Eight Football Players Earn All-SEC honors
Monday, December 9, 2002 | Football
University of Florida wide receiver Taylor Jacobs earned first-team All-SEC, center Mike Degory was named to the SEC All Freshman team and six other Gators earned second-team All-SEC honors the league office announced today. The voting was done by the league's 12 head coaches.
Jacobs was the lone first-team representative for the Gators. It is ninth consecutive year that a Florida wide receiver earned first team accolades. Jacobs led the league in receptions per game (6.4) and receiving yards per game (100.0) after making 64 receptions for 1,000 yards. He also caught eight touchdowns.
Degory was the lone freshman to start every game for Florida as he made 10 starts at center and two at guard, becoming the first Florida freshman offensive lineman to start every game on the line since Reggie Green in 1992. He is one of only three freshman offensive lineman to start every game in a season in Florida history.
The Gators had three second-team offensive and three second-team defensive All-SEC players. The offensive selections are led by quarterback Rex Grossman who earned all-SEC first-team last season. Grossman has completed 266-of-462 passes for 3,079 yards and 20 touchdowns. He ranks second in the league in yards per game (256.6) and is tied for third in touchdown passes. The other two selections are tight end Aaron Walker and offensive lineman Shannon Snell.
Walker played all 12 games and was fourth on the team with 25 receptions for 365 yards and three touchdowns. Snell played and started in 11 games all at left guard.
The three second-team all-SEC defensive picks are defensive backs Todd Johnson, Keiwan Ratliff and Guss Scott. The three combined to start 35 out of a possible 36 games. Scott is third on the team with 95 tackles, including 65 solo stops. He also has a team-leading 10 passes defensed and two interceptions. Johnson, a two-time all-SEC first-team selection, is fourth on the team with 78 tackles and has five passes defensed and two interceptions. Ratliff has made 52 tackles and has a team-best eight tackles for loss. He also has nine passes defensed and an interception.
The Gators (8-4) will conclude their season by playing the University of Michigan in the Outback Bowl Wednesday, January 1, 2003 at 11 a.m. ET.
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