Jalen Tabor was the lone Preseason All-SEC First Team selection for the Gators.
Gators Place Eight on Preseason All-SEC List
Friday, July 15, 2016 | Football
Florida had one first-team member, five second-team honorees and two third-team selections.
SEC Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Florida football team had eight players selected to the 2016 SEC Media Days All-SEC Team Friday. The list of eight Gators was comprised of one first-team member, five second-team honorees and two third-team selections. The squads were chosen by those in attendance at the conference's annual week-long media days.
The lone member of the first team was junior cornerback Jalen Tabor, while the five second-teamers were offensive linemen Martez Ivey and David Sharpe, defensive lineman Bryan Cox, Jr., linebacker Jarrad Davis and punter Johnny Townsend. Garnering third-team All-SEC accolades was defensive lineman Cece Jefferson and safety Marcus Maye.
In 2015, Tabor was tabbed second-team All-American by Sporting News and first-team All-SEC by the league's coaches, the Associated Press, ESPN.com, Athlon, Pro Football Focus and Gridiron Now. He became the first Gator since Brandon Spikes in 2009 to return two interceptions for touchdowns in a single season, and his four total interceptions tied for second of all SEC players. Tabor appeared in 13 games, nine of which were starts.
Ivey and Sharpe return experience on an offensive line that will replace just one starter from a season ago. In addition, that line helped former Gator Kelvin Taylor become just the ninth player in school history to break the 1,000-yard plateau.
On the defensive side of the ball for Florida's second-team honorees, Cox totaled 45 tackles during the 2015 season, including 10.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. In addition, the Fort Lauderdale native also forced and recovered two fumbles last season. Davis was named to Gridiron's Now All-SEC second team in 2015 as he appeared in all 14 games and totaled the second-most tackles on the team with 98. Davis' 11 tackles for loss also ranked third on the squad.
Townsend was named a first-team All-SEC performer by ESPN.com and Gridiron Now for his efforts on the field last season. In addition to being one of 10 Ray Guy Award semifinalists, the Orlando, Fla. native tallied 83 punts for an
average of 45.4 yards, which ranked third in the country and first in the conference in net punting.
Both of Florida's third-team selections came on the defensive side of the ball with Jefferson and Maye. Jefferson appeared in all 14 games a season ago and was named to the SEC Coaches All-Freshman team for his efforts on the field. The Glen St. Mary, Fla. product was a menace in the opposing teams' backfields as he tied for third on the team with 3.5 sacks.
In 2015, Maye garnered first-team All-America honors from USA Today and Pro Football Focus and honorable mention All-American honors from Sports Illustrated. In his 13 game appearances and 12 starts, Maye forced five fumbles, good for second-most in the country, and recovered two. His 82 tackles ranked fourth-most of the Gators.
Florida opens its 2016 season on Sept. 3 against UMass at 7:30 p.m. ET in The Swamp.
2016 PRESEASON MEDIA DAYS ALL-SEC TEAM
(Total points earned in parenthesis)
(331 total voters)
OFFENSE
First-Team
QB - Chad Kelly, Ole Miss (321)
RB - Leonard Fournette, LSU (329)
RB - Nick Chubb, Georgia (308)
WR - Calvin Ridley, Alabama (318)
WR - Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (223)
TE - O.J. Howard, Alabama (294)
OL - Cam Robinson, Alabama (315)
OL - Dan Skipper, Arkansas (228)
OL - Greg Pyke, Georgia (171)
OL - Alex Kozan, Auburn (165)
C - Ethan Pocic, LSU (188)
Second-Team
QB - Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee (313)
RB - Jalen Hurd, Tennessee (278)
RB - Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt (151)
WR - Malachi Dupre, LSU (167)
WR - Fred Ross, Mississippi State (139)
TE - Evan Engram, Ole Miss (214)
OL - Martez Ivey, Florida (152)
OL - William Clapp, LSU (143)
OL - David Sharpe, Florida (138)
OL - Alphonse Taylor, Alabama (137)
C - Brandon Kublanow, Georgia (121)
Third-Team
QB - Brandon Harris, LSU (25)
RB - Stanley "Boom" Williams, Kentucky (60)
RB - Jovon Robinson, Auburn (55)
WR - Ricky Seals-Jones, Texas A&M (78)
WR - Drew Morgan, Arkansas (49)
TE - Jeremy Sprinkle, Arkansas (65)
OL - Avery Gennesy, Texas A&M (120)
OL - Jashon Robertson, Tennessee (119)
OL - Braden Smith, Auburn (118)
OL - Javon Patterson, Ole Miss (113)
C - Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama (101)
DEFENSE
First-Team
DL - Jonathan Allen, Alabama (301)
DL - Myles Garrett, Texas A&M (286)
DL - Carl Lawson, Auburn (253)
DL - Derek Barnett, Tennessee (171)
LB - Reuben Foster, Alabama (265)
LB - Kendell Beckwith, LSU (231)
LB - Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Tennessee (223)
DB - Eddie Jackson, Alabama (293)
DB - Jalen Tabor, Florida (249)
DB - Tre'Davious White, LSU (221)
DB - Cameron Sutton, Tennessee (213)
Second-Team
DL - Montravius Adams, Auburn (167)
DL - Bryan Cox, Florida (105)
DL - Davon Godchaux, LSU (105)
DL - Charles Harris, Missouri (103)
LB - Tim Williams, Alabama (196)
LB - Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt (178)
LB - Jarrad Davis, Florida (160)
DB - Jamal Adams, LSU (193)
DB - Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama (188)
DB - Tony Conner, Ole Miss (146)
DB - Dominick Sanders, Georgia (145)
Third-Team
DL - Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss (102)
DL - Deatrich Wise, Arkansas (95)
DL - Cece Jefferson, Florida (85)
DL - A.J. Jefferson, Mississippi State (84)
LB - Lorenzo Carter, Georgia (92)
LB - Richie Brown, Mississippi State (84)
LB - Arden Key, LSU (76)
DB - Marcus Maye, Florida (139)
DB - Marlon Humphrey, Alabama (120)
DB - Johnathan Ford, Auburn (105)
DB - Armani Watts, Texas A&M (74)
SPECIALISTS
First-Team
P - JK Scott, Alabama (252)
PK - Daniel Carlson, Auburn (198)
RS - Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (214)
AP - Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (240)
Second-Team
P - Johnny Townsend, Florida (124)
PK - Adam Griffith, Auburn (174)
RS - Evan Berry, Tennessee (163)
AP - Alvin Kamara, Tennessee (152)
Third-Team
P - Trevor Daniel, Tennessee (97)
PK - Elliott Fry, South Carolina (91)
RS - Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia (100)
AP - Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia (112)
Players Mentioned
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