Photo courtesy of Carla Wehmeyer, Arkansas State University
JONESBORO, Ark. (12/5/24) – The Arkansas State football team had 11 players selected to the 2024 All-Sun Belt Conference Teams, announced Thursday by the league office.
The Red Wolves had one first-team selection, three players earn second-team recognition, three third-team picks and an additional four honorable mention choices. A-State had players represent all three phases of the game, including four on offense, four on defense and three specialists.
Senior safety Trevian Thomas represented A-State on the first team after tying for the league-lead and ranking third nationally with five interceptions. The Americus, Ga., native led the nation with three interceptions on an opponent’s final offensive possession of the game. Thomas ranked fourth on the team with 73 tackles, including 41 solo stops that were the third most on the squad.
Representing the Red Wolves on the second team were senior offensive lineman Jacob Bayerand Mehki Butler. This is the second consecutive season with two offensive linemen on the first or second teams after having not accomplished such since 2016 prior to last season. Returning from an ACL injury suffered in April, Bayer started the final 11 games of the season and finished as the top-rated center in the league as graded by PFF. Butler started all 12 contests at left guard and was the top-rated guard in the league per PFF.
Junior wide receiver Corey Rucker joins Bayer and Butler on the second team. Rucker registered four games with 100-plus receiving yards, three in league play, including a season-high 193 yards against Troy. He ranked fifth in the conference with 78.83 yards per game and 5.42 receptions per game. The Bentonia, Miss., native became A-State’s career receiving yards leader this season as he enters the bowl game with 176 receptions for 2,930 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Finding a place on the third team were junior defensive end Bryan Whitehead, senior linebacker Marvin Ham and sophomore kicker Clune Van Andel. Per PFF, Whitehead led edge rushers in the league with 10 quarterback hits while ranking fourth with 35 total pressures, including 21 hurries. Ham totaled a team-high 90 tackles, eighth most among SBC players, and added two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. Van Andel has split the uprights for a school record 17 consecutive field goals made, all in conference play, and finished the regular season with 88 points scored.
A-State’s four honorable mention selections were made up of senior punter Ryan Heicher, long snapper Jack Bullard, star Justin Parks and running back Zak Wallace.
Arkansas State bowl eligible for the second consecutive season – now waits to find out its postseason assignment. The 2024 bowl matchups will be revealed on Sunday, Dec. 4, following conference championship games.
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