Preseason All-SEC Football Selections 2022: Georgia and Alabama Battle for First
The Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide were the only SEC programs with double-digit entries on the Preseason All-Conference Teams.
All-Conference Teams provide insight into which players rose above their peers at the end of each college football season. Unlike All-American selections, the All-Conference Teams cover a massive scope of the sport’s best players, with hundreds of athletes earning recognition. Over the first part of this summer, I’ll assemble Preseason All-Conference Teams for every major conference. We’re covering the SEC this week, which produced both 2021-22 College Football Playoff finalists.
There are many predictive elements and general rules/philosophies I follow in this series. Check out the introduction in my All-ACC Team article for a brief recap of how I approach putting together these teams.
There is one general point I’ll repeat up here; being a good NFL prospect doesn’t automatically guarantee you a spot on these teams. There’s a significant difference between being a productive college player and a valued professional prospect.
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First Team Offense
Quarterback: Bryce Young, Alabama
Running Back: Devon Achane, Texas A&M
Running Back: Tank Bigsby, Auburn
Wide Receiver: Kayshon Boutte, LSU
Wide Receiver: Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
Wide Receiver: Jermaine Burton, Alabama
Tight End: Brock Bowers, TE Georgia
All-Purpose: Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama (RB)
Offensive Tackle: Jeremy James, Ole Miss
Offensive Tackle: Warren McClendon, Georgia
Guard: Layden Robinson, Texas A&M
Guard: Beaux Limmer, Arkansas
Center: Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas
Contrary to the usual narrative about Alabama dominating the SEC in talent recruitment, the First-Team offense is surprisingly balanced. Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide ultimately still leads the way with three selections, but Arkansas, Georgia, and Texas A&M aren’t far behind. Those three programs each put two players through to the First-Team offense.
Let’s look at some notable takeaways from the offensive selections. Alabama failed to have an offensive lineman make the cut. Only one of the wide receivers selected (Cedric Tillman) recorded over 1,000 yards in 2021. Meanwhile, 2022 transfers Jermaine Burton (from Georgia) and Jahmyr Gibbs (from Georgia Tech) continue to drive home the transfer portal’s importance.
First Team Defense
Defensive End: Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
Defensive End: Derick Hall, Auburn
Defensive Tackle: Jalen Carter, Georgia
Defensive Tackle: Colby Wooden, Auburn
Linebacker: Bumper Pool, Arkansas
Linebacker: Henry To'oTo'o, Alabama
Linebacker: Troy Brown, Ole Miss
Cornerback: Eli Ricks, Alabama
Cornerback: Cam Smith, South Carolina
Safety: Jordan Battle, Alabama
Safety: Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
Alabama began flashing its dominance when I evaluated the defensive side of the ball. The Crimson Tide led the way with four defenders on the First Team. Auburn (two) was the only other program with multiple defensive selections, both of whom earned draft interest this past cycle.
Two of Alabama’s defensive players arrived at the program via the transfer portal. Henry To'oTo'o came from Tennessee in 2021, while Eli Ricks came from Auburn this spring. Ole Miss linebacker Troy Brown is also a 2022 transfer. He originally played for Central Michigan.
Alabama had the most players make First-Team appearances with seven. Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, and Texas A&M tied for second place with three selections. Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, and Vanderbilt failed to place players on the All-SEC First Team. LSU, South Carolina, and Tennessee each only had one player earn First-Team honors.
Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Will Rogers, Mississippi State
Running Back: Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kentucky
Running Back: Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
Wide Receiver: Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
Wide Receiver: Josh Vann, South Carolina
Wide Receiver: Tayvion Robinson, Kentucky
Tight End: Jaheim Bell, South Carolina
All-Purpose: Kenny McIntosh, Georgia (RB)
Offensive Tackle: Javon Foster, Missouri
Offensive Tackle: Broderick Jones, Georgia
Guard: Kenneth Horsey, Kentucky
Guard: O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
Center: LaQuinston Sharp, Mississippi State
Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Missouri all end their droughts thanks to at least one selection on the Second Team. Georgia, Mississippi State, and South Carolina had two selections, while Kentucky led the way with three. Vanderbilt still hasn’t made an appearance. Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs, who appeared as an all-purpose selection on the First Team, is the lone Crimson Tide representative.
There’s a significant decrease in production from the First to Second-Team offense. Gibbs and Chris Rodriguez Jr. were outstanding last season, but two of the three receivers failed to eclipse 600 receiving yards. Josh Vann led the trio with 679 receiving yards. Kenny McIntosh was a third-string running back in 2021, and I’m projecting a huge increase in his usage.
Will Rogers likely isn’t the second-best quarterback in the SEC, but he plays in an offense that produces massive totals. Only Bryce Young threw for more yards and touchdowns in 2021. Whether the voters hold Rogers’ system against him during the All-SEC voting process remains to be seen.
Second Team Defense
Defensive End: Nolan Smith, Georgia
Defensive End: BJ Ojulari, LSU
Defensive Tackle: Gervon Dexter, Florida
Defensive Tackle: Jaquelin Roy, LSU
Linebacker: Ventrell Miller, Florida
Linebacker: Jett Johnson, Mississippi State
Linebacker: Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia
Cornerback: Kelee Ringo, Georgia
Cornerback: Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
Safety: Tykee Smith, Georgia
Safety: Jalen Catalon, Arkansas
This is a friendly reminder that the All-Conference teams and draft rankings are completely different worlds.
Multiple potential first round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft appear on the defensive Second Team, including Gervon Dexter, BJ Ojulari, Kelee Ringo, and Nolan Smith. These players possess the physical traits to go high in next year’s draft, but their statistical performances from past seasons make it unlikely they outperform members of the defensive First Team.
Florida (two), LSU (two), and Georgia (four) dominated the defensive selections with Alabama nowhere in sight. Two of Kirby Smart’s players (Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Tykee Smith) played minor roles or dealt with injuries last season. This is the first year they’ll have the chance to compete at a high level with the Bulldogs (although Smith was previously very successful with West Virginia).
The Bulldogs currently lead all programs with nine players selected, followed closely by the Crimson Tide with seven (Jahmyr Gibbs appears twice but only counts once). The Aggies and Razorbacks (four apiece) are the only other teams with at least four total selections.
Third Team Offense
Quarterback: Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
Running Back: Zach Evans, Ole Miss
Running Back: Jarquez Hunter, Auburn
Wide Receiver: Jaden Walley, Mississippi State
Wide Receiver: Jack Bech, LSU
Wide Receiver: Ja'Corey Brooks, Alabama
Tight End: Arik Gilbert, Georgia
All-Purpose: Austin Stogner, South Carolina (TE)
Offensive Tackle: Mason Brooks, Ole Miss
Offensive Tackle: Hyrin White, Missouri
Guard: Brady Latham, Arkansas
Guard: Emil Ekiyor Jr., Alabama
Center: Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia
Transfers Mason Brooks, Zach Evans, and Austin Stogner make appearances on the SEC Third Team. With the exceptions of the offensive line and quarterback Hendon Hooker, this unit is largely composed of developmental players who could find themselves playing second fiddle to teammates for an extended portion of the season. For instance, true sophomores Ja'Corey Brooks and Jack Bech failed to amass 500 receiving yards in 2021.
Zach Evans is the only skill player on this unit to produce over 700 yards from scrimmage in 2021, a mark Jaden Walley hit in 2020.
Tight ends Arik Gilbert and Stogner both come with question marks. Gilbert transferred from LSU to Georgia in 2021, only to spend the season away from the team because of personal matters. Meanwhile, in 2021 Stogner failed to follow up on his 2020 breakout campaign because he was still recovering from a life-threatening infection.
Hendon Hooker claims the third quarterback spot, beating out Will Levis, Spencer Rattler, and Anthony Richardson. Hooker threw for 31 touchdowns and three interceptions in 2021 while rushing for an additional 616 yards and five scores. Levis and Rattler have just as much if not more NFL potential than Hooker, but they’re less active as runners and put the ball in harm’s way more often.
Richardson is the ultimate wild card. The redshirt sophomore failed to impress in 2021, but he is by far the most dynamic quarterback in the SEC. He ran for 401 yards and three touchdowns on just 51 carries this past season.
Third Team Defense
Defensive End: Brenton Cox Jr., Florida
Defensive End: Isaiah McGuire, Missouri
Defensive Tackle: Byron Young, Alabama
Defensive Tackle: Justin Rogers, Kentucky
Linebacker: Jeremy Banks, Tennessee
Linebacker: Owen Pappoe, Auburn
Linebacker: Micah Baskerville, LSU
Cornerback: Deantre Prince, Ole Miss
Cornerback: Mekhi Garner, LSU
Safety: AJ Finley, Ole Miss
Safety: Christopher Smith, Georgia
LSU and Ole Miss were the only teams with two selections on our final squad. I suggest checking the honorable mention category below this section if you didn’t see a player you expected to appear on these teams.
The SEC’s talent pool on defense proved to be much deeper than on offense. I scraped the bottom of the barrel to find some potential breakout candidates for the Third Team’s offense, but the defense features several returning stars, especially along the defensive line. Brenton Cox Jr., Isaiah McGuire, and Byron Young received looks from the NFL before returning to school for 2022. They forced me to leave other qualified candidates like Ali Gaye and Dallas Turner off the squad.
Mekhi Garner and Christopher Smith are two of this team’s more intriguing players. Garner transferred to LSU from Louisiana this offseason, while Smith emerged as a breakout star in 2021 after Tykee Smith suffered an injury. Both college veterans could suffer setbacks this coming season, but they also have high ceilings.
It’s time to reveal the programs with the most selections on the Preseason All-SEC Teams. Alabama put up a good fight, finishing with ten players selected to 11 positions, but Georgia’s 12 selections finished atop the leaderboard. LSU and Ole Miss tied for a distant third place with six players selected. Arkansas and Auburn were the only other programs with at least five players chosen.
Honorable Mentions Offense
Stetson Bennett, QB Georgia
Jayden Daniels, QB LSU
KJ Jefferson, QB Arkansas
Will Levis, QB Kentucky
Spencer Rattler, QB South Carolina
Anthony Richardson, QB Florida
Noah Cain, RB LSU
Dillon Johnson, RB Mississippi State
Dominique Johnson, RB Arkansas
Montrell Johnson, RB Florida
Jo'quavious Marks, RB Mississippi State
Kendall Milton, RB Georgia
Raheim Sanders, RB Arkansas
Jabari Small, RB Tennessee
Dominick Blaylock, WR Georgia
Luther Burden, WR Missouri
Jadon Haselwood, WR Arkansas
Jaray Jenkins, WR LSU
Ladd McConkey, WR Georgia
Jonathan Mingo, WR Ole Miss
Adonai Mitchell, WR Georgia
Malik Nabers, WR LSU
Justin Shorter, WR Florida
Arian Smith, WR Georgia
Brian Thomas Jr., WR LSU
Warren Thompson, WR Arkansas
Kemore Gamble, TE Florida
Cameron Latu, TE Alabama
John Samuel Shenker, TE Auburn
Darnell Washington, TE Georgia
Nick Broeker, OT/G Ole Miss
Miles Frazier, OT LSU
Kwatrivous Johnson, OT/G Mississippi State
Tyler Steen, OT Alabama
Dalton Wagner, OT Arkansas
Dylan Wonnum, OT South Carolina
Javion Cohen, G Alabama
Warren Ericson, G Georgia
Keiondre Jones, G Auburn
Tashawn Manning, G Auburn
Tre'mond Shorts, G LSU
Seth McLaughlin, C Alabama
Honorable Mentions Defense
DJ Dale, IDL Alabama
Maason Smith, IDL LSU
Tim Smith, IDL Alabama
Da'Jon Terry, IDL Tennessee
Mekhi Wingo, IDL LSU
Cameron Young, IDL Mississippi State
Tyler Baron, EDGE Tennessee
Robert Beal Jr., EDGE Georgia
Jordan Burch, EDGE South Carolina
DJ Coleman, EDGE Missouri
Ali Gaye, EDGE LSU
Trajan Jeffcoat, EDGE Missouri
Cedric Johnson, EDGE Ole Miss
Eku Leota, EDGE Auburn
Jordan Strachan, EDGE South Carolina
Dallas Turner, EDGE Alabama
Tyrus Wheat, EDGE Mississippi State
Byron Young, EDGE Tennessee
Chris Braswell, LB/EDGE Alabama
Mike Jones Jr., LB LSU
Anfernee Orji, LB Vanderbilt
Sevyn Banks, CB LSU
Jarrick Bernard-Converse, CB LSU
DJ James, CB Auburn
Jaylon Jones, CB Texas A&M
Nehemiah Pritchett, CB Auburn
Brian Branch, DB Alabama
Latavious Brini, DB Georgia
Trey Dean III, S Florida
Jalen Green, S Mississippi State
DeMarcco Hellams, S Alabama
Malachi Moore, DB Alabama
Demani Richardson, S Texas A&M
Rashad Torrence II, S Florida
Isheem Young, S Ole Miss