NEW ORLEANS – University of South Alabama outfielder Ethan Wilson was named the 2021 Preseason Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, as announced Monday by the league office.

Wilson, who was voted the 2020 Preseason SBC Player of the Year, was also named preseason all-SBC. 

The Andalusia, Alabama, native was voted 2021 Baseball America Preseason First-Team All-America, and D1Baseball Preseason Third-Team All-America. He ranked third on the team with a .282 batting average last season, and started all 18 games in left field while adding four doubles, three home runs, 12 RBIs, 13 runs scored and six stolen bases. 

Wilson recorded five multiple-hit and two multi-RBI games last year, including tying his career high in RBIs (5) and home runs (2) at Arkansas on March 6. 

The conference office also announced the predicted order of finish, which was voted on by the league's head coaches. South Alabama received one first-place vote and was picked to finish second in the SBC East Division behind Coastal Carolina, who received 10 first-place votes. Georgia Southern, who also received one first-place vote, was picked to finish third in the division, followed by Troy, Appalachian State and Georgia State.

Texas State was picked to win the SBC West Division after receiving six first-place votes. UTA was predicited to finish second after earning four first-place votes, while Louisiana was picked third with two first-place votes. Little Rock was picked fourth, followed by ULM and Arkansas State. 

Little Rock's Aaron Funk was named the Preseason SBC Pitcher of the Year. 

South Alabama opens the 2021 Sat., Feb. 20, when it faces Mississippi Valley State at 1 p.m. in Hammond, Louisiana.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with USAJaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at Twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Dugout Club - the baseball-specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. Members enjoy all games from inside the Stadium Club with climate control, private restrooms, private concessions and access to listen to the radio broadcast. All donations to the Dugout Club go directly to support the South Alabama baseball program. For more information on how you can join visit JaguarAthleticFund.com. 


2021 Preseason All-SBC 
Aaron Funk, Little Rock, SP
Jordan Jackson, Georgia Southern, SP
Conor Angel, Louisiana, SP
Wyatt Divis, UTA, RP
Lance Johnson, Troy, RP
Caleb Bartolero, Troy, Catcher
William Sullivan, Troy, First Base
Luke Drumheller, Appalachian State, Second Base
Drew Frederic, Troy, Shortstop
Cooper Weiss, Coastal Carolina, Third Base
Ethan Wilson, South Alabama, Outfield
Parker Chavers, Coastal Carolina, Outfield
Rigsby Mosley, Troy, Outfield
Andrew Beesley, ULM, Utility
Eli Merejo, Georgia State, Designated Hitter

Preseason SBC Player of the Year
Ethan Wilson, South Alabama, Outfield

Preseason SBC Pitcher of the Year
Aaron Funk, Little Rock


SBC Predicted Order of Finish
SBC East Division
1) Coastal Carolina – 69 pts (10)
2) South Alabama – 51 (1)
3) Georgia Southern – 51 (1)
4) Troy - 44
5) Appalachian State - 21
6) Georgia State - 16

SBC West Division
1) Texas State – 65 (6)
2) UTA – 58 (4)
3) Louisiana – 52 (2)
4) Little Rock – 33
5) ULM – 27
6) Arkansas State - 13