SEC media overlooks Evan Stewart with incredulous All-SEC omission

First, it was Mama. Then, it was an Algebra teacher. Next, it was the wife.

They often repeated a shared criticism when frustrated with me.

“You never learn.”

Looks like they were right.

After 11 years of Texas A&M membership in the Southeastern Conference, I shouldn’t be surprised when Aggies are overlooked or omitted on football all-conference teams.

I know some voters are provincial.

I know a lot of voters favor long-time SEC programs.

I suspect some vote for players on the best teams.

I figure some just check stats.

I think some forget A&M is in the SEC.

Still, the omission of A&M receiver Evan Stewart from any of the three units on the media’s preseason All-SEC team surprised me.

I never learn.

Obviously, SEC voters don’t either.

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Smith was named a third-team All-SEC receiver. “Sub Zero” was also named a first-team all-purpose player on special teams.

To be fair, SEC voters made the right call by including A&M’s Ainias Smith. He has demanded the attention of SEC voters by catching 12 passes for 208 yards and four touchdowns in the last two games against Alabama.

Surely, the SEC media remembers two years ago when Smith’s 25-yard touchdown catch with three minutes remaining forged a 38-38 tie in A&M’s 41-38 victory over Alabama.

Smith was one of seven receivers on the preseason team. No way there are six other receivers better than Stewart, who earned freshman All-America acclaim.

I also have no issue with LSU’s Malik Nabers, Georgia’s Ladd McConkey or South Carolina’s Antwane Wells named to the team.

However, omitting Stewart in favor of Tennessee’s Bru McCoy and Alabama’s Ja’Corey Brooks and Jermaine Burton seems least odd and, at most, short-sighted.

Last season, Stewart caught 53 passes for 649 yards and two touchdowns. He did that as a true freshman, appearing in just 10 games and primarily with a quarterback — Haynes King — who completed just over half his passes.

Also, Stewart had 43 catches for 544 yards and both touchdowns against Southeastern Conference defenses. Of course, that included a series of acrobatic, leaping grabs in A&M’s 24-20 loss to Alabama. Stewart had eight catches for 106 yards against the Crimson Tide.

Now, compare that to McCoy, Brooks and Burton.

McCoy had 52 receptions for 667 yards and four touchdowns. He was also primarily catching throws from quarterback Hendon Hooker — a Heisman Trophy contender — who completed almost 70 percent of his attempts.

Burton had 40 catches for 677 yards and seven touchdowns, but 12 of his receptions, 163 yards and four touchdowns were in non-conference games against Utah State and Austin Peay.

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Stewart recorded four catches for 43 yards in Texas A&M’s 38-23 upset of No. 5 LSU.

In SEC play, Burton had just 22 catches for 401 yards and two touchdowns.

Brooks had 39 catches for 674 yards and eight touchdowns.

An argument could be made in favor of the Alabama receivers that their numbers were skewed because they had to share the receiving load.

Of course, that ignores the fact that McCoy posted his number while playing alongside Jalin Hyatt, who led the SEC in receiving yardage and touchdowns.

It also ignores the luxury of receiving passes from Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, who was the first player selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The argument might then be that preseason teams are based on projections for the upcoming season rather than production from last season.

Yet, that argument would seem to favor Stewart. He’ll be catching passes from either emerging sophomore Conner Weigman or junior Max Johnson.

Weigman showed flashes of brilliance in games against Ole Miss and LSU. Johnson passed for 2,814 yards and completed better than 60 percent of his attempts as a starter at LSU in 2021.

Meanwhile, Alabama has uncertainty at quarterback. The starter will be either sophomore Jalen Milroe, redshirt freshman Ty Simpson or Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner.

Milroe completed fewer than 60 percent of his passes as Young’s backup last season. Simpson has thrown five college passes.

Buchner completed just over 55 percent of his attempts last season. He threw more interceptions (8) than touchdown passes (6) in two seasons at Notre Dame.

That data, at least in my mind, indicates Stewart is among the six best receivers in the SEC. I’m incredulous that SEC voters didn’t see it that way.

As usual, Mama was right. I never learn.