Phil Steele releases 2023 preseason All-SEC team

Phil Steele, one of the preeminent preseason previewers of college football, is back again with his 2023 college football preview magazine. And he picked out his All-SEC preseason teams, first through fourth, with plenty of intrigue within.

Unsurprisingly, the likes of Alabama, Georgia and LSU dominate the All-SEC first team. Georgia led all schools with seven players across the first team offense, defense and special teams. Alabama and LSU each had five players represented, but Alabama had one player take up two spots, as he also features as a returner on special teams.

Auburn, Florida, Tennessee and Texas A&M all failed to land a player on the first team. Arkansas, Missouri and Vanderbilt each placed one player on the roster while Kentucky, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and South Carolina each nabbed a pair of preseason All-SEC first teamers in Steele’s preview. Check out the entire first through fourth teams below.

QB: Jayden Daniels, LSU

One of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the entire country opted to come back to LSU to try and push the Tigers over the hump in 2023. With a blend of top-end speed and adept downfield passing, Daniels could be the spark plug that propels LSU into College Football Playoff contention in Year 2 under Brian Kelly.

In 2022, Daniels set a career-high mark for completion percentage, connecting on 68.3% of his passes. He also tied his career high with 17 passing touchdowns. With LSU’s array of pass catching talent, he should have a chance to put up an even gaudier stat line in 2023.

RB: Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders, Arkansas

One of the most productive running backs in 2022 is back for more in the run-happy Arkansas offense. Playing alongside dual-threat quarterback KJ Jefferson, Sanders has a chance to be one of the most punishing, effective backs in the country in 2023.

Sanders rushed for 1443 yards and 10 scores in 2022 at a 6.5 yards per carry clip. He also caught 28 passes for nearly 300 yards and two more touchdowns. And at 6-foot-2 and around 220 pounds, Sanders brings a blend of speed and power that punishes opponents as much as they punish him.

RB: Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss

Arguably the biggest breakout star in the SEC in 2022, Judkins will have the backfield to himself in 2022. Last season, he was in a timeshare with another top shelf running back, Zach Evans. Evans is off to the NFL now, leaving a lion’s share of carries to Judkins.

If his 2022 performance is any sort of baseline, he’s poised for a stellar 2023. Judkins had 1567 yards at a 5.7 yards per carry clip as a true freshman while punching in 16 touchdowns on the ground. As Ole Miss retools a number of other positions on offense, Judkins can put the team on his back carrying the ball and earn first team All-SEC honors.

WR: Malik Nabers, LSU

The next in a line of top-shelf LSU wideout, Nabers looks poised for an elite 2023 season after his strong finish to 2022. That, plus the departure of some other receivers to the NFL paves the way for him to shine in the LSU passing attack.

He jumped from 28 receptions in 2021 to 72 in 2022 while going for 1017 yards and three touchdowns. In LSU’s final two games of 2022, against Georgia and Purdue, Nabers caught 14 passes for 291 yards and a pair of scores, surpassing the 100-yard mark in each game. Continuing that level into 2023 gives him a chance to be one of the nation’s best.

WR: Antwane Wells, South Carolina

An FCS up transfer in 2022, Wells shone for a surprise 8-5 South Carolina team. He developed a strong rapport with fellow transfer quarterback Spencer Rattler and was one of the Gamecocks main offensive weapons.

He didn’t crack the 1000-yard mark on the season, catching 68 passes for 928 yards and six touchdowns in 2022. But he’s set the table for an even better 2023 campaign as South Carolina pushes to be more than just a feisty mid-level team in the SEC East.

WR: Jermaine Burton, Alabama

Burton was an intra-conference transfer ahead of 2022, moving from defending national champions Georgia to play for Alabama. His 2022 season didn’t go quite as he likely imagined, as Alabama finished 10-2. Even still, he caught a career-high 40 passes for 677 yards and seven touchdowns.

Burton and the rest of the Alabama offense will be without the luxury of Bryce Young, but a sure-handed, veteran receiver like Burton will be a safe target for whoever is stepping in at quarterback for Alabama. The top level talent is still there for Burton to have a breakout season, too.

TE: Brock Bowers, Georgia

One of the best offensive weapons in college football the past two seasons, Bowers was an easy choice. He’s the best tight end in the country, let alone his conference. Bowers is physically dominant, combining elite size, speed and movement skills with quality pass-catching skills and a willingness to mix it up blocking.

His stats through two college seasons (30 games): 119 receptions, 1824 receiving yards and 24 total touchdowns. Bowers will be a first round draft pick in 2024 after another year of terrorizing opposing SEC defenses and likely ending the season as a first team All-SEC player.

C: Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia

Georgia hasn’t won back-to-back national titles without dominant trench play. A number of recent and former Bulldogs dot NFL offensive lines and Van Pran is on track to follow their footsteps. The fourth-year center has been a stalwart for Georgia after playing a reserve role as a freshman.

Van Pran has started all 30 games for Georgia the past two seasons, heading up an offensive line that helped the likes of Bowers and others pour on points. He was on the watchlist for the Rimington Trophy in 2022, given annually to the best center in college football, and should be back in the running in 2023.

OG: Jeremy James, Ole Miss

Judkins wasn’t doing it all by himself as a freshman, and James was a big reason why the Ole Miss rushing attack was so potent. After earning freshman All-American honors in 2020 after playing at right guard, James has played some at tackle the past two seasons.

In 2022, James started out at right tackle before eventually sliding inside to guard again. He finished the year at right guard and the 6-foot-5, 305 pound senior should be an anchor for Ole Miss no matter where he plays in 2023.

OG: Tate Ratledge, Georgia

Ratledge’s career at Georgia took a while to get off the ground, but once it did he established himself as one of the premier interior linemen in the sport. He played sparingly as a true freshman in 2020 before being slotted in as a starter ahead of 2021. An injury in the opener kept him out the rest of the way.

In 2022, Ratledge was back and started 14 of 15 games for the Bulldogs as they won a second-straight national title. A former Top 100 recruit, the talent and physical ability were never in doubt. Now that he’s healthy, Ratledge is likely to be one of the best linemen in the conference, well deserving of his All-SEC status.

OT: JC Latham, Alabama

Latham made the right tackle job at Alabama his in 2022, taking hold of the job and starting all 13 games. And following a few seasons where Alabama hasn’t exactly been the punishing force on the offensive line, he’s got a chance to anchor a group that can restore some of the shine.

A true junior, 2022 was Latham’s first real sustained period of play at the college level, suggesting he’s still got some room to improve both in terms of technique and, at just 20-years-old, physically.

OT: Will Campbell, LSU

Campbell was thrown into the fire in 2022 as LSU started him at tackle as a true freshman during Year 1 under Kelly. But the gambit seems to have paid off. Kelly noted that they took some lumps up front in 2022, but the benefit is not having to do it in 2023.

Campbell is part of an LSU offensive line that returns all five starters. And arguably the best of them all, Campbell will again be tasked with protecting Daniels’ blindside. The 2022 freshman All-American will have a chance to become a fully-fledged one in 2023.

DE: Mykel Williams, Georgia

The first of four Georgia defenders on this list, Williams will step in to follow the many Bulldogs edge rushers who have harassed and sacked SEC quarterbacks. As a true freshman in 2022, he didn’t start much but played in all 15 games as a rotational pass rusher, mostly.

Williams produced promising results — enough to earn him a nod as likely one of the best pass rushers in the SEC this season. One of the top recruits in the entire country in the 2022 signing class, Williams is likely just scratching the surface of his ultimate abilities. It’s no surprise to see Steele is bullish, placing him on the first team All-SEC preseason squad.

DT: Deone Walker, Kentucky

Kentucky boasted a Top 50 rushing defense in 2022 and Walker was a big reason why. The hulking interior defensive lineman is hard to move and just getting started. At 6-foot-6 and nearly 350 pounds, he stepped in as a true freshman in 2022 and earned freshman All-American honors from a number of places.

He started 11 of 13 games as a true freshman and recorded 4.5 tackles for a loss and a sack. More important than counting stats, Walker is the sort of plugging, powerful defensive tackle you might just have to run around and not through. He’ll be a centerpiece for the Kentucky defense in 2023 and beyond, with plenty of chances to earn All-SEC honors.

DT: Mekhi Wingo, LSU

After playing 11 games as a true freshman in 2021 at Missouri, Wingo transferred to LSU and joined the Tigers during the first year under Kelly. He immediately established himself as a presence on the defensive interior for LSU, particularly in the absence of Maason Smith for most of the season.

Wingo made 13 starts in 2022 and recorded six tackles for loss, three sacks and batted down four passes. He’s a disruptive playmaker in the middle and should form a fearsome tandem alongside Smith as LSU features a number of All-SEC defenders.

DE: JJ Weaver, Kentucky

Weaver will be entering his fifth year of collegiate play in 2023, all of them with Kentucky. Counted as a defensive end by Steele, the Wildcats list him as an outside linebacker. In any regard, he’s been an impactful defender and figures to be again in 2023.

Weaver has provided an all-around impact for the Wildcats in recent years. On his career, he has 23.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, seven passes defensed, three forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions. His ability to impact the game in a variety of ways has been, and should continue to be, a boon for Kentucky.

LB: Harold Perkins, LSU

If Judkins was the breakout freshman in the league on offense, Perkins was his defensive counterpart. One of the top linebacker recruits in the 2022 class, Perkins started slow before bursting on the scene around halfway through the season. His nearly single-handed defeat of Arkansas put the league on notice.

As a sophomore, Perkins will be on every scouting report but his speed, power and bend when getting downhill as a pass rusher or a run defender are elite. He’s raw as an off-ball linebacker, but LSU likely has the luxury of deploying him primarily around the line of scrimmage.

LB: Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia

Dumas-Johnson had to sit back and let the likes of Nakobe Dean, Channing Tindall and Nolan Smith stand out at linebacker before he got a chance to shine. But when Smith went down with an injury early in 2022, Dumas-Johnson seized his chance.

In 15 games in 2022, Dumas-Johnson had 70 total tackles, including nine for a loss, plus four sacks, three passes defensed and a forced fumble. He’s can be the next elite sideline-to-sideline Georgia linebacker, playing something of an eraser role in the middle of the defense.

LB: Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State

High-level production was the name of the game for Watson in 2022. As Mississippi State continued to run the 3-3-5 defense preferred by now-head coach Zach Arnett, Watson racked up dozens of tackles. His 113 total tackles ranked second in the SEC, trailing only teammate Jett Johnson.

Both Watson and Johnson will be back for Mississippi State for their sixth years, enabled by the additional year of Covid eligibility. There’s no reason to think Watson can’t again be one of the most productive linebackers in the league.

LB: Dallas Turner, Alabama

Listed as a linebacker but truly an edge rusher, Turner will be following in the footsteps of No. 3 overall draft pick Will Anderson. And he’s got the tools to live up to the legacy left by one of Alabama’s best-ever pass rushers.

In two seasons so far at Alabama, Turner has played in all 28 games while recording 18 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. He’ll be getting more attention from the opposition in 2023, but he could be a double-digit sack candidate this season.

CB: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

Arguably the best cover corner in college football, McKinstry is entering his third and likely final year in Tuscaloosa. Since arriving as a true freshman in 2021, he’s been a constant in the Crimson Tide secondary. He was All-SEC caliber in 2022 and should be again in 2023.

His interception numbers aren’t as high as desired — just two in 28 games — but he stepped up his ball production big time in 2022. After defending two passes in 2021, McKinstry defended 16 in 2022, leading the conference. Trying to throw it his way was not likely to end well for the offense. He’ll be one of the top corners in the 2024 NFL Draft class.

CB: Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri

Flying under the radar slightly as Missouri floats around the middle of the league, the Tigers defense has been excellent. Abrams-Draine plays as key a role in that as any defender. The physical, aggressive corner finished behind only McKinstry in terms of passes broken up with 14. He had three interceptions in 2021 before not recording a turnover in 2022.

More ball production in 2023 would surely be welcomed, but Abrams-Draine being a stout, competitive defender on the outside will be enough to hold up his end of the bargain for Missouri.

S: Javon Bullard, Georgia

The first of two safeties to round out the defense, Bullard has played in 28 games the last two seasons for Georgia. He eventually moved into a starting role as a sophomore, starting 10 games.

After a bit of a sluggish start to the season, Bullard started to turn it up down the stretch. He finished the season with 58 total tackles and a handful of passes defensed. He capped it all off with a pair of interceptions in the national championship. Carrying that form over into 2023 will be key.

S: Malaki Starks, Georgia

A true freshman in 2022, Starks did not take long to announce his presence at the next level with his highlight interception against Oregon in the season opener. From there, he took some lumps in coverage as a freshman, but showed obvious physical tools that got him on the field.

With a year of experience — including a pair of picks and nine passes defensed — Starks will slot in next to Bullard to form a fearsome safety duo. Well deserving of their All-SEC honors heading into 2023.

K: Will Reichard, Alabama

Alabama’s regular kicker for the past three seasons, Reichard has been a pillar of reliability at the kicker position. He’s back for a graduate season with the Crimson Tide and should fuel a steady kicking game.

He’s made more than 80% of his career field goal attempts and has reached out to a long of 52. The days of Alabama having questionable kickers are certainly over, partly thanks to Reichard of late.

P: Kai Kroeger, South Carolina

South Carolina had one of the best special teams units in the country in 2022. The margins that the Gamecocks generated in the third phase of play is a big part of why they went 8-5, overachieving on most expectations.

Kroeger was integral to that, a field position weapon capable of consistently pinning opponents deep. A first-team All-American for any number of outlets in 2022, it was easy to pick Kroeger to be the best punter in the SEC again in 2023 and place him first team All-SEC.

KR: Lideatrick Griffin, Mississippi State

The national leader in kickoff return yards in 2022, Griffin is a danger every time he touches the ball either as a receiver or kick returner. His 32.2 yards per return in 2022 were actually the second best mark in conference history.

With a pair of kick return TDs on his career, it’s not just yardage that Griffin can produce. He’s a bolt of lightning on special teams capable of punishing an unsound kickoff coverage unit.

PR: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

The only man to make this All-SEC first team twice, McKinstry’s abilities as a punt returner as a testament to his sheer athleticism. Along with being sure-handed enough to be trusted catching and carrying the ball, McKinstry has some real ability in the open field as a ball carrier.

He returned 21 punts for an average of 15.8 yards in 2022. While it might seem insignificant, there aren’t many defensive players who accounted directly for 332 yards of field position for their team, special teams or otherwise.

LS: Wesley Schelling, Vanderbilt

Much like a lot of other names on this list, the logic for Schelling is straightforward: He was the first-team performer a year ago and is back again. No one else showed up to unseat him, so Schelling should again be the creme of the crop of SEC long snappers.

His fumble recovery against Florida in 2022 earned him conference special teams player of the week honors. He’s an easy pick to repeat as All-SEC.

Phil Steele’s second team preseason All-SEC team

OFFENSE
QB: KJ Jefferson, Arkansas
RB: Jarquez Hunter, Auburn
RB: Jase McClellan, Alabama
WR: Ladd McConkey, Georgia
WR: Will Sheppard, Vanderbilt
WR: Bru McCoy, Tennessee
TE: Mason Taylor, LSU
C: Beaux Limmer, Arkansas
OG: Kenneth Horsey, Kentucky
OG: Tyler Booker, Alabama
OT: Javon Foster, Missouri
OT: Micah Pettus, Ole Miss

DEFENSE
DE: Darius Robinson, Missouri
DT: McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M
DT: Jaheim Oatis, Alabama
DE: Ovie Oghoufu, LSU
LB: Jett Johnson, Mississippi State
LB: Christopher Paul, Arkansas
LB: Smael Mondon, Georgia
LB: Tykee Smith, Georgia (plays corner)
CB: Nehemiah Pritchett, Auburn
CB: Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas
S: Jaylon Carlies, Missouri
S: Malachi Moore, Alabama

SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Harrison Mevis, Missouri
P: Jeremy Crawshaw, Florida
KR: Barion Brown, Kentucky
PR: Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
LS: Slade Roy, LSU

Phil Steele’s third team preseason All-SEC team

OFFENSE
QB: Joe Milton, Tennessee
RB: Kendall Milton, Georgia
RB: Ray Davis, Kentucky
WR: Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
WR: Luther Burden, Missouri
WR: Picky Pearsall, Florida
TE: Caden Prieskorn, Ole Miss
C: Kingsley Eguakan, Florida
OG: Layden Robinson, Texas A&M
OG: Xavier Truss, Georgia
OT: Amarius Mims, Georgia
OT: Emery Jones, LSU

DEFENSE
DE: Princely Umanmielen, Florida
DT: Maason Smith, LSU
DT: Tonka Hemingway, South Carolina
DE: Justin Eboigbe, Alabama
LB: Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri
LB: Deontae Lawson, Alabama
LB: Cam Riley, Auburn
LB: Omar Speights, LSU
CB: Marcellas Dial, South Carolina
CB: Daylen Everette, Georgia
S: De’Rickey Wright, Vanderbilt
S: Demani Richardson, Texas A&M

SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Alex McPherson, Auburn
P: Oscar Chapman, Auburn
KR: Brian Battie, Auburn
PR: Dee Williams, Tennessee
LS: Hunter Rogers, South Carolina

Phil Steele’s fourth team preseason All-SEC team

OFFENSE
QB: Will Rogers, Mississippi State
RB: Trevor Etienne, Florida
RB: Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
WR: Ja’Corey Brooks, Alabama
WR: Barion Brown, Kentucky
WR: Zakhari Franklin, Ole Miss
TE: Donovan Green, Texas A&M
C: Cooper Mays, Tennessee
OG: Bryce Foster, Texas A&M (plays center)
OG: Cole Smith, Mississippi State
OT: Reuben Fatheree, Texas A&M
OT: Austin Barber, Florida

DEFENSE
DE: Trajan Jeffcoat, Arkansas
DT: Omari Thomas, Tennessee
DT: Nazir Stackhouse, Georgia
DE: Jaden Crumedy, Mississippi State
LB: Khari Coleman, Ole Miss
LB: Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
LB: Trevin Wallace, Kentucky
LB: Bryce Anderson, Texas A&M (plays nickel)
CB: Ennis Rakestraw, Missouri
CB: Jason Marshall, Florida
S: Jordan Lovett, Kentucky
S: Greg Brooks, LSU

SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Cameron Little, Arkansas
P: Nik Constantinou, Texas A&M
KR: Xavier Legette, South Carolina
PR: Zavion Thomas, Mississippi State
LS: Rocco Underwood, Florida

Recap

Unsurprisingly, several of the teams poised to compete at the top of the league are filling up these preseason All-SEC teams. But much like several players emerged from seemingly nowhere in 2022 to shine in the conference, it’s a safe bet that a number of SEC players not even named here are poised for big, big things in 2023.