Six LSU players earn seven slots on All-SEC first team
LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery is about to hit Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson in LSU's win 41-17 Nov. 25. Montgomery is one of six LSU player on the preseason All-SEC team.
Six LSU players earn seven slots on All-SEC first team
There’s little doubt the LSU football team will wear a bull’s-eye this season.
More proof came Thursday when the Southeastern Conference office released the coaches’ preseason All-SEC team. The Tigers had a total of 11 selections on the first, second and third teams, matching Alabama for the most picks from one school.
Junior Tyrann Mathieu, a finalist for the Heisman Trophy last season, made the preseason first team at defensive back and return specialist.
Other first-teamers for the Tigers were senior offensive lineman Alex Hurst, junior defensive linemen Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo, junior defensive back Eric Reid and sophomore punter Brad Wing.
Last year, LSU had only cornerback Morris Claiborne on the preseason All-SEC first team.
The Tigers showed throughout the 2011 season they had the individual talent to match their preseason top-five ranking, going 13-0 in the regular season, winning their first SEC title since 2007 and earning a spot in the BCS Championship Game against Alabama.
This year’s team enters the year with even bigger expectations thanks to the return of 15 starters.
In addition to the league-high six players (at seven positions) LSU had selected to the preseason first team, the Tigers had junior offensive lineman Chris Faulk, sophomore wide receiver Odell Beckham and placekicker Drew Alleman on the second team and running back Spencer Ware on the third.
Alabama put four players on the preseason first team: offensive linemen Barrett Jones and D.J. Fluker and linebackers Nico Johnson and C.J. Mosley.
The preseason accolades for the LSU players continues a a mounting list of individual honors this summer.
The Tigers have had players mentioned on preseason watch lists for the Outland (Faulk, Hurst and defensive lineman Bennie Logan), Nagurski (Mathieu, Mingo, Montgomery and Reid), Lou Groza (Alleman), Ray Guy (Wing), Mackey (tight end Chase Clement), Rimington (center P.J. Lonergan) and Bednarik (Mathieu, Montgomery, Mingo and Reid) awards. Also, Montgomery and Reid were named to the Lott Award watch list in the spring.
Tulane senior linebacker Trent Mackey was also named to the Bronko Nagurski watch list.