Wright on all-conference team; Blue Raiders picked to finish 5th

Kerry Wright, seen doing an interview with Cox Sports Television, was voted first team all-conference by the league's coaches, media relations directors, and media. (MT)

NEW ORLEANS - According to the annual league preseason poll announced today at the 2004 Sun Belt Conference Football Media Days, Middle Tennessee will finish fifth in the standings behind North Texas, Troy, New Mexico State and Louisiana-Lafayette. The Blue Raiders had a total of 94 votes.

Blue Raider wide receiver Kerry Wright was the only Blue Raider named to the preseason all-conference team. The East Point, Ga., native is coming off a record-breaking season in 2003 that saw him catch 73 passes for a school and conference record 1,280 yards. Wright also set a school mark with nine touchdown receptions.

"Kerry is coming off a super year and is very deserving," head coach Andy McCollum said. "He is a great representative of our university and we expect even bigger things out of him in 2004."

The poll and team was voted on by a panel of head coaches, media relations directors and media members covering the league.

Following is the preseason poll:

1. North Texas 159 (15); 2. Troy 116 (1); 3. New Mexico State 110; 4. Louisiana-Lafayette 107; 5. Middle Tennessee 94; 6. Utah State 75 (1); 7. Arkansas State 66; 8. Louisiana-Monroe 47 (1); 9. Idaho 36.

Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference: Offense
Offensive Line: Andy Brewster, Sr., North Texas; Bruce Hampton, Sr., Louisiana-Monroe; Junior Louissant, Sr., Troy; Steve Subia, Sr., NMSU; Hank Therien, So., Idaho. Tight End: Andy Blount, Sr., North Texas. Wide Receivers: Johnny Quinn, So., North Texas; Kerry Wright, Sr., Middle Tennessee. Quarterback: Scott Hall, Sr., North Texas. Running Backs: DeWhitt Betterson, Sr., Troy; Patrick Cobbs, Sr., North Texas.

Defense
Defensive Line:Adrian Awasom, Sr., North Texas; Evan Cardwell, Sr., North Texas; Ronald Tupea, Sr., Utah State; Demarcus Ware, Sr., Troy. Linebackers: Jimmy Cottrell, Jr., New Mexico State; Rich Glover, Sr., New Mexico State; Robert Watts, Sr., Utah State. Defensive Backs: Derrick Ansley, Sr., Troy; C.C. Brown, Sr., Louisiana-Lafayette; Jonas Buckles, Sr., North Texas; Chris Harris, Sr., Louisiana-Monroe.

Special Teams
Kicker:Sean Comiskey, Jr., Louisiana-Lafayette. Punter:Joel Stelly, Jr., Louisiana-Monroe. Return Specialist: Charles Estes, Sr., Louisiana-Monroe.

Offensive Player of the Year: Patrick Cobbs, RB, Sr., North Texas
Defensive Player of the Year: Adrian Awasom, DE, Sr., North Texas