Football

DENTON, Texas - North Texas running back Lance Dunbar was named the 2011 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Co-Offensive Player of the Year and offensive lineman Matt Tomlinson was picked as an all-conference pick as announced by the Sun Belt Conference.  

Dunbar shared the Offensive Player of the Year accolades with FIU wide receiver T.Y. Hilton.

The Mean Green was picked to finish in sixth place in the preseason coach's poll while FIU was tabbed as the preseason favorite. Troy was picked to finish second, ULM and Middle Tennessee in a tie for third, followed by Arkansas State at fifth and then North Texas.

Dunbar enters 2011 with the third-most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns among all players in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

A two-time All-America honoree by Sports Illustrated, Dunbar finished 2010 ranked sixth in the nation in rushing and 10^th in the nation in all-purpose yards. 

He ranks third in career rushing yards (3,109) among all returning FBS players and only LaMichael James of Oregon has more yards over the past two years.  

One of the men opening the holes for Dunbar is Tomlinson. The senior started all 12 games last season, the first three at guard before moving to tackle for the final nine.

In addition the league announced the 2011 television schedule. North Texas is set to appear on ESPN3 against FIU, Houston, and Indiana and on the Sun Belt Network October 8 at home against Florida Atlantic. 

North Texas can appear on the Sun Belt Network after November 5^th when the league will select its "wild card" game to be televised.

TV Games
Sept. 1
North Texas at FIU (ESPN3)
Sept. 10
Houston at North Texas (ESPN3)
Sept. 17
North Texas at Alabama (Network TBD)
Sept. 24
Indiana at North Texas (ESPN3)
Oct. 8
Florida Atlantic at North Texas (Sun Belt Network)

The Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team is selected by the head coach of each institution and a media representative from each institution.

Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Offense
Corey Robinson (Troy, So., QB)
Lance Dunbar (NT, Sr., RB)
Bobby Rainey (WKU, Sr., RB)
Dwayne Frampton (ASU, Sr., WR)
T.Y. Hilton (FIU, Sr., WR)
Luther Ambrose (ULM, Sr., WR)
Ladarius Green (ULL, Sr., TE)
Tom Castilaw (ASU, Sr. OL)
Caylin Hauptmann (FIU, Jr., OL)
Ryan McCaul (ULM, Sr., OL)
Matt Tomlinson (NT, Sr., OL)
James Brown (Troy, Sr., OL)
Wes Jeffries (WKU, Sr., OL)

Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Defense
Dorvus Woods (ASU, Sr., DL)
Tourek Williams (FIU, Jr., DL)
Ken Dorsey (ULM, Sr., DL)
Jonathan Massaquoi (Troy, Jr., DL)
Demario Davis (ASU, Sr., LB)
Winston Fraser (FIU, Jr., LB)
Xavier Lamb (Troy, Sr., LB)
Kelcie McCray (ASU, Sr., DB)
Jonathan Cyprien (FIU, Jr., DB)
Marcus Bartels, FAU, Sr., DB)
Darius Prelow (ULM, Sr., DB)

Preseason All-Sun Belt Special Teams
Alan Gendreau (MT, Sr., Kicker)
Mickey Groody (FAU, Sr., Punter)
T.Y. Hilton (FIU, Sr., Return Specialist)

Co-Preseason Offensive Players of the Year
T.Y. Hilton (FIU, Sr., WR)
Lance Dunbar (NT, Sr., RB)

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Jonathan Massaquoi (Troy, Jr., DL)

The Preseason Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll is selected by the head coach of each institution.  First place votes in parenthesis.