The honor was unexpected but not undeserved.
It's relatively rare when a defensive leader earns a conference player of the year award. The last time it happened in the Sun Belt was more than a decade ago in 2003. But Arkansas State's Ja'Von Rolland-Jones had a feeling he might have done enough to earn the honor.
"It did, but it didn't," the junior defensive end said Wednesday when asked Wednesday if he was surprised by the award. "The fact that I didn't lead in sacks … I felt like it was out of the question, but I had broke a record [career sacks] in the Sun Belt, so they just gave it to me.