Football 12/1/2022 11:00:00 AM

First-Team Selection Thrash Among Nine All-Sun Belt Panthers

ATLANTA -- Led by first-team selection Jamari Thrash, nine Georgia State Panthers were named to the 2022 All-Sun Belt Conference football team announced Thursday.

Thrash, the junior wide receiver from LaGrange, Ga., produced one of the top receiving seasons in GSU history with a league-leading 1,122 receiving yards, which is No. 10 in FBS and the second-best season in Panther annals. He is No. 3 in the Sun Belt with seven touchdowns and No. 2 with 18.4 yards per catch. Thrash had three times as many receptions (61) and receiving yards as Georgia State's No. 2 receiver, accounting for 46 percent of the team's passing yards.

Super senior cornerback Quavian White, the FBS active leader with 45 career passes defended, earned second-team All-Sun Belt honors, along with the Panthers' offensive line due of center Malik Sumter and right guard Pat Bartlett, the sixth-year seniors who combined to play in 119 career games while blocking for the top rushing attack in the Sun Belt.

Junior safety Antavious Lane, who shares the GSU career record of 11 interceptions with White, was named All-Sun Belt for the third straight year with selection to the third team.

Quarterback Darren Grainger, running back Tucker Gregg, defensive end Javon Denis and punter-placekicker Michael Hayes earned honorable mention All-Sun Belt recognition.

Georgia State's All-Sun Belt Conference honorees:

JAMARI THRASH, First-Team All-Sun Belt
WR | 6-0, 180 | R-Jr. | LaGrange, Ga. (Troup County)

Leads the Sun Belt with 1,122 receiving yards, which is No. 10 in FBS and the second-best season in program history ... No. 3 in the Sun Belt with seven touchdowns and No. 2 with 18.4 yards per catch ... Has three times as many receptions (61) and receiving yards as Georgia State's No. 2 receiver, accounting for 46 percent of the team's passing yards ... Finished the season with three straight 100-yards games, totaling 467 yards on 23 catches ... Four 100-yard games on the season, including three of 150+ yards ... Has GSU's two longest plays of the season with TD receptions of 73 and 75 yards ... School-record 213 yards receiving vs. Charlotte ... Had 167 yards at Marshall, 165 vs. ULM and 136 at James Madison ... Fifth in GSU history with 1,752 career yards; also top 10 in career receptions (104) and touchdowns (12).

PAT BARTLETT, Second-Team All-Sun Belt
G | 6-4, 295 | R-Sr | Newtown, Pa. (Council Rock North)

Two-time All-Sun Belt guard with second-team honors in 2022 following third-team accolades in 2021 ... Four-year starter at right guard who played in a school-record 61 games, including 54 career starts ... Key figure in the No. 1 rushing offense in the Sun Belt and No. 16 in FBS with 213.5 ypg in 2022 ... Helped GSU average 221 rushing yards per game since the start of 2019 ... Starter on the top four rushing seasons in program history, including a school-record 241.6 yards per game in 2019.

MALIK SUMTER, Second-Team All-Sun Belt
C | 6-1, 280 | R-Sr. | Irmo, S.C. (Dutch Fork)

Four-time All-Sun Belt center who paved the way for the Sun Belt's top rushing offense ... Helped GSU average 213.5 yards per game in 2022 (No. 16 in FBS) ... 2022 Preseason All-Sun Belt (first team) and Rimington Trophy Watch List ... Second-team All-Sun Belt in 2021 and 202 after honorable mention honors in 2019 and 2020 ... Started a school-record 53 consecutive games while ranking third in program history with 58 games played ... Helped GSU average 221 rushing yards per game since the start of 2019 ... Starter on the top four rushing seasons in program history, including a school-record 241.6 yards per game in 2019 ... 2022 team captain.

QUAVIAN WHITE, Second-Team All-Sun Belt
CB | 5-10, 185 | Sr. | Greer, S.C. (Greer)

2022 Mid-Season All-America (honorable mention by Pro Football News) ... Three-time All-Sun Belt cornerback who earned second-team honors in 2020 and 2022 as well as third-team accolades in 2021 ... Five-year starter who played in 52 games ... Leads the Sun Belt and ranks No. 12 in FBS in passes defended with 1.3 per game ... No. 18 in FBS with four interceptions (0.4 per game) ... FBS active leader with 45 career passes defended ... Georgia State's co-career leader and third among all active FBS players with 11 career interceptions ... Had two interceptions at South Carolina along with a sack, two TFL and a pass breakup ... Made his 11th career interception and three pass breakups in win over Georgia Southern.

ANTAVIOUS LANE, Third-Team All-Sun Belt
S | 5-9, 180 | R-Jr. | West Palm Beach, Fla. (Dwyer)

Three-time All-Sun Belt safety ... 2022 Preseason first-team All-Sun Belt and Watch Lists for Bronko Nagurski Trophy & Jim Thorpe Award...First-team All-Sun Belt in 2021, second-team in 2020 and third-team in 2022 ... Leads the Sun Belt and ranks No. 18 in FBS in solo tackles (5.2 per game)...Tied for third among active FBS players with 11 career interceptions; second with 0.30 career interceptions per game ... Sixth in GSU history with 226 career tackles ... Career-high 15 tackles in win over Georgia Southern... Forced two fumbles vs. North Carolina ... Had an interception and pass breakup vs. Southern Miss, helping the GSU defense set school record by allowing just 202 total yards ...

DARREN GRAINGER, Honorable mention All-Sun Belt
QB | 6-4, 195 | R-Sr. | Conway, S.C. (Conway)

All-Sun Belt quarterback who is also Georgia State's leading rusher ... Leads GSU with 734 yards rushing, along with 2,431 yards passing ... Second in Sun Belt and No. 11 in FBS in yards per completion ... Fourth in Sun Belt in total offense, averaging 263.8 yards per game ... Has accounted for 24 touchdowns with 18 TD passes and six rushing TD ... Has two 100-yard rushing games with a career-high 143 yards in win at Southern Miss and 104 yards in win vs. ODU ... Passed for a career-high 349 yards and rushed for 50 vs. ULM ... Had four TD passes and 343 yards vs. Charlotte ... In 21 games as GSU's starting QB, he has 5,540 yards of total offense and 46 touchdowns, including 4,146 yards and 37 touchdowns passes and 1,394 yards and nine touchdowns rushing.

TUCKER GREGG, Honorable mention All-Sun Belt
RB | 5-10, 220 | Sr. | Chatsworth, Ga. (Murray County)

Two-time All-Sun Belt running back who ranks third in the conference with a school-record 12 touchdowns ... Key figure in the Sun Belt's top rushing offense with 705 yards rushing, despite sharing carries with two other backs ... Former walk-on who is Georgia State career leader in rushing yards (2,265) and touchdowns (28) ... 2021 All-Sun Belt second team ... 2022 Preseason All-Sun Belt and Doak Walker Award Watch List ... Back-to-back 100-yard games in wins over Army and Georgia Southern, scoring the clinching touchdowns in fourth quarter of both wins (56-yard TD vs. Army and 33-yard TD vs. Georgia Southern).

JAVON DENIS, Honorable mention All-Sun Belt
DE | 6-0, 264 | R-Jr. | Deerfield Beach, Fla. (Deerfield Beach)

Defensive end who is second on the team with nine tackles for loss and four sacks ... Also has five QB hurries and two fumble recoveries ... Returned a fumble 21 yards for a touchdown at James Madison, along with a career-high eight tackles, a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss ... Had 2.5 TFL vs. Southern Miss, helping the GSU defense allow a school-record low of 202 total yards ... Has two fumble returns for touchdowns over the last two seasons, one of only three players in program history with two defensive touchdowns.

MICHAEL HAYES, Honorable mention All-Sun Belt
PK-P | 5-9, 189 | R-Jr. | Florence, S.C. (West Florence)

One of the few kickers in the nation who handle placekicking, punting and kickoffs ... In his first season as the primary placekicker, he hit 11-of-14 field goals and 41-of-42 extra points ... Went 6-for-7 on field goals of 40-plus yards ... Hit a career-long 51-yarder for the third-longest field goal in school history ... Georgia State's leading scorer with 74 points ... Averaged of 64.2 yards on kickoffs with 47 touchbacks ... Three-year starter at punter who averaged 42.1 yards in 2022 ... Career punting average of 41.5.

2022 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS
Player of the Year
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (RS Jr., QB – Indian Trail, N.C.)

Offensive Player of the Year
Todd Centeio, James Madison (Gr., QB – West Palm Beach, Fla.)

Defensive Player of the Year
Carlton Martial, Troy (Sr., LB – Mobile, Ala.)

Newcomer of the Year
Todd Centeio, James Madison (Gr., QB – West Palm Beach, Fla.)

Freshman of the Year
Jared Brown, Coastal Carolina (RS Fr., WR – Lilburn, Ga.)

Coach of the Year
Jon Sumrall, Troy

All-Sun Belt First Team Offense
QB – Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (RS Jr., QB – Indian Trail, N.C.)
RB – Khalan Laborn, Marshall (6th Yr., RB – Virginia Beach, Fla.)
RB – La'Damian Webb, South Alabama (Jr., RB – Opelika, Ala.)
OL – Cooper Hodges, App State (RS Jr., OL – Glen St. Mary, Fla.)
OL – Austin Stidham, Troy (Sr., OL – Russellville, Ala.)
OL – Willie Lampkin, Coastal Carolina (Jr., OL – Lakeland, Fla.)
OL – Jake Andrews, Troy (Jr., OL – Millbrook, Ala.)
OL – Anderson Hardy, App State (RS Jr., OL – Raleigh, N.C.)
TE – Seydou Traore, Arkansas State (So., TE – London, England)
WR – Jamari Thrash, Georgia State (RS Jr., WR – LaGrange, Ga.)
WR – Kris Thornton, James Madison (RS Sr., WR – Manassas, Va.)
WR – Ali Jennings III, Old Dominion (Jr., WR – Richmond, Va.)

All-Sun Belt First Team Defense
DL – T.J. Jackson, Troy (So., DL – Millbrook, Ala.)
DL – Zi'Yon Hill-Green, Louisiana (RS Sr., DL – New Iberia, La.)
DL – Owen Porter, Marshall (RS Jr., DL – Huntington, W.Va.)
DL – Will Choloh, Troy (Sr., DL – Lawrenceville, Ga.)
DL – Isaac Ukwu, James Madison (RS Sr., DL – Upper Marlboro, Md.)
LB – Carlton Martial, Troy (Sr., LB – Mobile, Ala.)
LB – Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (So., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
LB – Nick Hampton, App State (RS Jr., LB – Anderson, S.C.)
DB – Yam Banks, South Alabama (So., DB – Ridgeland, Miss.)
DB – Micah Abraham, Marshall (RS Jr., DB – Tampa, Fla.)
DB – Reddy Steward, Troy (Jr., DB – Decatur, Ala.)
DB – Bralen Trahan, Louisiana (RS Sr., DB – Lafayette, La.)

All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams
K – Dominic Zvada, Arkansas State (Fr., K – Chandler, Ariz.)
P – Rhys Byrns, Louisiana (Sr., P – Rye, Australia)
RS – Eric Garror, Louisiana (Sr., RS – Mobile, Ala.)
AP – Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss (So., AP – Miami, Fla.)

All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense
QB – Todd Centeio, James Madison (Gr., QB – West Palm Beach, Fla.)
RB – Kimani Vidal, Troy (So., RB – Marietta, Ga.)
RB – Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss (So., RB – Miami, Fla.)
OL – Khalil Crowder, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., OL – Carrollton, Ga.)
OL – Pat Bartlett, Georgia State (RS Sr., OL – Newtown, Pa.)
OL – Nick Saldiveri, Old Dominion (RS Jr., OL – Waxhaw, N.C.)
OL – Malik Sumter, Georgia State (RS Sr., OL – Irmo, S.C.)
OL – Nick Kidwell, James Madison (RS Jr., OL – Knoxville, Md.)
TE – Henry Pearson, App State (Sr., TE – Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J.)
WR – Jalen Wayne, South Alabama (Sr., WR – Spanish Fort, Ala.)
WR – Tyrone Howell, ULM (5th Yr., WR – Idabel, Okla.)
WR – Khaleb Hood, Georgia Southern (Sr., WR – McDonough, Ga.)

All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense
DL – Levi Bell, Texas State (RS Jr., DL – Cedar Park, Texas)
DL – James Carpenter, James Madison (RS So., DL – Roanoke, Va.)
DL – Richard Jibunor, Troy (Jr., DL – Delta State, Nigeria)
DL – Jamare Edwards, James Madison (RS Sr., DL – Miami, Fla.)
DL – Josaiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina (So., DL – Bronx, N.Y.)
LB – Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern (RS So., LB – Beaver Falls, Pa.)
LB – Andre Jones, Louisiana (RS Sr., LB – Varnado, La.)
LB – Jourdan Quibodeaux, Louisiana (RS Sr., LB – Lafayette, La.)
DB – Steven Jones Jr., App State (RS Sr., DB – Rockingham, N.C.)
DB – Quavian White, Georgia State (Sr., DB – Greer, S.C.)
DB – Steven Gilmore, Marshall (Sr., DB – Rock Hill, S.C.)
DB – Lance Boykin, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., DB – High Point, N.C.)

All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams
K – Diego Guajardo, South Alabama (Jr., K – Spanish Fort, Ala.)
P – Devyn McCormick, ULM (5th, P – Port Charlotte, Fla.)
RS – Johnnie Lang Jr., Arkansas State (RS Sr., RS – Palmetto, Fla.)
AP – Johnnie Lang Jr., Arkansas State (RS Sr., AP – Palmetto, Fla.)

All-Sun Belt Third Team Offense
QB – Kyle Vantrease, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., QB – Stow, Ohio)
RB – Percy Agyei-Obese, James Madison (Gr., RB – Frederick, Md.)
RB – Jalen White, Georgia Southern (Jr., RB – Daleville, Ala.)
OL – James Jackson, South Alabama (Sr., OL – Moss Point, Miss.)
OL – Kyle Hergel, Texas State (RS Jr., OL – Toronto, Canada)
OL – Caleb Kelly, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., OL – Warner Robins, Ga.)
OL – Isaiah Helms, App State (Jr., OL – Hudson, N.C.)
OL – Antwine Loper, Coastal Carolina (Super Sr., OL – Conway, S.C.)
TE – Jacob Jenkins, Coastal Carolina (Jr., TE – Hoover, Ala.)
WR – Jason Brownlee, Southern Miss (Sr., WR – West Point, Miss.)
WR – Sam Pinckney, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., WR – Greenwood, S.C.)
WR – Michael Jefferson, Louisiana (Sr., WR – Mobile, Ala.)

All-Sun Belt Third Team Defense
DL – Kivon Bennett, Arkansas State (RS Sr., DL – Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
DL – Jerrod Clark, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., DL – Dorchester, Mass.)
DL – Justin Ellis, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., DL – Roswell, Ga.)
DL – Javon Solomon, Troy (So., DL – Tallahassee, Fla.)
LB – Taurus Jones, James Madison (RS So., LB – Portsmouth, Va.)
LB – JT Killen, Coastal Carolina (RS Jr., LB – Lake Wylie, S.C.)
LB – Santrell Latham, Southern Miss (RS Sr., LB – Meridian, Miss.)
DB – Jay Stanley, Southern Miss (Jr., DB – Greenwood, Miss.)
DB – Malik Shorts, Southern Miss (RS Jr., DB – Bassfield, Miss.)
DB – Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama (Sr., DB – Hattiesburg, Miss.)
DB – Antavious Lane, Georgia State (RS Jr., DB – West Palm Beach, Fla.)
DB – Derrick Canteen, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., DB – Evans, Ga.)

All-Sun Belt Third Team Special Teams
K – Briggs Bourgeois, Southern Miss (RS Sr., K – St. Amant, La.)
P – Mason Hunt, Southern Miss (RS Sr., P – Wiggins, Miss.)
RS – Milan Tucker, App State (RS So., RS – Lehigh Acres, Fla.)
AP – La'Damian Webb, South Alabama (Jr., AP – Opelika, Ala.)

All-Sun Belt Honorable Mentions
App State
QB – Chase Brice (RS Sr., QB – Grayson, Ga.)
RB – Nate Noel (So., RB – Miami, Fla.)
WR – Kaedin Robinson (RS So., WR – Asheville, N.C.)
LB – Jalen McLeod (So., LB – Washington, D.C.)

Arkansas State
QB – James Blackman (RS Sr., QB – South Bay, Fla.)
OL – Jordan Rhodes (RS Sr., OL – Fairburn, Ga.)
WR – Champ Flemings (RS Sr., WR – Pasadena, Calif.)
DL – TW Ayers (RS Jr., DL – Lamar, Mo.)

Coastal Carolina
RB – CJ Beasley (RS So., RB – Norfolk, Va.)
WR – Tyson Mobley (Jr., WR – Longwood, Fla.)
DL – Adrian Hope (Super Sr., DL – Ocala, Fla.)
LB – Shane Bruce (RS So., LB – Carrollton, Ga.)

Georgia Southern
WR – Derwin Burgess Jr. (So., WR – Riverdale, Ga.)
WR – Jeremy Singleton (RS Sr., WR – New Orleans, La.)
DB – Anthony Wilson (RS Jr., DB – Columbia, S.C.)
K – Alex Raynor (RS Jr., K – Kennesaw, Ga.)

Georgia State
QB – Darren Grainger (RS Sr., QB – Conway, S.C.)
RB – Tucker Gregg (Sr., RB – Chatsworth, Ga.)
DL – Javon Denis (RS Jr., DL – Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
K – Michael Hayes (RS Jr, K – Florence, S.C.)

James Madison
TE – Drew Painter (RS Sr., TE – Hershey, Pa.)
LB – Jailin Walker (So., LB – Richmond, Va.)
DB – Sam Kidd (RS Sr., DB – Reston, Va.)
DB – Jordan Swann (RS Sr., DB – Newark, Del.)

Louisiana
RB – Chris Smith (RS Jr., RB – Louisville, Miss.)
TE – Neal Johnson (Jr., TE – Mesquite, Texas)
TE – Johnny Lumpkin (RS Sr., TE – Atlanta, Ga.)
LB – Kris Moncrief (Sr., LB – Raleigh, Miss.)

ULM
DL – Caleb Thomas (Gr., DL – Mansfield, Texas)
LB – Quae Drake (Jr. LB – Wadley, Ala.)
LB – Zack Woodard (Gr., LB – Thomasville, Ala.)
K – Calum Sutherland (6th Yr., K – Keller, Texas)

Marshall
WR – Corey Gammage (RS Jr., WR – Delray Beach, Fla.)
DL – Koby Cumberlander (RS SR., DL – Roswell, Ga.)
LB – Eli Neal (Jr., LB – Memphis, Tenn.)_
DB – Andre Sam (6th Yr., DB – Iowa, La.)

Old Dominion
RB – Blake Watson (RS Jr., RB – Queens, N.Y.)
DL – Alonzo Ford Jr. (So., DL – Richmond, Va.)
DB – R'Tarriun Johnson (RS Sr., DB – Wiggins, Miss.)
P – Ethan Duane (So., P – Melbourne, Australia)

South Alabama
QB – Carter Bradley (Jr., QB – Jacksonville, Fla.)
WR – Devin Voisin (So., WR – Crestview, Fla.)
DL – Wy'Kevious Thomas (RS So., DL – Riverdale, Ga.)
DB – Jaden Voisin (So., DB – Crestview, Fla.)

Southern Miss
DL – Jalen Williams (RS So., DL – Tylertown, Miss.)
LB – Daylen Gill (Sr., LB – Louisville, Miss.)
LB – Averie Habas (Jr., LB – Rice Lake, Wis.)
DB – Natrone Brooks (Sr., DB – Starkville, Miss.)

Texas State
WR – Ashtyn Hawkins (So., WR – Desoto, Texas)
LB – Jordan Revels (Jr., LB – Houston, Texas)
DB – Tory Spears (RS Jr., DB – Houston, Texas)
K – Seth Keller (RS Jr., K – Colleyville, Texas)

Troy
WR – Tez Johnson (So., WR – Pinson, Ala.)
LB – KJ Robertson (Sr., LB – Alabaster, Ala.)
DB – Dell Pettus (Jr., DB – Harvest, Ala.)
DB – Craig Slocum Jr. (Sr., DB – Lake Butler, Fla.)

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Players Mentioned

#64 Pat Bartlett: G; 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore

#98 Javon Denis: DL; 6' 0"; Freshman

#26 Tucker Gregg: RB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#39 Michael Hayes: PK-P; 5' 9"; Freshman

#34 Antavious Lane: S; 5' 9"; Freshman

#15 Sam Pinckney: WR; 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman

#62 Malik Sumter: C; 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

#2 Jamari Thrash: WR; 6' 0"; Freshman

#20 Quavian White: CB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#3 Darren Grainger: QB; 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior

#12 Chris Smith: S; 6' 2"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#64 Pat Bartlett
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G

#98 Javon Denis
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: DL

#26 Tucker Gregg
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: RB

#39 Michael Hayes
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: PK-P

#34 Antavious Lane
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: S

#15 Sam Pinckney
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman
: WR

#62 Malik Sumter
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore
: C

#2 Jamari Thrash
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: WR

#20 Quavian White
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: CB

#3 Darren Grainger
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior
: QB

#12 Chris Smith
: 6' 2"; Junior
: S