SEC Round-Up: Long list of Aggies merit All-SEC honors this season
When All-Southeastern Conference teams are announced it often seems voters forget the league extends beyond the Sabine River.
Deserving Texas A&M players frequently have been shunned. The most egregious omissions were center Erik McCoy in 2018 and defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal last year.
All-Southeastern Conference teams will be announced soon. Therefore, here’s a case for Aggies who should be included based on their performances and those others at their positions.
FIRST TEAM
OT Kenyon Green: He was rightfully included last season when he also made All-American teams. He’s an obvious pick this season. Three times he’s been named the conference’s offensive lineman of the week.
RB Isaiah Spiller: There is not a better running back in the SEC. He’s third in rushing with 914 yards despite playing in the stronger SEC West and sharing carries with Devon Achane. His contribution as a receiver should not be ignored, either.
TE Jaylen Wydermyer: Georgia freshman Brock Bowers has better numbers. But two of his most productive games have been against UAB and Vanderbilt. Also, he’s been scarcely used in November. His six touchdowns have been against UAB, Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Wydermyer has 35 catches for 474 yards and four touchdowns. His totals have not been boosted by big games against overmatched non-conference opponents.
DL DeMarvin Leal: He should be under consideration for defensive player of the year. He’s tied for the SEC lead in tackles by a defensive lineman with 48. He’s also fourth in the SEC with 6.5 sacks despite often playing inside and routinely drawing double team blocks.
S Leon O’Neal: He’s had an excellent season with 50 tackles, two interceptions and 7 passes defended.
AP Devon Achane: He’ll reach 1,000 yards as a backup running back. He’s also got 19 passes for 189 yards. If that doesn’t convince voters, his kickoff return for a touchdown against Alabama should.
K Seth Small: Some have a higher conversion percentage, but Small’s 20 field goals are the most in the SEC. He has the ability to hit from long range. Also, he kicked the game-winning field goal against Alabama. He’s had multiple field goals in seven games.
P Nik Constantinou: Constantinou leads the SEC with a 46.9 average, which is a full yard more than anyone else. He’s done that on 42 punts, which is the fourth-most attempts among SEC punters.
SECOND TEAM
WR Ainias Smith: Volume of catches will hurt his chances for first-team recognition. Smith has 40 catches for 468 yards and six touchdowns. He ranks just 20th in receiving yards. However, anyone who saw his six-catch, two-touchdown performance against Alabama knows he’s one of the better receivers in the SEC.
DE Tyree Johnson: A good case could be made for him to be a first-team selection. He’s third in the SEC with eight sacks, seven of which have come in SEC play. However, he’s played mainly on passing downs and has only 22 total tackles. That could be held against him. But there’s no doubt he should get at least a second-team mention.
DB Antonio Johnson: The versatile Johnson has demonstrated he’s among the best defensive backs in the SEC. He only has one interception, which may turn off some voters. Those paying attention will look beyond that, though. He’s 20th in the SEC with 69 tackles. Only four defensive backs have more. His 7.5 tackles for loss is the most among SEC defensive backs. He’s also tied for 17th in the SEC with six passes defended.
S Demani Richardson: A&M might not get two defensive backs picked, much less three. But Richardson definitely deserves consideration. He has 56 tackles and his end zone interception against Alabama was spectacular.
Around the SEC
Who’s hot: Alabama receiver Jameson Williams is making a case to be the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. Williams has caught 22 passes for 441 yards and four touchdowns in the last three games. He’s had more than 100 receiving yards in four of the last five. A transfer from Ohio State, Williams leads the SEC with 1,028 receiving yards on 51 receptions for a 20.16 average per catch. He also leads the SEC with 10 touchdown receptions.
Who’s not: What has happened to Florida’s defense? The Gators have allowed at least 34 points in four consecutive games. That includes giving up 52 last week to Samford. SAMFORD. In that four-game stretch, LSU had 454 yards of total offense, Georgia had 354, South Carolina had 459 and Samford had 530.
Keep an eye on: Quarterback T.J. Finley takes over the Auburn offense for injured Bo Nix. If he plays well against South Carolina, he could make Nix SEC football’s version of Wally Pipp (google it). Finley, a transfer from LSU, came on in place of Nix to lead the Tigers to a narrow escape of Georgia State on Sept. 25. If he can close the season strong, he could have an edge of Nix, who’s not bad, but is often mistake-prone. By the way, Nix threw three interceptions in a 30-22 loss to South Carolina last season.
The pressure is on: Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz is quite popular in Columbia, but popularity can be fleeting. He was 5-5 in his first season at Missouri. OK. But now the Tigers are again 5-5 and need another victory to be bowl eligible. They’d better get it at home against reeling Florida this week. They’re not likely to get it next week when they go on the road to face Arkansas. The Tigers are 1-3 on the road. That win came in Nashville against Vanderbilt.
Best matchup: Arkansas receiver Treylon Burks vs. Alabama cornerbacks Josh Jobe and Jalyn Armour-Davis matches future NFL players. Burks has caught 51 passes for 796 yards and eight touchdowns. Armour-Davis has broken up seven passes and intercepted three. Jobe has broken up five passes.
This week’s SEC schedule
- Prairie View at Texas A&M
- Charleston Southern at Georgia
- Tennessee State at Mississippi State
- New Mexico State at Kentucky
- Arkansas at Alabama; Florida at Missouri
- Auburn at South Carolina
- Vanderbilt at Ole Miss
- South Alabama at Tennessee
- ULM at LSU