Alabama Football: 4 New Starters That Could Make All-SEC Team

Alabama has a lost a majority of the 11 members it placed on last season’s All-SEC team that went on to claim the national title—yet they are still considered a safe bet to begin the 2012 season in the preseason top five. 

Perhaps the biggest reason for optimism in Tuscaloosa is the excitement surrounding several studs that Nick Saban is ready to unleash upon the SEC. 

Given the significant wealth of talent Saban has at his disposal, Alabama is one of the few schools that is able to rotate players at nearly every position without much drop-off—which means more than a few players that will be counted on this season were able to gain valuable experience as backups last year. 

With the expectation levels remaining sky high for the Crimson Tide, the players stepping up will need to produce at a level similar to their predecessors. 

Here are four new starters that could make the All-SEC team.  

Eddie Lacy

Lacy steps into a role that may as well be a golden ticket when you consider what Trent Richardson and Mark Ingram were able to accomplish during their time at Alabama.

Lacy has rushed for 1,080 yards in his first two seasons backing up those two former All-Americans, and with a veteran offensive line regarded to be among the best in the nation blocking for him, Lacy will likely put up eye-popping numbers.

Lacy missed spring practice dealing with a toe injury, but his main challengers for all-conference honors—Knile Davis of Arkansas and Marcus Lattimore of South Carolina are coming off major injuries suffered last season.

Assuming Lacy is healthy entering the season, expect him to be one of the top ball-carriers in the SEC.  

Adrian Hubbard

Freshman running back TJ Yeldon may have gained the most buzz following Alabama’s spring game, but Hubbard may have had the most dominant performance (seven tackles, three sacks) en route to being named the Dwight Stephenson Lineman of the Game. 

With Alabama losing its top three pass-rushers from last season, Hubbard is expected to step into the role occupied by Courtney Upshaw last season. 

With Georgia’s Jarvis Jones being the only linebacker returning from last season’s first or second team All-Conference team, the opportunity exists for Hubbard to make a splash on the awards circuit if he can produce at a high level.  

Trey DePriest

DePriest saw action in all 13 games during his freshman season—recording 25 tackles and becoming a standout on special teams. 

One year later, he will be expected to man Dont’a Hightower’s spot in the middle of Alabama’s 3-4 scheme.

While Alabama’s defense may not be able to duplicate last season’s historic performance, DePriest will still be entrusted to lead what is expected to be one of the league’s top defenses. His level of play should be a determining factor in his unit’s ability to maintain the dominant standards set by last year’s team.  

Cyrus Kouandijo

Kouandijo made an appearance in the first eight games of 2011 before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Tennessee—yet his performance was strong enough to earn him a spot on the SEC’s All-Freshman team. 

But perhaps the biggest indicator of his immense talent came when Saban decided to move reigning Outland Trophy-winning tackle Barrett Jones to center—and plug Kouandijo into the all-important left tackle position. 

If Kouandijo is good enough to fill the massive shoes of Jones for the Crimson Tide this fall, he could end up replacing him once more—this time on the first-team All-SEC list at season’s end. 

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