Five WKU players have been named to Blue Ribbon Forecast’s 2012 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team.

Senior offensive linemen Sean Conway and Adam Smith and senior tight end Jack Doyle all represented the Toppers offensively.

Defensively, senior defensive lineman Jamarcus Allen and junior linebacker Andrew Jackson were honored.

WKU was tied with Louisiana-Lafayette for the second-most players honored, with five. Florida International had seven.

Conway and Smith both started all 12 games in 2011, helping pave the way for a rushing attack that averaged 181.4 yards per game.

Doyle, who will become a fourth-year starter this fall, caught 52 passes for 614 yards last season. Both totals were team-highs.

Allen played the final 11 games of the 2011 season after sitting out the team’s season opener due to a one-game suspension. He recorded 39 total tackles, including seven for a loss.

Jackson was a first-year starter in 2011 and became an All-Sun Belt performer, totaling 109 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks and an interception.

Blue Ribbon picked FIU running back Kedrick Rhodes as preseason offensive player of the year, FIU defensive back Jonathan Cyprien as preseason defensive player of the year, and Middle Tennessee State running back Drayton Calhoun as preseason newcomer of the year.