Three Florida Gators Named to Preseason All-SEC Team

Three Florida Gators have been named to the All-SEC third team, according to a preseason poll of media cast during SEC Media Days in Nashville (Tenn.) Monday-Thursday.

Running back Trevor Etienne, edge rusher Princely Umanmielen and cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. represent the orange and blue on the list, earning nods as third-team selections.

Etienne, a sophomore, enters the fold after a stellar year one in Gainesville, where he racked up 719 yards, 6.1 yards per rush and six touchdowns on 118 carries.

Taking over a near-even split of the carries after starting third in the rotation as a freshman, Etienne proved to be an elusive and creative runner who could spark the Gators' offense. He'll be expected to help sustain Florida's attack again in 2023 as a feature piece in the backfield alongside fellow ball carrier Montrell Johnson.

Florida's two named defenders align below other recent All-SEC projections.

Earlier this week, Umanmielen and Marshall earned first-team All-SEC honors from PFF. That list also included Etienne and offensive tackle Austin Barber as third-team selections.

As Umanmielen ventures into a new role this year, after securing 39 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 2022, there are high expectations for his production. As a result, he's considered a potential fast riser in the draft process next April.

However, the relative unknown surrounding his consistency and early acclimation to his new edge rusher position lands him on the third team.

As a legitimate candidate to earn a first-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, Marshall's become a keynote talking point as an individual performer and a pillar of the Gators' potential defensive resurgence in the upcoming campaign. Usually, that would correlate to a first-or second-team selection.

That's not the case here.

Despite that high praise for his anticipated year three display, Marshall's third-team selection — albeit still an honor — doesn't replicate the lofty expectations he's garnered elsewhere throughout the offseason.

The Gators are projected to finish fifth in the SEC East this season, sitting below Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and Kentucky but ahead of Missouri and Vanderbilt in the predicted end-of-year standings.

Below you can find the entire All-SEC Team as voted on by media members at the 2023 SEC Media Days.

2023 PRESEASON MEDIA DAYS ALL-SEC TEAM

OFFENSE

First-Team

QB – Jayden Daniels, LSU

RB - Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss

RB – Raheim Sanders, Arkansas

WR - Malik Nabers, LSU

WR - Ladd McConkey, Georgia

TE - Brock Bowers, Georgia

OL – JC Latham, Alabama

OL - Amarius Mims, Georgia

OL - Tate Ratledge, Georgia

OL - Will Campbell, LSU

C - Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia

Second-Team

QB – KJ Jefferson, Arkansas

RB - Jase McClellan, Alabama

RB - Kendall Milton, Georgia

WR - Antwane Wells, South Carolina

*WR - Bru McCoy, Tennessee

*WR - Ja'Corey Brooks, Alabama

TE - Mason Taylor, LSU

OL - Tyler Booker, Alabama

OL - Brady Latham, Arkansas

OL - Javon Foster, Missouri

OL - Xavier Truss, Georgia

C - Seth McLaughlin, Alabama

Third-Team

*QB – Joe Milton III, Tennessee

*QB - Will Rogers, Mississippi State

RB - Jarquez Hunter, Auburn

RB - Trevor Etienne, Florida

WR - Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

WR - Jermaine Burton, Alabama

TE - Trey Knox, South Carolina

OL - Emery Jones, LSU

OL - Eli Cox, Kentucky

OL - Javontez Spraggins, Tennessee

OL - Layden Robinson, Texas A&M

C - Cooper Mays, Tennessee

DEFENSE

First-Team

DL - Mekhi Wingo, LSU

DL - Mykel Williams, Georgia

DL - Maason Smith, LSU

DL - Nazir Stackhouse, Georgia

LB - Dallas Turner, Alabama

LB - Harold Perkins, LSU

LB - Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia

DB - Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

DB - Malaki Starks, Georgia

DB - Kamari Lassiter, Georgia

DB - Javon Bullard, Georgia

Second-Team

DL - Jaheim Oatis, Alabama

DL - McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M

DL - Justin Eboigbe, Alabama

DL - Deone Walker, Kentucky

LB - Smael Mondon, Georgia

LB - Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State

LB - Ty'Ron Hopper, Missouri

DB - Malachi Moore, Alabama

DB - Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas

DB - Demani Richardson, Texas A&M

DB - Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri

Third-Team

DL - Princely Umanmielen, Florida

DL - Tonka Hemingway, South Carolina

DL - Tim Smith, Alabama

DL - Darius Robinson, Missouri

LB - Chris Braswell, Alabama

LB - Jalon Walker, Georgia

LB - JJ Weaver, Kentucky

DB - Major Burns, LSU

DB - D.J. James, Auburn

DB - Nehemiah Pritchett, Auburn

DB - Jason Marshall Jr., Florida

SPECIALISTS

First-Team

P - Kai Kroeger, South Carolina

PK - Will Reichard, Alabama

LS - Kneeland Hibbett, Alabama

KOS – Mitch Jeter, South Carolina

RS - Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

AP - Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

Second-Team

P - Nik Constantinou, Texas A&M

PK - Harrison Mevis, Missouri

LS – Slade Roy, LSU

KOS - Nathan Dibert, LSU

RS - Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

AP - Tulu Griffin, Mississippi State

Third-Team

P - Oscar Chapman, Auburn

PK - Alex McPherson, Auburn

LS - William Mote, Georgia

RS - Tulu Griffin, Mississippi State

AP - Dakereon Joyner, South Carolina

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