Several Gators Named On AP All-SEC Football Team
Tuesday, December 9, 2003 | Football
University of Florida cornerback Keiwan Ratliff and quarterback Chris Leak were named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, respectively on Monday by the Associated Press. Ratliff was one of three Gators named to the AP All-SEC first team, while the Gators had four second team selections and one honorable mention choice.
Ratliff surpassed UF's single season interception record this year with nine, while also recording 48 tackles, along with six pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a blocked kick. Leak owns a 6-2 record as Florida's starting quarterback, the highest winning percentage of any freshman (true or redshirt) in the country. He holds the school records for touchdowns (14) and season passing yards (2,167) for a true freshman.
Ratliff was joined by senior tight end Ben Troupe and freshman linebacker Channing Crowder as Florida's first team members. Troupe leads all Florida receivers with 39 catches for a team-best 638 yards and five touchdowns. Crowder, who was the only freshman on the first team from any school, ranks second among the UF defense with 98 tackles despite missing two games.
Florida's second team members included seniors Max Starks (offensive line), Guss Scott (defensive back) and Bobby McCray (defensive line) as well as freshman punter Eric Wilbur. Starks started in ten games this season and four times had the most knock downs of any Gator. Scott ranks third on the team with 87 tackles and has two interceptions and nine pass break ups as well as five forced fumbles. McCray leads the SEC in sacks with 8.5 and has a team best 10.5 tackles for loss. Wilbur ranks second in the SEC and eighth nationally with a 44.8 yard per punt average. The total is the second highest in school history and the best by any freshman.
Sophomore center Mike Degory was listed on the honorable mention offense. For the second straight season Degory is UF's starter at center. His 25 consecutive starts ties Ratliff and Scott for the longest active streak on the squad.
2003 Associated Press All-SEC Team
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Keiwan Ratliff, CB, Florida
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Chris Leak, QB, Florida
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Eli Manning, QB, Mississippi
COACH OF THE YEAR
(tie) David Cutcliffe, Mississippi; Nick Saban, LSU
FIRST TEAM
Offense
WR Michael Clayton, LSU, 6-4, 200, Jr.
WR Chris Collins, Mississippi, 6-2, 195, Sr.
OL Shawn Andrews, Arkansas, 6-6, 353, Jr.
OL Stephen Peterman, LSU, 6-4, 321, Sr.
OL Antonio Hall, Kentucky, 6-5, 302, Sr.
OL Monreko Crittenden, Auburn, 6-5, 332, Sr.
OL Justin Smiley, Alabama, 6-4, 293, Jr.
C Ben Wilkerson, LSU, 6-4, 296, Jr.
TE Ben Troupe, Florida, 6-4, 262, Sr.
QB Eli Manning, Mississippi, 6-5, 218, Sr.
RB Carnell Williams, Auburn, 5-11, 204, Jr.
RB Cedric Cobbs, Arkansas, 6-1, 225, Sr.
All-Purpose Derek Abney, Kentucky, 5-11, 175, Sr.
PK Jonathan Nichols, Mississippi, 6-0, 180, Jr.|
FIRST TEAM
Defense
DE David Pollack, Georgia, 6-3, 276, Jr.
DE Marcus Spears, LSU, 6-4, 297, Jr.
DT Chad Lavalais, LSU, 6-3, 292, Sr.
DT Jesse Mitchell, Mississippi, 6-1, 270, Sr.
DT DeMarco McNeil, Auburn, 6-2, 291, Sr.
LB Karlos Dansby, Auburn, 6-3, 235, Sr.
LB Channing Crowder, Florida, 6-2, 236, Fr.
LB Odell Thurman, Georgia, 6-1, 225, So.
CB Corey Webster, LSU, 6-0, 201, Jr.
CB Keiwan Ratliff, Florida, 5-10, 178, Sr.
S Thomas Davis, Georgia, 6-1, 220, So.
S Sean Jones, Georgia, 6-2, 209, Jr.
P Dustin Colquitt, Tennessee, 6-2, 196, Jr.|
SECOND TEAM
Offense
WR Justin Jenkins, Mississippi St., 6-1, 210, Sr.
WR George Wilson, Arkansas, 6-1, 207, Sr.
WR Devery Henderson, LSU, 6-0, 189, Sr.
OL Travelle Wharton, South Carolina, 6-4, 315, Sr.
OL Wesley Britt, Alabama, 6-8, 313, Jr.
OL Max Starks, Florida, 6-7, 349, Sr.
C Scott Wells, Tennessee, 6-2, 300, Sr.
TE Ben Watson, Georgia, 6-3, 255, Sr.
QB Matt Mauck, LSU, 6-2, 213, Jr.
RB Shaud Williams, Alabama, 5-8, 191, Sr.
RB Nick Turner, Mississippi St., 5-10, 182, So.
All-Purpose Skyler Green, LSU, 5-9, 190, So.
PK Billy Bennett, Georgia, 5-8, 170, Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Defense
DL Vincent Burns, Kentucky, 6-2, 264, Jr.
DL Reggie Torbor, Auburn, 6-3, 246, Sr.
DL Bobby McCray, Florida, 6-6, 245, Sr.
LB Caleb Miller, Arkansas, 6-3, 220, Sr.
LB DeMeco Ryans, Alabama, 6-2, 225, So.
LB Kevin Simon, LB, Tennessee, 5-11, 225, So.
DB Tony Bua, Arkansas, 5-11, 210, Sr.
DB Gibril Wilson, Tennessee, 6-1, 190, Sr.
DB Rashad Baker, Tennessee, 5-11, 185, Sr.
DB Guss Scott, Florida, 5-11, 195, Sr.
DB LaRon Landry, LSU, 6-2, 180, Fr.
P Eric Wilbur, Florida, 6-2, 190, Fr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Offense
Doug Buckles, OL, Mississippi, 6-5, 300, Jr.; Mike Degory, C, Florida, 6-5, 309, So.; Cedric Houston, RB, Tennessee, 6-0, 215, Jr.; Max Jean-Gilles, OL, Georgia, 6-4, 340, So.; Bo Lacy, OL, Arkansas, 6-4, 298, Sr.; Michael Munoz, OL, Tennessee, 6-6, 305, Jr.
Defense
Kevin Burnett, LB, Tennessee, 6-3, 235, Jr.; Parys Haralson, DE, Tennessee, 6-2, 240, So.; Jovan Haye, DE. Vanderbilt, 6-2, 262, So.; Travis Johnson, DB, Mississippi, 6-1, 191, So.; T.J. Mawhinney, LB, Mississippi St., 6-1, 235, Sr.; Antwan Odom, DE, Alabama, 6-5, 277, Jr.; Dontarrious Thomas, LB, Auburn, 6-4, 241, Sr.; Moe Thompson, DE, South Carolina, 6-3, 280, So.; Lionel Turner, LB, LSU, 6-2, 257, Jr.; Kyle Williams, DT, LSU, 6-2, 288, So.
