By Southern Pigskin Staff
SouthernPigskin.com

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Southern Pigskin’s official 2019 pre-spring power ranking of the Sun Belt.

EAST

1. Georgia Southern — Fresh off a historic turnaround, from two wins to ten, Chad Lunsford’s Eagles have plenty of momentum and a lot of returning talent. For all of the talk about the offense, Georgia Southern has one of the nation’s premier cornerback tandems in Kindle Vildor and Monquavion Brinson, who totaled 21 combined pass break-ups in 2018. There is depth along the front seven, led by lineman Raymond Johnson. While some retooling is required up front, the offensive backfield will be dynamic. Entering year three as starter, expect more consistency from quarterback Shai Werts. Running back Wesley Kennedy is ready to become a star. Kicker Tyler Bass is as good as it gets.

Biggest Strength: Cornerback
Biggest Question: Offensive line
Spring Player to Watch: Wesley Kennedy, RB

2. Appalachian State — Former NC State offensive coordinator Eli Drinkwitz takes over for Scott Satterfield. Drinkwitz inherits a talented offense filled with playmakers. Quarterback Zac Thomas, smooth and efficient, completed 63% of his passes and threw 21 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions as a sophomore. As usual, the Mountaineers are loaded at running back, where Darrynton Evans is fresh off 1,187 yards at 6.63 yards per carry. Corey Sutton, ten touchdowns, is a stud out wide. Tackle Victor Johnson makes everyone better. The linebackers, with Akeem Davis-Gaither, Noel Cook and Jordan Fehr, are strong, but there are questions up front and in coverage.

Biggest Strength: Skill positions
Biggest Question: Cornerback
Spring Player to Watch: Shemar Jean-Charles, CB

3. Troy — Chip Lindsey replaces Neal Brown after serving as the offensive coordinator at Auburn. There is great quarterback depth for Lindsey to work with in Kaleb Barker, who had a passer rating of 163.58 before getting hurt, and Sawyer Smith. B.J. Smith also returns after 1,186 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Four starters are back up front, most notably Kirk Kelley. There is a lack of returning production on the perimeter. Linebackers Tron Folson and Carlton Martial will set the tone for a defense that has some star power to replace. As a freshman, Martial burst onto the scene with 76 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.

Biggest Strength: Offensive backfield
Biggest Question: Wide receiver
Spring Player to Watch: Luke Whittemore, WR

4. Coastal Carolina — With Jamey Chadwell taking over for Joe Moglia full-time, the Chanticleers have to find their way back after dropping four straight to end last season. A previously-young defensive core now has some work on the resume. Tackle Tarron Jackson and linebackers Silas Kelly and Teddy Gallagher move into junior leadership roles. Linebacker Michael Makins has a nice freshman debut. Running back C.J. Marable had 128 yards and a touchdown in the Chanticleers’ last win and can provide a good offensive spark. Fred Payton and Bryce Carpenter will compete for the starting quarterback job and a new number one option is needed out wide.

Biggest Strength: Linebacker
Biggest Question: Cornerback
Spring Player to Watch: Jaivon Heiligh, WR

5. Georgia State — A very inexperienced defense from a year ago should take a step forward, which is an absolute must. Nine of the team’s top eleven tacklers return, including leading tackler Ed Curney. After finishing 125th nationally in both sacks and tackles for loss and 127th in turnovers forced, the Panthers simply have to become more disruptive up front and also make more plays on the back end. There is a lot to like with quarterback Dan Ellington, who had 12 touchdown passes and ran for five more scores last fall. Cornelius McCoy, 35 catches as a freshman, is ready for more targets with the departure of the record-setting Penny Hart.

Biggest Strength: Quarterback
Biggest Question: Defensive playmakers
Spring Player to Watch: Javonte Lain, DE

WEST

1. Arkansas State — The Red Wolves arguably have to replace the best offensive player and defensive player in the Sun Belt from a season ago, along with some other standouts, but have impressive roster-wide talent and depth. There is a productive skill position grouping with the likes of returning 1,000-yard receiver Kirk Merritt, running back Marcel Murray and tight end Javonis Isaac. Quarterback Logan Bonner, a Texas-native who has been in the program a few years, will get the chance to step in for Justice Hansen under center. Defensively, end William Bradley-King, tackle Forrest Merrill and cornerback Jerry Jacobs, all standouts, are all back after earning second-team all-conference honors this past fall.

Biggest Strength: Defensive experience
Biggest Question: Quarterback
Spring Player to Watch: Logan Bonner, QB

2. Louisiana — What a running back rotation. Trey Ragas, Elijah Mitchell and Raymond Calais, a trio that very few teams anywhere can match, combined for 2,912 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns in 2018. Behind standout offensive linemen Kevin Dotson and Robert Hunt, the Ragin’ Cajuns will have one of the nation’s premier ground attacks. Effective in a reserve role last year, Levi Lewis will likely take over under center. Ja’Marcus Bradley, ten scores as a junior, is a huge weapon at wide receiver. Linebacker Jacques Boudreaux headlines a defense that is looking to progress in a number of ways. Michael Jacquet broke up nine passes from his safety spot a year ago.

Biggest Strength: Running back
Biggest Question: Pass rush
Spring Player to Watch: Chauncey Manac, LB

3. Louisiana-Monroe — Senior quarterback Caleb Evans has scored 61 total touchdowns and is one of the most productive players in the Sun Belt. As a passer and a runner, he makes the Warhawks a factor. R.J. Turner, one catch away from 100 for his career, is a true go-to target for Evans out wide. The search is on for more playmakers on both sides of the football and, minus Marcus Green, on special teams as well. Defensive end Kerry Starks, five sacks and eleven tackles for loss as a sophomore, is emerging on the edge. Safety Jabari Johnson also had an active freshman debut. Louisiana-Monroe must find a way to allow fewer big plays in the defensive backfield.

Biggest Strength: Quarterback
Biggest Question: Secondary
Spring Player to Watch: Corey Straughter, CB

4. Texas State — Jake Spavital, once Johnny Manziel’s offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, comes to Los Marcos from West Virginia and stuck with the Bobcats after some interest from the NFL. Replacing Everett Withers, Spavital will look to immediately supercharge an offense that ranked 122nd nationally in scoring in 2018. The good news is last year’s team was quite young, so there is a lot of returning experience to work with. First, an identity must be established. Senior linebacker Bryan London is a flat-out tackling machine. He already has 341 career stops and 17 tackles for loss. London could become the Sun Belt’s all-time leading tackler by the end of the first month of the season.

Biggest Strength: Linebacker
Biggest Question: Rushing game
Spring Player to Watch: Willie Jones, QB

5. South Alabama —Closing last year with a win over Coastal Carolina helped the Jaguars salvage some momentum to finish up Steve Campbell’s debut. Perhaps senior running back and return man Tra Minter, who set a new career high with 203 rushing yards in the win over the Chanticleers, can become the new team centerpiece. The quarterback situation has yet to be determined, though whoever steps in can use Kawaan Baker different ways. There appear to be leaders at each level of the defense: Tyree Turner up front, Nick Mobley at linebacker and Jalen Thompson, who had three interceptions and eight pass break-ups a year ago, in the secondary. There are questions at kicker and punter, respectively.

Biggest Strength: Linebacker
Biggest Question: Quarterback
Spring Player to Watch: Cephus Johnson, QB