BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett and Mike Matthews led a six-player Aggie contingent on the preseason All-Southeastern Conference team as voted on by the conference’s head coaches, the SEC office announced on Tuesday.
Garrett and Matthews were named to the All-SEC first team – Garrett at defensive line and Matthews at offensive center. Joining Garrett and Matthews on the elite squad were senior Drew Kaser (third-team punter), junior Germain Ifedi (second-team offensive lineman), junior Josh Reynolds (third-team wide receiver) and sophomore Speedy Noil (third-team all-purpose and return specialist).
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.
Matthews, from Missouri City, Texas, earned preseason All-America honors earlier this summer and was also named to the Rimington Trophy watch list for the second straight year. Matthews, who has made 23 career starts, helped protect the SEC’s top passing offense in 2014 and started all 13 games in 2013 when the Aggies led the SEC in passing, total and scoring offense.
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.
Ifedi, from Houston, Texas, was one of the 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) earlier in the summer.
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.
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.
2015 Preseason Coaches All-SEC Football Teams (* – ties)
First Team Preseason All-SEC
OFFENSE
TE – Evan Engram, Ole Miss
OL – Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss
Vadal Alexander, LSU
Cam Robinson, Alabama
John Theus, Georgia
C – Mike Matthews, 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
DEFENSE
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
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Marshall Morgan, Georgia
P – JK Scott, Alabama
RS – Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
Second Team Preseason All-SEC
OFFENSE
TE – Hunter Henry, Arkansas
OL – Dan Skipper, Arkansas
Greg Pyke, Georgia
Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M
Denver Kirkland, Arkansas
C – Ryan Kelly, Alabama
WR – D’haquille Williams, Auburn
Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia
QB – Maty Mauk, Missouri
RB – Derrick Henry, Alabama
Alex Collins, Arkansas
AP – Leonard Fournette, LSU
DEFENSE
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
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Austin MacGinnis, Kentucky
P – Jamie Keehn, LSU
RS – Leonard Fournette, LSU *
Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia *
Third Team Preseason All-SEC
OFFENSE
TE – O.J. Howard, Alabama
OL – Alex Kozan, Auburn
Sebastian Tretola, Arkansas
Devonte Danzey, Auburn
Jordan Swindle, Kentucky *
Brandon Shell, South Carolina *
C – Evan Boehm, Missouri
WR – Demarcus Robinson, Florida *
Travin Dural, LSU *
Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M *
QB – Jeremy Johnson, Auburn *
Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee *
RB – Jonathan Williams, Arkansas
Russell Hansbrough, Missouri
Kelvin Taylor, Florida
AP – Speedy Noil, Texas A&M
DEFENSE
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
Johnathan Ford, Auburn
Eddie Jackson, Alabama
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Elliott Fry, South Carolina
P – Drew Kaser, Texas A&M
RS – Darrius Sims, Vanderbilt
Speedy Noil, Texas A&M
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics