Five SEC players named to AP Preseason All-American team

On Tuesday, the Associated Press released their Preseason All-American team, and as you might guess, several SEC players made the list.

Five SEC players were named to the AP preseason All-American team, including the SEC’s leading rusher and leading receiver from last season, LSU’s Derrius Guice and Texas A&M’s Christian Kirk. Guice rushed for 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, while starting just six games. And with Leonard Fournette gone to the NFL, expect Guice to put up even bigger numbers this season.

Kirk has put up almost identical numbers in his first two seasons in College Station. After catching 80 balls for 1,009 yards and 7 touchdowns as a freshman, he had 83 receptions for 928 yards and 9 touchdowns last season.

Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick and LSU’s Arden Key highlighted the first-team defense. Fitzpatrick led the SEC with six interceptions and was also fourth on the team with 66 tackles last season.

Only Derek Barnett (13) had more sacks than Key last season. He was second in the SEC with 12 sacks, and has racked up 17 sacks in his two years in Baton Rouge. However, with some off-the-field issues, Key is not expected to play in the season opener against BYU.

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The last first-teamer on the AP preseason All-American team was Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson. Carlson was second in the nation with 28 field goals last season, and was also second in the conference, making 87.5 percent of his attempts. He went 6-for-6 in the Tigers’ 18-13 win over LSU last season.

Second Team

Nine SEC players were named to the second-team AP All-American team, including seven on offense and two on defense.

Alabama had four players on second team, including running back Bo Scarbrough, wide receiver Calvin Ridley, offensive tackle Jonah Williams, and punter JK Scott.

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Florida had two players on second-team with cornerback Duke Dawson and kicker Eddy Pineiro. Nick Chubb (Georgia), Braden Smith (Auburn), and Frank Ragnow (Arkansas) were the other three second-teamers from the SEC.