The first of many preseason lists for college football was released on last week.
After dropping its preseason Top 25 rankings last month, Athlon Sports focused on the Southeastern Conference in crafting its All-SEC team. Alabama and Georgia reigned supreme as both schools landed 13 players each to the list.
Florida came in second with 11 student-athletes, Auburn and Texas A&M each had 10 players, and the trio of LSU, Tennessee and Kentucky boasted nine players apiece.
Despite losing Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, Jedrick Wills, Tua Tagovailoa, Xavier McKinney, Anfernee Jennings and Terrell Lewis to the National Football League, the Crimson Tide had eight first-teamers. The quartet of Najee Harris, DeVonta Smith, Alex Leatherwood and Landon Dickerson were honorees on offense. LaBryan Ray, Dylan Moses and Patrick Surtain II were named on defense and Jaylen Waddle was listed as first-team specialist at punt returner.
The duo of Waddle and Deonte Brown made up the second-team offense, while Waddle was placed as the kick returner for the second team.
Christian Barmore made the third-team defense and is ready to create serious havoc this season.
Evan Neal was named to the fourth-team unit on the offensive line, as the five-star guard is fresh off a Freshman All-SEC campaign in 2019.
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Alabama starts its in-person voluntary workouts on Monday.
The program eyes a return back to the College Football Playoff after missing the mark last year for the first time since the inception of the venue in 2014.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
