SEC football was well-represented on the 2020 Sporting News preseason All-American list.
The Sporting News has released their 2020 Preseason All-American list, and SEC football has 14 total spots, the most of any conference.
By school within the conference, Alabama leads the way with seven players honored. LSU, Tennessee, and Georgia all have two each, and Kentucky has one.
Below are the 14 SEC football players included in this year’s list, four less than the 18 players selected in 2019.
First-team offense:
OL: Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
OL: Trey Smith, Tennessee
WR: Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
WR: DeVonta Smith, Alabama
First-team defense:
DB: Derek Stingley Jr., LSU
DB: Richard LeCounte III, Georgia
First-team specialists:
P: Max Duffy, Kentucky
RET: Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Second-team offense:
RB: Najee Harris, Alabama
OL: Trey Hill, Georgia
OL: Cade Mays, Tennessee
OL: Deonte Brown, Alabama
Second-team defense:
LB: Dylan Moses, Alabama
DB: Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
Probably the biggest surprise on this year’s preseason list is the omission of any players from Florida, who are the preseason co-favorites along with Georgia to win the SEC East. Texas A&M fans may also feel slighted with having no players selected.
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Clemson, last year’s runner-up in the College Football National Championship Game, only has two players making the list; quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne.
The Sporting News is one of five media outlets included in the determination of consensus All-Americans in college football, along with the Associated Press, the FWAA, the AFCA and the Walter Camp Foundation.