UF FB | Florida Picked Second in SEC Eastern Division, Four Gators Receive All-SEC Preseason Honors

Florida Picked Second in SEC Eastern Division, Four Gators Receive All-SEC Preseason Honors

The Gators were voted to finish second in the SEC East by the preseason poll.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Gators were picked to finish second in the SEC Eastern Division by the preseason poll of media covering SEC Media Days this week.

Florida received a total of 784 points, including seven first-place votes, while Georgia was selected as the division favorite with a total of 923 points and 124 first-place votes. Kentucky was third with 624 points. Points were awarded on a 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale.

Last season the Gators defeated the Bulldogs at TIAA Bank Field 44-28 en route to an 8-2 record in conference play and a trip to the SEC Championship Game.

Alabama was picked to win the SEC behind 84 first place votes. The Tide were also picked to win the Western Division with 932 total points, followed by Texas A&M with 760 and
LSU with 633. Alabama received 130 first-place votes in the SEC West.

Eight times since 1992 has the predicted champion prior to the season proceeded to win the SEC Championship Game.

SEC PRESEASON MEDIA POLL

EASTERN DIVISION (1st Place votes in parenthesis)

Georgia (124)

923

Florida (7)

784

Kentucky (2)

624

Missouri

555

Tennessee

362

South Carolina (1)

355

Vanderbilt

149

WESTERN DIVISION (1st Place votes in parenthesis)

Alabama (130)

932

Texas A&M (1)

760

LSU (1)

633

Ole Miss (1)

529

Auburn

440

Arkansas (1)

241

Mississippi State

217

SEC CHAMPION

Alabama (84)

Georgia (45)

Ole Miss (1)

Texas A&M (1)

Florida (1)

Kentucky (1)

South Carolina (1)

UF Earns Four on Preseason All-SEC List

Florida’s first-team members were redshirt senior defensive lineman Zachary Carter<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14331&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=tjqhK6Sone_d_TBqoIRyw2dq7EI92i0RCF0fukqqBEc&s=v-UwCovdlXpmvzhyph-llZi-TUsXTfmC85iv5LpeGRI&e= > and junior defensive back Kaiir Elam<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14347&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=tjqhK6Sone_d_TBqoIRyw2dq7EI92i0RCF0fukqqBEc&s=XuYuqbcwl26NTol-teTW8DOE0SQnBb4jsQgzqQnHKYc&e= > along with Ventrell Miller<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14378&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=tjqhK6Sone_d_TBqoIRyw2dq7EI92i0RCF0fukqqBEc&s=_DZIQtbYEyfFSsjn13Y2zF_aTSx1GfH9JXORnsBkkkI&e= > earning second-team recognition. Jacob Copeland<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14334&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=tjqhK6Sone_d_TBqoIRyw2dq7EI92i0RCF0fukqqBEc&s=tY_Y6ZDT9NencIewnKT9TcLuAGRk95MENTeM9hLI5Us&e= > rounds out the honors with a spot on the third-team.

Carter receives preseason honors in back-to-back seasons after a spot on the second-team last year. He played in all 12 games in 2020 as he led the Gators in sacks (5.0) and tackles-for-loss (9.5). A season-high of eight tackles and 1.5 sacks against South Carolina earned him SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week. The Tampa native set a career-high five quarterback hurries vs. Georgia after missing the first half of the game.

Similar to Carter, Elam also collects preseason recognition for the second straight season after a second-team placement last year. A Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist, he was named to the Coaches All-SEC First Team (DB) and the Associated Press Second Team (DB) a season ago. Elam concluded is sophomore campaign with 39 tackles (28 solo), 11 pass breakups and two interceptions.

Receiving second-team honors for the second time in a row, Miller led Florida in tackles with 88 as he played in 11 games last season. He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week after posting 15 tackles, two tackles-for-loss and a sack vs. Ole Miss.

Collecting his first career preseason nod, Copeland made 11 starts at wide receiver in 2020. He recorded 23 receptions for 435 yards and three touchdowns.

2021 PRESEASON MEDIA DAYS ALL-SEC TEAM

OFFENSE

First-Team

QB – Matt Corral, Ole Miss
RB – Tank Bigsby, Auburn
RB – Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M
WR – John Metchie III, Alabama
WR – Treylon Burks, Arkansas
TE – Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M
OL – Evan Neal, Alabama
OL – Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
OL – Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
OL – Cade Mays, Tennessee
C – Nick Brahms, Auburn

Second-Team

QB – JT Daniels, Georgia
RB – Kevin Harris, South Carolina
RB – Zamir White, Georgia
WR – Kayshon Boutte, LSU
WR – George Pickens, Georgia
TE – Jahleel Billingsley, Alabama
OL – Jamaree Salyer, Georgia
OL – Emil Ekiyor Jr., Alabama
OL – Ed Ingram, LSU
OL – Austin Deculus, LSU
C – Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas

Third-Team

QB – Bo Nix, Auburn
RB – Brian Robinson Jr., Alabama
RB – Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kentucky
WR – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
WR – Jacob Copeland<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14334&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=tjqhK6Sone_d_TBqoIRyw2dq7EI92i0RCF0fukqqBEc&s=tY_Y6ZDT9NencIewnKT9TcLuAGRk95MENTeM9hLI5Us&e= >, Florida
TE – Nick Muse, South Carolina
OL – Charles Cross, Mississippi State
OL – Nick Broeker, Ole Miss
OL – Myron Cunningham, Arkansas
OL – Luke Fortner, Kentucky
*C – Michael Maietti, Missouri
*C – Ben Brown, Ole Miss

DEFENSE

First-Team
DL – Jordan Davis, Georgia
DL – Phidarian Mathis, Alabama
DL – Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina
*DL – Zachary Carter<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14331&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=tjqhK6Sone_d_TBqoIRyw2dq7EI92i0RCF0fukqqBEc&s=v-UwCovdlXpmvzhyph-llZi-TUsXTfmC85iv5LpeGRI&e= >, Florida
*DL – DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M
LB – Henry To’o To’o, Alabama
LB – Christian Harris, Alabama
LB – Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
DB – Derek Stingley, LSU
DB – Josh Jobe, Alabama
DB – Malachi Moore, Alabama
DB – Kaiir Elam<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14347&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=tjqhK6Sone_d_TBqoIRyw2dq7EI92i0RCF0fukqqBEc&s=XuYuqbcwl26NTol-teTW8DOE0SQnBb4jsQgzqQnHKYc&e= >, Florida

Second-Team

DL – Josh Paschal, Kentucky
DL – LaBryan Ray, Alabama
DL – Ali Gaye, LSU
DL – Trajan Jeffcoat, Missouri
LB – Grant Morgan, Arkansas
LB – Ventrell Miller<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14378&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=tjqhK6Sone_d_TBqoIRyw2dq7EI92i0RCF0fukqqBEc&s=_DZIQtbYEyfFSsjn13Y2zF_aTSx1GfH9JXORnsBkkkI&e= >, Florida
LB – Zakoby McClain, Auburn
DB – Smoke Monday, Auburn
DB – Jordan Battle, Alabama
DB – Jalen Catalon, Arkansas
DB – Elias Ricks, LSU

Third-Team

DL – DJ Dale, Alabama
DL – Jayden Peevy, Texas A&M
DL – Travon Walker, Georgia
DL – Derick Hall, Auburn
LB – Owen Pappoe, Auburn
LB – Nakobe Dean, Georgia
LB – Christopher Allen, Alabama
DB – Roger McCreary, Auburn
DB – Lewis Cine, Georgia
DB – Alontae Taylor, Tennessee
DB – Yusuf Corker, Kentucky

SPECIALISTS

First-Team
P – Jake Camarda, Georgia
PK – Cade York, LSU
RS – Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss
AP – Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss

Second-Team
P – Paxton Brooks, Tennessee
PK – Will Reichard, Alabama
RS – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
AP – Tank Bigsby, Auburn

Third-Team
P – Mac Brown, Ole Miss
PK – Anders Carlson, Auburn
RS – Kearis Jackson, Georgia
AP – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

* – Indicates a tie