FIU tops preseason Sun Belt poll

For the second consecutive season, the FIU football team has been picked as the preseason favorite to win the Sun Belt Conference, as determined in a poll of the league’s 10 head coaches. FIU will return 22 starters from last year’s successful 2011 campaign, where the team advanced to its second-straight bowl game and won a program-best eight games during the regular season.

The accolades didn’t stop with the team’s preseason favorite status, with an all-time high seven Panthers earning spots on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team – the most of any league member in 2012. The preseason team was selected by the league’s 10 head coaches and select media members.

Making the list were running back Kedrick Rhodes, offensive linemen Rupert Bryan, Jr., and Caylin Hauptmann, defensive linemen Isame Faciane and Tourek Williams, linebacker Winston Fraser and defensive back Jonathan Cyprien.

Williams was also named the Sun Belt’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Williams’ player of the year nomination was just the second time, and second straight year, an FIU player earned top status, joining former All-American T.Y. Hilton (2011 Preseason Co-Offensive Player of the Year).

Of mention, no other Sun Belt school had repeat picks outside of FIU’s Hauptmann, Williams, Fraser and Cyprien who made the preseason team in 2011. FIU also led the league with six preseason All-Sun Belt picks last year, in addition to Hilton’s preseason player of the year honor.

Williams, a two-time All-Sun Belt Second-Team pick following his sophomore and junior seasons, has also been listed as a unanimous preseason All-Sun Belt First-Team selection by Athlon’s, Blue Ribbon, Lindy’s and Phil Steele this offseason. In addition, Lindy’s rates him the No. 1 NFL talent in the Sun Belt as well as its Preseason Defensive Player of the Year for the league. At FIU, he leads all returning defensive linemen with 26 career starts and is positioned to finish his career among the school’s all-time leaders for sacks, sack yardage, tackles for loss and tackles for loss yardage.

Cyprien, a three-time All-Sun Belt pick having been honored each of his collegiate seasons, was recently named to the preseason watch list for the prestigious Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back. Athlon’s, Blue Ribbon, Lindy’s and Phil Steele also made him a unanimous selection to their respective All-Sun Belt preseason first-teams. Lindy’s rated Cyprien the No. 3 talent in the Sun Belt, while Blue Ribbon tapped him as its Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in conference. Cyprien, with 33 career starts, is poised to become FIU’s all-time leader in career tackles (302) sitting just 30 shy of the mark entering the season.

Rhodes, a 2011 All-Sun Belt Second-Team pick, is the league’s leading returning rusher in 2012 and is the only returning back to record a 1,000-plus yard season in 2011 (1,149 yards). Similar to several of his teammates, he was a unanimous preseason All-Sun Belt First-Team pick in the preseason publications, Athlon’s, Blue Ribbon, Lindy’s and Phil Steele. Blue Ribbon also named him as its Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in the Sun Belt. Rhodes could become FIU’s most prolific rusher of all-time in 2012, entering the season in eyesight of career records for rushing yards, carries, 100-yard games, rushing/receiving plays and receptions by a running back.

Hauptmann, a 2011 All-Sun Belt Second-Team pick, was recently named to the preseason watch list for the Outland Award, given to the nation’s top interior lineman. He was a unanimous preseason All-Sun Belt First-Team selection from Athlon’s, Blue Ribbon, Lindy’s and Phil Steele, as well as Lindy’s No. 6 NFL talent in the Sun Belt. A key part of a veteran FIU offensive line, he has recorded 25 starts in his two previous seasons.

Fraser, a two-time All-Sun Belt pick following his sophomore and junior seasons, has also been listed as a unanimous preseason All-Sun Belt First-Team selection by Athlon’s, Blue Ribbon, Lindy’s and Phil Steele. He is the veteran leader of the linebackers with 31 starts in his previous three seasons. Fraser led the team in tackles (108) a season ago, which ranked fifth all-time at FIU.

Rounding out the defensive selections for FIU, Faciane was a unanimous preseason All-Sun Belt First-Team pick by Athlon’s, Blue Ribbon, Lindy’s and Phil Steele, respectively. He had a breakout season in 2011 helping the line to a No. 14 national ranking for scoring defense, No. 15 in sacks, No. 22 in rush defense and No. 30 in total defense.

Rounding out FIU’s offensive selections, Bryan, a 2011 All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention pick, is the veteran leader on FIU’s offensive line with 29 career starts in his three previous seasons.  Athlon’s, Lindy’s and Phil Steele each placed him on their 2012 preseason All-Sun Belt teams. At right guard, he was a key player in helping the line to the second-fewest sacks allowed all-time and helped pave the way for the second-most team rushing yards in a season (1,893 yards).

Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team

As voted on by the league’s 10 head coaches and selected media members.

Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Offense
Ryan Aplin (Arkansas State, Sr., QB)
Kedrick Rhodes (FIU, Jr., RB)
Alonzo Harris (Louisiana, So., RB)
Josh Jarboe (Arkansas State, Sr., WR)
Javone Lawson (Louisiana, Sr., WR)
Eric Thomas (Troy, Jr., WR)
Jack Doyle (WKU, Sr., TE)
Zack McKnight (Arkansas State, Sr. OL)
Rupert Bryan, Jr., (FIU, Sr., OL)
Caylin Hauptmann (FIU, Sr., OL)
Leonardo Bates (Louisiana, Sr., OL)
Cyril Lemon (North Texas, Sr., OL)

Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Defense
Isame Faciane (FIU, Jr., DL)
Tourek Williams (FIU, Sr., DL)
Tony Davis (Troy, Sr., DL)
Quanterus Smith (WKU, Sr., DL)
Winston Fraser (FIU, Sr., LB)
Kanorris Davis (Troy, Sr., LB)
Andrew Jackson (WKU, Jr., LB)
Don Jones (Arkansas State, Sr., DB)
Jonathan Cyprien (FIU, Sr., DB)
Melvin White, (Louisiana, Sr., DB)
Brynden Trawick (Troy, Sr., DB)

Preseason All-Sun Belt Special Teams
Brett Baer (Louisiana, Sr., Kicker)
Will Atterberry (North Texas, Sr., Punter)
John Evans (WKU, So., Return Specialist)

Preseason Offensive Players of the Year
Ryan Aplin (Arkansas State, Sr., QB)

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Tourek Williams (FIU, Sr., DL)

2012 Preseason Sun Belt Conference Poll
As voted on by the league’s 10 head coaches. First-place votes in parenthesis.

1. FIU, 92 points (5 first place votes)
2. Arkansas State, 85 (2)
3. Louisiana, 81 (2)
4. WKU, 70 (1)
5. Troy, 60
6. ULM, 47
7. Middle Tennessee, 42
8. North Texas, 36
9. FAU, 23
10. South Alabama, 14

— Courtesy of FIUSports.com