SEC Round-up: Predicting first team All-SEC selections

Just one conference football game remains for most Southeastern Conference teams. That means resumes for postseason honors are almost complete.

Several Texas A&M players have put together strong resumes and should get serious consideration to be All-SEC first team selections.

Running back Trayveon Williams should be a lock. So should punter Braden Mann. Tight end Jace Sternberger would figure to be a first team selection, too. Erik McCoy on the offensive line has also thrown his name into the conversation.

Defensive lineman Kingsley Keke should get first team recognition, too. He’s been brilliant while splitting time between end in tackle.

Keke has posted 38 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, has forced and recovered a fumble and has played a major role in A&M’s suffocating run defense, which is ranked second in the nation.

“I think I’ve been doing really well at both positions,” Keke said. “It hasn’t been a problem for me at all. I like doing both.”

Linebacker Otaro Alaka, who has posted 64 tackles, 11 for loss and two sacks, and defensive tackles  Daylon Mack and Justin Madubuike also deserve serious consideration.

Yet, all those defensive players will be long shots to make the first team for two reasons: Firstly, there are a lot of good defensive players in the SEC. Secondly, SEC coaches too often seem to vote for players from original SEC teams.

Matt Sachs, TexAgs

Trayveon Williams leads the SEC in rushing with 1159 yards and 5.9 yards/carry.

With that in mind here’s a guess at what will be the first team All-SEC selections.

Quarterback: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama.
Running back: Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M; Benny Snell, Kentucky.
Tight end: Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M
Wide receivers: Jerry Jeudy, Alabama; A.J. Brown, Ole Miss
Offensive linemen: Jonah Williams, Alabama; Bunchy Stallings, Kentucky; Greg Little, Ole Miss; Andrew Thomas, Georgia; (center) Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama; (center) Erik McCoy, Texas A&M
Defensive linemen: Quinnen Williams, Alabama; Montez Sweat, Mississippi State; Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State; Isaiah Buggs, Alabama
Linebackers: Josh Allen, Kentucky; Devin White, LSU; Deshaun Davis, Auburn
Defensive backs: Greedy Williams, LSU; Grant Delpit, LSU; Deandre Baker, Georgia; Deiont Thompson, Alabama.
Specialists: P — Braden Mann, Texas A&M; K —Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia; RS — Jaylen Waddle, Alabama; All-purpose: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina

Around the SEC:
Who’s hot: Alabama’s defense has not allowed 200 yards in each of its last two games. Even more impressive, the Crimson Tide defense has not allowed a point in the last 10 quarters. That string of stinginess figures to continue against the Citadel and perhaps even in the Iron Bowl against Auburn, which last week managed 10 points in a loss to Georgia. Would it be major surprise if Alabama did not allow another point until the SEC championship game? Probably not.

Who’s not: In the last five games LSU quarterback Joe Burrow has completed just 56 percent of his passes while throwing only 1 touchdown pass and 4 interceptions. He did pass for 200 yards in a 36-16 victory over Georgia, but has thrown for 195 yards or less in the other four games. LSU is 3-2 in that stretch.

Keep an eye on: Georgia running back D’Andre Swift has been on a roll of late and figures to keep rolling. Swift has exceeded 100 rushing yards in each of the last three games. That includes a 186-yard outburst in last week’s 27-10 victory over Auburn. If given sufficient carries he’ll likely exceed that total on Saturday against Massachusetts. The Minutemen allow an average of 260 rushing yards per game to rank 125th in the nation in run defense. Georgia Southern’s Wesley Fields (141), Florida International’s Shawndarrius Phillips (117), Ohio’s Nathan Rourke (189) and USF’s Jordan Cronkite (302) all had season-high rushing outputs against UMass. Swift could, too. 

The pressure is on: Vanderbilt’s secondary needs a sound showing for the Commodores to defeat Ole Miss. Those kinds of performances have been in short supply. In four of their five SEC losses, the Commodores have allowed at least 253 passing yards and 10 total touchdown passes. That’s cause for major concern against Ole Miss, which leads the SEC in passing offense. Of even greater concern is the fact Vandy needs to win at its two games against Ole Miss and Tennessee to reach six wins for bowl eligibility.

Matt Sachs, TexAgs

The Aggie defense will look to continue their domination against the run when they face UAB on Saturday.

Best matchup: On paper that would be Alabama-Birmingham’s rushing attack against A&M’s run defense. UAB has relied on a running game that averages 238 yards per game and is 17th in the nation to rise to No. 25 in the coaches poll. However, haven’t faced a defense as strong as Texas A&M’s which is ranked second in the nation. The Aggies, who allow an average of just 80 rushing yards per game, have not surrendered 100 rushing yards to an individual.

This week’s SEC games: 
UAB at Texas A&M; The Citadel at Alabama; Arkansas at Mississippi State; Liberty at Auburn; Idaho at Florida; UMass at Georgia; Middle Tennessee at Kentucky; Rice at LSU; Ole Miss at Vanderbilt; Missouri at Tennessee; Chattanooga at South Carolina