ASUs Newton and Hall on Sporting News Preseason All-SBC List

JONESBORO (6/27/10) - Arkansas State senior offensive lineman Derek Newton (Utica, Miss.) and senior defensive lineman Bryan Hall (Paducah, Ky.) have been named to Sporting News' preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team, adding to their growing list of honors heading into the 2010 football season.

Both Newton and Hall have been named preseason all-conference by Lindy's, Blue Ribbon and Phil Steele's, in addition to Sporting News. Nine A-State football players have earned preseason all-conference recognition by at least one publication this year.

Sporting News placed ASU third in its 2010 Sun Belt Conference predicted order of finish, tabbing the Red Wolves as a team on the rise in its "stock report". The magazine put Middle Tennessee atop the list and made Florida International its second-place team. Following ASU in order of predicted finish by the magazine were Troy, Florida Atlantic, Louisiana-Lafayette, ULM, North Texas and Western Kentucky.

Hall and Newton are among 51 returning lettermen on the 2010 ASU team. The Red Wolves also return 15 offensive players and 10 defensive players that started at least one game during the 2009 season.

Newton was one of the most consistent players on ASU's offensive line and the only ASU offensive lineman to start every game in 2009. A Second Team All-Sun?Belt selection last season, Newton helped lead the way for 21 rushing touchdowns that were the third most in the Sun Belt Conference. He paved the way for three different ASU players rushing for over 100 yards in at least one game and was part of ASU's line that helped the offense to its most yards of total offense (484) against an FBS opponent since the 2007 season.

Hall was a Second Team All-SBC?selection in 2009. He ranked second on the team in tackles for loss (9) and tackles among defensive linemen on ASU's defense ranked first in the SBC in yards allowed last season. He ranked among the top-15 players in the SBC in tackles for loss. Hall recorded a career-high five tackles against Iowa, and also had a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss against the Hawkeyes.

A-State opens its 2010 season Sept. 4 at Auburn and will play Louisiana-Monroe Sept. 18 in its home opener. Season tickets are on sale and can be ordered by contacting the ASU Box Office at 870-972-ASU1 or 1-888-ASU-FANS or by visiting AStateRedWolves.com. For more information, contact the ASU Marketing Department at 870-972-3880.