NEW ORLEANS – University of South Alabama juniors Jalen Tolbert and Keith Gallmon were recognized on Tuesday with the release of the Sun Belt Conference's preseason all-league football teams.

The former has been named preseason first-team all-conference at wide receiver, while the latter is a second-team selection as a defensive back.

Tolbert is the lone returning 1,000-yard receiver in the SBC after finishing with 1,085 yards and eight touchdowns on 64 catches last fall, as he finished second in the league in both receptions and receiving yards per contest.  A two-time Sun Belt Offensive Player-of-the-Week selection in 2020, he led South in catches in seven games and in yards receiving on seven occasions — highlighted by a pair of 100-plus yard performances — as well as with 20 plays of 20 or more yards to be named first-team all-conference.

On Monday, Tolbert was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List presented annually to the outstanding player in college football.  He has been designated preseason first-team all-Sun Belt by four publications while receiving preseason All-America accolades from four different organizations.

Gallmon was a third-team all-league selection a year ago, posting a career-best 84 stops and 10 passes broken up — making him the only player in the SBC to rank in the top 10 in both tackles and passes defensed per game — to go along with an interception and a fumble recovery.  The safety paced the Jaguars in tackles three times while recording three outings with a double-digit stop total, which included a career-high 12 in a season-opening win at Southern Mississippi as well as 11 later in the year to help USA pick up a victory at Arkansas State.

He has been named preseason All-America by both Pro Football Network and Pro Football Focus, earning third-team accolades from the former and honorable mention recognition from the latter, while also making PFF's list of the top 10 returning safeties in the nation.  Gallmon has earned preseason all-conference honors from three different publications as well.

The Jags were picked by the league's 10 head coaches and selected media members to place third in the West Division behind Louisiana and Arkansas State.

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

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