WKU picked to finish seventh in Sun Belt Conference, Rainey and Jeffries to All-SBC team

Brad Stephens

If preseason polls hold true, then WKU will once again be near the bottom of the Sun Belt Conference in 2011.

The Toppers were picked to finish seventh out of nine league teams in the Sun Belt coaches poll released on Monday.

Defending league champion Florida International was voted No. 1, receiving five first-place votes.

Troy was voted No. 2, receiving two first-place votes.

The Toppers received one first-place vote – which came from WKU Head Coach Willie Taggart.

Senior running back Bobby Rainey and senior offensive tackle Wes Jeffries were voted as the Toppers’ two representatives on the preseason All-SBC team.

Rainey, the 2010 Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, led the Football Bowl Subdivision with 340 carries, gaining 1,649 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns.

Jeffries started all 12 games at left tackle for WKU in 2010, and registered 40 knockdown blocks in conference play.