The preseason SEC Football Media Poll and All-SEC team selections have officially been released. Five Gators were selected to the preseason All-SEC team. The Gators had four defensive selections: Brenton Cox Jr (2nd team), Gervon Dexter (3rd team), Ventrell Miller (3rd team), and Trey Dean (3rd team). The lone offensive and first team selection for the Gators is O’Cyrus Torrence. Five selections rank the Gators sixth in the SEC in total number of preseason All-SEC players.
The Gators are predicted to finish 4th in the SEC East, following Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. While Alabama is the overwhelming favorite to win the SEC, the media has only correctly predicted the winner nine times since 1992.
O’Cyrus Torrence – Torrence’s first team selection shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. The Louisiana transfer was one of the best guards in college football last season. Torrence started in 35 games in his three-year career at Louisiana. He’s earned back-to-back All-Sun Belt Conference honors, selected to first-team last season. Torrence was a major part of the nationally ranked Louisiana team that produced an offense ranked 10th in college football. Torrence will look to lead the Gators’ rushing attack this season.
Brenton Cox Jr – Getting Cox back for another season in Gainesville was huge news for the Gators. Cox totaled 8.5 sacks last season, tied for 36th in the country. Cox came on strong at the end of last season, recording a sack in each of the last four games for the Gators. Cox’s performance against FSU was one of the most dominating performances of the year, sacking the FSU QB’s four times in that game. Cox was named to the 2nd team AP All-SEC in 2020. Cox has been vocal about playing through injuries last season, claiming he is now fully healthy. There aren’t many players in the country with the confidence of Cox. He is primed for a breakout season and looking to prove why he is worthy of a 2nd team selection.
Gervon Dexter – I know Dexter feels disrespected with his third-team selection. Although it’s been tough for Dexter to show it on the stat sheet, he is one of the more talented players in the SEC. I’m hoping that a healthy Brenton Cox and Princely Umanmielen will keep some eyes off of Dexter and allow him to break out this season. Having Desmond Watson in the mix should help as well.
Ventrell Miller – Miller was selected third team despite playing in just two games last season. One could argue that Miller was the Gators best player in 2020. He led the team in tackles with 88, adding 3.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. Miller has had an incredible journey as a Florida Gator, playing in over 1,500 snaps in five years with Florida. Miller will be a rock in the Gators linebacker unit this season. He’s tasked with improving the Gators run defense in his sixth and final season.
Trey Dean – Dean has always had big play making ability, he just needs to do it consistently. Dean totaled 88 tackles last season with 1.5 sacks and one interception last season. Dean’s career has been an interesting one to say the least. He jumped right into a huge role as a true freshman following an injury to Marco Wilson. Dean performed very well and gave Gator fans high hopes for his career. The previous coaching staff changed his position multiple times, making it difficult for Dean to find a landing spot in the Gators defense. With Corey Raymond in town and Dean back at safety, I’m hoping he can prove himself worthy of his third-team selection.
Anthony Richardson and Jason Marshall were not selected to the preseason All-SEC team. If I learned anything from the SEC media days and watching these players on and off the field, it’s that they will use these selections as motivation. Gervon Dexter tweeted “Ain’t no disrespect without retaliation,” following the announcement of the All-SEC teams. Gators are looking to prove the media wrong in the 2022 season.
Here is the full preseason media days All-SEC team
OFFENSE
First-Team
QB – Bryce Young, Alabama
RB – Tank Bigsby, Auburn
RB – Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
WR – Kayshon Boutte, LSU
WR – Jermaine Burton, Alabama
TE – Brock Bowers, Georgia
OL – Emil Ekiyor Jr., Alabama
OL – Warren McClendon, Georgia
OL – O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida
OL – Nick Broeker, Ole Miss
C – Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas
Second-Team
QB – Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
RB – Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kentucky
RB – Devon Achane, Texas A&M
WR – Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
WR – Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss
TE – Cameron Latu, Alabama
OL – Layden Robinson, Texas A&M
OL – Kenneth Horsey, Kentucky
OL – Darnell Wright, Tennessee
OL – Javion Cohen, Alabama
C – Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia
Third-Team
QB – Will Levis, Kentucky
RB – Zach Evans, Ole Miss
RB – Kenny McIntosh, Georgia
WR – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
WR – Josh Vann, South Carolina
TE – Jaheim Bell, South Carolina
OL – Brady Latham, Arkansas
OL – Tyler Steen, Alabama
OL – Javon Foster, Missouri
*OL – Jeremy James, Ole Miss
*OL – Kendall Randolph, Alabama
C – Cooper Mays, Tennessee
DEFENSE
First-Team
DL – Jalen Carter, Georgia
DL – BJ Ojulari, LSU
DL – Derick Hall, Auburn
DL – Byron Young, Tennessee
LB – Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
LB – Nolan Smith, Georgia
LB – Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama
DB – Jordan Battle, Alabama
DB – Kelee Ringo, Georgia
DB – Eli Ricks, Alabama
DB – Jalen Catalon, Arkansas
Second-Team
DL – Zacch Pickens, South Carolina
DL – D.J. Dale, Alabama
DL – Ali Gaye, LSU
DL – Colby Wooden, Auburn
LB – Bumper Pool, Arkansas
LB – Dallas Turner, Alabama
LB – Brenton Cox Jr., Florida
DB – Cam Smith, South Carolina
DB – Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
DB – Christopher Smith, Georgia
DB – Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
Third-Team
DL – Gervon Dexter, Florida
DL – Justin Eboigbe, Alabama
DL – Maason Smith, LSU
DL – McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M
LB – Owen Pappoe, Auburn
LB – Ventrell Miller, Florida
LB – Jeremy Banks, Tennessee
DB – Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
DB – Trey Dean III, Florida
DB – Trevon Flowers, Tennessee
DB – Malachi Moore, Alabama
SPECIALISTS
First-Team
P – Nik Constantinou, Texas A&M
PK – Will Reichard, Alabama
RS – Kearis Jackson, Georgia
AP – Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
Second-Team
P – Oscar Chapman, Auburn
PK – Anders Carlson, Auburn
RS – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
AP – Devon Achane, Texas A&M
Third-Team
P – Paxton Brooks, Tennessee
PK – Harrison Mevis, Missouri
RS – JoJo Earle, Alabama
AP – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
* – Indicates a tie