SEC Coaches Place Seven Razorbacks on All-SEC Teams

Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA

The Coaches’ All-SEC teams were announced on Tuesday with seven Arkansas Razorbacks occupying the list. The Hogs were snubbed out of any first-team selections but placed four on the second-team offense.

The coaches liked Arkansas just enough, especially their offense to name tight end Hunter Henry, right tackle Dan Skipper, left tackle Denver Kirkland, and running back Alex Collins, all juniors, to the second-team. Although out for the season due to injury, the coaches honored senior running back Jonathan Williams with a third-team selection along with left guard Sebastian Tretola.

The Hogs return five starters off the No. 10 ranked defensive unit in the nation a year ago but only senior safety Rohan Gaines cracked the “best of” list as a third-team selection.

Williams and Collins each broke the 1,100-yard rushing mark a year ago helping lead the nation’s No. 24 ranked ground attack. Both tailbacks scored 12 touchdowns on the ground with Williams edging Collins out in net yards gained by 90 with 1,190 yards totaled.

Henry has been Arkansas’ most reliable target in the passing game since his true freshman season in 2013. The Arkansas native leads all other SEC tight ends in receptions over the past two seasons with 65 totaling 922 yards with six touchdowns.

As more talent has been added to the Arkansas roster offensive line coach Sam Pittman has been able to tinker with his front five. A starter since his true freshman season, in 2014 Kirkland played right guard allowing just one sack. This year Kirkland will slide over to the left tackle spot occupied by Skipper a year ago with Skipper sliding over to right tackle. Skipper was the highest graded lineman for the Hogs in 2014 finishing with an 80 percent off 827 snaps.

Tretola was a junior college transfer in 2014 coming out of nowhere to earn first-team All-SEC honors by ESPN once the season had concluded. He started in 11 games working into game shape by mid-season but dominating opposing defensive tackles and linebackers along the way.

Gaines started in 11 of Arkansas’ 13 games last season totaling 59 stops and picked off one pass returning it 100-yards for a touchdown against Ole Miss.

Based on experience and the fact that Martrell Spaight led the SEC a year ago in tackles (128) playing weakside linebacker in defensive coordinator Robb Smith’s system, the exclusion of junior linebacker Brook Ellis could be considered a possible snub. Ellis is moving over from middle linebacker to the outside, a position better suited for his 6’2”, 237 pound, frame. Ellis was second on the team with 72 tackles and filled his stat line with 5.5 tackles for a loss, two picks, two forced fumbles, and five pass breakups.

2015 Preseason Coaches’ All-SEC Teams

Offense

First Team

TE: Evan Engram, Ole Miss

OL: Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss; Vadal Alexander, LSU; Cam Robinson, Alabama; John Theus, Georgia; Mike Matthews (C), Texas A&M

WR: Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina; Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss

QB: Dak Prescott, Mississippi State

RB: Nick Chubb, Georgia; Leonard Fournette, LSU

AP: Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina

Second Team

TE: Hunter Henry, Arkansas

OL: Dan Skipper, Arkansas; Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M; Greg Pyke, Georgia; Denver Kirkland, Arkansas; Ryan Kelly (C), Alabama

WR: D’haquille Williams, Auburn; Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia

QB: Maty Mauk, Missouri

RB: Alex Collins, Arkansas; Derrick Henry, Alabama

AP: Leonard Fournette, LSU

Third Team

TE: O.J. Howard, Alabama

OL: Alex Kozan, Auburn; Sebastian Tretola, Arkansas; Devonte Danzey, Auburn; Jordan Swindle, Kentucky; Brandon Shell, South Carolina; Evan Boehm (C), Missouri

WR: Demarcus Robinson, Florida; Travin Dural, LSU; Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M

QB: Jeremy Johnson, Auburn; Josh Dobbs, Tennessee

RB: Jonathan Williams, Arkansas; Kelvin Taylor, Florida; Russell Hansbrough, Missouri

AP: Speedy Noil, Texas A&M

Defense

First Team

DL: Myles Garrett, Texas A&M; Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss; A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama; Chris Jones, Mississippi State

LB: Reggie Ragland, Alabama; Curt Maggitt, Tennessee; Jordan Jenkins, Georgia

DB: Vernon Hargreaves, Florida; Cyrus Jones, Alabama; Jalen Mills, LSU; Jonathan Jones, Auburn

Second Team

DL: Jonathan Bullard, Florida; Derek Barnett, Tennessee; Jonathan Allen, Alabama; Montravius Adams, Auburn

LB:Antonio Morrison, Florida; Kentrell Brothers, Missouri; Kendell Beckwith, LSU

DB: Will Redmond, Mississippi State; Tre’Davious White, LSU; Cameron Sutton, Tennessee; Tony Conner, Ole Miss

Third Team

DL: Carl Lawson, Auburn; Davon Godchaux, LSU; Caleb Azubike, Vanderbilt; Ryan Brown, Mississippi State

LB:Leonard Floyd, Georgia; Cassanova McKinzy, Auburn; Lorenzo Carter, Georgia

DB: A.J. Stamps, Kentucky; Rohan Gaines, Arkansas; Trae Elston, Ole Miss; Jonathan Ford, Auburn; Eddie Jackson, Alabama

Special Teams

First Team

PK: Marshall Morgan, Georgia

P: JK Scott, Alabama

RS: Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina

Second Team

PK: Austin MacGinnis, Kentucky

P: Jamie Keehn, LSU

RS: Leonard Fournette, LSU; Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia

Third Team

PK: Elliott Fry, South Carolina

P: Drew Kaser, Texas A&M

RS: Darius Sims, Vanderbilt; Speedy Noil, Texas A&M

Photo credit: wholehogsports.com; No. 3 Alex Collins.