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SEC Media Days: All-SEC preseason teams announced

By Matthew Bartlett

AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 17: Wide receiver Christian Kirk #3 of the Texas A&M Aggies carries the ball against the Auburn Tigers during an NCAA college football game on September 17, 2016 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 17: Wide receiver Christian Kirk #3 of the Texas A&M Aggies carries the ball against the Auburn Tigers during an NCAA college football game on September 17, 2016 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 31: Defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide intercepts a pass in the fourth quarter in the 2016 CFP semifinal at the Peach Bowl at Georgia Dome on December 31, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 31: Defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide intercepts a pass in the fourth quarter in the 2016 CFP semifinal at the Peach Bowl at Georgia Dome on December 31, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /

Defense

Alabama stole the show on defense as well. Their eight defensive selections were nearly double the next closest competitor, Auburn, who had five. What’s most terrifying is the number of Tide selections that are relatively young and were backups last season. Things are going well when you have second and third team selections coming off the bench.

There are five Crimson Tide defenders on the All-SEC First Team. But the best defender on the list could be LSU pass rusher Arden Key. A dominant defensive end, Key has drawn comparisons to last year’s No.1 overall NFL Draft selection, Myles Garrett.

More: 5 reasons why Arden Key will be better than Myles Garrett

The quality of linebackers in the SEC is so tremendous that South Carolina’s Skai Moore didn’t make the the first team. Granted, Roquan Smith and Rashaan Evans aren’t subpar talents, but it is interesting that Key got the vote at linebacker rather than defensive end. Regardless of what level, Moore, like fellow second team member Shaun Dion Hamilton are going to make noise in 2017.

First-Team

  • DL Da’Ron Payne, Alabama (196)
  • DL Da’Shawn Hand, Alabama (180)
  • DL Trenton Thompson, Georgia (172)
  • DL Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss (159)
  • LB Arden Key, LSU (191)
  • LB Rashaan Evans, Alabama (180)
  • LB Roquan Smith, Georgia (157)
  • DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama (232)
  • DB Ronnie Harrison, Alabama (156)
  • DB Armani Watts, Texas A&M (137)
  • DB Duke Dawson, Florida (137)

Second-Team

  • DL Cece Jefferson, Florida (151)
  • DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn (120)
  • DL Christian LaCouture, LSU (107)
  • DL Denzil Ware, Kentucky (78)
  • LB Shaun Dion Hamilton, Alabama (156)
  • LB Skai Moore, South Carolina (128)
  • LB Tre’ Williams, Auburn (103)
  • DB Tray Matthews, Auburn (126)
  • DB Donte Jackson, LSU (123)
  • DB Carlton Davis, Auburn (109)
  • DB Dominick Sanders, Georgia (109)

Third-Team

  • DL Marcell Frazier, Missouri (77)
  • DL Jabari Zuniga, Florida (76)
  • DL Dontavius Russell, Auburn (70)
  • DL Rashard Lawrence, LSU (54)
  • LB Jordan Jones, Kentucky (91)
  • LB Lorenzo Carter, Georgia (82)
  • LB Oren Burks, Vanderbilt (58)
  • DB Anthony Averett, Alabama (104)
  • DB Marcell Harris, Florida (83)
  • DB Mike Edwards, Kentucky (71)
  • DB Tony Brown, Alabama (62)
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