NCAA Football Preview: All-SEC Team

NCAA Football Preview: All-SEC Team

Ryan Mallett

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One of two SEC quarterbacks to throw for more than 400 yards in a game (Florida's Tim Tebow was the other, but Mallett did it twice), the 6-foot-7 passer also had three five-touchdown games last season.

Mark Ingram

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The Heisman Trophy winner as a sophomore and offensive MVP of the BCS title game (after a 116-yard, two touchdown performance), Ingram also was a receiving threat with 32 receptions for 334 yards and three scores in 2009.

Trent Richardson

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Richardson rushed for 751 yards as a freshman, averaging 5.2 yards a carry as Ingram's backup. He racked up eight TDs and delivered a breakout performance in the BCS title game with 109 yards on 19 carries.

D.J. Williams

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Best known for his skills as a blocker, Williams is also an integral part of Arkansas' aerial attack. The Hogs' active leader in career receptions (98), receiving yards (1,228) and games played (38) will be a go-to target for QB Ryan Mallett this season.

James Carpenter

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The juco transfer started every game at left tackle on a line that allowed an average of just 1.43 sacks per game.

Mike Berry

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The 6-foot-3, 323-pounder anchors a veteran offensive line that paved the way for 212 rushing yards per game last season, fourth in the conference.

Mike Pouncey

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One of the nation's top returning linemen, the former guard has started 32 games and helped Florida lead the SEC in '09 with 457.9 yards of offense per game.

Cordy Glenn

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Big (6-foot-5, 330 pounds) and versatile, he has played right guard, left tackle and left guard.

Clint Boling

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Another Bulldog who can play just about anywhere on the line, the 6-foot-5, 310-pound Boling has been a three-year starter in Athens.

A.J. Green

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A semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award in 2009, Green was second in the SEC in catches (5.3) and receiving yards (80.8) per game as a sophomore and had a total of 53 catches for 808 yards and six touchdowns.

Julio Jones

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Despite double teams and a nagging knee injury, the 6-foot-4 speedster led all Tide receivers with 596 yards in 2009. His best performance came against LSU, when he caught four balls for 102 yards, including a 73-yard TD on a screen pass.

Pernell McPhee

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Named to the Lombardi Award watch list, the athletic juco transfer had 56 tackles (12 for loss), five sacks and four pass breakups in his first SEC season.

Jerrell Powe

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The 320-pound nosetackle helped the Rebels lead the SEC in tackles-for-loss average, with 7.38.

Marcell Dareus

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An end in the Tide's 3-4 defense, Dareus was Alabama's top pass rusher with 6.5 sacks; he was also the defensive MVP of the BCS championship game. If an ongoing NCAA investigation only costs Dareus a couple of games in 2010, he should again post all-conference numbers.

Justin Houston

Todd Kirkland/Icon SMI

The heart of the Bulldogs' 3-4 defense, in which he is a hybrid lineman-linebacker, Houston had 7.5 sacks and 18 QB hurries in 2009.

Chris Marve

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The core of the Commodores' defense topped the conference in tackles per game (10.1) as a sophomore.

Dont'a Hightower

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Considered by many the top linebacker in the country, the former Freshman All-America is expected to bounce back strong from the knee surgery that cost him most of last season.

Kelvin Sheppard

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The fourth-leading tackler in the conference (110) last year waved off the NFL for a final season on the Bayou.

Mark Barron

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One of the new leaders of the Alabama defense, Barron had 76 tackles and seven interceptions and broke up 11 passes in his sophomore season.

Ahmad Black

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The hard hitter was second on the Gators in tackles (70) despite being 5-foot-9 and 189 pounds, and had eight tackles and his first sack in the SEC title game.

Patrick Peterson

AP

The future pro held star receivers Julio Jones of Alabama and A.J. Green of Georgia to a combined seven catches and was third in the SEC in passes defended, with 15.

Stephon Gilmore

Tim Steadman/Icon SMI

Gilmore started every game for the Gamecocks in '09 and had 38 solo tackles as a true freshman.

Blair Walsh

AP

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Florida native was a popular man in Georgia in 2009, connecting on 20 of 22 field goals for the Bulldogs, including a career-long 53-yarder against No. 9 Oklahoma State. He also kicked a 37-yard field goal as time expired to beat Arizona State.

Drew Butler

Todd Kirkland/Icon SMI

Part Two of Georgia' one-two punch, Butler averaged 48.1 yards a punt to lead the nation and had 19 of his 56 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He was a consensus first-team All-America.

Randall Cobb

John Sommers II/Icon SMI

The multitalented Cobb had 1,673 all-purpose yards in '09; he ranked third in the SEC in punt returns (12.8 yards per attempt) and would have ranked fifth in kickoff returns (26.5) but did not have enough chances. Cobb also starred at wide receiver and played QB in Kentucky's "WildCobb" formation.

Warren Norman

Jeremy Brevard/Icon SMI

Another dynamic all-purpose player, Norman was named SEC Freshman of the Year, in part for breaking the conference record for total kickoff return yardage (1,050 yards, a 26.2 average) and tying a record by returning three kickoffs for touchdowns in a single season.

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