BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Texas A&M sophomores Myles Garrett and Speedy Noil led a six-player Aggie contingent on the preseason All-Southeastern Conference team as voted on by the media in attendance at the 2015 SEC Media Days, the conference office announced on Friday
Garrett and Noil were named to the All-SEC first team – Garrett at defensive line and Noil as a return specialist. Joining Garrett and Noil on the elite squad were senior Drew Kaser (second-team punter), junior Germain Ifedi (second-team offensive lineman), senior Mike Matthews (second-team offensive line) and junior Josh Reynolds (second-team wide receiver). Noil also received mention as the third-team all-purpose player.
Garrett, from Arlington, Texas, was a second-team All-SEC pick and a member of the All-SEC Freshman team in 2014 after setting a SEC freshman record with 11.5 quarterback sacks and leading the Aggies in sacks, tackles for loss and quarterback pressures. Also a Freshman All-American in 2014, Garrett was also named to the 2015 watch list for the Bednarik Award, which is given annually to the college defensive player of the year.
Noil, from New Orleans, La., was a member of the All-SEC Freshman team and an honorable mention pick at all-purpose in 2014 after leading the Aggies in all-purpose, punt return and kickoff return yardage. The speedy Noil averaged 15.9 yards every time he touched the football last season and contributed 46 catches and 583 yards from his wide receiver spot. Noil was named to the watch list for the Paul Hornung Award, which is given annually to the nation’s most versatile player.
Ifedi, from Houston, Texas, and Matthews, from Missouri City, Texas, were cornerstones of the Aggie offensive front that helped protect the SEC’s top passing offense in 2014. The Aggies led the conference with 3,971 passing yards and 39 passing touchdowns, while averaging 455.4 total yards per game last season. Ifedi was named to the watch list for the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman), while Matthews was named to the watch list for the Rimington Trophy (outstanding collegiate center) in 2014 and 2015.
Kaser, from Strongsville, Ohio, was a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award in 2014 after being a finalist for the award in 2013. Last season Kaser averaged 44.1 yards per punt and broke perennial NFL All-Pro Shane Lechler’s school by depositing 22 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. As a sophomore, Kaser broke Lechler’s record for season punting with a 47.4 average. A member of the 2015 Ray Guy Award watch list, Kaser enters his senior campaign on pace to break Lechler’s career punting average record.
Reynolds, from San Antonio, set the school record with 13 receiving touchdowns in 2014, while also leading the team with 842 yards on 52 catches. A member of the 2015 Biletnikoff Award watch list, he broke the old record of 12 receiving touchdowns set originally by Jeff Fuller in 2010 and matched by 2013 Biletnikoff finalist Mike Evans. The 13 receiving touchdowns by Reynolds, who was in his first season with the Aggies in 2014 after transferring from Tyler Junior College, ranked No. 2 in the SEC behind 2014 Biletnikoff winner Amari Cooper’s 16.
2015 PRE-SEASON MEDIA DAYS ALL-SEC TEAM
(Total points earned in parenthesis)
OFFENSE
First-Team
QB Dak Prescott, Mississippi State (170)
RB Nick Chubb, Georgia (189)
RB Leonard Fournette, LSU (180)
WR Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss (169)
WR D’haquille Williams, Auburn (154)
TE Evan Engram, Ole Miss (128)
OL Cam Robinson, Alabama (167)
OL Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss (159)
OL Vadal Alexander, LSU (131)
OL John Theus, Georgia (129)
C Ryan Kelly, Alabama (144)
Second-Team
QB Jeremy Johnson, Auburn (89)
RB Derrick Henry, Alabama (151)
RB Jonathan Williams, Arkansas (82)
WR Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina (147)
WR De’Runnya Wilson, Mississippi State (59)
TE Hunter Henry, Arkansas (97)
OL Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M (124)
OL Dan Skipper, Arkansas (95)
OL Denver Kirkland, Arkansas (85)
OL Greg Pyke, Georgia (83)
C Mike Matthews, Texas A&M (108)
Third-Team
QB Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee (62)
RB Alex Collins, Arkansas (80)
RB Kenyan Drake, Alabama (34)
WR Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia (50)
WR Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M (39)
TE O.J. Howard, Alabama (87)
OL Sebastian Tretola, Arkansas (72)
OL Alex Kozan, Auburn (69)
OL Avery Young, Auburn (57)
OL Brandon Shell, South Carolina (50)
C Evan Boehm, Missouri (81)
DEFENSE
First-Team
DL Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss (173)
DL A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama (160)
DL Myles Garrett, Texas A&M (155)
DL Carl Lawson, Auburn (131)
LB Reggie Ragland, Alabama (181)
LB Jordan Jenkins, Georgia (121)
LB Curt Maggitt, Tennessee (102)
DB Vernon Hargreaves, Florida (186)
DB Cyrus Jones, Alabama (126)
DB Jonathan Jones, Auburn (122)
DB Jalen Mills, LSU (118)
Second-Team
DL Jonathan Bullard, Florida (115)
DL Derek Barnett, Tennessee (105)
DL Jonathan Allen, Alabama (99)
DL Chris Jones, Mississippi State (93)
LB Kendell Beckwith, LSU (93)
LB Leonard Floyd, Georgia (92)
LB Cassanova McKinzy, Auburn (80)
DB Tony Conner, Ole Miss (117)
DB Cameron Sutton, Tennessee (115)
DB Will Redmond, Mississippi State (79)
DB Tre’Davious White, LSU (61)
Third-Team
DL Montravius Adams, Auburn (90)
DL Jarran Reed, Alabama (60)
DL Davon Godchaux, LSU (40)
DL Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss (34)
LB Kris Frost, Auburn (77)
LB Antonio Morrison, Florida (66)
LB Kentrell Brothers, Missouri (61)
DB A.J. Stamps, Kentucky (59)
DB Eddie Jackson, Alabama (58)
DB Jamal Adams, LSU (56)
DB Johnathan Ford, Auburn (52)
SPECIALISTS
First-Team
P JK Scott, Alabama (161)
PK Marshall Morgan, Georgia (100)
RS Speedy Noil, Texas A&M (117)
AP Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina (112)
Second-Team
P Drew Kaser, Texas A&M (92)
PK Elliott Fry, South Carolina (87)
RS Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina (75)
AP Leonard Fournette, LSU (85)
Third-Team
P Jamie Keehn, LSU (52)
PK Austin MacGinnis, Kentucky (59)
RS Leonard Fournette, LSU (66)
AP Speedy Noil, Texas A&M (84)
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics