B.J. Smith Named SBC Offensive Player of the Year; Seven Trojans Tabbed All-League

TROY, Alabama – Troy senior running back B.J. Smith has been named the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and seven Trojans landed on the Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference Team, the league announced Thursday.

Smith, who was named to both the Maxwell and Doak Walker Award watch lists this week, rushed for 1,186 yards last season which led the Sun Belt over the 12 regular season games and ranked second, by one yard, for the entire season. Smith's 13 rushing touchdowns were the sixth most in a season in Troy history and were the most among running backs in the league.

The All-Sun Belt First Team selection set a school record after rushing for more than 100 yards in five straight games as he averaged 141.3 yards per game during the month of October; the fifth most in the country. A native of Millbrook, Ala., Smith enters the 2019 season on pace to crack the career top five for rushing yards and touchdowns.

Senior offensive lineman Kirk Kelley joined Smith on the All-Sun Belt First Team. A native of Marrero, La., Kelley earned first team honors last season after he allowed just one sack and five pressures in 703 total offensive snaps. He played both left guard (543 snaps) and left tackle (84 snaps) last season and posted seven great blocks in back-to-back starts against South Alabama and Louisiana.

Troy was represented by wide receiver Tray Eafford and offensive lineman Tristan Crowder on the All-Sun Belt Second Team on the offensive side of the football. Eafford caught 24 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns last season, and his six career touchdown receptions have been from an average of 42.2 yards. Crowder is a two-time All-Sun Belt selection, including third team honors last year after registering four games with a 90-plus grade.

Defensive end Jarvis Hayes and linebacker Carlton Martial took home second team honors for the Trojan defense. A third team selection last season, Hayes finished 10^thin the Sun Belt with 10.5 tackles for loss and was eleventh with 4.5 sacks. Martial earned multiple Freshman All-America honors last year as he led all freshmen in the league in tackles and tackles for loss and finished second in sacks. Martial ranked 20^thnationally overall and fifth nationally against the run by Pro Football Focus – three of the four players ahead of him were selected within the first 13 picks of the NFL Draft.

One of the top dual kickers in the country, Tyler Sumpter earned preseason second team honors as a kicker. He connected on 18-of-24 field goals last season – his 18 makes ranked 16^thnationally – and was perfect on all 45 of his extra-point attempts.

The Sun Belt Conference will hold its annual Football Media Day festivities on Sunday and Monday in New Orleans. Troy will be represented by quarterback Kaleb Barker, safety Melvin Tyus and head coach Chip Lindsey at Media Day.

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2019 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Football Teams

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: B.J. Smith (Troy, Senior)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Kindle Vildor (Georgia Southern, Senior)

First Team Offense
QB - Zac Thomas (Appalachian State, Junior)
RB - Darrynton Evans (Appalachian State, Junior)
RB - B.J. Smith (Troy, Senior)
WR - Corey Sutton (Appalachian State, Junior)
WR - Kirk Merritt (Arkansas State, Senior)
WR - Ja'Marcus Bradley (Louisiana, RS-Senior)
TE - Javonis Isaac (Arkansas State, RS-Junior)
OL - Noah Hannon (Appalachian State, Junior)
OL - Victor Johnson (Appalachian State, Senior)
OL - Kevin Dotson (Louisiana, RS-Senior)
OL - Robert Hunt (Louisiana, RS-Senior)
OL - Kirk Kelley (Troy, Senior)

First Team Defense
DL - William Bradley-King (Arkansas State, RS-Junior)
DL - Forrest Merrill (Arkansas State, Junior)
DL - Raymond Johnson (Georgia Southern, Junior)
DL - Tyree Turner (South Alabama, Senior)
LB - Akeem Davis-Gaither (Appalachian State, Senior)
LB - Jordan Fehr (Appalachian State, Senior)
LB - Bryan London II (Texas State, Senior)
DB - Desmond Franklin (Appalachian State, Senior)
DB - Jerry Jacobs (Arkansas State, Junior)
DB - Monquavion Brinson (Georgia Southern, Senior)
DB - Kindle Vildor (Georgia Southern, Senior)

First Team Special Teams
K - Tyler Bass (Georgia Southern, RS-Senior)
P - Brandon Wright (Georgia State, RS-Senior)
RS - Tra Minter (South Alabama, Senior)

Second Team Offense
QB - Caleb Evans (ULM, Senior)
RB - Elijah Mitchell (Louisiana, Junior)
RB - Trey Ragas (Louisiana, RS-Junior)
WR - Omar Bayless (Arkansas State, RS-Senior)
WR - Kawaan Baker (South Alabama, Junior)
WR - Tray Eafford (Troy, Junior)
TE - Collin Reed (Appalachian State, Senior)
OL - Jacob Still (Arkansas State, RS-Junior)
OL - Hunter Atkinson (Georgia State, RS-Senior)
OL - T.J. Fiailoa (ULM, RS-Junior)
OL - Aaron Brewer (Texas State, Senior)
OL - Tristan Crowder (Troy, Senior)

Second Team Defense
DL - Kevin Thurmon (Arkansas State, RS-Senior)
DL - Tarron Jackson (Coastal Carolina, RS-Junior)
DL - Zi'Yon Hill (Louisiana, RS-Sophomore)
DL - Jarvis Hayes (Troy, Senior)
LB - Jacques Boudreaux (Louisiana, Senior)
LB - Nikolas Daniels (Texas State, Senior)
LB - Carlton Martial (Troy, Sophomore)
DB - Josh Thomas (Appalachian State, Senior)
DB - B.J. Edmonds (Arkansas State, Senior)
DB - Darreon Jackson (Arkansas State, RS-Senior)
DB - Michael Jacquet III (Louisiana, RS-Senior)

Second Team Special Teams
K - Tyler Sumpter (Troy, Junior)
P - Cody Grace (Arkansas State, RS-Senior)
RS - Darrynton Evans (Appalachian State, Junior)

Troy University Athletics

B.J. Smith Named SBC Offensive Player of the Year; Seven Trojans Tabbed All-League

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Players Mentioned

Kaleb Barker

Tristan Crowder

Tray Eafford

Jarvis Hayes

Kirk Kelley

Carlton Martial

B.J. Smith

Tyler Sumpter

Melvin Tyus

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