Appalachian State Football is the favorite in the Sun Belt Conference’s East Division as they head into the upcoming season. Leading the charge is quarterback Joey Aguilar, recognized as the league’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Additionally, nine Mountaineers earned spots on the preseason All-Sun Belt teams, underscoring their depth and talent.

In the East Division rankings, Appalachian State secured the top spot with 96 voting points and 12 first-place votes from the conference’s coaches. James Madison followed closely with 79 points and two first-place votes. On the other side, Texas State led the West Division with 92 points and nine first-place votes, while Troy and Louisiana also garnered significant recognition.

Offensively, wide receiver Kaedin Robinson and tight end Eli Wilson joined Aguilar on the first-team roster. Defensively, Appalachian State’s standout players included Santana Hopper on the line, Nate Johnson at outside linebacker, Jordan Favors at safety, and Ethan Johnson at cornerback—all earning first-team honors.

The Mountaineers’ depth was further highlighted by second-team selections Michael Hughes as kicker and Kanye Roberts at running back. Alongside Arkansas State and Georgia Southern, Appalachian State led all teams with the most selections across both preseason teams, securing seven first-team spots.

Joey Aguilar’s impressive stats from the previous season cemented his reputation, finishing fifth nationally with 33 touchdown passes and setting school records with 3,757 passing yards and 4,002 total offensive yards. Kaedin Robinson matched his prowess with 10 touchdown catches and a total of 905 receiving yards, the highest in Appalachian State’s FBS era. Eli Wilson also shone among Sun Belt tight ends, ranking top three in catches, yards, and touchdown receptions.

Defensively, Santana Hopper and Nate Johnson were recognized as Freshman All-Americans, with Hopper making significant contributions late in the season with 3.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. Nate Johnson’s 7.5 sacks tied him for first nationally among true freshmen. Jordan Favors excelled with four interceptions, tying for the Sun Belt lead, while Ethan Johnson showcased his skills with 11 pass breakups and 56 tackles.

Michael Hughes earned second-team All-American honors after an outstanding season, converting 19 of 22 field goals, including a game-winning kick from 54 yards out. Kanye Roberts emerged as Appalachian State’s top rusher in crucial games, amassing 696 yards and seven rushing touchdowns throughout the season.

The Mountaineers open the 2024 season at home against East Tennessee State before going on the road at Clemson and East Carolina.

Curtain, a junior safety and former Grimsley standout, was named the preseason defensive player of the year. After an impressive sophomore season where the Greensboro native led the Phoenix with eighty tackles and four interceptions, including a pick-six against Wake Forest in the season opener, Curtain is poised to lead a defense that gave up less than two hundred yards passing a game last season. Curtain was joined by his teammate, wide receiver and electric kick returner Chandler Brayboy, on the all-conference team. Other North Carolina-based players on the preseason all-conference team include Campbell’s CJ Tillman, North Carolina A&T’s Karon Prunty, and Mountain Island’s Elijah Burris, who plays running back for Hampton.

Villanova, which earned a share of the 2023 CAA Championship and reached the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs last season, was voted as the 2024 preseason favorite by the league’s head coaches. The Wildcats received nine of the available 16 first-place votes and totaled 217 points, while Richmond took second with one first-place tally and 189 points.

UAlbany garnered three first-place votes and finished third with 179 points, followed by William & Mary (175 points) and Delaware (163), which also picked up three first-place nods. Elon (157) was chosen sixth, followed by New Hampshire (150), Rhode Island (142), Towson (114), Monmouth (95), Campbell (83), Hampton (62), Maine (57), North Carolina A&T (49), Bryant (46) and Stony Brook (42).

2024 CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)

OFFENSE

Connor Watkins, Villanova | Gr. | QB | Williamsport, Pa.

Elijah Burris, Hampton | Sr. | RB | Gastonia, N.C.

Griffin Woodell, UAlbany | So. | RB | Glens Falls, N.Y.

Marcus Yarns, Delaware | Gr. | RB | Salisbury, Md.

Bronson Yoder, William & Mary | Sr. | RB | Nappanee, Ind.

Trey McDonald, William & Mary | Jr. | FB/HB | Kinnelon, N.J.

Carter Runyon, Towson | Sr. | TE | Fairfax, Va.

Chandler Brayboy, Elon | Sr. | WR | Pembroke, N.C.

Nick DeGennaro, Richmond | Sr. | WR | Old Bridge, N.J.

Anthony Johnson, Stony Brook | So. | WR | Burlington, N.J.

Temi Ajirotutu, Villanova | Gr. | OL | Queens, N.Y.

Fintan Brose, Delaware | Gr. | OL | Irwin, Pa.

Charles Grant, William & Mary | Sr. | OL | Portsmouth, Va.

Ozzie Hutchinson, UAlbany | Gr. | OL | Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Will Marotta, UAlbany | Gr. | OL | Collegeville, Pa.

Ralph Paige, Jr., Towson | Sr. | OL | Washington, D.C.

DEFENSE

Jeremiah Grant, Richmond | Sr. | DL | South Orange, N.J.

Westley Neal, Jr., Rhode Island | Sr. | DL | Miami, Fla.

Michael Otty, Bryant | Sr. | DL | Brooklyn, N.Y.

Dylan Ruiz, New Hampshire | Sr. | DL | Orlando, Fla.

Josiah Silver, New Hampshire | Sr. | DL | Hampton, Va.

Brendan Bell, Villanova | Gr. | LB | Basking Ridge, N.J.

Shane Hartzell, Villanova | Jr. | LB | Perkasie, Pa.

A.J. Pena, Rhode Island | Jr. | LB | Branchburg, N.J.

CJ Tillman, Campbell | Sr. | LB | Rockingham, N.C.

Karon Prunty, North Carolina A&T | Jr. | CB | Portsmouth, Va.

Isas Waxter, Villanova | Gr. | CB | Newark, N.J.

Caleb Curtain, Elon | Jr. | S | Greensboro, N.C.

Ty Trinh, Villanova | Gr. | S | Owings Mills, Md.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Chandler Brayboy, Elon | Sr. | KR | Pembroke, N.C.

Gabe Sloat, Rhode Island | Sr. | PR | North Kingstown, R.I.

Keegan Vaughan, Towson | Sr. | PK | Richmond, Va.

Aaron Trusler, Richmond | Gr. | P | Melbourne, Australia

Jabril Hayes, Richmond | Sr. | SPEC | Stephens City, Va.

CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Connor Watkins, QB, Villanova

CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Caleb Curtain, S, Elon

HONORABLE MENTION: Matthew Downing, QB, Elon; Derek Robertson, QB, Monmouth; Malachi Imoh, RB, William & Mary; Marquis Buchanan, WR, Rhode Island; Joe Gillette, WR, Maine; Jaylan Sanchez, WR, Villanova; Logan Tomlinson, WR, New Hampshire; Cooper Heisey, TE, Maine; Ryan McKenna, OL, William & Mary; Dion Crews-Harris, DL, Towson; Cazeem Moore, DL, Elon; Wayne Galloway, LB, Richmond; Ryan Toscano, LB, New Hampshire; Tyron Herring, CB, Delaware; Marcus Barnes, S, William & Mary; JoJo Bermudez, KR, Delaware; TJ Speight, KR, Monmouth; VJ Wilkins, KR, Campbell; John Opalko, PK, UAlbany; Josh Cupitt, P, Delaware; Bobby Cleary, SPEC, Campbell

2024 CAA FOOTBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)

1. Villanova (9 first-place votes) 217

2. Richmond (1) 189

3. UAlbany (3) 179

4. William & Mary 175

5. Delaware (3) 163

6. Elon 157

7. New Hampshire 150

8. Rhode Island 142

9. Towson 114

10. Monmouth 95

11. Campbell 83

12. Hampton 62

13. Maine 57

14. North Carolina A&T 49

15. Bryant 46

16. Stony Brook 42

CHARLOTTE — The 2024 ACC Football Championship Game is scheduled for a primetime kickoff at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, taking place at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. This season marks the first with 17 ACC football teams, and once again, the championship game will feature the top two teams based on their regular-season conference performance. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming season, anticipating a competitive race among the conference's teams to earn a spot in the prestigious game, which will be broadcast from a venue adjacent to the ACC's headquarters.

This primetime kickoff at 8 p.m. ET continues a trend, with this being the 15th occurrence in the last 16 years that the game will be held under the lights. Since its inception in 2005, a total of 13 different teams have contested the ACC Football Championship Game, with Florida State emerging victorious in the previous season to secure its fifth title. Bank of America Stadium, the venue for 13 of the last 14 championship games, solidifies its status as a reliable host, with an agreement in place to continue hosting through 2030. Despite challenges in 2020, the game typically draws nearly 70,000 fans, reflecting the strong support and interest in ACC football.

Over the past decade, the ACC has consistently seen high attendance, ranking second among Power 5 conference championships. Success in the championship game has often propelled ACC teams to the National Championship Game or the College Football Playoff, highlighting the conference's competitiveness and success on the national stage in recent years.

BOILING SPRINGS — In the 2024 Big South-OVC Football Association preseason poll, UT Martin emerges as the favorite with five first-place votes and 61 points. Having won or shared three consecutive conference championships, the Skyhawks are positioned at the top. Gardner-Webb, last year's co-champion, follows closely behind in fifth place with 40 points. The season kicks off with Southeast Missouri facing North Alabama in the FCS Kickoff Classic on August 24, with other teams like Eastern Illinois and Gardner-Webb starting their campaigns shortly after. The competition promises to be intense, culminating in an eight-game round-robin schedule and an automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs for the Association champion.

Players to Watch

Quarterback

Zolten Osborne (So.), Charleston Southern

Pierce Holley (Grad.), Eastern Illinois 

Ren Hefley (Grad.), Gardner-Webb

Paxton DeLaurent (Sr.), Southeast Missouri

Draylen Ellis (Grad.), Tennessee State

Dylan Laible (Jr.), Tennessee Tech

Kinkead Dent (Grad), UT Martin

Nate Lamb (Sr.), Western Illinois

Running Back

Autavius Ison (So.), Charleston Southern

MJ Flowers (So.), Eastern Illinois

Carson Gresock (So.), Gardner-Webb

Robert Giaimo (Jr.), Lindenwood

Jordan Gant (R-So.), Tennessee State

Obie Sanni (Jr.), Tennessee Tech

Narkel LeFlore (Sr.), UT Martin

Torrance Famer Jr. (Sr.), Western Illinois

Wide Receiver

Noah Jennings (So.), Charleston Southern

Eli Mirza (Sr.), Eastern Illinois

Jordan Bly (Sr.), Gardner-Webb

Jeff Caldwell (Jr.), Lindenwood

Jalal Dean (Sr.), Tennessee State

Tremel Jones (Jr.), Tennessee Tech

DeVonte Tanksley (Grad.), UT Martin

Demari Davis (Jr.), Western Illinois

Tight End

Landon Sauers (R-Jr.), Charleston Southern

Anthony Manaves (Sr.), Eastern Illinois

Cole Schnieder (Jr.), Gardner-Webb

Danny Joiner (Jr.), Southeast Missouri

Jason Hoath Jr. (So.), Tennessee State

Hunter Barnhart (Sr.), Tennessee Tech

Brandon Lanier (Jr.), Western Illinois

Offensive Line

Ronnie Hayes II (R-Jr.), Charleston Southern

Sebastian Pares (Sr.), Eastern Illinois 

CJ Dawson (So.), Gardner-Webb

Ethan Johnson (Jr.), Lindenwood

Zack Gieg (Sr.), Southeast Missouri

Connor Meadows (R-So.), Tennessee State

Logan Weedman (Jr.), Tennessee Tech

Drake Carroll (Grad.), UT Martin

Isaiah Foote (Jr.), Western Illinois

All-Purpose

Leon Thomas (So.), Charleston Southern

Edward Sayeed (Sr.), Gardner-Webb

Dayron Johnson (Sr.), Tennessee State

Kyron Cumby (Sr.), Tennessee Tech

Narkel LeFlore (Sr.), UT Martin

Placekicker

Jay Billingsley (Jr.), Gardner-Webb

DC Pippin (Jr.), Southeast Missouri

James Lowery (R-Sr.), Tennessee State

Hayden Olsen (Sr.), Tennessee Tech

Christiaan Masucci (Grad.), Western Illinois

Defensive Line

Joshua Hill (Sr.), Charleston Southern

Joel Barrows (Sr.), Eastern Illinois

Ayden Bell (Sr.), Gardner-Webb

Kobe McClendon (Jr.), Lindenwood

Steven Lewis (Sr.), Southeast Missouri

Eriq George (So.), Tennessee State

Daniel Rickert (Jr.), Tennessee Tech

Charles Perkins (So.), UT Martin

Tre Henry (Sr.), Western Illinois

Linebacker

Tylan Hollis (R-Jr.), Charleston Southern

Elijawah Tolbert (Sr.), Eastern Illinois

Trevor Moffitt (Jr.), Gardner-Webb

Ethan Stuhlsatz (Jr.), Lindenwood

Bryce Norman (Sr.), Southeast Missouri

Ahmad Nelson (Sr.), Tennessee State

Aaron Swafford (Jr.), Tennessee Tech

Jaylon Sharpe (Grad.), UT Martin

Juan DelaCruz (Sr.), Western Illinois

Defensive Back

Trayson Fowler (Grad.), Charleston Southern

Kaleb Lyons (Jr.), Eastern Illinois

Raequan Ousley (Sr.), Gardner-Webb

Joedrick Lewis (Sr.), Southeast Missouri

Jalen McClendon (R-Jr.), Tennessee State

Tim Coutras (Jr.), Tennessee Tech

Oshae Baker (Sr.), UT Martin

Willie Jones (So.), Western Illinois

Punter

Nick Bigelow (Sr.), Gardner-Webb

Jacob Horvath (So.), Eastern Illinois

Jackson Foster (Sr.), Tennessee State

Spencer Ashby (Sr.), Tennessee Tech

Jared Campbell (Sr.), Western Illinois

Kick Return Specialist

Leon Thomas (So.), Charleston Southern

Mark Aitken (Sr.), Eastern Illinois

Anthony Lowe (Sr.), Gardner-Webb

Dayron Johnson (Sr.), Tennessee State

Tremel Jones (Jr.), Tennessee Tech

Narkel LeFlore (Sr.), UT Martin

Punt Return Specialist

Leon Thomas (So.), Charleston Southern

Jordan Bly (Sr.), Gardner-Webb

Dayron Johnson (Sr.), Tennessee State

Tremel Jones (Jr.), Tennessee Tech

Oshae Baker (Sr.), UT Martin

Long Snapper

Noah Summers (R-So.) Charleston Southern

Jack Valente (Sr.), Eastern Illinois 

Jamie Wilson (R-Jr.), Gardner-Webb

Carson Buchanan (Sr.), Tennessee State

Turner McLaughlin (Fr.), Tennessee Tech

Colton Peoples (Jr.), UT Martin