Seven Gators Named to SEC Pigskin Picks All-Conference Team
Friday, November 30, 2012 | Football
Seven Gators have been named to the SEC Pigskins Picks All-Conference team, announced this week on the SEC Pigskin Picks Live from Catfish County radio show.
Senior running back Mike Gillislee (DeLand, Fla.) and senior offensive lineman Xavier Nixon (Fayetteville, N.C.) highlight the offense selections. Gillislee had a breakout season for the Gators, as he has rushed for 1,104 yards this season and leads the team with 11 touchdowns. Nixon represents the offensive line, starting and playing in 10 games this season.
Florida ties Georgia with the most selections on defense with three including junior defensive lineman Sharrif Floyd (Philadelphia, Pa.), junior defensive back Jaylen Watkins (Cape Coral) and junior defensive back Matt Elam (Palm Beach Gardens). Elam currently leads the Orange and Blue with four interceptions on the season and is second in tackles with 65. Watkins has 31 tackles, three interceptions, and eight pass breakups on the season while Floyd has recorded 41 tackles including a team high 11 TFL.
The Orange and Blue also took two of three specialist honors as sophomore punter Kyle Christy (Brownsburg, Ind.) and senior kicker Caleb Sturgis (St. Augustine) won for their respective positions. Christy has led the SEC this season in punting with a 46.1 punt average on 62 punts for 2858 yards this season. Sturgis has etched his name in to the UF record books as he set the mark for the most career field goals made with 69 this season. He became the third Gator in school history to record 300 points in his career and leads the Gators in scoring with 101 points.
Christy is one of three finalists for the Ray Guy Award, which honors the nation's best punter, and Sturgis is one of three candidates for the Lou Groza Award for the second-consecutive year.
SEC Pigskin Picks 2012 All-Conference Team
Offense
QB, Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
RB, Todd Gurley, Georgia
RB, Mike Gillislee, Florida
WR, Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas
WR, Justin Hunter, Tennessee
TE, Mychal Rivera, Tennessee
C, Barrett Jones, Alabama
OL, Chance Warmack, Alabama
OL, Chris Burnette, Georgia
OL, D.J. Fluker, Alabama
OL, Xavier Nixon, Florida
Defense
DL, Damontre Moore, Texas A&M
DL, Sam Montgomery, LSU
DL, Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
DL, Sharrif Floyd, Florida
LB, AJ Johnson, Tennessee
LB, Kevin Minter, LSU
LB, Jarvis Jones, Georgia
DB, Bacarri Rambo, Georgia
DB, Jaylen Watkins, Florida
DB, Matt Elam, Florida
DB, Dee Milliner, Alabama
Specialist
KR/PR, Cordarelle Patterson, Tennessee
P, Kyle Christy, Florida
K, Caleb Sturgis, Florida
Slobber Knocker Player of the Year
Johnny Manziel
Coach of the Year
Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M
