#SECMD19: Seven Gators Earn All-SEC Preseason Honors
Friday, July 19, 2019 | Football
HOOVER, Ala. – A day after the conclusion of the 2019 Southeastern Conference Media Days, the University of Florida football team was picked to finish second in the SEC's Eastern Division, while placing sixth in the voting for the SEC Champion on Friday.
Individually, Florida had seven players selected to All-SEC teams, including two first-team members, four second-team members and a third-team member.
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 Second in SEC East
The Gators were picked to finish second in the SEC Eastern Division with 1,499 points and 21 first-place votes to win the division. Georgia was selected to win the SEC Eastern Division with 1,789 points, including 233 first-place votes, while Missouri was third with 1,149 total points.
Florida enters 2019 after finishing third in the Eastern Division last season, compiling a 5-3 record in SEC play, under head coach Dan Mullen in his first year.
Alabama was picked to win the SEC Western Division with 1,813 total points, receiving 253 first-place votes, while LSU was second with 1,493 and Texas A&M was third with 1,268 points. Additionally, the Crimson Tide were also picked to win their 27th SEC title, the sixth in the last nine years, receiving 203 votes in the process.
Only seven times since 1992 has the predicted champion at SEC Media Days proceeded to win the SEC Championship Game.
EASTERN DIVISION (1st Place votes in parenthesis)
WESTERN DIVISION (1st Place votes in parenthesis)
SEC CHAMPION
Florida Places Seven on Preseason All-SEC List
UF's two first-team members were senior defensive lineman Jabari Zuniga and junior defensive back CJ Henderson, while running back Lamical Perine, linebacker David Reese II, punter Tommy Townsend, and Kadarius Toney were named to the second-team. Receiving third-team All-SEC recognition, kicker Evan McPherson rounds out the selection of Gators on the All-SEC Teams.
Zuniga appeared in and started all 13 games a season ago for the Gators as he totaled 45 total tackles, 11.0 tackles-for-loss, 6.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries. The Marietta, Ga. native earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors last fall following Florida's win vs. Colorado State after he posted a career-best 2.5 sacks, five tackles and a QB hurry.
Henderson appeared in and started all 13 games throughout the season for the Gators, regarded as one of the top cornerbacks in the entire country after totaling 38 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, three sacks, and two interceptions. The Miami, Fla. native also tallied a team-high seven pass breakups and two forced fumbles en route to garnering Coaches All-SEC Second Team accolades following the season.
Perine appeared in all 13 contests and recorded one start last season, leading the team with 134 carries, 826 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He additionally caught 13 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown, as he ranked first on the Gators in total yards (996) and second in scoring (48). Perine, a native of Mobile, Ala., was one of three players (Jordan Scarlett, Feleipe Franks) who scored at least five rushing touchdowns in 2018, marking the first time Florida has accomplished the feat since 2010.
Reese II, despite missing the first three games of the season due to an ankle injury he sustained during fall camp, finished second on the team in tackles (77) and also recorded 2.5 tackles-for-loss and one fumble recovery in 2018. The senior linebacker led the Gators with 11 tackles in their win over LSU and was named to the Bednarik Award & Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch lists during the season for his efforts.
Townsend finished the 2018 season averaging 45.4 yards per punt, as he totaled 2,315 yards on 51 punts. The Orlando, Fla. native booted 14 punts of over 50 yards and registered 24 punts inside of the 20-yard line. Against LSU, he recorded a career-long 71-yard punt, which was the seventh-longest punt in Florida football history. The redshirt senior also recorded an 18-yard gain on a fake punt in Florida's comeback win over Vanderbilt en route to being named Second Team All-SEC by Athlon Sports and being a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award. Townsend was also named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Toney played in 12 games in 2018 and saw time at wide receiver and as the team's wildcat quarterback. He finished the season with 629 all-purpose yards, totaling 25 receptions for 260 receiving yards and one touchdown, 21 rushes for 240 yards, six kickoff returns for 133 yards, one punt return and a 20-yard touchdown pass as he completed one pass on a trick play. Overall for the season, Toney recorded 12 explosive plays between rushing, receiving, passing and returns and notched his season-long rushing attempt of 34 yards in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against Michigan. Additionally, Toney was named Preseason Second Team All-SEC as an athlete last season as well.
McPherson went 17-for-19 (89.5%) on field goals and ranked tied for sixth nationally and led all freshmen in field goal percentage in 2018. Among kickers with at least 15 attempts, he ranked tied for fifth nationally and went a perfect 3-for-4 on kicks 40 yards or longer and a perfect 11-for-11 on kicks between 20 and 29 yards. McPherson was the Gators' primary kickoff specialist, netting 64.1 yards per kickoff and had a touchback percentage of 55%, while leading the Gators in scoring with 101 points. One of the 20 Lou Groza Award semifinalists, the Fort Payne, Ala. native was also named a True Freshman All-American by 247Sports.
2019 PRESEASON MEDIA DAYS ALL-SEC TEAM
OFFENSE
First-Team
QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
RB D'Andre Swift, Georgia
RB Najee Harris, Alabama
WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
WR Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
TE Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
OL Andrew Thomas, Georgia
OL Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
OL Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn
OL Jedrick Wills Jr., Alabama
C Lloyd Cushenberry, LSU
Second-Team
QB Jake Fromm, Georgia
RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt
RB Lamical Perine, Florida
WR Kalija Lipscomb, Vanderbilt
WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
TE Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt
OL Solomon Kindley, Georgia
OL Damien Lewis, LSU
OL Tre'Vour Wallace-Simms, Missouri
OL Isaiah Wilson, Georgia
C Darryl Williams, Mississippi State
Third-Team
QB Joe Burrow, LSU
RB Larry Rountree, Missouri
RB JaTarvious Whitlow, Auburn
WR Justin Jefferson, LSU
WR Bryan Edwards, South Carolina
TE *Miller Forristall, Alabama
TE *Charlie Woerner, Georgia
OL Deonte Brown, Alabama
OL Ben Cleveland, Georgia
OL Logan Stenberg, Kentucky
OL Matt Womack, Alabama
C Drake Jackson, Kentucky
DEFENSE
First-Team
DL Raekwon Davis, Alabama
DL Derrick Brown, Auburn
DL Rashard Lawrence, LSU
DL Jabari Zuniga, Florida
LB Dylan Moses, Alabama
LB Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
LB Erroll Thompson, Mississippi State
DB Grant Delpit, LSU
DB J.R. Reed, Georgia
DB Trevon Diggs, Alabama
DB C.J. Henderson, Florida
Second-Team
DL Nick Coe, Auburn
DL Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M
DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn
DL Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
LB Cale Garrett, Missouri
LB De'Jon Harris, Arkansas
LB David Reese II, Florida
DB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
DB Xavier McKinney, Alabama
DB Kristian Fulton, LSU
DB Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State
Third-Team
DL LaBryan Ray, Alabama
DL McTelvin Agim, Arkansas
DL Chauncey Rivers, Mississippi State
DL Tyler Clark, Georgia
LB Terrell Lewis, Alabama
LB Jacob Phillips, LSU
LB Kash Daniel, Kentucky
DB DeMarkus Acy, Missouri
DB Shyheim Carter, Alabama
DB Richard LeCounte, Georgia
DB Daniel Thomas, Auburn
SPECIALISTS
First-Team
P Braden Mann, Texas A&M
PK Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
RS Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
AP Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Second-Team
P Tommy Townsend, Florida
PK Anders Carlson, Auburn
RS Marquez Callaway, Tennessee
AP Kadarius Toney, Florida
Third-Team
P Arryn Siposs, Auburn
PK Evan McPherson, Florida
RS Jashaun Corbin, Texas A&M
AP Lynn Bowden, Kentucky
* - Indicates a tie
NOTES:
2019 Season Opener
The 2019 college football season will officially kick off in Orlando with a matchup between the Florida Gators and the Miami Hurricanes, which will be played on Saturday, August 24, at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
2019 Season Tickets
In 2019 the season ticket cost will be $380 plus a required booster contribution. These contributions range from $150 per seat up to $2850 per seat based on your seat location.
Individually, Florida had seven players selected to All-SEC teams, including two first-team members, four second-team members and a third-team member.
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 Second in SEC East
The Gators were picked to finish second in the SEC Eastern Division with 1,499 points and 21 first-place votes to win the division. Georgia was selected to win the SEC Eastern Division with 1,789 points, including 233 first-place votes, while Missouri was third with 1,149 total points.
Florida enters 2019 after finishing third in the Eastern Division last season, compiling a 5-3 record in SEC play, under head coach Dan Mullen in his first year.
Alabama was picked to win the SEC Western Division with 1,813 total points, receiving 253 first-place votes, while LSU was second with 1,493 and Texas A&M was third with 1,268 points. Additionally, the Crimson Tide were also picked to win their 27th SEC title, the sixth in the last nine years, receiving 203 votes in the process.
Only seven times since 1992 has the predicted champion at SEC Media Days proceeded to win the SEC Championship Game.
EASTERN DIVISION (1st Place votes in parenthesis)
| School | Points |
| Georgia (233) | 1789 |
| Florida (21) | 1499 |
| Missouri (3) | 1149 |
| South Carolina (1) | 883 |
| Tennessee (1) | 804 |
| Kentucky (1) | 798 |
| Vanderbilt | 358 |
WESTERN DIVISION (1st Place votes in parenthesis)
| School | Points |
| Alabama (253) | 1813 |
| LSU (5) | 1493 |
| Texas A&M | 1268 |
| Auburn (1) | 1090 |
| Mississippi State (1) | 769 |
| Ole Miss | 504 |
| Arkansas | 343 |
SEC CHAMPION
| Alabama | 203 |
| Georgia | 49 |
| LSU | 3 |
| Mississippi State | 1 |
| Tennessee | 1 |
| Florida | 1 |
| South Carolina | 1 |
| Auburn | 1 |
Florida Places Seven on Preseason All-SEC List
UF's two first-team members were senior defensive lineman Jabari Zuniga and junior defensive back CJ Henderson, while running back Lamical Perine, linebacker David Reese II, punter Tommy Townsend, and Kadarius Toney were named to the second-team. Receiving third-team All-SEC recognition, kicker Evan McPherson rounds out the selection of Gators on the All-SEC Teams.
Zuniga appeared in and started all 13 games a season ago for the Gators as he totaled 45 total tackles, 11.0 tackles-for-loss, 6.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries. The Marietta, Ga. native earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors last fall following Florida's win vs. Colorado State after he posted a career-best 2.5 sacks, five tackles and a QB hurry.
Henderson appeared in and started all 13 games throughout the season for the Gators, regarded as one of the top cornerbacks in the entire country after totaling 38 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, three sacks, and two interceptions. The Miami, Fla. native also tallied a team-high seven pass breakups and two forced fumbles en route to garnering Coaches All-SEC Second Team accolades following the season.
Perine appeared in all 13 contests and recorded one start last season, leading the team with 134 carries, 826 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He additionally caught 13 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown, as he ranked first on the Gators in total yards (996) and second in scoring (48). Perine, a native of Mobile, Ala., was one of three players (Jordan Scarlett, Feleipe Franks) who scored at least five rushing touchdowns in 2018, marking the first time Florida has accomplished the feat since 2010.
Reese II, despite missing the first three games of the season due to an ankle injury he sustained during fall camp, finished second on the team in tackles (77) and also recorded 2.5 tackles-for-loss and one fumble recovery in 2018. The senior linebacker led the Gators with 11 tackles in their win over LSU and was named to the Bednarik Award & Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch lists during the season for his efforts.
Townsend finished the 2018 season averaging 45.4 yards per punt, as he totaled 2,315 yards on 51 punts. The Orlando, Fla. native booted 14 punts of over 50 yards and registered 24 punts inside of the 20-yard line. Against LSU, he recorded a career-long 71-yard punt, which was the seventh-longest punt in Florida football history. The redshirt senior also recorded an 18-yard gain on a fake punt in Florida's comeback win over Vanderbilt en route to being named Second Team All-SEC by Athlon Sports and being a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award. Townsend was also named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Toney played in 12 games in 2018 and saw time at wide receiver and as the team's wildcat quarterback. He finished the season with 629 all-purpose yards, totaling 25 receptions for 260 receiving yards and one touchdown, 21 rushes for 240 yards, six kickoff returns for 133 yards, one punt return and a 20-yard touchdown pass as he completed one pass on a trick play. Overall for the season, Toney recorded 12 explosive plays between rushing, receiving, passing and returns and notched his season-long rushing attempt of 34 yards in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against Michigan. Additionally, Toney was named Preseason Second Team All-SEC as an athlete last season as well.
McPherson went 17-for-19 (89.5%) on field goals and ranked tied for sixth nationally and led all freshmen in field goal percentage in 2018. Among kickers with at least 15 attempts, he ranked tied for fifth nationally and went a perfect 3-for-4 on kicks 40 yards or longer and a perfect 11-for-11 on kicks between 20 and 29 yards. McPherson was the Gators' primary kickoff specialist, netting 64.1 yards per kickoff and had a touchback percentage of 55%, while leading the Gators in scoring with 101 points. One of the 20 Lou Groza Award semifinalists, the Fort Payne, Ala. native was also named a True Freshman All-American by 247Sports.
2019 PRESEASON MEDIA DAYS ALL-SEC TEAM
OFFENSE
First-Team
QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
RB D'Andre Swift, Georgia
RB Najee Harris, Alabama
WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
WR Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
TE Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
OL Andrew Thomas, Georgia
OL Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
OL Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn
OL Jedrick Wills Jr., Alabama
C Lloyd Cushenberry, LSU
Second-Team
QB Jake Fromm, Georgia
RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt
RB Lamical Perine, Florida
WR Kalija Lipscomb, Vanderbilt
WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
TE Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt
OL Solomon Kindley, Georgia
OL Damien Lewis, LSU
OL Tre'Vour Wallace-Simms, Missouri
OL Isaiah Wilson, Georgia
C Darryl Williams, Mississippi State
Third-Team
QB Joe Burrow, LSU
RB Larry Rountree, Missouri
RB JaTarvious Whitlow, Auburn
WR Justin Jefferson, LSU
WR Bryan Edwards, South Carolina
TE *Miller Forristall, Alabama
TE *Charlie Woerner, Georgia
OL Deonte Brown, Alabama
OL Ben Cleveland, Georgia
OL Logan Stenberg, Kentucky
OL Matt Womack, Alabama
C Drake Jackson, Kentucky
DEFENSE
First-Team
DL Raekwon Davis, Alabama
DL Derrick Brown, Auburn
DL Rashard Lawrence, LSU
DL Jabari Zuniga, Florida
LB Dylan Moses, Alabama
LB Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
LB Erroll Thompson, Mississippi State
DB Grant Delpit, LSU
DB J.R. Reed, Georgia
DB Trevon Diggs, Alabama
DB C.J. Henderson, Florida
Second-Team
DL Nick Coe, Auburn
DL Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M
DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn
DL Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
LB Cale Garrett, Missouri
LB De'Jon Harris, Arkansas
LB David Reese II, Florida
DB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
DB Xavier McKinney, Alabama
DB Kristian Fulton, LSU
DB Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State
Third-Team
DL LaBryan Ray, Alabama
DL McTelvin Agim, Arkansas
DL Chauncey Rivers, Mississippi State
DL Tyler Clark, Georgia
LB Terrell Lewis, Alabama
LB Jacob Phillips, LSU
LB Kash Daniel, Kentucky
DB DeMarkus Acy, Missouri
DB Shyheim Carter, Alabama
DB Richard LeCounte, Georgia
DB Daniel Thomas, Auburn
SPECIALISTS
First-Team
P Braden Mann, Texas A&M
PK Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
RS Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
AP Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Second-Team
P Tommy Townsend, Florida
PK Anders Carlson, Auburn
RS Marquez Callaway, Tennessee
AP Kadarius Toney, Florida
Third-Team
P Arryn Siposs, Auburn
PK Evan McPherson, Florida
RS Jashaun Corbin, Texas A&M
AP Lynn Bowden, Kentucky
* - Indicates a tie
NOTES:
- Alabama set a new record with 12 members selected to the First Team.
- The previous record was 10 by Alabama in 2017.
2019 Season Opener
The 2019 college football season will officially kick off in Orlando with a matchup between the Florida Gators and the Miami Hurricanes, which will be played on Saturday, August 24, at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
2019 Season Tickets
In 2019 the season ticket cost will be $380 plus a required booster contribution. These contributions range from $150 per seat up to $2850 per seat based on your seat location.
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
K
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
ATH
/ Football
P
/ Football
DL
/ FootballFlorida Football | Sean Kelley, Coach Sumrall, Coach Spurrier, and Coach Meyer
Friday, December 12
Florida Football | Head Coach Jon Sumrall Sits Down with Gator Greats Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer
Friday, December 12
Florida Football | Urban Meyer & Nick Saban Interview | 2025 NFF Annual Awards Dinner
Wednesday, December 10
Coach Meyer and Coach Saban - Hall of Fame 12-09-25
Wednesday, December 10
