifth in the league with 14.0 tackles for loss and seventh with 6.5 sacks despite starting just six games. A former walk-on, Reese earned a scholarship prior to the start of the 2017 season. He ended the season strong with 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks and an interception in Troy's victory in the New Orleans Bowl.

Sanders, a senior from Charleston, S.C., started all 13 games at nose guard last season en route to being named 2017 All-Sun Belt Second Team. Sanders tallied 22 tackles (10 solo), five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks on the year. He tied a career-high with five tackles at Coastal Carolina and recorded a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss against South Alabama and Coastal Carolina.

Folsom, a junior from Alma, Ga., earned 2017 All-Sun Belt Second Team honors after he led the Trojans with 80 tackles (50 solo). He ranked fourth on the team with nine tackles for loss while starting all 13 games at Will linebacker. Folsom was a leader on a defensive unit that finished first in the nation in red zone defense and seventh nationally against the run. Troy held a school-record eight opponents under the 100-yard rushing mark and the Trojans set a school record with 112 tackles for loss as a team.

Brown, a senior from Canton, Ga., has put together a stellar career at Troy. He ranked 11^thnationally a season ago with five interceptions and was named 2017 All-Sun Belt Frist Team. Brown enters the 2018 season second among active players with 11 career interceptions. He finished the year with 33 tackles to go along with a team-high six pass break-ups.

Douglas, a senior from Madison, Ala., started 12 games for the Trojans and played in all 13. Douglas made two game-winning catches on the season; a 23-yard reception with 66 seconds remaining against Akron and a 14-yard catch with 17 seconds left in Troy's Sun Belt title-clinching win at Arkansas State. On the season, he caught 48 passes for 628 yards and four touchdowns; all three totals led the team.

Webb, a junior from Decatur, Ala., played all 13 games for the Trojans at defensive tackle and was named to the 2017 All-Sun Belt Team as an honorable mention. Webb tied for third nationally with two blocked kicks – one field goal (Idaho) and one extra point (Coastal Carolina). He finished third on the team with four sacks and fifth on the squad with 8.5 tackles for loss.

Jones, a sophomore from Enterprise, Ala., became Troy's second All-American since moving to the FBS level when he was named to the Phil Steele All-America Third Team as a kick returner. Jones was also named to the ESPN and Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Teams along with being named 2017 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year. Jones set the Troy single-season record and tied the Troy career record with three kickoff returns for touchdowns. He tied the NCAA record with two kick return touchdowns in the game against Coastal Carolina; just the 21^stplayer to accomplish the feat. Jones finished the season fifth on the team with 49 tackles (34 solo), two tackles for loss and six pass break ups.

Rookard, a senior from Spartanburg, S.C., started all 13 games at free safety and was named 2017 All-Sun Belt Third Team. He ranked second among Trojan defenders with 74 tackles (43 solo) and made, arguably, the defensive play of the year when he forced a fumble on LSU's opening snap of the game. Rookard finished the game with eight tackles and a tackle for loss in the win at No. 22 LSU, which snapped the Tigers' 49-game non-conference home winning streak.

Troy shattered the single-season attendance record at Veterans Memorial Stadium for the second straight season. The Trojans played six home games at The Vet in 2017 and averaged a record 24,456 fans per game or 81.52 percent capacity, despite playing in a town of just 19,000 people. The capacity percentage ranks among the top 60 nationally and is fifth among Group of Five schools (min. 30,000 capacity).

Season ticket packages begin at $60 for all six home games at The Vet. The Trojans open the season at home on Saturday, Sept. 1, against nationally-ranked Boise State in the newly renovated Veterans Memorial Stadium.

To purchase Troy football season tickets, please call the Troy Ticket Office at 877-878-WINS (9467), visit the Ticket Office located in Trojan Arena or go online to TroyTrojans.com/Tickets.

2018 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Football Teams

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Justice Hansen (Arkansas State, QB, Senior)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:Clifton Duck (Appalachian State, DB, Junior)

* - named to 2017 Preseason Teams
^ - named to 2017 All-Sun Belt First Team
# - named to 2017 All-Sun Belt Second Team
$ - named to 2017 All-Sun Belt Third Team
! - named 2017 All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention

First Team Offense
QB - Justice Hansen (Arkansas State, Senior) ^
RB - Jalin Moore (Appalachian State, Senior) *^
RB - Warren Wand (Arkansas State, Senior)
WR - Justin McInnis (Arkansas State, Senior) $
WR - Penny Hart (Georgia State, Junior) *^
WR - Marcus Green (ULM, Senior)
TE - Collin Reed (Appalachian State, Junior) !
OL - Victor Johnson (Appalachian State, Junior) *^
OL - Lanard Bonner (Arkansas State, Senior)
OL - Kevin Dotson (Louisiana, Junior) #
OL - Tristan Crowder (Troy, Junior) #
OL - Deontae Crumitie (Troy, Junior) *#

First Team Defense
DL - Ronheen Bingham (Arkansas State, Senior) #
DL - Logan Hunt (Georgia Southern, Senior) #
DL - Hunter Reese (Troy, Senior) ^
DL - Trevon Sanders (Troy, Senior) #
LB - Anthony Flory (Appalachian State, Senior) !
LB - Michael Shaw (Georgia State, Senior) $
LB - Tron Folsom (Troy, Junior) #
DB - Clifton Duck (Appalachian State, Junior) *^
DB - Justin Clifton (Arkansas State, Senior) *#
DB - Monquavion Brinson (Georgia Southern, Junior) #
DB - Blace Brown (Troy, Senior) ^

First Team Special Teams
K - Gavin Patterson (South Alabama, Senior) ^
P - Corliss Waitman (South Alabama, Senior) ^
RS - Marcus Green (ULM, Senior) ^

Second Team Offense
QB - Caleb Evans (ULM, Junior) !
RB - Wesley Fields (Georgia Southern, Senior) !
RB - Trey Ragas (Louisiana, RS-Sophomore) $
WR - RJ Turner (ULM, Junior) $
WR - Jamarius Way (South Alabama, Senior) #
WR - Deondre Douglas (Troy, Senior) *#
TE - Ellis Richardson (Georgia Southern, Senior)
OL - Jacob Still (Arkansas State, Sophomore) !
OL - Curtis Rainey (Georgia Southern, Senior) !
OL - Hunter Atkinson (Georgia State, Junior)
OL - Shamarious Gilmore (Georgia State, Sophomore) !
OL - Aaron Brewer (Texas State, Junior) *$

Second Team Defense
DL - Myquon Stout (Appalachian State, Senior) *!
DL - Marterious Allen (Georgia State, Senior)
DL - Tyree Turner (South Alabama, Junior)
DL - Marcus Webb (Troy, Junior) !
LB - Silas Kelly (Coastal Carolina, Sophomore) !
LB - Bull Barge (South Alabama, Senior) !
LB - Bryan London II (Texas State, Junior) *!
DB - Tae Hayes (Appalachian State, Senior) #
DB - BJ Edmonds (Arkansas State, Junior) !
DB - Marcus Jones (Troy, Sophomore)
DB - Cedarius Rookard (Troy, Senior)

Second Team Special Teams
K - Tyler Bass (Georgia Southern, Junior) #
P - Cody Grace (Arkansas State, Junior) $
RS - Marcus Jones (Troy, Sophomore) #

Troy University Athletics

Troy Lands 11 Selections on Preseason All-Sun Belt Team

Players Mentioned

Blace Brown

Tristan Crowder

Deontae Crumitie

Deondre Douglas

Tron Folsom

Marcus Jones

Hunter Reese

Cedarius Rookard

Trevon Sanders

Marcus Webb

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