#SECMD18: Eight Gators Earn All-SEC Preseason Honors
Friday, July 20, 2018 | Football
ATLANTA – A day after the conclusion of the 2018 Southeastern Conference Media Days, the University of Florida football team was selected to finish third in the SEC's Eastern Division this season, while coming in fifth in the voting for the SEC champion.
Individually, UF had eight players selected to the All-SEC Team on Friday. The list of eight Gators was comprised of two first-team members, two second-team members and four third-team members.
The selections were voted on by those in attendance at the conference's annual week-long event, the unofficial start of the new football season each season.
Florida Selected to Finish Third in SEC East
The Gators were picked to finish third in the SEC Eastern Division with four first-place vote and 1,441 total points, ranking behind South Carolina and Georgia. The Bulldogs were predicted to finish first in the division with 1,977 points and 271 first-place votes.
UF enters 2018 after finishing fifth in the Eastern Division last season, posting a 3-5 record in SEC play. Prior to 2017, the Gators were the two-time defending Eastern Division champion with a 13-3 record in conference games.
Alabama was tabbed to win the SEC Western Division with 263 first-place votes and 1,971 points. The Crimson Tide were also picked to win their 26th SEC title, the fifth in the last eight years, collecting 193 points in the voting process.
Just six times since 1992 has the predicted champion at SEC Media Days proceeded to win the SEC Championship. Media in attendance have correctly predicted the eventual champion two of the last five seasons.
EASTERN DIVISION (1st Place votes in parenthesis)
School Points
Georgia (271) 1977
South Carolina (8) 1535
Florida (4) 1441
Missouri 1057
Kentucky (1) 874
Tennessee (1) 704
Vanderbilt 392
WESTERN DIVISION (1st Place votes in parenthesis)
School Points
Alabama (263) 1971
Auburn (19) 1664
Mississippi State (2) 1239
Texas A&M 1091
LSU 1025
Ole Miss 578
Arkansas 412
SEC CHAMPION
School Points
Alabama 193
Georgia 69
Auburn 14
South Carolina 4
Florida 2
Mississippi State 1
Missouri 1
Gators Place Eight on Preseason All-SEC list
Florida's two first-team members were senior offensive lineman Martez Ivey and senior defensive lineman Cece Jefferson, while the defensive backs Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and CJ Henderson were named to the second-team. Garnering third-team All-SEC accolades were running back Jordan Scarlett, linebacker David Reese, defensive back Marco Wilson and athlete Kadarius Toney.
Ivey, a senior majoring in African-American studies, played and started in all 11 games last season. He started the first nine games at left tackle and the final two contests of the season at left guard. He was only one of two Gators offensive linemen to start every game. The Apopka, Fla. Native was named to the Second Team All-SEC by the league's Coaches and the AP, while garnering Third Team All-SEC honors by Athlon sports.
Jefferson, a three-year starter, choose to return for his senior season at UF after being. The African-American studies major played in all 11 games and recorded eight starts at defensive end. Overall, the Glen St. Mary, Fla. native recorded 47 tackles, which ranked fourth on the team. He led the team in tackles-for-loss (13.5 for 38 yards) and sacks (4.5 for 14 yards). He earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his career-best 1.5 sack performance against Kentucky. He also recorded one pass breakup and six quarterback hurries, which ranked second on the team.
Gardner-Johnson, played and started in all 11 games last season. The African-American studies junior played safety all season following a preseason injury to Marcell Harris. With his 58 tackles, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, six tackles-for-loss and one sack, the Cocoa, Fla. Native ranked third on the team in passes defended and second on the team in tackles.
Henderson, a social and behavioral sciences major, gathered Second Team All-SEC honors by the AP, Third Team All-SEC accolades from Phil Steele and Freshman All-SEC honors by the league's coaches. He appeared in all 11 games of his freshman season and started five contests. The Miami, Fla. Native totaled 22 tackles, four interceptions (two returned for a touchdown) and four pass break-ups. He tallied his interceptions returned for a touchdown against Michigan and Tennessee in the first two games of the season and became the only true freshman in UF history to return an interception for a touchdown in consecutive games. In addition, Henderson is the only player in school history to accomplish that feat in records dating back to 1965. Since 1996, he is the only true freshman in the nation to have returned interceptions for touchdowns in consecutive games. He was also tied for second in the nation overall with his two interceptions returned for touchdowns and was one of 13 true freshman to have recorded at least one pick-six during the season. Finally, he is now tied for first in program history for most interceptions returned for a touchdown in a season, with the all-time record for a career sitting at four. His four interceptions tied for team lead and ranked 29th in the nation and third in the SEC.
Scarlett, a redshirt junior majoring in African American studies, last played for the Gators in 2016 but earned his place on the watch list once again. He led the 2016 Gators' rushing offense with 889 yards and six touchdowns on 179 carries. With his 889 yards, the Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native became the first freshman or sophomore to garner that high a number since the 1995 season. He recorded three 100-plus yard games in 2016, including a career-high 134 yards against South Carolina. He was credited with 48 missed tackles last season, putting him atop the SEC and 16th nationally in that category. Scarlett eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for his career in the 2016 Outback Bowl victory against Iowa, putting up 94 yards on the ground.
Reese, a sports management major, did not miss a start last season after returning from surgery on both wrists. The Farmington, MI. native led the team in tackles (102) and finished second on the team in tackles-for-loss (10). He also tallied 1.5 sacks, one interception and one quarterback hurry in 2017. Reese became the third Gators linebacker to record 100-plus tackles in a season since 2007 and only the second since 2010. He surpassed the 100-tackle mark when he posted a career-best 14 tackles against Florida State. He led the team in tackling in 10 out of the 11 games and became the first Gator linebacker to intercept a pass since 2017. Reese enters his junior season with 23 games played, 151 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss and one defensive PAT.
Wilson, a Coaches Freshman All-SEC selection in 2017, garnered a spot on the watch list after being only the fourth true freshman to start at cornerback on opening day in program history. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native started all 11 games throughout the season at cornerback. Wilson, a social and behavioral sciences major, totaled 34 tackles and a team-high 10 pass breakups. Those 10 breakups were the most by a true freshman in Florida history since 2013.
Toney, a sophomore majoring in social and behavioral sciences, played in eight games as he battled a myriad of injuries throughout the season. He started two contests, one at running back and one at wide receiver and also split time as the team's wildcat quarterback. The Mobile, Ala. native finished the season with 287 all-purpose yards as he totaled 14 receptions for 121 receiving yards and one touchdown, 15 rushes for 152 yards, one kickoff return for 15 yards and 50 yards passing as he completed one pass on two attempts.
OFFENSE
First-Team
- QB Drew Lock, Missouri
- RB Damien Harris, Alabama
- RB Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky
- WR A.J. Brown, Ole Miss
- WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
- TE Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
- OL Jonah Williams, Alabama
- OL Greg Little, Ole Miss
- OL Martez Ivey, Florida
- OL Trey Smith, Tennessee
- C Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama
Second-Team
- QB Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
- RB D'Andre Swift, Georgia
- RB Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M
- WR Terry Godwin, Georgia
- WR Ryan Davis, Auburn
- TE Isaac Nauta, Georgia
- OL Andrew Thomas, Georgia
- OL Lester Cotton, Alabama
- OL Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas
- OL Garrett Brumfield, LSU
- C Lamont Gaillard, Georgia
Third-Team
- *QB Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State
- *QB Jake Fromm, Georgia
- RB Aeris Williams, Mississippi State
- RB Jordan Scarlett, Florida
- WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
- WR Emanuel Hall, Missouri
- TE C.J. Conrad, Kentucky
- OL Matt Womack, Alabama
- OL Zack Bailey, South Carolina
- OL Javon Patterson, Ole Miss
- OL Marquel Harrell, Auburn
- C Erik McCoy, Texas A&M
DEFENSE
First-Team
- DL Raekwon Davis, Alabama
- DL Cece Jefferson, Florida
- DL Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
- DL Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
- LB Devin White, LSU
- LB Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
- LB Mack Wilson, Alabama
- DB Deandre Baker, Georgia
- DB Greedy Williams, LSU
- DB J.R. Reed, Georgia
- DB Deionte Thompson, Alabama
Second-Team
- DL Jonathan Ledbetter, Georgia
- DL Terry Beckner, Missouri
- DL Derrick Brown, Auburn
- DL Isaiah Buggs, Alabama
- LB Josh Allen, Kentucky
- LB Deshaun Davis, Auburn
- LB D'Andre Walker, Georgia
- DB Mike Edwards, Kentucky
- DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida
- DB Jamel Dean, Auburn
- DB CJ Henderson, Florida
Third-Team
- DL Dontavius Russell, Auburn
- DL Rashard Lawrence, LSU
- DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn
- *DL Kingsley Keke, Texas A&M
- *DL Landis Durham, Texas A&M
- LB Dylan Moses, Alabama
- LB David Reese, Florida
- LB De'Jon Harris, Arkansas
- DB Mark McLaurin, Mississippi State
- DB Marco Wilson, Florida
- DB Javaris Davis, Auburn
- DB Santos Ramirez, Arkansas
SPECIALISTS
First-Team
- P Corey Fatony, Missouri
- PK Rodrigo Blakenship, Georiga
- RS Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
- AP Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
Second-Team
- P Joseph Charlton, South Carolina
- PK Daniel LaCamera, Texas A&M
- RS Mecole Hardman, Georgia
- AP Trevon Diggs, Alabama
Third-Team
- P Zach Von Rosenberg, LSU
- PK Tucker McCann, Missouri
- RS Trevon Diggs, Alabama
- AP Kadarius Toney, Florida
* - Indicates a tie
NOTES:
* - Since 2000, Arkansas' Darren McFadden (Arkansas) is the only unanimous selection to the SEC Media Days First Team at his position, collecting all possible votes that year.
* - Since 1992, the most players on a first-team was 10 by Alabama in 2017.
2018 Season Opener
The 2018 college football season will officially kick off in Gainesville with a matchup between the Florida Gators and the Charleston Southern Buccaneers, which will be played on Saturday, Sept. 1, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. at 7:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
It will be the second-ever meeting between the Gators and the Buccaneers. UF holds a 1-0 record over Charleston Southern following a 62-3 victory in 2009.
2018 Season Tickets
Tickets start at $380 per seat plus a Gators Boosters contribution bonus, which ranks seventh among Southeastern Conference schools. Contribution levels for this fall remain the same for the fifth-straight year.
2018 Mini-Plan Tickets
Fans can choose two games from two different plan options, both featuring one Southeastern Conference matchup and one non-conference matchup.
There are limited quantities available of the mini-plans and they are priced as follows:
Orange Plan
- Games included:
- Missouri (Homecoming) and a non-conference game ($70)
Blue Plan
- Games included:
- South Carolina and a non-conference game ($80)
Follow the Gator Ticket Office on twitter at @GatorsTix for all the latest information on Gator tickets.
