Four Georgia State football players have earned spots on the 2025 Preseason Phil Steele All-Sun Belt Team, highlighting the talent and depth returning to the Panthers’ roster this fall.
Leading the way is wide receiver Ted Hurst, who was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team. Hurst made an immediate impact in his debut season with the Panthers in 2024, playing in all 12 games and leading the team with 56 receptions for 961 yards. He set a new Georgia State single-season record with nine touchdown catches. Among his standout performances was a two-touchdown outing against Vanderbilt on Sept. 14, including the game-winner with just 15 seconds left in the game. Hurst also posted a career-long 76-yard touchdown reception against Georgia Southern on Sept. 28, the longest play by a Panther last season. He topped 100 receiving yards in four different games, highlighted by a 173-yard performance on nine catches versus Arkansas State on Nov. 16. Hurst also showed his versatility by recording tackles on special teams in games against Georgia Southern and Coastal Carolina.
Joining Hurst on the First Team is defensive lineman Henry Bryant, who played in all 12 games last season. Bryant posted 30 total tackles, including 5.5 for loss and four sacks. He delivered a big game against Georgia Southern on Sept. 28, tallying a sack, forced fumble, recovery, and two total tackles. He added a season-high five tackles and a pass breakup against Arkansas State and led the team with two fumble recoveries on the year.
Newcomer Derrell Bailey, a 2025 transfer from East Tennessee State University, earned a spot on the Third Team. A standout offensive lineman, Bailey started all 12 games at right tackle for ETSU last season. He was instrumental in helping the Buccaneers lead the Southern Conference in rushing for the first time in program history and earned All-SoCon Second Team honors for his performance.
Rounding out the Panthers’ preseason honorees is rising sophomore linebacker Damaine Wilson, who was named to the Fourth Team. As a true freshman, Wilson appeared in 11 games and totaled 39 tackles, including 17 solo stops. He recorded a tackle for loss against Old Dominion on Oct. 12 and snagged his first collegiate interception at Marshall on Oct. 17. Wilson notched a career-high eight tackles at UConn on Nov. 1.
