University of Missouri

Drew Lock is first-team All-SEC QB, but Mizzou picked to finish fourth in division

By Aaron Reiss
Columbia

Missouri placed six players on the preseason All-SEC football teams, but the Tigers were one of two teams in their division to not receive a single first-place vote in the preseason media poll.

Media members at Southeastern Conference Media Days in Atlanta this week voted MU to finish fourth in the SEC East. But quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Albert Okwuegbunam and punter Corey Fatony each landed on the All-SEC first team. Defensive lineman Terry Beckner Jr. and wide receiver Emanel Hall each received second-team honors. Place kicker Tucker McCann was selected for the third team.

This is the first time any of those Tigers have received a preseason All-SEC honor. Lock, from Lee’s Summit, landed on the 2017 coaches and Associated Press All-SEC first teams after he threw 44 touchdowns as a junior. He enters this season as a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Georgia led the way in the Eastern Division with 271 first-place votes, while South Carolina received eight and Florida received four. Though they finished behind Missouri in the preseason poll, two other East teams, Kentucky and Tennessee — picked to finish fifth and sixth respectively — each received one first place vote. The media selected Vanderbilt to finish last in the division.

Alabama was picked to win the Western Division and the conference. The Crimson Tide received 193 votes. Georgia finished second, with 69 votes to win the conference. Though Mizzou didn’t receive any divisional first-place votes, the Tigers did receive one vote to win the conference championship.

How much does all of this really matter? Well, the media has correctly predicted the SEC champion just six times since 1992.

Here are the full All-SEC teams

OFFENSE

First team

  • QB Drew Lock, Missouri

  • RB Damien Harris, Alabama

  • RB Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky

  • WR A.J. Brown, Ole Miss

  • WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina

  • TE Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri

  • OL Jonah Williams, Alabama

  • OL Greg Little, Ole Miss

  • OL Martez Ivey, Florida

  • OL Trey Smith, Tennessee

  • C Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama

Second team

  • QB Jarrett Stidham, Auburn

  • RB D’Andre Swift, Georgia

  • RB Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M

  • WR Terry Godwin, Georgia

  • WR Ryan Davis, Auburn

  • TE Isaac Nauta, Georgia

  • OL Andrew Thomas, Georgia

  • OL Lester Cotton, Alabama

  • OL Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas

  • OL Garrett Brumfield, LSU

  • C Lamont Gaillard, Georgia

Third team

  • *QB Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State

  • *QB Jake Fromm, Georgia

  • RB Aeris Williams, Mississippi State

  • RB Jordan Scarlett, Florida

  • WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama

  • WR Emanuel Hall, Missouri

  • TE C.J. Conrad, Kentucky

  • OL Matt Womack, Alabama

  • OL Zack Bailey, South Carolina

  • OL Javon Patterson, Ole Miss

  • OL Marquel Harrell, Auburn

  • C Erik McCoy, Texas A&M

DEFENSE

First team

  • DL Raekwon Davis, Alabama

  • DL Cece Jefferson, Florida

  • DL Montez Sweat, Mississippi State

  • DL Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State

  • LB Devin White, LSU

  • LB Anfernee Jennings, Alabama

  • LB Mack Wilson, Alabama

  • DB Deandre Baker, Georgia

  • DB Greedy Williams, LSU

  • DB J.R. Reed, Georgia

  • DB Deionte Thompson, Alabama

Second team

  • DL Jonathan Ledbetter, Georgia

  • DL Terry Beckner, Missouri

  • DL Derrick Brown, Auburn

  • DL Isaiah Buggs, Alabama

  • LB Josh Allen, Kentucky

  • LB Deshaun Davis, Auburn

  • LB D’Andre Walker, Georgia

  • DB Mike Edwards, Kentucky

  • DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida

  • DB Jamel Dean, Auburn

  • DB CJ Henderson, Florida

Third team

  • DL Dontavius Russell, Auburn

  • DL Rashard Lawrence, LSU

  • DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn

  • *DL Kingsley Keke, Texas A&M

  • *DL Landis Durham, Texas A&M

  • LB Dylan Moses, Alabama

  • LB David Reese, Florida

  • LB De’Jon Harris, Arkansas

  • DB Mark McLaurin, Mississippi State

  • DB Marco Wilson, Florida

  • DB Javaris Davis, Auburn

  • DB Santos Ramirez, Arkansas

SPECIALISTS

First team

  • P Corey Fatony, Missouri

  • PK Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia

  • RS Deebo Samuel, South Carolina

  • AP Deebo Samuel, South Carolina

Second team

  • P Joseph Charlton, South Carolina

  • PK Daniel LaCamera, Texas A&M

  • RS Mecole Hardman, Georgia

  • AP Trevon Diggs, Alabama

Third team

  • P Zach Von Rosenberg, LSU

  • PK Tucker McCann, Missouri

  • RS Trevon Diggs, Alabama

  • AP Kadarius Toney, Florida

*Indicates a tie

Divisional and conference champion picks

EASTERN DIVISION (First-place votes in parenthesis)

Georgia (271)

1,977

South Carolina (8)

1,535

Florida (4)

1,441

Missouri

1,057

Kentucky (1)

874

Tennessee (1)

704

Vanderbilt

392

WESTERN DIVISION

Alabama (263)

1,971

Auburn (19)

1,664

Mississippi State (2)

1,239

Texas A&M

1,091

LSU

1,025

Ole Miss

578

Arkansas

412

SEC CHAMPION

Alabama

193

Georgia

69

Auburn

14

South Carolina

4

Florida

2

Mississippi State

1

Missouri

1

How The Star’s reporters voted

Alex Schiffer’s All-SEC ballot

QUARTERBACK

  1. Drew Lock, Missouri

  2. Jarrett Stidham, Auburn

RUNNING BACK

  1. Damien Harris, Alabama

  2. Benny Snell, Kentucky

  3. Chandler Cox, Auburn

  4. Damarea Crockett, Missouri

WIDE RECEIVER

  1. Deebo Samuel, South Carolina

  2. A.J. Brown, Mississippi

  3. Emanuel Hall, Missouri

  4. Henry Ruggs III, Alabama

TIGHT END

  1. Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri

  2. Hale Hentges, Alabama

GUARD/TACKLE

  1. Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas

  2. Greg Little, Ole Miss
  3. Martez Ivey, Florida

  4. Paul Adams, Missouri

  5. Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms, Missouri

  6. Javon Patterson, Ole Miss
  7. Garrett Brumfield, LSU

  8. Zack Bailey, South Carolina

CENTER

  1. Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama

  2. Lamont Gaillard, Georgia

DEFENSIVE LINE

  1. Terry Beckner, Missouri

  2. Cece Jefferson, Florida

  3. Raekwon Davis, Alabama

  4. Isaiah Buggs, Alabama

  5. Jonathan Ledbetter, Georgia

  6. Montez Sweat, Mississippi State

  7. Kyle Phillips, Tennessee

  8. Kingsley Keke, Texas A&M

LINEBACKER

  1. Anfernee Jennings, Alabama

  2. Josh Allen, Kentucky

  3. De’Jon Harris, Arkansas

  4. Terez Hall, Missouri

  5. Mack Wilson, Alabama

  6. Otaro Alaka, Texas A&M

DEFENSIVE BACK

  1. Deandre Baker, Georgia

  2. Santos Ramirez, Arkansas

  3. Jamal Peters, Mississippi State

  4. Rashad Fenton, South Carolina

  5. Marco Wilson, Florida

  6. Javaris Davis, Auburn

  7. Deionte Thompson, Alabama

  8. Jamel Dean, Auburn

PLACEKICKER

  1. Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia

  2. Connor Limpert, Arkansas

PUNTER

  1. Corey Fatony, Missouri

  2. Joseph Charlton, South Carolina

RETURN SPECIALIST

  1. Deebo Samuel, South Carolina

  2. De’Vion Warren, Arkansas

ALL-PURPOSE

  1. Deebo Samuel, South Carolina

  2. Trevon Diggs, Alabama

Alex Schiffer’s reasoning

  • Lock was a no-brainer to me, given his numbers last year and the number of starters he has returning with him. I thought about picking Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa out of intrigue but decided not to because of the uncertainty of Alabama’s quarterback situation.
  • Missouri’s Damarea Crockett could be an all-SEC running back if he can stay healthy, which is why I used my last spot on him.

  • I didn’t expect Emanuel Hall to make the first team but thought if he didn’t have so many drops this past season he probably could have. I gave him the benefit of the doubt going into this season, when he will be relied on to be more than a deep threat.
  • Albert Okwuegbunam was the only pick at tight end. His numbers were better than anybody else’s by a big margin.
  • Offensive line is the toughest position to pick by far because your eyes are usually on the quarterback when watching a game, and it’s five players trying to act as one unit. But Paul Adams and Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms were clearly big factors last year. I was surprised neither made it.

  • A fully healthy Terry Beckner Jr., who lost some fat and added more muscle, is an easy pick.
  • Terez Hall lived in the backfield at times last year, which is why I found a spot for him.

  • On special teams, Corey Fatony was average at times last year, but his bad days are better than a lot of punters’ good days.

Aaron Reiss’ ballot

QUARTERBACK

  1. Drew Lock, Missouri

  2. Jake Fromm, Georgia

RUNNING BACK

  1. Damien Harris, Alabama

  2. Benny Snell, Kentucky

  3. Aeris Williams, Mississippi State

  4. Larry Rountree, Missouri

WIDE RECEIVER

  1. Terry Godwin, Georgia

  2. Deebo Samuel, South Carolina

  3. A.J. Brown, Mississippi
  4. Emanuel Hall, Missouri

TIGHT END

  1. Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri

  2. C.J. Conrad, Kentucky

GUARD/TACKLE

  1. Jonah Williams, Alabama

  2. Greg Little, Ole Miss

  3. Jawaan Taylor, Florida

  4. Lester Cotton, Alabama
  5. Trey Smith, Tennessee
  6. Paul Adams, Missouri
  7. Zack Bailey, South Carolina

  8. Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas

CENTER

  1. Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama

  2. Lamont Gaillard, Georgia

DEFENSIVE LINE

  1. Montez Sweat, Mississippi State

  2. Raekwon Davis, Alabama

  3. Terry Beckner, Missouri
  4. Jonathan Ledbetter, Georgia
  5. Cece Jefferson, Florida

  6. D.J. Wonnum, South Carolina

  7. Marlon Davidson, Auburn
  8. Jabari Zuniga, Florida

LINEBACKER

  1. Devin White, LSU

  2. Josh Allen, Kentucky

  3. Anfernee Jennings, Alabama

  4. Terez Hall, Missouri

  5. De’Jon Harris, Arkansas

  6. Cale Garrett, Missouri

DEFENSIVE BACK

  1. Greedy Williams, LSU

  2. Mark McLaurin, Mississippi State

  3. Deandre Baker, Georgia

  4. Marco Wilson, Florida

  5. CJ Henderson, Florida

  6. Mike Edwards, Kentucky

  7. Joejuan Williams, Vanderbilt

  8. Santos Ramirez, Arkansas

PLACEKICKER

  1. Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia

  2. Tucker McCann, Missouri

PUNTER

  1. Joseph Charlton, South Carolina

  2. Corey Fatony, Missouri

RETURN SPECIALIST

  1. Mecole Hardman, Georgia

  2. De’Vion Warren, Arkansas

ALL-PURPOSE

  1. Deebo Samuel, South Carolina

  2. Deddrick Thomas, Mississippi State

Aaron Reiss’ reasoning

  • Drew Lock was the obvious pick at quarterback, even if his numbers will go down from his junior season as he adjusts to his third offense in four years.

  • With Missouri running backs Damarea Crockett and Larry Rountree likely to split carries this coming season, neither will put stats that land them on the All-SEC first or second teams. But I think Rountree, a powerful runner who had a strong freshman campaign, could benefit from playing in the Tigers’ new pro-style offense.
  • Emanuel Hall is too great of a deep threat not to receive a vote, but he still needs to become more of a complete receiver, so I could only slot in my final wide receiver spot.
  • Albert Okwuegbunam is the SEC’s best tight end, and he could be even more productive in the Tigers’ new offense, which Mizzou players have said will feature more opportunities for tight ends. (And yes, the Tigers always say this will be the season the tight ends become more involved in the passing game, but I believe it this time because offensive coordinator Derek Dooley would be foolish not to get the ball to Albert O, who broke the program record for touchdown catches as a freshman.)
  • As Alex mentioned, offensive line is tough to evaluate if you’re not focusing on it during the game, but Adams has been a big reason for MU’s blocking success these past few seasons, and he’s entering his third season as a starter.

  • The SEC has tons of great defensive linemen, and Terry Beckner Jr. is among them — especially considering this will be the first time he’ll have a chance to play an entire season feeling completely healthy and without fear of injury. He said at SEC Media Days that he dropped about 15 pounds despite adding six pounds of muscle.
  • After struggling as a freshman, Tucker McCann might now be underrated. He made 15 of 17 field goal attempts last season.
  • Corey Fatony was underwhelming at times last year, but he’s solid and the SEC’s top four punters from last season in terms of yards per punt have all graduated.

How Alex and Aaron picked the division standings and conference champion

SEC East

PlaceAlexAaron
1stGeorgiaGeorgia
2ndMissouriSouth Carolina
3rdSouth CarolinaMissouri
4thKentuckyFlorida
5thFloridaKentucky
6thTennesseeVanderbilt
7thVanderbiltTennessee

SEC West

PlaceAlexAaron
1stAlabamaAlabama
2ndAuburnAuburn
3rdLSUMississippi State
4thMississippi StateLSU
5thTexas A&MOle Miss
6thOle Miss

Texas A&M

7thArkansas

Arkansas

SEC Champion

  • Alex — Georgia
  • Aaron — Alabama

This story was originally published July 20, 2018 at 9:57 AM.

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