BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The University of Arkansas led the way Thursday with 14 selections to the Southeastern Conference preseason coaches” teams, while the University of Alabama had 13 and Mississippi State and the University of Mississippi had four apiece.
Alabama placed seven players on the first team, including running back Trent Richardson and safeties Mark Barron and Robert Lester, linebacker Don”t”a Hightower, and offensive linemen Barrett Jones and William Vlachos.
MSU junior defensive tackle Fletcher Cox was named to the second team, while quarterback Chris Relf, running back Vick Ballard, and defensive back Johnthan Banks were named to the third team.
MSU”s eight picks tied for eighth-most in the league with Ole Miss and Vanderbilt.
Senior tackle Bradley Sowell made the first team for Ole Miss. Offensive lineman Bobby Massie and defensive end Kentrell Lockett made the third and second team, respectively. Junior punter Tyler Campbell also was selected to the second team.
Georgia had six first-teamers (nine total), including sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray, while South Carolina had four players and Arkansas had three.
South Carolina wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, running back Marcus Lattimore, and cornerback Stephon Gilmore were picked to repeat as first-team performers with Barron, Kentucky linebacker Danny Trevathan and Georgia kicker Blair Walsh.
Defending national champion Auburn didn”t have a player picked on the first team.
Nine of the 12 SEC schools had a member on the first team. Each SEC school had at least one student-athlete on the first, second, or third team.
The first team had 14 seniors and 12 underclassmen, including 10 juniors and two sophomores. The second team had 16 seniors, seven juniors, and five sophomores. The third team had nine seniors, 11 juniors, and eight sophomores.
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