Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Football Has 12 Players Honored By Athlon Sports
7/8/2026 1:00:00 PM | Football
Herd places four on Athlon’s 2026 Preseason All-SBC First Team
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Football had 12 players recognized by Athlon Sports as 2026 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference selections, the magazine released recently.
The Thundering Herd had four players named to the Preseason All-SBC First Team – three on offense and one on defense.
Marshall's three offensive selections were quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, tight end Toby Payne and offensive lineman Jalen Slappy. Defensive back Daytione Smith was the Herd's lone defensive selection on the first team.
"As we get closer to the start of the season, it's good to see our guys receive the recognition they deserve," Marshall head coach Tony Gibson said. "The season is just around the corner and we are going to need those guys to play well if we want to accomplish our goals in 2026."
Del Rio-Wilson is statistically one of the best returning all-around quarterbacks in the nation, joining Auburn's Byrum Brown as the only returning quarterbacks nationally in 2026 who threw for 2,000 yards, completed 65 percent of their passes and rushed for 600 yards in 2025.
The Atlanta, Ga., native leads all returning Sun Belt players in rushing yards per game and is coming off a season in which he accounted for 2,704 yards and 23 touchdowns for the Herd, making him one of the Sun Belt's most explosive returning offensive weapons in 2026.
In addition to his passing numbers, Del Rio-Wilson's 661 rushing yards set a new Marshall single-season record for a quarterback.
Much of Del Rio-Wilson's success is credit to an offensive line that was led by Slappy, who has been a leader on the offensive line over the last three seasons.
The Columbus, Ohio, native has 30 starts in his career and has been part of an offensive line that has been in the top-20 nationally in rushing yards each year.
As the Herd goes to the air, one of Del Rio-Wilson's favorite targets is another 2026 Athlon Preseason All-SBC First Team selection: tight end Toby Payne.
Payne, who was also named as a 2025 All-SBC First Team selection by the coaches, returns to the Herd after a year in which he caught 37 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns while proving to be a vital blocker in the run game and on special teams.
Defensively, Smith returns to the Herd secondary poised to lead the unit after finishing with 50 tackles and three interceptions in 2025 – a figure that is tied for the returning lead in the Sun Belt.
Marshall had a trio of players named to the 2026 Athlon Preseason All-SBC Second Team. Offensive players included wide receiver Adrian Norton and offensive lineman Tariq Montgomery while wide receiver Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw was also named to the unit as a kick returner in the Special Teams category.
Norton's knack for big plays in big moments was evident during 2025 when he caught 27 passes for 363 yards and five touchdowns. His touchdown tally included a late-game snag against Texas State that helped propel the Herd to an overtime victory.
Montgomery joins Slappy as key offensive line pieces for the Herd offense, which is expected to be among the best in the SBC in 2026. The Akron, Ohio, native has 30 career appearances and made 11 starts last season for the Herd at tackle.
Turner-Bradshaw returns as one of the most dynamic kick returners in the Sun Belt Conference after amassing 510 kick return yards in 2025 while averaging 22.5 yards per return. He also averaged 14.3 yards per catch as a receiver last season.
Marshall had a pair of 2026 Athlon Preseason All-SBC Third Team selections in running back Jo'Shon Barbie (249 rushing yards, 5 TDs) and linebacker Javae Gilmore (63 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss).
The 2026 Athlon Preseason All-SBC Fourth Team featured three Herd players: wide receiver De'Andre Tamarez (32 catches, 295 yards, 2 TDs), transfer offensive lineman Xavier Bausley (played in 8 games at WVU in 2025) and defensive lineman Braydin Ward (15 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 4 forced fumbles).
For all the latest information about Marshall Football, follow @HerdFB on X and @Herd_FB on Instagram.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.
---HerdZone.com---
