NEW ORLEANS – Old Dominion Football linebacker Koa Naotala earned second-team All-Sun Belt honors, while offensive lineman Zach Barlev, tight end Pat Conroy, wide receiver Isiah Paige, defensive lineman Kris Trinidad and safety Jahron Manning all earned third-team accolades. Quarterback Colton Joseph, running back Aaron Young, defensive lineman Denzel Lowry and linebacker Mario Thompson received honorable mention honors.
Naotala led the Monarchs and finished eighth in the Sun Belt with 88 tackles. He also registered 3.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and forced fumble. A Newport News, Virginia native, Naotala recorded four double-digit tackle games, including a career-best 18 stops against East Carolina.
Barlev started all 12 games on the offensive line and helped the Monarchs lead the Sun Belt in rushing. He started the first three games of the season at left guard before sliding out to left tackle for the final nine games.
Paige led the Monarchs and is fifth in the Sun Belt with 61 receptions for 819 yards and added three touchdowns. He recorded the first four 100-yard receiving games of his career, including a career-best 13 catches for 206 yards and a touchdown at App State. In the opener at South Carolina, he hauled in eight receptions for 115 yards and a score.
Conroy was third among Sun Belt tight ends with 33 receptions for 523 yards and five touchdowns. He caught three passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns in the win at Bowling Green and his seven receptions against Georgia State and Marshall were a career high. He delivered two 75-yard touchdown receptions, against Bowling Green and Arkansas State, and was the only tight end in the country to have two 70+ yard receptions.
Trinidad led the Monarchs and finished ninth in the Sun Belt with 5.5 sacks. He led the team with 10.5 tackles for loss and finished second among ODU defensive linemen with 45 tackles. He also notched three pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles. In the season finale win at Arkansas State, he delivered a career-high two sacks.
Manning finished second on the team and 11th in the Sun Belt with 85 tackles. He tied for the team lead with three interceptions and recorded 5.5 tackles for loss. He had four double-digit tackle games, including 10 tackles and two interceptions against East Carolina.
Joseph completed 133-of-222 passes for 1,627 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also finished seventh in the league in rushing with 72 yards per game and tied for fourth with 11 rushing touchdowns. He had a pair of 300-yard passing games, including 304 yards through the air and four touchdown passes against Georgia Southern and also ran for 69 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles.
Young finished fourth in the Sun Belt with 887 yards on 172 carries and eight touchdowns. He finished the season with four-straight 100-yard rushing games, including a career-high 119 yards and two touchdowns in the season finale win at Arkansas State.
Lowry led ODU defensive linemen and finished fifth on the squad with 51 tackles. He had 1.5 sacks and three tackles for loss. He delivered a career-high nine tackles against Virginia Tech.
Thompson finished third on the team with 65 tackles and second in sacks with four and tackles for loss with 9.5. He had six tackles and two sacks in the opener at South Carolina, while registering a career-high 12 tackles against East Carolina.
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.)
Arkansas State
RB – Zak Wallace (RS Sr., RB – Benton, Ark.)
LB – Justin Parks (Sr., DB – Gardendale, Ala.)
P – Ryan Heicher (Sr., P – Walled Lake, Mich.)
LS – Jack Bullard (Sr., LS – Chandler, Ariz.)
Coastal Carolina
RB – Braydon Bennett (RS Sr., RB – Greenville, S.C.)
OL – Nick Del Grande (RS So., OL – Lancaster, Pa.)
LB – Shane Bruce (RS Sr., LB – Carrollton, Ga.)
DB – Juan Powell (Gr., DB – Atlanta, Ga.)
Georgia Southern
RB – Jalen White (5th Yr., RB – Daleville, Ala.)
WR – Derwin Burgess Jr. (Sr., WR – Riverdale, Ga.)
LB – Davin Gilmore (6th Yr., LB – North Charleston, S.C.)
P – Alex Smith (So., P – Melbourne, Australia)
Georgia State
DL – Henry Bryant (RS Jr., DL – Delray Beach, Fla.)
LB – Damaine Wilson (Fr., LB – Pompano Beach, Fla.)
DB – Gavin Pringle (RS Sr., DB – Baltimore, Md.)
DB – Kenyatta Watson (RS Sr., DB – Loganville, Ga.)
James Madison
QB – Alonza Barnett III (RS So., QB – Whitsett, N.C.)
TE – Taylor Thompson (Sr., TE – Prattville, Ala.)
WR – Omarion Dollison (Sr., WR – Columbia, S.C.)
DL – Immanuel Bush (RS Jr., DL – Lancaster, S.C.)
Louisiana
RB – Zylan Perry (RS So., RB – Franklin, La.)
OL – Jax Harrington (RS Sr., OL – Erath, La.)
DL – Mason Narcisse (Sr., DL – Reserve, La.)
LB – Carmycah Glass (RS So., LB – Monroe, La.)
ULM
OL – Elijah Fisher (Jr., OL – Allen, Texas)
TE – Rylan Green (Jr., TE – West Monroe, La.)
TE – Julian Nixon (Jr., TE – Atlanta, Ga.)
DB – David Godsey Jr. (Jr., DB – Mansfield, Texas)
Marshall
OL – Jeremy Jones (Sr., OL – Lewisville, Texas)
TE – Toby Payne (RS So., TE – Poca, W.Va.)
WR – Christian Fitzpatrick (RS Sr., WR – Southfield, Mich.)
DB – Josh Moten (Jr., DB – Waldorf, Md.)
Old Dominion
QB – Colton Joseph (RS Fr., QB – Newport Beach, Calif.)
RB – Aaron Young (Sr., RB – Coatesville, Pa.)
DL – Denzel Lowry (RS Jr., DL – Virginia Beach, Va.)
LB – Mario Thompson (So., LB – Richmond, Va.)
South Alabama
QB – Gio Lopez (RS Fr., QB – Madison, Ala.)
OL – Reed Buys (RS Sr., OL – Vicksburg, Miss.)
TE – DJ Thomas-Jones (Sr., TE – Mobile, Ala.)
DL – Maurice Strong Jr. (Gr., DL – Raiford, Fla.)
Southern Miss
RB – Rodrigues Clark (Gr., RB – Starkville, Miss.)
DL – Kristin Booth (Sr., DL – Oxford, Ala.)
DL – Brodarius Lewis (Gr., DL – Prattville, Ala.)
LB – Tre Pinkney (RS Sr., LB – Atlanta, Ga.)
Texas State
OL – Nash Jones (Sr., OL – Nacogdoches, Texas)
WR – Kole Wilson (Jr., WR – Katy, Texas)
DL – Steven Parker (RS Sr., DL – Dallas, Texas)
DB – Jordan Polk (RS Sr., DB – Arlington, Texas)
Troy
OL – Eli Russ (Jr., OL – Ardmore, Okla.)
DL – Luis Medina (Jr., DL – Summerville, Ga.)
LB – Jordan Stringer (Jr., LB – Augusta, Ga.)
DB – Devin Lafayette (Jr., DB – Brunswick, Ga.)