ATLANTA -- Cornerback Chandon Sullivan and receiver Penny Hart were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference first team, while defensive end Mackendy Cheridor was tabbed to the second team.
The Preseason All-Sun Belt team was announced Friday after a vote by the league head coaches and media in advance of the conference Media Day, which is Monday, July 24 in New Orleans, La.
A senior from Winder, Ga., Sullivan is the top returnee on a Panther defense that finished sixth in the FBS in pass efficiency defense and eighth in passing yards allowed (173.9) in 2016, when Georgia State was the only FBS team that did not allow any offensive play, rushing or passing, of 50 yards or longer. Sullivan is a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference cornerback and a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree. The three-year starter in the secondary is GSU’s career leader with six interceptions and 19 passes defended (interceptions plus breakups). His career totals also include 136 tackles, six tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one blocked kick. He collected 43 tackles, three interceptions, four pass breakups, one tackle for loss, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal in 2016.
Hart, a redshirt sophomore from Buford, Ga., is coming off a season-ending foot injury in 2016, but he was a Freshman All-American, Sun Belt Freshman of the Year and first-team All-Sun Belt in 2015, when he was the league's leading receiver as a true freshman. He caught 71 passes for 1,099 yards and eight touchdowns in 2015, setting the Sun Belt freshman record for receiving yards. Last fall, he played in just two games, in which he caught eight passes for 61 yards and one touchdown. Hart already ranks in the top five in GSU history in career receptions (79), receiving yards (1,160) and touchdown receptions (9).
Cheridor, a senior from Decatur, Ga., is a three-year starter on defense who ranks second in GSU history with 7.5 career sacks and third with 21 tackles for loss, just one behind the school record of 22.He is also tied for GSU career lead with four forced fumbles. In 2016 Cheridor was second on the team with 2.5 sacks and six tackles for loss but missed four games due to injury. He made 32 tackles with three pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
The Panthers open preseason practice on Aug. 1 to begin preparations for their Aug. 31 season opener, when Georgia State hosts Tennessee State in a Thursday night (7 p.m.) contest in the inaugural game at Georgia State Stadium and the debut of head coach Shawn Elliott.
PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT CONFERENCE
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Jalin Moore (Appalachian State, RB, Jr., Business)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Ja’Von Rolland-Jones (Arkansas State, DL, Sr., Sport Management)
First Team Offense
Brandon Silvers (Troy, QB, Sr., Sport & Fitness Management)
Jalin Moore (Appalachian State, RB, Jr., Business)
Larry Rose III (New Mexico State, RB, Sr., Individualized Studies)
Shaedon Meadors (Appalachian State, WR, Sr., Criminal Justice)
Penny Hart (Georgia State, WR, So., Exercise Science)
Emanuel Thompson (Troy, WR, Sr., Risk Management Insurance)
Blake Mack (Arkansas State, TE, Sr., Health Promotions)
Colby Gossett (Appalachian State, OL, Sr., Management)
Beau Nunn (Appalachian State, OL, Sr., History Education)
Jordan Rose (Idaho, OL, Sr., General Studies)
Noah Fisher (South Alabama, OL, Jr., Political Science)
Steven Rowzee (Troy, OL, Sr., Human Services)
First Team Defense
Tee Sims (Appalachian State, DL, Sr., Criminal Justice)
Ja'Von Rolland-Jones (Arkansas State, DL, Sr., Sport Management)
Aikeem Coleman (Idaho, DL, Sr., General Studies)
Joe Dillon (Louisiana, DL, So., General Studies)
Baron Poole (Troy, DL, Sr., Social Science)
Eric Boggs (Appalachian State, LB, Sr., Physical Education)
Kyle Wilson (Arkansas State, LB, Sr., Communication Studies)
Bryan London II (Texas State, LB, So., Management)
Clifton Duck (Appalachian State, DB, So., Business Management & Accounting)
Justin Clifton (Arkansas State, DB, Jr., Exercise Science)
Chandon Sullivan (Georgia State, DB, Sr., Journalism)
Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama, DB, Sr., Sports and Recreation Management)
First Team Special Teams
Stevie Artigue (Louisiana, K, Jr., Finance)
Payton Theisler (New Mexico State, P, So., Criminal Justice)
Blaise Taylor (Arkansas State, RS, Sr., Business Administration)
Second Team Offense
Taylor Lamb (Appalachian State, QB, Sr., Physical Education)
Xavier Johnson (South Alabama, RB, Sr., Interdisciplinary Studies)
Jordan Chunn (Troy, RB, Sr., Criminal Justice)
Dijon Paschal (Arkansas State, WR, Sr., Sport Management)
Keenan Barnes (Louisiana, WR, Jr., Sports Management)
Deondre Douglas (Troy, WR, Jr., Social Science)
Gabe Schrade (Texas State, TE, Sr., Finance)
Vic Johnson (Appalachian State, OL, So., Undecided)
Grant Horst (Louisiana, OL, Sr., Marketing)
Frank Sutton Jr. (ULM, OL, Sr., Kinesiology / Exercise Science)
Aaron Brewer (Texas State, OL, So., Electronic Media and Mass Communications)
Deontae Crumitie (Troy, OL, Jr., Criminal Justice)
Second Team Defense
Myquon Stout (Appalachian State, DL, Jr., Undecided)
Dee Liner (Arkansas State, DL, Sr., General Studies)
Mackendy Cheridor (Georgia State, DL, Sr., Economics)
Taboris Lee (Louisiana, DL, Sr., General Studies)
Devan Stringer (Appalachian State, LB, Sr., Business)
Tony Lashley (Idaho, LB, Jr., General Studies)
Darrell Songy (South Alabama, LB, Sr., Sociology)
Blaise Taylor (Arkansas State, DB, Sr., Business Administration)
Tracy Walker (Louisiana, DB, Sr., Sports Management)
Jaden Wright (New Mexico State, DB, Sr., Arts and Sciences)
Kamryn Melton (Troy, DB, Sr., Social Science)
Kris Weatherspoon (Troy, DB, Sr., Psychology)
Second Team Special Teams
Michael Rubino (Appalachian State, K, So., Finance)
Evan Rabon (Coastal Carolina, P, Jr., History)
Xavier Johnson (South Alabama, RS, Sr., Interdisciplinary Studies)
