Troy lands 15 players on All-Sun Belt teams
Published 8:33 pm Thursday, December 5, 2019
- Troy quarterback Kaleb Barker (7) avoids Appalachian State linebacker Jordan Fehr (59) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Troy, Ala., Friday, Nov. 29, 2019. (Photo/Thomas Graning)
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The Troy Trojans finished the regular season with 15 players earning All-Sun Belt honors on Wednesday afternoon.
Troy receiver Kaylon Geiger highlighted the list when he was named to the first team, while at the same time being named the Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year.
Joining Geiger on the first team were senior quarterback Kaleb Barker, sophomore linebacker Carlton Martial and senior cornerback Will Sunderland.
Troy’s four first team selections tied Arkansas State for second most in the Sun Belt Conference behind Appalachian State, who finished with six members.
Offensive lineman J.L. Gaston and defensive lineman Will Choloh were named All-Sun Belt second team members.
The Trojans had four players garner third team honors. Wide receiver Reggie Todd was named on offense. Offensive lineman Kirk Kelley and defensive lineman Marcus Webb were also named third team All-Conference. Punter Tyler Sumpter was named third team All-Sun Belt as a punter.
Dylan Bradshaw, Khalil McClain, Dell Pettus and Austin Stidham were all named as honorable mentions.
Geiger arrived on scene at Troy after spending time at Navarro College in Texas. Geiger finished second in the league with 77 receptions and in yards per game behind only the Sun Belt Player of the Year Omar Bayless.
Geiger broke the century mark five times in 2019. He put up 145 yards in Troy’s loss to Coastal Carolina.
Geiger is Troy’s first recipient of the Newcomer of the Year Award.
Barker, in his last season at the helm for the Trojans, led the Sun Belt with 30 touchdowns, 460 completions and 3,628 passing yards. Barker’s 3,628 passing yards ranks fifth in the country.
Martial finished the 2019 season as one of the top defensive players in the conference. He led the Sun Belt with 126 tackles, 10.5 tackles per game and 18.5 tackles for loss.
Sunderland was recently named to the NLFPA Collegiate Bowl this week. He finished his senior season with four interceptions. Pro Football Focus rated Sunderland as Troy’s top cover corner. They also ranked Sunderland as the ninth best overall cornerback within the Group of Five.