A-State QB among nine Red Wolves named preseason All-Sun Belt

JONESBORO — Arkansas State senior quarterback Justice Hansen has been tabbed the 2018 Preseason Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year and was one of nine Red Wolves, including six first-team selections, named to the league’s Preseason All-Conference Football Team, announced Friday by the conference office.

Arkansas State’s nine players earning the recognition were the second most in the conference behind only Troy, which had 10 players and 11 total selections on the lineup. The Red Wolves were named Thursday as the preseason favorite to win the Sun Belt, according the league’s annual coaches’ poll.

All six of Arkansas State’s firstteam selections are seniors, including running back Warren Wand, receiver Justin McInnis, offensive lineman Lanard Bonner, defensive end Ronheen Bingham and defensive back Justin Clifton. The six selections tied Troy for the most in the conference. Appalachian State also had five first-team selections.

Hansen was the 2017 Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year and was also named to both the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien watch lists earlier this week. He is the first Arkansas State player to be selected as the Sun Belt’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year since former quarterback Ryan Aplin in 2012.

The senior enters the 2018 season ranked second in the nation in career passing yards per game at 267.4, sixth in total offense per game at 289.6 yards, sixth in touchdown passes with 56, eighth in passing yards at

6,686, ninth in total offense with

7,239 yards), 10th in passing efficiency at 145.15 and 14th in completions with 502. The 2017 season saw him set single-season school records for completions with 305, passing yards at 3,967, touchdown passes with 37 and total offense with 4,389 yards.

Red Wolves named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team were junior defensive back B.J. Edmonds, junior punter Cody Grace and sophomore offensive lineman Jacob Still. All nine of the Red Wolves’ total selections were named to the

2017 All-Sun Belt Conference team Appalachian State junior defensive back Clifton Duck was named the 2018 Preseason Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

The conference is set to host its annual Media Day Monday in New Orleans. Arkansas State representatives attending the event include head coach Blake Anderson, Clifton, Hansen and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir.

The Red Wolves are scheduled to open their 2018 season on Sept.

1 with a 6 p.m. kickoff at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro against Southeast Missouri State.