Arkansas State’s Clune Van Andel has been named the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year, underscoring a strong presence by the Red Wolves in the conference’s annual preseason accolades. Van Andel, a standout kicker, is joined by three other Arkansas State players on the Preseason All-Sun Belt teams: wide receiver Corey Rucker, defensive end Bryan Whitehead, and versatile player Ja’Quez Cross.
Arkansas State’s four First-Team selections are tied with Southern Miss for the second-highest in the league, and their six total honorees match Louisiana for third overall. Here’s a closer look at the Red Wolves’ standout players:
- Clune Van Andel: As a kicker, Van Andel demonstrated exceptional performance in 2024, achieving a 21-of-25 success rate on field goals and maintaining a perfect record on extra points. He was instrumental in Arkansas State’s bowl-winning season, noted for his reliability and long-range success, including a career-long 52-yard field goal.
- Corey Rucker: A senior wide receiver, Rucker surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in 2024, becoming one of the few in program history to achieve this milestone. He enters 2025 as the program’s all-time leader in receiving yards, showcasing his critical role in the team’s offense.
- Bryan Whitehead: As a defensive end, Whitehead played in all 13 games last season, making significant contributions with tackles for loss and sacks. His performance earned him recognition as a defensive leader for the team.
- Ja’Quez Cross: Known for his versatility, Cross contributed as a running back and return specialist. His ability to impact multiple phases of the game makes him a valuable asset, highlighted by his impressive kickoff return average and rushing yardage.
The Sun Belt Conference Preseason Awards also recognized other top players in the league, including Braylon Braxton from Southern Miss as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Blayne Myrick from South Alabama as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
