Defending Sun Belt Conference champion Troy is picked to win the West Division for a second straight season in 2023, in preseason voting by league coaches announced on Monday.

The Trojans earned 10 of 14 first-place votes and 92 points overall, to finish ahead of in-state rival South Alabama. Troy earned the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Jaguars for the West title on the strength of a 10-6 victory in Mobile, then routed Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt championship game on the way to a 12-2 finish and Top 25 final national ranking.

South Alabama got the other four first-place votes, earning 85 overall poll points. Louisiana (64 points) was predicted to finish third, followed by Southern Miss (62), Texas State (36), Arkansas State (33) and Louisiana-Monroe (20).

James Madison is the pick in the East with 78 points and four first-place votes, just ahead of Appalachian State (75 points, 4 first-place votes), Coastal Carolina (71, 3) and Marshall (68, 2). Georgia Southern is fifth (52, 1), followed by Georgia State (31) and Old Dominion (17).

Troy had eight selections for the preseason All-Sun Belt team, three on the first team and five on the second team. Defensive linemen TJ Jackson and Richard Jibunor and defensive back Reddy Steward were the first-team picks.

Jackson led the Trojans in 2022 with 14.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks, along with 55 tackles, three quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Jibunor finished with 11 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 41 tackles, seven quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles. Steward led the team with three interceptions and 12 pass breakups, adding 65 tackles from his cornerback spot.

Troy’s Kimani Vidal made the All-Sun Belt second team at both running back and all-purpose back. Other second-team selections for the Trojans were offensive lineman Daniel King, defensive lineman Javon Solomon and defensive back Dell Pettus.

Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall is the preseason pick for Offensive Player of the Year. McCall has won the postseason award each of the last three seasons.

Old Dominion linebacker Jason Henderson is the preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Henderson led the country with 186 tackles last season.

Sun Belt Media Days take place Tuesday and Wednesday in New Orleans.

2023 Sun Belt Conference

Preseason coaches poll

(first-place votes in parentheses)

East Division

1. James Madison — 78 Points (4)

2. Appalachian State — 75 Points (4)

3. Coastal Carolina — 71 Points (3)

4. Marshall — 68 Points (2)

5. Georgia Southern — 52 Points (1)

6. Georgia State — 31 Points

7. Old Dominion — 17 Points

West Division

1. Troy — 92 Points (10)

2. South Alabama — 85 Points (4)

3. Louisiana — 64 Points

4. Southern Miss — 62 Points

5. Texas State — 36 Points

6. Arkansas State — 33 Points

7. Louisiana-Monroe — 20 Points

Preseason all-conference teams

Offensive Player of the Year: Grayson McCall, QB, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., Indian Trail, N.C.)

Defensive Player of the Year: Jason Henderson, LB, Old Dominion (Jr., Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)

First-team offense

QB – Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., Indian Trail, N.C.)

RB – La’Damian Webb, South Alabama (Sr., Opelika, Ala.)

RB – Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss (Jr., Miami, Fla.)

OL – Isaiah Helms, App State (Sr., Hudson, N.C.)

OL – Khalil Crowder, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., Carrollton, Ga.)

OL – Travis Glover, Georgia State (RS Sr., Vienna, Ga.)

OL – Nick Kidwell, James Madison (RS Sr., Knoxville, Md.)

OL – Logan Osburn, Marshall (RS Jr., Ona, W.Va.)

TE – Neal Johnson, Louisiana (Sr., Mesquite, Texas)

WR – Jared Brown, Coastal Carolina (RS So., Lilburn, Ga.)

WR – Sam Pinckney, Coastal Carolina (Super Sr., Greenwood, S.C.)

WR – Khaleb Hood, Georgia Southern (5th Yr., McDonough, Ga.)

First-team defense

DL – James Carpenter, James Madison (RS Jr., Roanoke, Va.)

DL – Owen Porter, Marshall (RS Sr., Huntington, W.Va.)

DL – TJ Jackson, Troy (Jr., Millbrook, Ala.)

DL – Richard Jibunor, Troy (Sr., Delta State, Nigeria)

LB – JT Killen, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., Lake Wylie, S.C.)

LB – Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., Beaver Falls, Pa.)

LB – Eli Neal, Marshall (Sr., Memphis, Tenn.)

LB – Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (Jr., Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)

DB – Micah Abraham, Marshall (RS Sr., Tampa, Fla.)

DB – Yam Banks, South Alabama (Jr., Ridgeland, Miss.)

DB – Jay Stanley, Southern Miss (Sr., Greenwood, Miss.)

DB – Reddy Steward, Troy (Sr., Decatur, Ala.)

First-team specialists

K – Dominic Zvada, Arkansas State (So., Chandler, Ariz.)

P – Ryan Hanson, James Madison (RS Jr., Elgin, Texas)

RS – Milan Tucker, App State (RS Jr., Lehigh Acres, Fla.)

AP – Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss (Jr., Miami, Fla.)

Second-team offense

QB – Carter Bradley, South Alabama (Sr., Jacksonville, Fla.)

RB – Rasheen Ali, Marshall (RS So., Cleveland, Ohio)

RB – Kimani Vidal, Troy (Jr., Marietta, Ga.)

OL – Damion Daley, App State (RS Sr., Columbia, S.C.)

OL – Will McDonald, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., Matthews, N.C.)

OL – AJ Gillie, Louisiana (RS Jr., Natchitoches, La.)

OL – Ethan Driskell, Marshall (RS Jr., Louisville, Ky.)

OL – Daniel King, Troy (Jr., Cairo, Ga.)

TE – Jjay Mcafee, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., Charleston, S.C.)

WR – Tyrone Howell, ULM (6th Yr., Idabel, Okla.)

WR – Caullin Lacy, South Alabama (Jr., Mobile, Ala.)

WR – Devin Voisin, South Alabama (Sr., Crestview, Fla.)

Second-team defense

DL – Javon Denis, Georgia State (RS Sr., Deerfield Beach, Fla.)

DL – Wy’Kevious Thomas, South Alabama (RS Jr., Riverdale, Ga.)

DL – Jalen Williams, Southern Miss (Sr., Tylertown, Miss.)

DL – Jordan Revels, Texas State (Sr., Houston, Texas)

DL – Javon Solomon, Troy (Jr., Tallahassee, Fla.)

LB – Jontrey Hunter, Georgia State (RS Sr., Tampa, Fla.)

LB – Jordan Veneziale, Georgia State (Sr., Dallas, Ga.)

LB – Taurus Jones, James Madison (RS Jr., Portsmouth, Va.)

DB – Bryquice Brown, Georgia State (RS Sr., Dorchester, Mass.)

DB – Keith Gallmon Jr., South Alabama (RS Sr., Mobile, Ala.)

DB – Jaden Voisin, South Alabama (RS Jr., Crestview, Fla.)

DB – Dell Pettus, Troy (Sr., Harvest, Ala.)

Second-team specialists

K – Diego Guajardo, South Alabama (Sr., Spanish Fort, Ala.)

P – Ethan Duane, Old Dominion (Jr., Melbourne, Australia)

RS – Matthew McDoom, Coastal Carolina (So., Winter Garden, Fla.)

AP – Kimani Vidal, Troy (Jr., Marietta, Ga.)