SAN MARCOS, Texas – Ismail Mahdi, one of the most dynamic players in the country, and Mason Shipley, one of the nation's most accurate kickers, were named to the 2023 All-Sun Belt First Team and headlined a group of six Bobcats who earned a total of seven all-conference selections as the conference officed announced the postseason award winners on Thursday.
 
Mahdi was named a first team all-purpose player – and second team return specialist – while Shipley was a first team kicker. Joey Hobert was named All-Sun Belt Second Team as a wide receiver, and Ben Bell (defensive line) and Brian Holloway (linebacker) were selected to the all-conference second team on the defensive side. Offensive lineman Brey Walker was named All-Sun Belt Third Team.
 
The Bobcats also had four honorable mention selections, including quarterback TJ Finley, wide receivers Kole Wilson and Ashtyn Hawkins, and defensive back Shawn Holton.
 
The all-conference selections were voted on by Sun Belt head coaches and media members.
 
Mahdi and Shipley are the first Bobcats to be named all-conference first team since linebacker Bryan London II in 2019. Mahdi is the first Texas State offensive player on the first team since Keenen Brown (tight end) in 2018 while Shipley is the first ever specialist to be named All-Sun Belt First Team in school history. He is the first kicker in school history to earn all-conference first team honors since Stan Jones was named All-Southland First Team in 2005.
 
The seven selections on the all-conference first, second and third teams are the most for the Bobcats since 2008.
 
Mahdi not only led the Sun Belt in all-purpose yards in the regular season, but he led the entire country with 2,014 yards. He was the only player in the nation to finish the regular season with more than 2,000 all-purpose yards. The sophomore ran for 1,209 rushing yards on 199 carries and added 276 receiving yards on 18 catches and 529 kick return yards on 20 returns. He scored 12 total touchdowns in 12 games.
 
Shipley led the Sun Belt with his perfect 100 percent field goal percentage on 14 attempts. The Liberty Hill, Texas product, who finished the regular season as one of three kickers in the country with a perfect field goal percentage, tied the school record for most field goals made in a season. He also totaled 94 points, which were the most by a Bobcat since 2008 and ranked seventh best in the Sun Belt this year.
 
Hobert was the first Bobcat wide receiver to be selected to an all-conference second team or better in the program's FBS history after he had a team-leading 71 receptions for 847 yards and eight touchdowns in 10 games. Despite missing two games due to injury, Hobert finished second in the Sun Belt with 84.7 receiving yards per game and third with 7.1 receptions per contest. He tied for third in the conference in receiving touchdowns.
 
Bell was sixth in the Sun Belt in sacks with 8.0 and added 49 tackles (28 solo) in 12 games. The junior had 13.0 TFLs, which were tied for 12th in the conference through the regular season.
 
Holloway was the team leader in TFLs with 16.0, which are an FBS program record. The redshirt senior completed the regular season tied for fifth in the Sun Belt in TFLs as well as sixth in tackles with a team-best 98. Holloway also created havoc with three forced fumbles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and eight quarterback hurries.
 
Walker, who played all but one of his 710 snaps this season at right guard, did not allow a sack all season. He was one of the top-rated guards in the Sun Belt, according to PFF, and surrendered only eight pressures on 373 pass plays, which put him as the fifth-best guard in the conference in PFF's pass blocking efficiency. He was also 12th among Sun Belt guards in PFF's run blocking grades.
 
The trio of Finley, Wilson and Hawkins picked up the honorable mention honors after being key members of the Sun Belt's top offense. Finley threw for 3,287 yards and accounted for 29 touchdowns in 12 games. He connected with Hawkins for 819 yards on 52 catches and three touchdowns and with Wilson for 697 yards on 61 catches with eight touchdowns.
 
Holton was second on the team with 84 tackles while he was tied for third in the country with four forced fumbles.
 
The seven All-Sun Belt selections were tied with South Alabama and Georgia Southern for the fifth-most in the conference.
 
 
2023 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS
Player of the Year
Jordan McCloud, James Madison
 
Offensive Player of the Year
Kimani Vidal, Troy
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Jalen Green, James Madison
 
Newcomer of the Year
Joey Aguilar, App State
 
Freshman of the Year
Jaylen Raynor, Arkansas State
 
Coach of the Year
Curt Cignetti, James Madison
 
All-Sun Belt First Team Offense
QB – Jordan McCloud, James Madison
RB – Kimani Vidal, Troy
RB – Marcus Carroll, Georgia State
OL – Isaiah Helms, App State
OL – Bucky Williams, App State
OL – Travis Glover, Georgia State
OL – Khalil Crowder, Georgia Southern
OL – Jacob Bayer, Arkansas State
TE – Zach Horton, James Madison
WR – Caullin Lacy, South Alabama
WR – Elijah Sarratt, James Madison
WR – Reggie Brown, James Madison


All-Sun Belt First Team Defense
DL – Jalen Green, James Madison
DL – Javon Solomon, Troy
DL – Richard Jibunor, Troy
DL – Jamree Kromah, James Madison
DL – Owen Porter, Marshall
LB – Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
LB – Andrew Parker Jr., App State
LB – Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern
DB – Micah Abraham, Marshall
DB – Reddy Steward, Troy
DB – Jaden Voisin, South Alabama
DB – Tyrek Funderburk, App State
 
All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams
K – Mason Shipley, Texas State
P –  William Przystup, Arkansas State
RS – Jayden Harrison, Marshall
AP – Ismail Mahdi, Texas State
 
All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense
QB – Joey Aguilar, App State
RB – Rasheen Ali, Marshall
RB – Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss
OL – Daniel King, Troy
OL – Tyler Stephens, James Madison
OL – Makilian Thomas, Arkansas State
OL – Rasheed Miller, Georgia Southern
OL – Grant Betts, Troy
TE – Eli Wilson, App State
WR – Khaleb Hood, Georgia Southern
WR – Sam Pinckney, Coastal Carolina
WR – Joey Hobert, Texas State


All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense
DL – James Carpenter, James Madison
DL – Adin Huntington, ULM
DL – Ben Bell, Texas State
DL – Mikail Kamara, James Madison
DL – TJ Jackson, Troy
LB – Brian Holloway, Texas State
LB – Nate Johnson, App State
LB – Quentin Wilfawn, South Alabama
DB – Shemar Bartholomew, Georgia Southern
DB – Dell Pettus, Troy
DB – Ethan Johnson, App State
DB – D'Angelo Ponds, James Madison
 
All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams
K – Michael Hughes, App State
P – Ryan Hanson, James Madison
RS – Ismail Mahdi, Texas State
AP – Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss
 
All-Sun Belt Third Team Offense
QB – Gunnar Watson, Troy
RB – La'Damian Webb, South Alabama
RB – Jalen White, Georgia Southern
OL – AJ Gillie, Louisiana
OL – Jack Murphy, App State
OL – Ethan Driskell, Marshall
OL – Will McDonald, Coastal Carolina
OL – Brey Walker, Texas State
TE – Neal Johnson, Louisiana
WR – Robert Lewis, Georgia State
WR – Jabre Barber, Troy
WR – Chris Lewis, Troy


All-Sun Belt Third Team Defense
DL – Thurman Geathers, Arkansas State
DL – Isaac Walker, Georgia Southern
DL – Elijah Alston, Marshall
DL – Wy'Kevious Thomas, South Alabama
LB – Eli Neal, Marshall
LB – Jontrey Hunter, Georgia State
LB – Aiden Fisher, James Madison
LB – Wayne Matthews, Old Dominion
DB – Yam Banks, South Alabama
DB – Clayton Isbell, Coastal Carolina
DB – Gavin Pringle, Georgia State
DB – Irshaad Davis, Troy
 
All-Sun Belt Third Team Special Teams
K – Camden Wise, James Madison
P – John McConnell, Marshall
RS – Ja'Quez Cross, Arkansas State
AP – Caullin Lacy, South Alabama
 
All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention – Texas State
QB – TJ Finley
WR – Kole Wilson
WR – Ashtyn Hawkins
DB – Shawn Holton