USA Has 10 Players Honored By Conference, Coach Jones Selected Coach Of The Year
Ten Jaguars were named to the All-Sun Belt football team today including head coach Joey Jones being named Sun Belt Coach of the Year.
First team selections were: tight end Wex Saxton, offensive lineman Chris May, defensive end Alex Page and defensive lineman Romelle Jones. Second team selection: quarterback Ross Metheny, wide receiver Shavarez Smith, offensive lineman Ucambre Williams and linebacker Enrique Williams.
Honorable mention honors went to placekicker Aleem Sunanon and running back Jay Jones.
South Alabama was chosen to finish seventh out of eight teams in the preseason coaches poll. Coach Jones led the Jaguars to a bowl-eligible 6-6 season and 4-3 record in conference play, including three consecutive wins to end the season. Through five seasons at the helm at USA, a program he started, Jones is 31-21.
Western Kentucky’s Antonio Andrews was named Player of the Year for the conference as well as Offensive Player of the Year. Defensive Player of the Year went to Xavius Boyd also from Western Kentucky. Louisiana-Lafayette’s Elijah McGuire was named Freshman of the Year.
Arkansas State led the conference with 12 players being named to either the first or second team list. ULL and Troy both had nine and South Alabama had eight. WKU, who won the player, offensive and defensive players of the year honors, had seven players on the two teams. ULM had six and newcomers Georgia State and Texas State both had two representatives on the two teams.
Saxton, a 6’4″ 240-pound junior from Hueytown caught 50 passes to tie for the team lead and gained 635 yards on the season.
Page, a 6’1″ 235-pound senior from Prattville had 51 tackles with 14 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, both best on the team.
Romelle Jones, a 6’2″ 270-pound senior from New Orleans had 42 tackles with 13.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.
Metheny, a 6’3″ 205-pound senior and the conference leader in total offense, threw for 2,622 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also rushed for 604 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Smith, a 6’1″ 200-pound junior from McDonough, GA, caught 50 passes to tie for the team lead and gained 940 yards with six touchdowns.
Enrique Williams, a 6′ 235-pound senior from Mobile led USA in total tackles with 105 with 7.5 of them being for a loss.
Sunanon, a 5’7″ 185-pound redshirt freshman from Orlando went 18-of-23 handling the placekicking duties this season, including setting a new school record with 12-consecutive to end the season. His 91 points was the most on the team.
Jay Jones, a 5’9″ 190-pound junior from Horn Lake, MS. led the Jaguar rushing attack with 737 yards with five touchdowns.