Littlejohn, Marks Voted All-SBC; Raiders Picked Third

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Sun Belt Conference, which is celebrating its 30th season this year, announced the 2005 preseason football poll and all-conference selections today at the annual Sun Belt Conference Football Media Days. Middle Tennessee was picked to finish third behind North Texas and Troy. The Blue Raiders, picked fifth in last year's preseason poll, earned 45 total points compared to 63 by the Mean Green and 50 by Troy.

Middle Tennessee signal caller Clint Marks and defensive lineman Jeff Littlejohn both earned all-conference honors. Marks, a junior from Fort Myers, Fla., is coming off a record-setting season where he threw for a school-best 2,749 yards and completed 70.4 percent of his passes. The left-hander ranked third in the nation last year in completion percentage, sixth in completions per game, 13th in passing yards, 21st in total offense, and 25th in passing efficiency.

Littlejohn, a senior out of Gaffney, S.C., is coming off a solid junior campaign that saw him tally 17 total stops while taking on numerous double teams during the course of the season.

"Both Clint and Jeff are very deserving of all-conference recognition," said Head Coach Andy McCollum. "The two work extremely hard, put team first, and are excellent leaders of our football team. I expect big years this season from both players."

It was also announced today that Middle Tennessee will play its Sept. 10 home game against North Texas on ESPN+Plus and the regular season finale at Troy on ESPNU.

The poll and team was voted on by a panel of head coaches and media members covering the league. Following is the preseason poll and all-conference selections:

2005 PRESEASON POLL
1. North Texas (7)
2. Troy
3. Middle Tennessee
4. Louisiana-Lafayette
5. Louisiana-Monroe (1)
6. Arkansas State
7. Florida Atlantic
8. Florida International

2005 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT TEAM

OFFENSE:
QB: Clint Marks (Middle Tennessee, Jr.)
RB: Jamario Thomas (North Texas, So.)
RB: Patrick Cobbs (North Texas, Sr.)
WR: Bill Sampy (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr.)
WR: Johnny Quinn (North Texas, Jr.)
TE: Joey Trappey (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr.)
OL: Dylan Lineberry (North Texas, Sr.)
OL: Victor Cernius (Florida International, Sr.)
OL: Zarah Yisrael (Troy, Sr.)
OL: Brandon Cox (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr.)
OL: Kyle Cunningham (Louisiana-Monroe, So.)

DEFENSE:
DL: Brandon Guillory (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr.)
DL: Torre Lankford (Troy, Sr.)
DL: Jeff Littlejohn (Middle Tennessee, Sr.)
DL: Myron Anderson (Arkansas State, Sr.)
LB: Bernard Davis (Troy, Sr.)
LB: Shomari Earls (Florida Atlantic, Sr.)
LB: Brandon Monroe (North Texas, So.)
DB: Johnny Faulk (Troy, Sr.)
DB: Nick Turnbull (Florida International, Sr.)
DB: Ja'Mel Branch (North Texas, Sr.)
DB: T.J. Covington (North Texas, Sr.)

SPECIALISTS:
PK: Nick Bazaldua (North Texas, Sr.)
P: Joel Stelly (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr.)
RS: Johnny Quinn (North Texas, Jr.)

PRESEASON CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR:
Jamario Thomas (North Texas, So.) and Patrick Cobbs (North Texas, Sr.)

PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Bernard Davis (Troy, Sr.)

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