Hits and Misses from SEC Media's All-SEC Team
The SEC concluded its week of being the center of the college football universe Friday by unveiling its three preseason all-conference teams, which were voted on by the hundreds of media members who were in Hoover, Alabama for the league's annual press event.
Defending champion and 2016 pick to repeat Alabama led the way for the SEC with seven first-team selections, which was one more than the Crimson Tide had in 2015.
The star offensive trio of LSU running back Leonard Fournette, Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly and Alabama receiver Calvin Ridley took home the honors as the top vote-getters.
While the SEC media did mostly what was expected in sorting out the top talent in the league on the three loaded teams, there were a few surprises—good and bad—in the final tally from Hoover. Judging by the players' performances from 2015 and their potential for 2016, there were a few misses and slides down the ranks.
Here are the SEC media's three preseason all-conference teams and several notable hits and misses from the results.
The Teams
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Before the hits and the misses, here are all three of the SEC media's teams for 2016, as voted on this week in Hoover. The number in parentheses is the amount of total votes out of a possible 323.
First Team
Offense
- QB Chad Kelly, Ole Miss (321)
- RB Leonard Fournette, LSU (329)
- RB Nick Chubb, Georgia (308)
- WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama (318)
- WR Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (223)
- TE O.J. Howard, Alabama (294)
- C Ethan Pocic, LSU (188)
- OL Cam Robinson, Alabama (315)
- OL Dan Skipper, Arkansas (228)
- OL Greg Pyke, Georgia (171)
- OL Alex Kozan, Auburn (165)
Defense
- DL Jonathan Allen, Alabama (301)
- DL Myles Garrett, Texas A&M (286)
- DL Carl Lawson, Auburn (253)
- DL Derek Barnett, Tennessee (171)
- LB Reuben Foster, Alabama (265)
- LB Kendell Beckwith, LSU (231)
- LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Tennessee (223)
- DB Eddie Jackson, Alabama (293)
- DB Jalen Tabor, Florida (249)
- DB Tre'Davious White, LSU (221)
- DB Cameron Sutton, Tennessee (213)
Special Teams
- K Daniel Carlson, Auburn (198)
- P JK Scott, Alabama (252)
- RET Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (214)
- AP Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (240)
Second Team
Offense
- QB Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee (313)
- RB Jalen Hurd, Tennessee (278)
- RB Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt (151)
- WR Malachi Dupre, LSU (167)
- WR Fred Ross, Mississippi State (139)
- TE Evan Engram, Ole Miss (214)
- C Brandon Kublanow, Georgia (121)
- OL Martez Ivey, Florida (152)
- OL William Clapp, LSU (143)
- OL David Sharpe, Florida (138)
- OL Alphonse Taylor, Alabama (137)
Defense
- DL Montravius Adams, Auburn (167)
- DL Bryan Cox, Florida (105)
- DL Davon Godchaux, LSU (105)
- DL Charles Harris, Missouri (103)
- LB Tim Williams, Alabama (196)
- LB Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt (178)
- LB Jarrad Davis, Florida (160)
- DB Jamal Adams, LSU (193)
- DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama (188)
- DB Tony Conner, Ole Miss (146)
- DB Dominick Sanders, Georgia (145)
Special Teams
- K Adam Griffith, Alabama (174)
- P Johnny Townsend, Florida (124)
- RET Evan Berry, Tennessee (163)
- AP Alvin Kamara, Tennessee (152)
Third Team
Offense
- QB Brandon Harris, LSU (25)
- RB Stanley "Boom" Williams, Kentucky (60)
- RB Jovon Robinson, Auburn (55)
- WR Ricky Seals-Jones, Texas A&M (78)
- WR Drew Morgan, Arkansas (49)
- TE Jeremy Sprinkle, Arkansas (65)
- C Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama (101)
- OL Avery Gennesy, Texas A&M (120)
- OL Jashon Robertson, Tennessee (119)
- OL Braden Smith, Auburn (118)
- OL Javon Patterson, Ole Miss (113)
Defense
- DL Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss (102)
- DL Deatrich Wise, Arkansas (95)
- DL Cece Jefferson, Florida (85)
- DL A.J. Jefferson, Mississippi State (84)
- LB Lorenzo Carter, Georgia (92)
- LB Richie Brown, Mississippi State (84)
- LB Arden Key, LSU (76)
- DB Marcus Maye, Florida (139)
- DB Marlon Humphrey, Alabama (120)
- DB Johnathan Ford, Auburn (105)
- DB Armani Watts, Texas A&M (74)
Special Teams
- K Elliott Fry, South Carolina (91)
- P Trevor Daniel, Tennessee (97)
- RET Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia (100)
- AP Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia (112)
Hit: Brandon Harris as Third-Team QB
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Heading into SEC media days, the top two quarterbacks in the league were clearly defined—Ole Miss' Chad Kelly and Tennessee's Joshua Dobbs. However, due to the lack of established talent at the position in the SEC, the third-team selection was a mystery.
LSU's Brandon Harris took that spot Friday over Texas A&M's Trevor Knight, who transferred to the program this offseason from Oklahoma. While Harris' selection isn't a good reflection on the league's quarterback play as a whole, it was the right call in the end by the media.
While Harris struggled in big spots last season, he's at least a returning starter—something that Knight isn't, as he lost his starting job at Oklahoma to Baker Mayfield. Also, Harris posted better numbers in yards per attempt, quarterback rating and interceptions in 2015 than Knight did in 2014 with the Sooners. (Harris even had a better QB rating last season than second-teamer Dobbs.)
Miss: Leonard Fournette Wasn't a Unanimous Pick
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A record 323 media members descended upon Hoover this week for the league's annual media days, and each one of them were allowed to vote on the preseason All-SEC teams. The conference might want to tighten up its credentialing process after seeing the vote results, though, as two voters left LSU superstar running back Leonard Fournette completely off their ballots.
Fournette is by far the best running back in the SEC, and he's currently leading the preseason odds for the 2016 Heisman Trophy, according to Chip Patterson of CBS Sports. He led the nation in rushing yards per game last fall by nearly 15 yards more than the No. 2 back, 2015 Heisman winner Derrick Henry.
The LSU star deserved to be the SEC's first unanimous selection since Darren McFadden. The two media members who decided to leave Fournette completely off their ballots have a lot of explaining to do—just like the voter who picked Vanderbilt to win the SEC.
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Hit: Ralph Webb on Second Team
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Vanderbilt doesn't normally get a ton of love on the preseason All-SEC teams. Last year, the Commodores failed to land a single player on any of the three squads. But things are looking up for Vanderbilt, and it landed a rare offensive player on the league's second team this preseason.
Running back Ralph Webb was fifth in the conference last season in rushing yards per game, making him the third-best among returning running backs in the SEC for 2016. Although he only scored five touchdowns all season, he didn't get much help from the rest of his offense, which should be stronger this fall.
After Fournette, Georgia's Nick Chubb and Tennessee's Jalen Hurd, there was an expected drop-off in votes among running backs. Even though he doesn't play on a powerhouse team, the media did well here by putting Webb on the second team for what was a strong 2015 season in tough circumstances.
Miss: Drew Morgan as the No. 6 WR
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Drew Morgan barely got on the preseason All-SEC teams this year, taking the sixth wide receiver spot in the league. However, the Arkansas wideout deserved to get a higher place, especially considering the numbers he put up last year for the Razorbacks.
Morgan ranked fourth in the SEC for receiving yards per game among receivers who are returning for the 2016 season. His 10 receiving touchdowns last season were tied for second-best in the entire conference, and no other receiver currently in the league had double-digit scores in 2015.
The Arkansas wideout is a highly productive player who deserved more credit for how he helped the Razorback offense find a new explosive dimension in the passing game. His numbers were better last season than LSU's Malachi Dupre and Texas A&M's Ricky Seals-Jones, who both received more votes than him in Hoover this week.
Hit: First-Team Defensive Line
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The defensive line talent in the SEC this season is incredible, and a large number of conference linemen could have arguably landed on the preseason teams this time around. When it comes to the first team, the media got it absolutely right with the foursome it chose up front.
Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen, who led the national champions in sacks last season, took home more first-team votes than any other defensive player. Texas A&M star Myles Garrett, who is the nation's top pass-rusher returning for the 2016 season, was close behind him. The media also made a good call in Carl Lawson, the Auburn defensive end who has drastically changed the way the Tigers play defense whenever he's been healthy.
The last spot on the first-team defensive line went to Tennessee pass-rusher Derek Barnett, who edged Auburn defensive tackle Montravius Adams. Barnett's numbers so far in his Tennessee career are worth the nod here, and he'll be a star presence for the team picked to win the SEC East this fall.
Miss: No Caleb Brantley
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But the defensive line selections from top to bottom weren't completely free of controversy. Perhaps the biggest miss on the entire list for the SEC media was the absence of Florida defensive tackle Caleb Brantley, who was a real game-changing presence up front for the Gators in 2015.
At defensive tackle, Brantley's stats aren't going to command a lot of attention. But his play on the field is a completely different story. Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus rated Brantley as the No. 59 overall player in the entire country. Matt Brown of Sports on Earth had him at No. 78. Mike Huguenin of Gridiron Now placed him as the No. 33 player in the SEC.
One would think a player that landed that highly on several overall countdowns would take one of the 12 defensive linemen spots on the preseason All-SEC teams. However, Brantley was left off, and he seems to be taking that snub as extra motivation for 2016.
Miss: Jarrad Davis on Second Team
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Jarrad Davis is another Florida defender who might be frustrated with his spot on the preseason All-SEC teams Friday. The Florida linebacker landed on the second team, but he was deserving of a first-team spot based on his performance last season.
According to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, Davis is the No. 1 linebacker to watch in 2016 for the entire country. Last season, Davis posted 98 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, seven QB hurries and four pass breakups. Those numbers were equal to or better than first-team LSU linebacker Kendall Beckwith, and Davis played on what was a statistically better defense in 2015.
Beckwith is a phenomenal linebacker as well as Tennessee tackle machine Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Alabama star Reuben Foster, who all grabbed first-team spots. Don't take anything away from their play. However, Davis has the stats and the skills that deserve one of the slots as a top-three linebacker in the SEC.
Miss: Christian Kirk over Evan Berry for First-Team Returner
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Evan Berry vs. Christian Kirk is a heated debate as to which special teams speed demon in the SEC most deserved the first-team returner spot on the preseason teams this year. While Kirk took both the return specialist and all-purpose roles on the first team this year, Berry deserved a first-team spot.
Berry is the defending SEC special teams player of the year, and he took home several All-American nods last season after leading the entire country in kick return average on 21 returns. Had Kirk qualified for the national lead in punt returns, he would've been at the top with his average of 24.36 yards on just 14 returns. But the difference between Berry and Kirk is the consistency.
Kirk had two huge punt returns against Arizona State and Alabama, but he had a good number of quiet games on special teams last season, even with his added kick returns. Berry, though, was a constant threat all year long and was the only player in the league to run multiple kicks back for scores. Kirk most likely got a voting advantage by being the more-famous name, but Berry is an All-American talent.
Stats are courtesy of CFBStats.com. Recruiting rankings are courtesy of 247Sports.
Justin Ferguson is a national college football analyst at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.
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