SEC Media Days have come to a close and the long-awaited 2017 preseason All-SEC team has been announced and there are a lot of Alabama players.
Related: Alabama picked to win SEC in landslide, again
The Alabama Crimson Tide had 16 selections across the three levels of preseason teams, six more than the next closest school, Florida, who had 10. At least two members were chosen from each SEC school.
In a conference that has long since boasted a rich tradition of NFL Draft selections, the first team reads like a draft board, highlighted by potential Heisman candidates Jalen Hurts, Derrius Guice and Christian Kirk.
One newcomer to the list to keep an eye on is Isaac Nauta. The Georgia tight end recently was seen doing some rather unusual practice for the season – on a jet ski – with his quarterback Jacob Eason.
Offense
First-Team
- QB Jalen Hurts, Alabama (196)
- RB Derrius Guice, LSU (223)
- RB Nick Chubb, Georgia (211)
- WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama (232)
- WR Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (197)
- TE Isaac Nauta, Georgia (134)
- OL Braden Smith, Auburn (201)
- OL Martez Ivey, Florida (198)
- OL Jonah Williams, Alabama (187)
- OL Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama (174)
- C Frank Ragnow, Arkansas (174)
Second-Team
- QB Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State (121)
- RB Bo Scarbrough, Alabama (151)
- RB Kamryn Pettway, Auburn (141)
- WR Antonio Callaway, Florida (152)
- WR J’Mon Moore, Missouri (91)
- TE Hayden Hurst, South Carolina (115)
- OL Isaiah Wynn, Georgia (116)
- OL Jashon Robertson, Tennessee (108)
- OL K.J. Malone, LSU (101)
- OL Martinas Rankin, Mississippi State (101)
- C Bradley Bozeman, Alabama (155)
Third-Team
- QB Austin Allen, Arkansas (102)
- RB Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt (105)
- RB Sony Michel, Georgia (30)
- WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina (64)
- WR Jauan Jennings, Tennessee (42)
- TE DeAndre Goolsby, Florida (76)
- OL Lester Cotton, Alabama (96)
- OL Greg Little, Ole Miss (94)
- OL Javon Patterson, Ole Miss (87)
- OL Koda Martin, Texas A&M (69)
- C Will Clapp, LSU (66)
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)
Specialists
There are a fair amount of Ray Guy Award and Lou Groza Award watch list members on the All-SEC specialists teams, headlined by Aggie returner Christian Kirk. Entering his junior season, Kirk is already broken the all-time Texas A&M record for punt return touchdowns. He’s a key piece to their 2017 team and Kevin Sumlin will find as many ways to get him the ball as possible.
Daniel Carlson’s popularity goes beyond the field. He was the only kicker invited to attended SEC Media Days in person. Carlson led the SEC in points scored in 2016 and will be a safe bet to repeat in 2017.
First-Team
- P JK Scott, Alabama (222)
- PK Daniel Carlson, Auburn (218)
- RS Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (176)
- AP Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (161)
Second-Team
- P Johnny Townsend, Florida (99)
- PK Eddy Piniero, Florida (106)
- RS Evan Berry, Tennssee (117)
- AP Derrius Guice, LSU (133)
Third-Team
- P Trevor Daniel, Tennessee (58)
- PK Gary Wunderlich, Ole Miss (94)
- RS Antonio Callaway, Florida (84)
- AP Kerryon Johnson, Auburn (66)
Next: 5 teams that could dethrone Alabama in 2017
The level of elite talent in the SEC is staggering. Plenty of the guys that were voted as members of the All-SEC third team could contend for starting jobs at most schools in the country. I guess that just gives credence to their mantra, “It just means more.”
***Teams released by SEC***