The final official order of business from SEC Media Days has concluded. The media ballots have been tallied, unveiling three Kentucky Wildcats on the preseason All-SEC team and the conference’s predicted order of finish.

In Mark Stoops’ tenth season Kentucky was picked to finish second in the SEC East, behind only Georgia. Even though the Bulldogs are the overwhelming favorites to win the division, the Wildcats received four first-place votes. Kentucky had three more votes than Tennessee.

Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide are the preseason selection to win the SEC, an annual media days tradition. Three people picked South Carolina to win the SEC, which should not surprise you. Texas A&M also received a vote, but in a bizarre twist, one media member predicted Vanderbilt to win the SEC. After all, Clark Lea did say the Commodores “will be the best program in the country.” Someone took that literally.

Chris Rodriguez is the conference’s leading returning rusher, yet he was a preseason Second Team All-SEC selection. Auburn’s Tank Bigsby and Alabama’s Jamyr Gibbs, a Georgia Tech transfer, were picked ahead of the the UK running back. Rodriguez’s offseason likely played a role in his slide. His availability this fall remains in question after Stoops did not elaborate on the running back’s status at SEC Media Days.

Kentucky had one other Second Team All-SEC selection, offensive lineman Kenneth Horsey. Will Levis is the Third Team quarterback, behind Hendon Hooker and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young. The Kentucky defense has zero preseason All-SEC selections.

SEC East

School	Points
Georgia (172)	1254
Kentucky (4)	932
Tennessee (1)	929
Florida	712
South Carolina (3)	662
Missouri	383
Vanderbilt (1)	196

SEC West

School	Points
Alabama (177)	1262
Texas A&M (3)	968
Arkansas (1)	844
Ole Miss	675
LSU	591
Mississippi State	390
Auburn	338

2022 PRESEASON ALL-SEC TEAM

OFFENSE

First-Team

QB – Bryce Young, Alabama

RB –  Tank Bigsby, Auburn

RB – Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama 

WR – Kayshon Boutte, LSU 

WR – Jermaine Burton, Alabama 

TE – Brock Bowers, Georgia 

OL – Emil Ekiyor Jr., Alabama 

OL –  Warren McClendon, Georgia

OL –  O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida

OL –  Nick Broeker, Ole Miss

C –  Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas

Second-Team

QB – Hendon Hooker, Tennessee

RB –    Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kentucky

RB –   Devon Achane, Texas A&M

WR – Cedric Tillman, Tennessee

WR – Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss

TE – Cameron Latu, Alabama  

OL –  Layden Robinson, Texas A&M

OL –  Kenneth Horsey, Kentucky 

OL –  Darnell Wright, Tennessee

OL –  Javion Cohen, Alabama

C –  Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia

Third-Team

QB – Will Levis, Kentucky

RB – Zach Evans, Ole Miss

RB – Kenny McIntosh, Georgia

WR – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

WR – Josh Vann, South Carolina  

TE –  Jaheim Bell, South Carolina

OL –  Brady Latham, Arkansas

OL –  Tyler Steen, Alabama

OL –  Javon Foster, Missouri  

*OL – Jeremy James, Ole Miss

*OL – Kendall Randolph, Alabama

C – Cooper Mays, Tennessee

DEFENSE

First-Team

DL – Jalen Carter, Georgia

DL – BJ Ojulari, LSU 

DL – Derick Hall, Auburn 

DL – Byron Young, Tennessee

LB –  Will Anderson Jr., Alabama

LB –  Nolan Smith, Georgia

LB – Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama 

DB – Jordan Battle, Alabama 

DB –  Kelee Ringo, Georgia

DB –  Eli Ricks, Alabama

DB –  Jalen Catalon, Arkansas

Second-Team

DL – Zacch Pickens, South Carolina

DL – D.J. Dale, Alabama

DL – Ali Gaye, LSU

DL – Colby Wooden, Auburn 

LB – Bumper Pool, Arkansas 

LB – Dallas Turner, Alabama 

LB – Brenton Cox Jr., Florida

DB – Cam Smith, South Carolina 

DB – Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M 

DB – Christopher Smith, Georgia 

DB – Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State 

Third-Team

DL  – Gervon Dexter, Florida

DL –  Justin Eboigbe, Alabama

DL – Maason Smith, LSU 

DL – McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M

LB – Owen Pappoe, Auburn 

LB – Ventrell Miller, Florida   

LB – Jeremy Banks, Tennessee

DB – Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

DB – Trey Dean III, Florida

DB – Trevon Flowers, Tennessee 

DB – Malachi Moore, Alabama 

SPECIALISTS

First-Team

P –  Nik Constantinou, Texas A&M

PK –  Will Reichard, Alabama

RS  –  Kearis Jackson, Georgia

AP – Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama 

Second-Team

P –  Oscar Chapman, Auburn

PK – Anders Carlson, Auburn  

RS – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M 

AP – Devon Achane, Texas A&M

Third-Team

P – Paxton Brooks, Tennessee 

PK – Harrison Mevis, Missouri 

RS – JoJo Earle, Alabama  

AP – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

* – Indicates a tie