South Alabama linebacker Blayne Myrick is the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, the league office announced Monday.

Myrick, a junior from Fairhope, totaled a team-best 101 tackles along with eight tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception (which he returned for a touchdown) and a forced fumble in 2024. He was a second-team All-Sun Belt pick after last season.

Voting was conducted among the Sun Belt’s 14 coaches and select broadcasters. Voting totals were not released.

Myrick also earned a spot on the preseason All-Sun Belt first team, along with running back Kentrel Bullock. A senior from Columbia, Miss., Bullock ran for for 832 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024, while catching 15 passes for 153 yards and a TD.

South Alabama had three players selected to the preseason All-Sun Belt second team: offensive tackle Jordan Davis, safety Wesley Miller and punter Aleksi Pulkkinen. Davis was a third-team all-conference pick after last season.

Troy had no players named first-team preseason All-Sun Belt, but had four on the second team: offensive lineman Eli Russ, defensive lineman Luis Medina, defensive back Devin Lafayette and kicker Scott Taylor Renfroe. Russ, Lafayette and Medina were all honorable mention selections after the 2024 season.

Southern Miss quarterback Braylon Braxton, a Marshall transfer, is the Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Arkansas State kicker Clune Van Andel earned the nod on special teams.

The complete preseason All-Sun Belt football teams for 2025:

First-team offense

QB — Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss

RB — George Pettaway, James Madison

RB — Kentrel Bullock, South Alabama

WR – Corey Rucker, Arkansas State

WR – Josh Dallas, Georgia Southern

WR – Ted Hurst, Georgia State

TE – Toby Payne, Marshall

OL – Nick Del Grande, Coastal Carolina

OL – Caleb Cook, Georgia Southern

OL – Pichon Wimbley, Georgia Southern

OL – Pat McMurtrie, James Madison

OL – Zach Barlev, Old Dominion

First-team defense

DL – Bryan Whitehead, Arkansas State

DL – Latrell Bullard, Georgia Southern

DL – Jordan Lawson, Louisiana

DL – Kevontay Wells, Louisiana-Monroe

DL – Brodarius Lewis, Southern Miss

LB – Brendan Harrington, Georgia Southern

LB – Jason Henderson, Old Dominion

LB – Blayne Myrick, South Alabama

DB – Chance Gamble, Georgia Southern

DB – Jacob Thomas, James Madison

DB – Tyree Skipper, Louisiana

DB – Josh Moten, Southern Miss

First-team specialists

K – Clune Van Andel, Arkansas State

P – Alex Smith, Georgia Southern

RS – Ian Foster, Southern Miss

AP – Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State

Second-team offense

QB – Alonza Barnett, James Madison

RB – Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State

RB – Bill Davis, Louisiana

OL – Jax Harrington, Louisiana

OL – George Jackson, Louisiana

OL – Jalen Slappy, Marshall

OL – Jordan Davis, South Alabama

OL – Eli Russ, Troy

TE — Kyirin Heath, Southern Miss

WR – Dalton Stroman, App State

WR – Jameson Tucker, Coastal Carolina

WR – Dalen Cobb, Georgia Southern

Second-team defense

DL – Henry Bryant, Georgia State

DL – Immanuel Bush, James Madison

DL – Kris Trinidad, Old Dominion

DL – Luis Medina, Troy

LB – Shane Bruce, Coastal Carolina

LB – Trent Hendrick, James Madison

LB – Cameron Whitfield, Louisiana

LB – Koa Naotala, Old Dominion

DB – Tracy Hill, Georgia Southern

DB – DJ Barksdale, James Madison

DB – Wesley Miller, South Alabama

DB – Devin Lafayette, Troy

Second-team specialists

K – Scott Taylor Renfroe, Troy

P – Aleksi Pulkkinen, South Alabama

RS – Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State

AP – George Pettaway, James Madison