If you are not familiar with sportswriter Phil Steele, he has been covering college football since the 1990s and he has a charmingly vintage website that looks like he typed it up on his TRS-80 to prove it.
Steele has had a good track record of accuracy when it comes to his predictions. However, I have to take some umbrage with some of his selections of his 2015 Preseason All-SEC Football Team.
Be forewarned, I am going to take off my Gump hat for this one.
First-team Offense | Second-team Offense | Third-team Offense | Fourth-team Offense |
QB Dak Prescott, Mississippi State | QB Jeremy Johnson, Auburn | QB Kyle Allen, Texas A&M | QB Maty Mauk, Missouri |
RB Nick Chubb, Georgia | RB Leonard Fournette, LSU | RB Jonathan Williams, Arkansas | RB Jovon Robinson, Auburn |
RB Derrick Henry, Alabama | RB Alex Collins, Arkansas | RB Jalen Hurd, Tennessee | RB Russell Hansbrough, Missouri |
WR Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss | WR Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M | WR Ricky Seals-Jones, Texas A&M | WR Malachi Dupre, LSU |
WR Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina | WR Demarcus Robinson, Florida | WR De’Runnya Wilson, Mississippi State | WR Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia |
WR D’haquille Williams, Auburn | WR Travin Dural, LSU | WR Marquez North, Tennessee | WR Speedy Noil, Texas A&M |
TE Evan Engram, Ole Miss | TE O.J. Howard, Alabama | TE Hunter Henry, Arkansas | TE Steven Scheu, Vandy |
C Ryan Kelly, Alabama | C Evan Boehm, Missouri | C Mike Matthews, Texas A&M | C Jon Toth, Kentucky |
OL Greg Pyke, Georgia | OL Alex Kozan, Auburn | OL Aaron Morris, Ole Miss | OL Ethan Pocic, LSU |
OL Vadal Alexander, LSU | OL Dan Skipper, Arkansas | OL Sebastian Tretola, Arkansas | OL Cam Robinson, Alabama |
OL Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss | OL John Theus, Georgia | OL Brandon Shell, South Carolina | OL Jerald Hawkins, LSU |
OL Avery Young, Auburn | OL Denver Kirkland, Arkansas | OL Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M | OL Joseph Cheek, Texas A&M |
QB: Yikes! What has happened to the SEC that Jeremy Johnson is the conference's second best signal caller? A mere two years ago, the league filled college football marquees with names like Johnny Manziel, AJ McCarron, Aaron Murray, and Zach Mettenberger.
RB: Derrick Henry got a first team nod over Fournette but the LSU sophomore could easily be a 1A. It's a bit surprising to see Collins ahead of his Hogs teammate Williams. And no love for Vanderbilt's Ralph Webb?
WR: I have no problem with the Treadwell selection but only if he is back at 100% after his horrific leg injury from last season. Steele's list of four-deep at three spots really reflects how deep the SEC is at receivers this year. All twelve of these guys have a good shot at the NFL someday. Too bad there is only one legit NFL prospect to throw to them.
TE: Engram is a good choice though his blocking could use some work. As for Howard (takes Gump hat off), he has yet to show the great promise that everyone is waiting to arrive. Personally, I would have Hunter Henry ahead of him and perhaps Scheu and UGA's Jeb Blazevich as well.
C: Kelly has been getting some serious love for the past two seasons. This year it is definitely deserved. The other three on this list are solid.
OL: Oh boy. I don't need my Gump hat for this one. Cam Rob on the FOURTH TEAM? Are you kidding me? Young is more like a third-teamer. And Aaron Morris? He shouldn't even be on the list. Pocic on the fourth team is also a tad surprising. Tunsil is a deserving first-teamer but a lot of debate could be had about the rest of this group.
ETC: I am sure some of you Tide fans are wondering about Kenyan Drake but it is yet to be seen if he is back to his old self. Not to mention that the ones ahead of him are quite worthy. Additionally, it is hard to know what category to put him in. He is like the old wingback of days of yore who could be in the backfield or split out wide.
UP NEXT: Defense.