University of North Texas Athletics
Atterberry And Lemon Preseason All-Conference
7/16/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
DENTON, Texas - North Texas senior punter Will Atterberry and sophomore offensive lineman Cyril Lemon were named to the 2012 Preseason All-Sun Belt team. Atterberry was the leading punter in the Sun Belt Conference last season and while Lemon was the only true freshman offensive lineman in the nation to start all 12 games and receive all-conference honors.
Lemon is one of only three sophomores to be part of the preseason all-conference team and he is the only underclassman on the all-conference team that is an offensive lineman. Atterberry has been named to the 2012 Ray Guy Award preseason watch list, which goes to the nation's best punter.
North Texas was picked to finish eighth in the 2012 Preseason Sun Belt poll as voted on by the league's coaches. FIU was the favorite, receiving five of the 10 first place votes. Following FIU was defending league champion Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette and WKU. Troy was picked to finish fifth, ULM sixth, Middle Tennessee seventh and North Texas eighth. Florida Atlantic and South Alabama round out
Arkansas State quarterback Ryan Aplin was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Tourek Williams of FIU the Defensive Player of the Year. The Sun Belt Conference also announced the 2012 television schedule and North Texas is set to appear on ESPN 2 Tuesday night, October 16 when they host Louisiana-Lafayette at Apogee Stadium.
The television package has not been finalized as games broadcast by the Sun Belt Network will be announced later.
North Texas finished last season with the most wins since 2004 as they went 5-7 and 4-4 in league play. The Mean Green, heading into their final season in the Sun Belt Conference before moving to Conference USA in 2013, return nine starters on offensive and six on defense heading into 2012.
2012 Preseason Sun Belt PollAs voted on by the league's 10 head coaches.
First place votes in parentheses.
School Points
2. Arkansas State 85 (2)
3. Louisiana-Lafayette 81 (2)
4. WKU 70 (1)
5. Troy 60
6. Louisiana-Monroe 47
7. Middle Tennessee 42
8. North Texas 36
9. Florida Atlantic 23
10. South Alabama 14
