Marshall center Logan Osburn calls out an assignment as the Herd takes on Georgia State during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
Marshall center Logan Osburn calls out an assignment as the Herd takes on Georgia State during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
NEW ORLEANS — Marshall senior Logan Osburn was tabbed as a preseason All-Sun Belt Conference second-team selection, the league announced Monday afternoon, and was the only Thundering Herd player recognized by a voting panel of media members.
The Ona native and former Cabell Midland standout is the Herd’s most experienced veteran, carrying 33 starts under his belt. In each of the last three seasons, Osburn has been a major force behind Marshall finishing with a 1,000-yard rusher and a top-25 finisher in FBS in rushing yards and touchdowns. That back was Rasheen Ali in 2021 and 2023 and Khalan Laborn in 2022).
“Logan has done all the things that you expect a leader to do,” Marshall coach Charles Huff said in a statement. “He leads us in practice, in the weight room and in our community. I’m happy that he was recognized by our conference.”
Osburn was also named as a preseason All-SBC first-team selection by Athlon and a preseason All-SBC second-team selection by Phil Steele Publications.
Osburn will represent Marshall, along with defensive lineman Michael Green, at Sun Belt Conference media days in New Orleans on Tuesday, when each of the seven teams in the league’s East Division are scheduled to attend.
In a preseason poll, Marshall was picked to finish fifth in the division, ahead of only Georgia State (seventh) and Old Dominion (sixth).
Appalachian State was selected as the preseason favorite for the SBC East Division, while Texas State was picked as the favorite in the West.
The Mountaineers’ Joey Aguilar was named the preseason SBC Offensive Player of the Year, while Old Dominion’s Jason Henderson was named as the preseason SBC Defensive Player of the Year.
Aguilar — the 2023 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and an All-Sun Belt second-team honoree — set the Appalachian State single-season program records for passing yards (3,757), passing touchdowns (33), total offense (4,002 yards), passing attempts (460) and completions (293) in 2023.
Henderson — a two-time All-Sun Belt first-team pick — led the nation with 15.5 tackles per game and 186 total tackles as a sophomore in 2022 and led the nation with 14.2 tackles per game and ranked second in the country with 170 tackles in 2023, earning him the defensive player of the year honor.
Appalachian State, Arkansas State and Georgia Southern paced all conference programs with nine preseason All-Sun Belt picks apiece. The Mountaineers, Red Wolves and Eagles were closely followed by Texas State (eight), James Madison (five) and Louisiana (five). Twelve of 14 Sun Belt programs were represented by at least one player across the two preseason All-Sun Belt teams.
The Mountaineers led all teams with seven first-team picks, while Texas State (six), Georgia Southern (five), Arkansas State (three), James Madison (two) and Louisiana (two) also produced multiple first-team honorees. Arkansas State tallied a conference-high six second-team selections, followed by four from Georgia Southern and three from James Madison and Louisiana.
Luke Creasy is a reporter for The Herald-Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @LukeCreasy or reach him by phone at 304-526-2800.
