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The AP has released its All-SEC first and second teams.
Jadeveon Clowney is a first-team defensive end—one of four, actually. Clowney tied with Missouri's Kony Ealy for the final spot. Whether it's a function of Clowney's legend or a credit to voters who understand his non-statistical impact on the game, it's certain to be a controversial selection among the tweeting masses. I'm happy for Clowney, and happier that I get to sit back and bask in the inevitable backlash.
As predicted, Clowney's linemate Kelcy Quarles received first team honors after his monstrous year. Both players are going pro. :(
Mike Davis' late season lull caused him to fall to the second team, a possibility we predicted last week. Jeremy Hill and Tre Mason took first team honors, while TJ Yeldon, Davis and Todd Gurley made the second team—Davis and Gurley tied for the final spot.
Two defenders made the second team: cornerback Victor Hampton and SPUR Sharrod Golightly. I wouldn't have predicted the latter, but Golightly had a nice year statistically (44 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a pair of fumble recoveries and 4 pass breakups) and might have been aided by a lack of conference-wide linebacking depth. (I have no idea if this is the case, but it would help explain it.) Either way, good for Sharrod.
Here are the full teams. No AP love for Connor Shaw, which isn't surprising. Will the coaches disagree? Gary Pinkel might. We'll update when the coach's All-SEC teams are released, as well as the freshman teams.
UPDATE: Both the coaches' and freshman teams are out. The former looks similar to the AP team, except for the omission of Hampton and Golightly.
However, the Gamecocks placed three freshmen at four positions on the Freshman All-SEC team, which ties with Ole Miss and Arkansas for the most from any team.
Kicker Elliott Fry, linebacker Skai Moore, and all-purpose footballin' guy Pharoh Cooper were each named to the team. Cooper actually showed up twice: once at the all-purpose position and again at return specialist. According to our friend @GamecockRadio, this is only the fourth time a player's showed up twice on the same team.
