Four Gators football players were selected by the league’s coaches as members of the Preseason All-SEC team. Cornerback Kaiir Elam and defensive lineman Zachary Carter were selected to the First Team, linebacker Ventrell Miller was voted to the Second Team and wide receiver Jacob Copeland was picked to the Third Team.
It’s been an eventful summer for Elam. The junior was also named to the Associated Press Preseason All-America Second Team and the media’s preseason All-SEC First Team. Additionally, he was named to the watchlists for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, the Jim Thorpe Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award.
Elam started all 12 games in 2020 and recorded 39 tackles, two interceptions, 11 pass breakups, one tackle-for-loss and one fumble recovery.
Carter, a redshirt senior, is one of the most vocal leaders on defense. He played in all 12 games last season and started 11. He led the Gators with five sacks and 9.5 tackles-for-loss and returned a fumble for a touchdown against Arkansas.
He was named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week after collecting season-highs of eight tackles and 1.5 sacks against South Carolina. Despite missing the first half of the Georgia game, he registered a career-high five quarterback hurries against the Bulldogs.
He tied for second on the team in 2019 with 4.5 sacks and seven tackles-for-loss despite only starting two games.
He was selected to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List and the media’s preseason All-SEC First Team.
Miller started 10 games at middle linebacker in 2020 and led the team with 88 tackles. He also contributed 3.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles-for-loss. He was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week after racking up 15 tackles, two tackles-for-loss and a sack in the opener at Ole Miss.
He ranked second on the team with 55 tackles in 2019, and he returned an interception 82 yards for a touchdown against Idaho in 2018, the ninth-longest interception return in program history.
He was also named to the Butkus Award Watch List and the media’s preseason All-SEC Second Team earlier this summer.
Copeland was also tabbed a third-team selection by the media last month. He enters his redshirt junior season as the most productive and experienced returning wide receiver on the roster. He’s caught 45 passes for 724 yards and five touchdowns in his career. He’ll look to match or exceed those numbers this fall as the Gators’ go-to receiver.
Here’s the complete Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team:
First Team Preseason All-SEC
Offense
QB
Matt Corral, Ole Miss
RB
Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M
Tank Bigsby, Auburn
WR
John Metchie III, Alabama
Treylon Burks, Arkansas
TE
Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M
OL
Evan Neal, Alabama
Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
Cade Mays, Tennessee
C
Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas
AP
Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss
Defense
DL
Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina
Jordan Davis, Georgia
Zachary Carter, Florida
Phidarian Mathis, Alabama
LB
Christian Harris, Alabama
Grant Morgan, Arkansas
Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
DB
Derek Stingley, LSU
Kaiir Elam, Florida
Malachi Moore, Alabama
Josh Jobe, Alabama
Special Teams
PK
Cade York, LSU
P
Jake Camarda, Georgia
RS
Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss
Second Team Preseason All-SEC
Offense
QB
JT Daniels, Georgia
RB
Kevin Harris, South Carolina
Zamir White, Georgia
WR
Kayshon Boutte, LSU
George Pickens, Georgia
TE
Jahleel Billingsley, Alabama
OL
Ed Ingram, LSU
Jamaree Salyer, Georgia
Emil Ekiyor Jr., Alabama
Charles Cross, Mississippi State
C
Nick Brahms, Auburn
AP
Tank Bigsby, Auburn
Defense
DL
DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M
Ali Gaye, LSU
Trajan Jeffcoat, Missouri
Josh Paschal, Kentucky
LB
Henry To’o To’o, Alabama
Zakoby McClain, Auburn
Ventrell Miller, Florida
DB
Elias Ricks, LSU
Jordan Battle, Alabama
Jalen Catalon, Arkansas
Smoke Monday, Auburn
Special Teams
PK
Anders Carlson, Auburn
P
Paxton Brooks, Tennessee*
Mac Brown, Ole Miss*
RS
Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
Third Team Preseason All-SEC
Offense
QB
Bo Nix, Auburn*
Connor Bazelak, Missouri*
RB
Chris Rodriguez, Jr., Kentucky
Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss*
Brian Robinson, Jr., Alabama*
WR
Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
Jacob Copeland, Florida*
Jermaine Burton, Georgia*
TE
Nick Muse, South Carolina
OL
Austin Deculus, LSU
Myron Cunningham, Arkansas
Luke Fortner, Kentucky
Nick Broeker, Ole Miss*
Brodarious Hamm, Auburn*
Ty Clary, Arkansas*
C
Michael Maietti, Missouri
AP
Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
Defense
DL
LaBryan Ray, Alabama
Travon Walker, Georgia
Jayden Peevy, Texas A&M
Zacch Pickens, South Carolina
LB
Nakobe Dean, Georgia
Owen Pappoe, Auburn
Christopher Allen, Alabama
DB
Roger McCreary, Auburn
Alontae Taylor, Tennessee
Yusuf Corker, Kentucky
Leon O’Neal Jr., Texas A&M*
Lewis Cine, Georgia*
Special Teams
PK
Will Reichard, Alabama
P
Grant McKinniss, Missouri
RS
Kearis Jackson, Georgia