Announcing the 2023 All-SEC College Football Teams

The SEC had the most All-America selections in the exercise I posted earlier this week. Now, we’re taking an in-depth look at the conference to build three All-SEC Teams for the 2023 season. Keep in mind, these selections are based on performances from this year alone and don’t factor in past success.
Before getting into the All-SEC Teams, here are my picks for the conference’s two greatest individual honors.
Quarterback: Jayden Daniels, LSU
Running Back: Cody Schrader, Missouri
Running Back: Ray Davis, Kentucky
Tight End: Brock Bowers, Georgia
Wide Receiver: Malik Nabers, LSU
Wide Receiver: Luther Burden III, Missouri
Wide Receiver: Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
All-Purpose: Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss (RB)
Left Tackle: Will Campbell, LSU
Right Tackle: JC Latham, Alabama
Left Guard: Garrett Dellinger, LSU
Right Guard: Tate Ratledge, Georgia
Center: Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia
Edge Rusher: Dallas Turner, Alabama
Edge Rusher: James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
Interior Lineman: Deone Walker, Kentucky
Interior Lineman: Marcus Harris, Auburn
Linebacker: Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
Linebacker: Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State
Linebacker: Harold Perkins, LSU
Cornerback: Terrion Arnold, Alabama
Cornerback: Kamari Lassiter, Georgia
Safety: Caleb Downs, Alabama
Safety: Javon Bullard, Georgia
LSU narrowly topped Georgia and Alabama for the most selections on the First Team. The Tigers had six players earn First Team All-SEC status, followed by the Bulldogs (five) and Crimson Tide (four). Kentucky and Missouri were the only other programs with multiple selections. Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt came up empty.
LSU went 9-3 during the regular season, but that record isn’t reflective of the team’s talent. The Tigers’ offense averaged 46.4 points per game, which were the most of any FBS team during the regular season. Brian Kelly will have to replace his best playmakers on offense, but he should retain most of his star offensive linemen entering 2024.
A couple of star second-year players dot the First Team. After a tough opening night, Will Campbell built on a strong freshman season. Deone Walker is a game-wrecker with rare athletic traits. James Pearce Jr. and Harold Perkins are also highly productive sophomores with lofty NFL aspirations.
Missouri’s Luther Burden III was an All-American-caliber receiver this year and looks like a future top-ten pick. Caleb Downs is somehow only a true freshman but might’ve been the best safety in the FBS this year.
Edgerrin Cooper was one of the true breakout stars in college football this year. He found plenty of success as a blitzer, but the growth of his instincts and football IQ paved the way for his All-American season.
Quarterback: Carson Beck, Georgia
Running Back: Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss
Running Back: Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
Tight End: Trey Knox, South Carolina
Wide Receiver: Xavier Legette, South Carolina
Wide Receiver: Tre Harris, Ole Miss
Wide Receiver: Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
All-Purpose: Trevor Etienne, Florida (RB)
Left Tackle: Javon Foster, Missouri
Right Tackle: Armand Membou, Missouri
Left Guard: Tyler Booker, Alabama
Right Guard: Miles Frazier, LSU
Center: Beaux Limmer, Arkansas
Edge Rusher: Chris Braswell, Alabama
Edge Rusher: Princely Umanmielen, Florida
Interior Lineman: T.J. Sanders, South Carolina
Interior Lineman: Walter Nolen, Texas A&M
Linebacker: Jett Johnson, Mississippi State
Linebacker: Debo Williams, South Carolina
Linebacker: D'Eryk Jackson, Kentucky
Cornerback: Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
Cornerback: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
Safety: Tykee Smith, Georgia
Safety: Malaki Starks, Georgia
South Carolina surprisingly led all programs with four selections on the Second Team. Alabama, Georgia, and Missouri all had strong placements, with three players each. Florida, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M were the other programs with multiple selections. Auburn and Vanderbilt went home empty-handed.
Alabama and Georgia had two of the most talented secondaries in the country this year. The two programs combined to produce seven All-SEC defensive backs. Malaki Starks is the only sophomore among the seven who appeared on the Second Team. He was impressive during his first two seasons, but Tykee Smith was the better performer in 2023.
Since the end of the regular season, Trevor Etienne, Walter Nolen, and Princely Umanmielen have all entered the transfer portal.
Quarterback: Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Running Back: Trevor Etienne, Florida
Running Back: Jase McClellan, Alabama
Tight End: Rivaldo Fairweather, Auburn
Wide Receiver: Ricky Pearsall, Florida
Wide Receiver: Jermaine Burton, Alabama
Wide Receiver: Will Sheppard, Vanderbilt
All-Purpose: Jarquez Hunter, Auburn (RB)
Left Tackle: Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M
Right Tackle: Emery Jones, LSU
Left Guard: Xavier Delgado, Missouri
Right Guard: Micah Mazzccua, Florida
Center: Charles Turner, LSU
Edge Rusher: Darius Robinson, Missouri
Edge Rusher: Landon Jackson, Arkansas
Interior Lineman: Tonka Hemingway, South Carolina
Interior Lineman: Mekhi Wingo, LSU
Linebacker: Ty'Ron Hopper, Missouri
Linebacker: Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia
Linebacker: Eugene Asante, Auburn
Cornerback: D.J. James, Auburn
Cornerback: Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Safety: Jaylin Simpson, Auburn
Safety: Alfahiym Walcott, Arkansas
Auburn led the way with five selections on the Third Team. Alabama, Florida, LSU, and Missouri all had three selections while Arkansas had two, making this one of the more diverse squads. Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Tennessee didn’t have any players earn Third Team All-SEC honors.
Auburn relied on three defensive selections to lead the way. Of the three, Eugene Asante has already committed to returning to school in 2024, while D.J. James and Jaylin Simpson have accepted Senior Bowl invites as they prepare for the NFL Draft.
Jalen Milroe overcame a unique situation at Alabama to earn All-SEC honors. He was benched for the USF game after a poor performance against Texas but rebounded to finish the year strong. He even earned sixth place in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Vanderbilt’s Will Sheppard has transferred to Colorado since the end of the regular season. Stable quarterback play will help him significantly improve his draft stock for 2025. Landon Jackson and Smael Mondon Jr., who were viewed as good prospects, elected to forgo the draft and return to school in 2024.
Four programs set themselves apart during this exercise. Alabama and LSU produced the most selections with ten apiece. The Crimson Tide benefited from three members of its secondary and both of its pass rushers standing out. Meanwhile, every member of LSU’s offensive line made the cut, along with two Tigers wide receivers.
The other programs that scored well are Georgia (nine) and Missouri (eight). No other team had more than six selections. The Bulldogs had four members of their secondary and two offensive linemen make the teams, while Missouri leaned heavily on three All-SEC offensive linemen to boost its totals.
The other SEC schools with more than three selections include Auburn (six), Florida (five), South Carolina (five), Kentucky (four), and Texas A&M (four). Despite going 6-6, Auburn has a decent amount of talent. Maybe that’s why they gave Alabama and Georgia runs for their money.
Arkansas (three), Ole Miss (three), Mississippi State (two), Tennessee (two), and Vanderbilt (one) scraped the bottom of the barrel. Trevor Etienne and Quinshon Judkins appeared twice because of the all-purpose role, so technically Florida only had four unique selections while Ole Miss just had two.
Brady Cook, QB Missouri
Jaxson Dart, QB Ole Miss
Mario Anderson, RB South Carolina
Montrell Johnson Jr., RB Florida
Daijun Edwards, RB Alabama
Jo'quavious Marks, RB Mississippi State
Kendall Milton, RB Georgia
Dayton Wade, WR Ole Miss
Andrew Armstrong, WR Arkansas
Evan Stewart, WR Texas A&M
Eugene Wilson III, WR Florida
Squirrel White, WR Tennessee
Dominic Lovett, WR Georgia
Theo Wease, WR Missouri
Jordan Watkins, WR Ole Miss
Caden Prieskorn, TE Ole Miss
McCallan Castles, TE Tennessee
Mason Taylor, TE LSU
Joshua Simon, TE South Carolina
Austin Barber, OT Florida
Marques Cox, OT Kentucky
Xavier Truss, OT Georgia
Kameron Jones, OT Mississippi State
Brady Latham, G Arkansas
Micah Morris, G Georgia
Jaeden Roberts, G Alabama
Dylan Fairchild, G Georgia
Javontez Spraggins, G Tennessee
Layden Robinson, G Texas A&M
Connor Tollison, C Missouri
Jake Slaughter, C Florida
Bryce Foster, C Texas A&M
Connor Lew, C Auburn
Cooper Mays, C Tennessee
Tyler Baron, Edge Tennessee
Jared Ivey, Edge Ole Miss
Johhny Walker Jr., Edge Missouri
Fadil Diggs, Edge Texas A&M
Cedric Johnson, Edge Ole Miss
Bradyn Swinson, Edge LSU
Jalen McLeod, Edge Auburn
Shemar Turner, Edge Texas A&M
J.J. Weaver, Edge Kentucky
Trajan Jeffcoat, Edge Arkansas
Mykel Williams, Edge Georgia
Nazir Stackhouse, IDL Georgia
Nathan Pickering, IDL Mississippi State
McKinnley Jackson, IDL Texas A&M
Aaron Beasley, LB Tennessee
Deontae Lawson, LB Alabama
Jaheim Thomas, LB Arkansas
Langston Patterson, LB Vanderbilt
Jihaad Campbell, LB Alabama
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, LB Georgia
Omar Speights, LB LSU
Ty'Ron Hopper, LB Missouri
Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, LB Ole Miss
Taurean York, LB Texas A&M
Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB Missouri
Kamal Hadden, CB Tennessee
Dwight McGlothern, CB Arkansas
Nehemiah Pritchett, CB Auburn
Zamari Walton, CB Ole Miss
Deantre Prince, CB Ole Miss
Marcellas Dial, CB South Carolina
Decamerion Richardson, CB Mississippi State
CJ Taylor, DB Vanderbilt
Jacoby Mathews, S Texas A&M
John Saunders Jr., S Ole Miss
Jaylen McCollough, S Tennessee
Nick Emmanwori, S South Carolina
Malachi Moore, S Alabama
Jaylon Carlies, S Missouri
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