Tag: USA TODAY SEC championship predictions

The USA Today Network has had to cover the SEC players and coaches virtually with no SEC Media Days due to COVID-19.  After months of virtual coverage, the preseason All-SEC team has been released.

Here is the official 2020 preseason All-SEC team, selected by USA Today Network’s SEC coverage team:

OFFENSE

• Quarterback: Kyle Trask, Florida
• Running back: Najee Harris, Alabama*
• Running back: Kylin Hill, Mississippi State
• Wide receiver: DeVonta Smith, Alabama*
• Wide receiver: George Pickens, Georgia
• Tight end: Kyle Pitts, Florida*
• Offensive line : Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
• Offensive line: Drake Jackson, Kentucky
• Offensive line: Trey Smith, Tennessee*
• Offensive line: Landon Dickerson, Alabama
• Offensive line: Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
• Placekicker: Brent Cimaglia, Tennessee
• All-purpose: Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

DEFENSE

• Defensive line: Big Kat Bryant, Auburn
• Defensive line: LaBryan Ray, Alabama
• Defensive line: Bobby Brown III, Texas A&M
• Defensive line: (tie) Aaron Sterling, South Carolina
• Defensive line: (tie) Kobie Whiteside, Missouri
• Linebacker: Dylan Moses, Alabama*
• Linebacker: K.J. Britt, Auburn
• Linebacker: Nick Bolton, Missouri
• Defensive back: Derek Stingley Jr., LSU*
• Defensive back: Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
• Defensive back: Richard LeCounte, Georgia
• Defensive back: JaCoby Stevens, LSU
• Punter: Max Duffy, Kentucky

* Unanimous choice

PRESEASON HONORS

• Coach of the year: Dan Mullen, Florida
• Player of the year: Najee Harris, Alabama
• Newcomer of the year: K.J. Costello, Mississippi State

This list features sophomore wide receiver George Pickens and senior defensive back Richard LeCounte as the only Bulldogs named to the preseason All-SEC team.  Eight Alabama players made it on the list, the most of any team.

The USA Today Network has had to cover the SEC players and coaches virtually with no SEC Media Days due to COVID-19.  After months of virtual coverage, Alabama has been named the unanimous pick to win the SEC West as well as the SEC Championship Game by the USA Today Network coverage team.

The story is quite different for the SEC East predictions.

Georgia and Florida finished with a tie in points, both compiling 97.  Points were awarded to teams based on a 7-6-5, etc. basis, with the predicted winner of the division gaining seven points.

Tennessee got third in the East voting with 72, Kentucky fourth with 64, South Carolina fifth with 45, Missouri sixth with 33 and Vanderbilt last gaining only 15.

The race for second in the West was much different. LSU, who won the national championship last year, barely snuck in with 78 points compared to Auburn’s 76. Texas A&M received 71 in fourth, Ole Miss with 40 in fifth, Mississippi State in sixth with 34 and Arkansas in last with 15.

Florida coach Dan Mullen was named the preseason coach of the year while Alabama running back Najee Harris won preseason player of the year.

Georgia sophomore wide receiver George Pickens and senior defensive back Richard LeCounte were the only Bulldogs named to the preseason All-SEC team while eight Alabama players made it on the list.