Sun Belt Football Season 32 Offensive Player of the Year: Devin Roche, RB – Old Dominion Monarchs
When it came to stopping Old Dominion this season, every Sun Belt defense knew exactly what the assignment was — stop No. 1, Devin Roche. And yet, week after week, nobody could. Despite being the league’s most well-known offensive threat, the dynamic running back torched defenses en route to one of the most electrifying seasons in conference history.
Roche racked up a jaw-dropping 3,733 total yards and 45 touchdowns, making him not just the centerpiece of the Monarchs’ offense, but the gold standard for offensive production in the Sun Belt Conference. No matter the game plan, no matter the conditions — Roche delivered.
Stack the box? He’d bounce outside and turn the corner into 980 receiving yards. Drop into coverage? He’d slice and dice his way through traffic on the ground for 2,753 rushing yards. And when it came to finishing drives, nobody did it better — Roche found the end zone 30 times rushing and 15 more through the air, earning the nickname “The Monarch of the Sun Belt” along the way.
What makes Roche’s performance even more staggering is that he’s not a bruiser — he doesn’t rely on power running or trucking defenders. His game is finesse, vision, and speed — and yet he still managed to put up video game numbers against fully loaded defenses designed to stop him.
Comparisons to college football greats like Reggie Bush aren’t just hype — they’re earned. Roche was a highlight reel every time he touched the ball and has rightfully earned his place among the nation’s best as a Doak Walker Award finalist.
For a Monarchs team that made a serious run this year, Roche was the engine, the spark, and the statement. The Sun Belt’s Offensive Player of the Year? There was never any doubt.
First Team All-Conference Offense
QB – Colton Joseph – Old Dominion
RB – Devin Roche – Old Dominion
RB – Kanye Roberts – Appalachian State – 2 Time 1st Team All-Confer
WR – Tychaun Chapman – Marshall
WR – Kaedin Robinson – Appalachian State
WR - Austin McGee – Georgia State
TE – Taylor Thompson – James Madison
OL - Jax Harrington – Louisiana – 2 Time 1st Team All-Conference
OL – Carter Sweazie – James Madison
OL – Cole Potts – James Madison
OL – EJ Ndoma-Ogar – Arkansas State
OL – Eli Wilson – Appalachian State
Sun Belt Football Season 32 Defensive Player of the Year: Will Jones II – Safety, Old Dominion Monarchs
When it came to game-changing defensive talent in the Sun Belt Conference this season, one name consistently stood above the rest — Will Jones II. The senior safety for the Old Dominion Monarchs was a relentless force on the back end of the defense, playing with a combination of physicality, intelligence, and speed that left opposing offenses scrambling for answers.
Whether it was crashing the line of scrimmage to stifle the run or dropping into coverage to take away the deep ball, Jones did it all — and he did it at an elite level. His versatility and presence made him a nightmare for opposing coordinators and a safety valve for the Monarchs defense.
The numbers only begin to tell the story of Jones’ dominance. He totaled 87 tackles, including a staggering 15 tackles for loss, showing his ability to diagnose plays and shoot into the backfield like a heat-seeking missile. He added 4 interceptions — often coming at critical moments — along with a sack, a pass deflection, and 3 defensive touchdowns. That kind of production doesn’t just change games — it defines seasons.
A future NFL prospect, Jones played every inch of the field, from the box to deep safety, with the kind of motor and instincts that coaches dream of. He was the heart of a Monarchs defense that rose to the challenge throughout the year, and his ability to shift momentum with a single play was unmatched.
Opposing teams may have come in with game plans to avoid him, but more often than not, they ended up as the latest victim of his highlight reel.
Season 32 Stats:
• 87 total tackles
• 15 tackles for loss
• 1 sack
• 4 interceptions
• 1 pass deflection
• 3 defensive touchdowns
Will Jones II wasn’t just the best defender in the Sun Belt — he was its most complete defensive weapon. A true jack-of-all-trades and the ultimate playmaker, he earns the well-deserved title of Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year for Season 32.
First Team All-Conference Defense
DL – Eric O’Neil – James Madison
DL – Mike Green – Marshall – 2 Time 1st Team All-Conference
DL – Jordan Lawson – Louisiana – 2 Time 1st Team All-Conference
DL – Devin Wright – Texas State – 2 Time 1st Team All-Conference
LB – Kyle Arnholt – Appalachian State
LB – Max Harris – Texas State
LB – Charles Wilkes – Arkansas State
DB – Amarion Fortenberry – South Alabama
DB – Kenyatta Watson – Georgia State – 2 Time 1st Team All-Conference
DB – Kaleb Culp – Texas
DB – Will Jones II – Old Dominion – 2 Time 1st Team All-Conference
DB – AG McGhee – Marshall
First Team All-Conference Special Teams
P – Ryan Hanson – James Madison
K – Aidan Ellison – Arkansas State
KR – Langston Anderson – Texas State – 3 Time 1st Team All-Conference
PR – Zylan Perry – Louisiana
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