Florida picked fifth in SEC East, three Gators voted preseason All-SEC

NASHVILLE — As expected, SEC media members have low expectations for Florida in 2023. The Gators were picked to finish fifth in the SEC East, according to a preseason poll of media covering SEC Football Days this week.

Three UF players were voted to the All-SEC third team: running back Trevor Etienne, defensive lineman Princely Umanmielen and cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. Alabama led the league with 17 preseason All-SEC picks, followed by Georgia (16) and LSU (11).

“We’re not going to let outside opinion or a created narrative define the reality for this 2023 team,” Florida coach Billy Napier said at SEC Media Days. “Our players are going to decide that.”

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Georgia was picked to win the East with 2011 points, including an overwhelming 265 first-place votes. Tennessee was second with 1682 points and 14 votes to win the division. South Carolina was third with 1254 points, followed by Kentucky (1204) and Florida (911).

Georgia has been predicted to repeat as the 2023 SEC Champion with 181 votes. Alabama placed second with 62 votes and was picked to win the West with 1899 total points, narrowly edging LSU’s 1838 points. Texas A&M was third with 1144 points.

Only nine times since 1992 (31 years) has the predicted champion at SEC Media Days won the league.

SEC PRESEASON MEDIA POLL

* — first place votes in ()

EASTERN DIVISION

School	Points
Georgia (265)	2011
Tennessee (14)	1682
South Carolina (3)	1254
Kentucky (1)	1204
Florida	911
Missouri	658
Vanderbilt (8)	428

WESTERN DIVISION

School	Points
Alabama (165)	1899
LSU (117)	1838
Texas A&M (1)	1144
Ole Miss	1128
Arkansas (3)	958
Auburn (4)	685
Mississippi State (1)	496

SEC CHAMPION

School	Points
Georgia	181
Alabama	62
LSU	31
Tennessee	5
Vanderbilt	5
Arkansas	2
Auburn	2
Texas A&M	1
Mississippi State	1
South Carolina	1

2023 PRESEASON MEDIA DAYS ALL-SEC TEAM

* — indicates a tie

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