SEC announces individual conference honors for 2022 season

Saturday marked the end of another successful football season in the SEC, with Georgia defeating LSU in Atlanta. As usual, plenty of storylines were produced as produced throughout the conference. To celebrate, individual awards were handed out on Wednesday afternoon.

Six total people were recognized by the SEC, coming from both the East and West. Ranging from Offensive Player of the Year to Coach of the Year, play on the field and even academic performance were honored.

Here is the full list of individual awards handed out by the SEC. Two repeat winners feature on the list, although neither is a real big surprise given their 2022 performances.

SEC individual awards

• Offensive Player of the Year – Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker
• Defensive Player of the Year – Alabama linebacker Will Anderson
• Special Teams Player of the Year – Georgia kicker Jack Podlesny
• Freshman of the Year – Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins
• Scholar Athlete of the Year – Mississippi State wide receiver Austin Williams
• Jacobs Blocking Trophy – Arkansas offensive lineman Ricky Stromberg
• Coach of the Year – Georgia head coach Kirby Smart

Kirby Smart named SEC Coach of the Year

For the second consecutive season, Smart has been named Coach of the Year by the conference. He led Georgia to an undefeated season, being the only one in the SEC to do so. The Bulldogs of course took down LSU in impressive fashion in Atlanta, claiming their first title since 2017.

Per the release, Smart is the first coach to win the award back to back since Nick Saban did so in 2008-2009. Smart was there in Tuscaloosa as the defensive coordinator, winning a national championship.

Now, Smart will be looking to one-up Saban by winning back-to-back while still being named SEC Coach of the Year.

Offensive Player of the Year, Hendon Hooker

While he might have no received an invitation to the Heisman Trophy ceremony, Hooker will still have the honor of being named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. Given to the Tennessee quarterback for his performance all season, Hooker was simply amazing under head coach Josh Heupel.

Before tearing his ACL and declaring for the NFL Draft, Hooker accounted for 3,565 total yards, 32 total touchdowns, and just two interceptions. He will be remembered in Knoxville for the entire 2022 season but mainly for taking down No. 1 Alabama at Neyland Stadium and breaking the Third Saturday in October losing streak.