SEC Football: 2011 Midseason All-SEC Team

With the college football season about to pass its midpoint, it's time to reflect on the stars of the season's first half. While quarterback play in the league has been disappointing, the dominant defenses for which the conference has been famous over the past few seasons are once again imposing their will.

Some top performers have been household names for multiple seasons, while others have emerged from the ranks of the unknown. Here's a look at the SEC's best from the first six weeks of 2011.

QB: Tyler Wilson, Arkansas (Junior)

You can make an argument for another Tyler, Tennessee's Tyler Bray, but Wilson has played better in big games against tougher competition.

His 519-yard performance in a furious second-half rally to beat Texas A&M was his shining moment, and the toughness he displayed after Alabama earned him plenty of respect in the locker room.

The Hogs' offensive line has been suspect and the running game has been inconsistent, but Wilson has been tremendous, keeping the Razorbacks in the SEC title race.

RB: Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina (Sophomore)

While Stephen Garcia has failed to finally put together a complete season and it took Alshon Jeffery until Week 6 to look like the real Alshon Jeffery, Lattimore has averaged 130 yards per game. 246 of those came against Navy, a game in which the Gamecocks needed every one of those yards to fend off the Mids.

Maybe the best news for South Carolina fans is that his tenure in Columbia is, at a minimum, only halfway complete.

RB: Trent Richardson, Alabama (Junior)

After sharing carries with Mark Ingram for two seasons, the junior from Pensacola has shined with the spotlight now fully on him.

His 11 touchdowns are first in the league, and his 729 yards are second to Lattimore. While this will likely be his final year in Tuscaloosa, he has Alabama in a great position to win their second national title in his three seasons.

WR: Jarius Wright, Arkansas (Senior)

The conference's leading receiver was unstoppable against Texas A&M, finishing with a whopping 281 yards and two touchdowns in the Razorbacks' big comeback win over their future conference rival.

Greg Childs has struggled so far, and the running game has been disappointing, but Wright is having a fanstastic senior season. With the schedule easing up over the next month, expect some more huge numbers from No. 4.

WR: Da'Rick Rogers, Tennessee (Sophomore)

Rogers was expected to team with Justin Hunter for one of the country's best WR tandems, but Hunter was lost for the season in Week 3 at Florida. Rogers has been outstanding, however, with three 100-yard games and six touchdowns.

His stats will suffer with QB Tyler Bray out until late November, but the Georgia native has showed why the Volunteers pilfering him from his home state team was such a significant recruiting coup.

WR: Rueben Randle, LSU (Junior)

The LSU passing game was the major concern heading into the season, but Randle has developed into a solid No. 1 target for Jarrett Lee.

The junior has 446 yards and four touchdowns in the season's first half against one of the toughest schedules in the country and has turned into an elite deep threat for the nation's top-ranked team.

TE: Orson Charles, Georgia (Junior)

Charles was expected to take on a greater role with A.J. Green's departure, and has done just that, as the Bulldogs have rallied from an 0-2 start to win four in a row.

Tennessee's Michael Rivera has more catches and yards than Charles, but the junior had a 100-yard game against Boise State and is more of a weapon, and will play a key role in whether Georgia can win their first SEC East title since 2005.

OT: Barrett Jones, Alabama (Junior)

Jones may be the most versatile lineman in the conference, transitioning beautifully from guard to tackle after James Carpenter left for the NFL.

Alabama has only allowed 10 sacks through six games, thanks in large part to Jones protecting the blind side of A.J. McCarron. It's hard to discuss Jones without also mentioning his 4.0 GPA.

OT: Cordy Glenn, Georgia (Senior)

Like Jones, Glenn has played multiple positions in his career as well, and is now entrenched at tackle with Trinton Sturdivant again unable to stay healthy.

The running game was able to dominate the Tennessee defense on Saturday night, and the Bulldogs' offensive line appears to be a strength heading into the second half of the season. 

OG: Will Blackwell, LSU (Senior)

Blackwell is fresh off being named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance in Saturday's win over Florida. 

While center P.J. Lonergan has been hampered by injuries this season, Blackwell has stabilized the interior line and allowed for running backs Spencer Ware, Michael Ford and Alfred Blue to flourish. 

OG: Larry Warford, Kentucky (Junior)

Kentucky's offense may be a disaster, but Warford doesn't deserve much of the blame.  Kentucky has no running game, and QB Morgan Newton can't escape pressure.

Unfortunately for the veteran Warford, one lineman can't block an entire defense. 

C: William Vlachos, Alabama (Senior)

Vlachos is the keystone of an Alabama offensive line that has dominated all six of its opponents so far. The senior started on the 2009 national title team and may get a chance for a second ring this year.

Both of Alabama's running backs, Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy, are averaging over six yards per carry, partially due to the holes Vlachos and the line are opening for them.

DL: Melvin Ingram, South Carolina (Senior)

Ingram has not only been a great pass rusher, but has also scored three touchdowns for the Gamecocks this season.

The senior leads the SEC in sacks with 5.5 and scored twice against Georgia on a fake punt and a fumble return, and again on a fumble recovery against Vanderbilt.

DL: Corey Lemonier, Auburn (Sophomore)

Lemonier has gotten much stronger from his freshman to his sophomore season, and it's paying big dividends for a rebuilt Auburn defense.

The second-year player is tied for second in the league with four sacks and has seven tackles for losses. He played a big role in helping the Tigers overcome a struggling offense to upset South Carolina two weeks ago.

DL: Sam Montgomery, LSU (Sophomore)

With tackles Drake Nevis and Pep Levingston gone, the strength of the LSU defensive front was expected to shift to the outside this season. 

The sophomore has three sacks and 5.5 tackles for losses and has been a major factor in the Bayou Bengals rolling through a brutal September schedule without being severely tested.

DL: Tim Fugger, Vanderbilt (Senior)

Fugger has helped the Commodores get out to a surprising 3-2 start, leading a defensive line that has held its own in the SEC.

The senior has three sacks (two in a 24-21 win over UConn) and seven tackles for losses through five games.

LB: Donta Hightower, Alabama (Junior)

While still having a very successful 2010 season, Hightower was not fully recovered from a knee injury that ended his 2009 season in the first month.

The fourth-year junior is back to his pre-injury form, patrolling the middle of the best linebacking corps in the country.

LB: Danny Trevathan, Kentucky (Senior)

Trevathan has been one of the lone bright spots for the Wildcats, as he is on course to once again lead the SEC in tackles.

His 72 tackles are 21 more than any other SEC player not on his own team, and he has added two sacks and 5.5 tackles for losses.

LB: Jarvis Jones, Georgia (Sophomore)

After a long summer awaiting his eligibility, the USC transfer has blossomed in his first year in Athens, sparking a revitalized Georgia defense during their current four-game winning streak.

The sophomore has three sacks and eight tackles for losses, and his 33 tackles are second on the team.

LB: Jonathan Bostic, Florida (Junior)

Despite a rough two-game stretch for the Gators against Alabama and LSU, Bostic has been the anchor of a Florida defense that has been much improved after a lousy finish to the 2010 season.

The junior leads the team with 42 tackles, and his three sacks are tied for fifth in the SEC. 

CB: Tyrann Mathieu, LSU (Sophomore)

The man known as "Honey Badger" has gone from Patrick Peterson's replacement to a Heisman Trophy contender over the course of six weeks.

The sophomore has forced four fumbles, one of which he returned for a touchdown against Kentucky, and added another touchdown on a fumble return against Oregon.  He has also been a shutdown cornerback, and his aggressive style is a perfect fit in John Chavis' defense.

CB: Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama (Junior)

Kirkpatrick plays a very physical brand of football on the outside, recording a number of monster hits so far this season.

The junior has eight pass breakups and has forced two fumbles, and the Crimson Tide has failed to allow more than 14 points in a single game this season.

S: Winston Guy, Kentucky (Senior)

Guy plays a hybrid linebacker/safety role and has been all over the field this season for the Wildcats. 

His season started off with a bang with two interceptions in the season opener. His 67 tackles trail only teammate Danny Trevathan in the SEC, and his 8.5 tackles for losses lead the league.

S: Mark Barron, Alabama (Sr.)

Barron is the veteran of arguably the best secondary in college football, so it's nearly impossible to keep him off of an all-conference team.

The senior was hampered last season by an injured shoulder, which was very apparent in the collapse against Auburn. After spurning the NFL, he is now healthy and has the Crimson Tide rolling towards a showdown with LSU on Nov. 5.