Alabama lands 10 on AP all-SEC team, Downs gets newcomer of the year
Alabama freshman safety Caleb Downs was voted as the Associated Press SEC Newcomer of the year, the AP announced on Monday. Downs leads the Crimson Tide in tackles with 99 on the season, with UA heading into the College Football Playoff semifinal against Michigan.
Downs was also voted second-team AP all-SEC. He was one of 10 Alabama players to make one of the two teams.
UA’s all-SEC first-teamers included offensive tackle JC Latham, offensive guard Tyler Booker, kicker Will Reichard, linebacker Dallas Turner and cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. Alabama had Downs on the second team, as well as quarterback Jalen Milroe, defensive tackle Justin Eboigbe, linebacker Chris Braswell and cornerback Terrion Arnold.
LSU’s Jayden Daniels was named the league’s offensive player of the year. Mississippi State linebacker Nathaniel Watson earned defensive player of the year honors.
Eli Drinkwitz of Missouri was voted coach of the year. The all-SEC teams were voted on by 14 sports writer and broadcasters, all of whom cover the league.
Full AP all-SEC team
First team
Offense
WR — u-Malik Nabers, LSU
WR — Luther Burden III, Missouri
T — Javon Foster, Missouri
T — JC Latham, Alabama
G — Tate Ratledge, Georgia
G — Tyler Booker, Alabama
C — u-Sedrick Van Pran
TE — u-Brock Bowers, Georgia
QB — u-Jayden Daniels, LSU
RB — u-Cody Schrader, Missouri
RB — Ray Davis, Kentucky
PK — Will Reichard, Alabama
All-Purpose — Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
Defense
DE — James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
DE — Darius Robinson, Missouri
DT — Marcus Harris, Auburn
DT — Deone Walker, Kentucky
LB — Dallas Turner, Alabama
LB — Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
LB — Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State
CB — Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
CB — Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
S — Malaki Starks, Georgia
S — Jaylin Simpson, Auburn
P — Matthew Hayball, Vanderbilt
Second team
Offense
WR — Xavier Legette, South Carolina
WR — Brian Thomas, LSU
T — Will Campbell, LSU
T — Gunner Britton, Auburn
G — Joshua Braun, Arkansas
G — Cam’Ron Johnson, Missouri
C — Cooper Mays, Tennessee
TE — Rivaldo Fairweather, Auburn
QB — Jalen Milroe, Alabama
RB — Quinshon Judkins, Mississippi
RB — Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
PK — Harrison Mevis, Missouri
All-Purpose — t-Barion Brown, Kentucky; Xavier Legette, South Carolina
Defense
DE — Princely Umanmielen, Florida
DE — Landon Jackson, Arkansas
DT — Justin Eboigbe, Alabama
DT — Nazir Stackhouse, Georgia
LB — Jett Johnson, Mississippi State
LB — Chris Braswell, Alabama
LB — Debo Williams, South Carolina
CB — Terrion Arnold, Alabama
CB — Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
S — Javon Bullard, Georgia
S — Caleb Downs, Alabama
P — Jeremy Chrawshaw, Florida
Offensive Player of the Year — u-Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Defensive Player of the Year — Nathaniel Watson, LB, Mississippi State
Coach of the Year — Eliah Drinkwitz, Missouri
Newcomer of the Year — Caleb Downs, S, Alabama