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Four Warhawks Named Preseason All-Sun Belt, With Three First-Team Selections

Four Warhawks Named Preseason All-Sun Belt, With Three First-Team Selections

Football Aug 25
MONROE, La. – Four ULM football players have been named to the 2020 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team, including three first-team selections: running back Josh Johnson, tight end Josh Pederson and defensive back Corey Straughter. Offensive lineman T.J. Fiailoa has earned Preseason All-Sun Belt Second-Team honors.
 
The Preseason All-Sun Belt Teams were selected by the league's head coaches and a select media panel.
 
Johnson, a fifth-year senior who ranked second in the Sun Belt and 13th in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing while averaging 108.2 yards per game last season, previously was listed among the top preseason candidates for the Doak Walker Award (nation's top running back) and Maxwell Award (College Player of the Year).
 
An All-Sun Belt Second-Team selection as a junior, Johnson also finished among the NCAA FBS Top 20 in yards per carry (10th at 6.46) and rushing yards (tied for 18th with 1,298). His 1,298 rushing yards ranked as the fourth-highest single-season total in ULM history. In addition, Johnson led the Warhawks in all-purpose yards (1,420) while ranking second in rushing touchdowns (11) and scoring (66 points). His eight runs of 30-plus yards ranked tied for eighth in the NCAA FBS. He also had 13 receptions for 122 yards (9.4 avg.).
 
The 5-foot-9, 208-pound Johnson recorded seven 100-yard games last season, becoming ULM's first 1,000-yard rusher since Frank Goodin in 2009. He finished with 13 carries for 109 yards in the season finale at the Ragin' Cajuns, including a career-long 53-yard run. Johnson ran 19 times for 129 yards and two TDs in ULM's 45-42 win over Coastal Carolina in the home finale. He rushed 20 times for 168 yards and two scores in ULM's 45-31 win over Georgia State. Johnson carried 22 times for 114 yards and two TDs in ULM's 24-14 victory at Texas State. He gained 119 yards on 19 carries against No. 23 Memphis. In his first career start, Johnson carried a career-high 26 times for 126 yards at Florida State, including a 1-yard TD run. He rushed 10 times for 173 yards in the 2019 season opener against Grambling, including TD runs of 51 and 37 yards.
 
A native of Hurtsboro, Alabama, Johnson was stopped for a loss only nine times in 201 rushing attempts in 2019. He opened last season with 69 consecutive carries without being tackled in the backfield.
 
Pederson, a fifth-year senior who has been named to the 2021 Reese's Senior Bowl Top 250, set career highs for receptions (43), receiving yards (567) and touchdown receptions (9) last season.
 
The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Pederson was named Pro Football Focus honorable mention All-American and All-Sun Belt First Team in 2019 after leading ULM in touchdown receptions while ranking second in receptions and receiving yards. Thirty of his 43 receptions (70 percent) resulted in either a first down or a TD. His nine TD receptions tied for first among NCAA FBS tight ends (with SMU's Kylen Granson) during the regular season. In addition, his receptions (12th) and receiving yards (13th) also ranked among the top regular-season totals produced by FBS tight ends.
 
He caught at least one pass in each of the 12 regular-season games in 2019.
 
Pederson had six receptions for a career-best 92 yards in the season finale at the Ragin' Cajuns, including a career-long 47-yard TD grab from Caleb Evans in the second quarter.
 
All three of his receptions (for 60 yards) against Coastal Carolina resulted in first downs. His 30-yard grab from Evans opened ULM's game-winning TD drive midway through the fourth quarter. 
 
Pederson scored on a 16-yard grab from Evans and caught a 2-point pass in the fourth quarter at Georgia Southern.
 
He caught two passes for 48 yards in ULM's 45-31 victory over Georgia State, including a career-long 43-yard TD reception from Evans on a third-and-1 play late in the first quarter. For his performance against the Panthers, Pederson was named to the Pro Football Focus Sun Belt Conference Offensive Team of the Week for the fourth time this season.
 
Pederson had five catches for 57 yards against Arkansas State, including an 11-yard TD grab. Four of his five receptions against the Red Wolves produced either a first down or a TD.
 
Pederson caught a TD pass in four consecutive games during one stretch (at Florida State, at Iowa State, vs. South Alabama and vs. Memphis).
 
He had a career-high seven receptions for 82 yards against No. 23 Memphis, including TD catches of 6 and 36 yards. Six of his seven receptions resulted in either a first down or a score. Pederson also completed a 33-yard pass to Zach Jackson on ULM's final scoring drive against the Tigers.
 
The Morristown, New Jersey, native had a team-high four receptions for 55 yards in the Sun Belt Conference opener against South Alabama, including a 20-yard TD grab.
 
Pederson was named to the Pro Football Focus Sun Belt Conference Offensive Team of the Week following back-to-back games at Florida State and Iowa State. He hauled in three passes for 40 yards at Iowa State, including a 19-yard TD grab.
 
Pederson had six receptions for 85 receiving yards at Florida State, including a 33-yard TD catch.
 
He heads into the 2020 season with 67 career receptions for 824 yards (12.3 avg.) and 11 TDs.
 
Straughter, a 5-10, 183-pound senior, ranked among the NCAA FBS leaders in interceptions (tied for seventh with 5) and passes defended (tied for 14th with 15) last season. His name appears on watch lists for three major national awards, including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Football Writers Association of America National Defensive Player of the Year), Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (nation's best defensive back) and Bednarik Award (Maxwell Football Club defensive player of the year).
 
In 2019, Straughter was named All-American by both USA TODAY (second team) and Pro Football Focus (third team) as well as First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference. His 15 passes defended led the Sun Belt and his five interceptions tied for the league lead. Straughter allowed the nation's lowest passer rating (13.5), lowest completion percentage (28.6) and fewest combined receptions for first downs and touchdowns (7). His 89.9 coverage grade ranked sixth-highest among all NCAA FBS cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed only one touchdown reception in 2019 (came in the season finale at the Ragin' Cajuns) and one explosive pass play (20-plus yards; came on the opening drive of Game 11 vs. Coastal Carolina).
 
The Monroe, Louisiana, native also contributed 23 tackles (18 solos, 5 assists).
 
Straughter registered three tackles and a pass break-up in the home finale against Coastal Carolina.
 
He was selected to the PFF Sun Belt Conference Defensive Team of the Week three times last season: against South Alabama, at Texas State and against Georgia State.
 
Straughter intercepted Arkansas State's Layne Hatcher's third-down pass attempt at the Warhawk 36 and returned it 22 yards to set up ULM's game-tying touchdown (34-34) late in the third quarter. He also contributed three tackles and a pass break-up against the Red Wolves.
 
Early last season, Straughter recorded an interception in three consecutive games (back-to-back road games at Florida State and Iowa State and the Sun Belt opener against South Alabama).
 
His interception and 25-yard return to the Texas State 2-yard line in the final 90 seconds iced ULM's 24-14 win over the Bobcats. Straughter also recorded a career-high four pass break-ups and a solo tackle at Texas State.
 
He limited Memphis' leading receiver Damonte Coxie (entered the game with 18 catches for 278 yards and TD) to just two receptions for 18 yards.
 
With the score tied at 7-7 early in the second quarter of ULM's Sun Belt Conference opener against South Alabama, Straughter ended an 11-play, 62-yard drive to the Warhawk 13 by intercepting Cephus Johnson's third-and-goal pass attempt into the end zone. He added two tackles against the Jaguars.
 
He matched his season high with four tackles (all solo hits) to go along with an interception at Iowa State.
 
With ULM trailing Florida State 24-7 midway through the third quarter, the complexion of the game changed when Straughter intercepted James Blackman's first-down pass attempt along the sideline and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown. It marked his second career interception return for a score. Straughter also tallied four stops against the Seminoles.
 
His career totals include nine career interceptions and 19 career pass break-ups. Straughter already ranks among ULM's all-time Top 20 in interception return yards (second at 250), pass break-ups (ninth) and interceptions (tied for 15th).
 
Fiailoa, a 6-4, 302-pound junior, started the first four games in 2019 before suffering a season-ending leg injury against South Alabama. He scored 88 percent or higher in each of the four games, including a season-best 93 percent in 37 snaps against USA. Fiailoa posted the highest grade (92 percent) among offensive linemen in the 2019 season opener against Grambling (season-high 4 knockdowns).
 
As a sophomore in 2018, he was selected All-Sun Belt Third Team after producing a winning grade in all 12 regular-season games. Fiailoa posted the highest grade among offensive linemen in four games and scored 90 percent or higher in seven games. He played 773 total snaps and his 36 knockdowns ranked second among offensive linemen. Fiailoa allowed only 1.5 sacks in 373 passing plays. He was named to Pro Football Focus Sun Belt Offensive Team of the Week twice (for his performances on the road at Coastal Carolina and South Alabama).
 
A native of Lawton, Oklahoma, Fiailoa has started 23 of 28 career games.
 
ULM's 2020 season and Sun Belt opener at Troy is scheduled for Sept. 5, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT.
 
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