Top 25 Sun Belt Players for 2025: Preseason Players of the Year and Stars To Know

Originally posted on College Football News | Last updated Jul 16, 2025 4:21 AM ET

Please, we’re begging you, give us a little latitude on our 2025 CFN Preseason Sun Belt Top 25 Players because so many key position situations are either new, or fluid, or both.

With almost 1000% certainty, the post-season version will have at least four quarterbacks and even more running backs in the mix, but there are massive changes happening in the conference this season.

On the plus side, there’s a ton of young talent, enough good linemen and defensive players to work around, and all the new transfers will make this a fascinating year to see who rises up and rocks.

2025 CFN College Football Preview: Best Sun Belt Players

2025 CFN Preseason Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year

Braylon Braxton, QB Sr. Southern Miss
Braxton should be the star on a team loaded with transfers, making the move over from Marshall after a monster season. He threw 19 touchdown passes with just two picks, and ran for 610 yards and four scores, as one of the key stars for the Sun Belt champ.

2025 CFN Preseason Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year

Jason Henderson, LB Sr. Old Dominion
No, he’s not just a stat-machine. When he was healthy over his first three seasons at Old Dominion, he got to EVERYTHING, making a whopping 436 tackles while growing into a terror at getting into the backfield.

He’s coming back from a horrible knee injury, and hoping and assuming he’s fine, he should be the Sun Belt’s signature star.

- 2025 CFN All-Sun Belt Teams

2025 CFN Preseason Sun Belt Top 25 Players

1. Jason Henderson, LB Sr. Old Dominion
2. Braylon Braxton, QB Sr. Southern Miss
3. Jacob Thomas, S Sr. James Madison
4. Jordan Lawson, DE Sr. Louisiana
5. Blayne Myrick, LB Jr. South Alabama
6. Kevontay Wells, DE Sr. ULM
7. Corey Rucker, WR Sr. Arkansas State
8. Chance Gamble, CB Sr. Georgia Southern
9. Ted Hurst, WR Sr. Georgia State
10. Tyree Skipper, S Sr. Louisiana

11. Bryan Whitehead, EDGE Sr. Arkansas State
12. Nick Del Grande, OT Jr. Coastal Carolina
13. Josiah Robinson, LB Sr. Georgia State
14. Trent Hendrick, LB Sr. James Madison
15. Henry Bryant, DT Sr. Georgia State
16. Shane Bruce, LB Sr. Coastal Carolina
17. Billy Pullen, EDGE/OLB Sr. ULM
18. Zach Barlev, OT Sr. Old Dominion
19. Carl Glass, LB Sr. ULM
20. Kalil Alexander, EDGE Sr. Texas State
21. Immanuel Bush, DT Sr. James Madison
22. DJ Burks, S Jr. App State
23. Pichon Wimbley, OG Sr. Georgia Southern
24. Jordan Stringer, LB Sr. Troy
25. Jaylen Raynor, Jr. QB Arkansas State