KSR's Preseason All-SEC Teams

The Kentucky Sports Radio crew did its homework before making the drive to Dallas for SEC Media Days. Rather than scrambling to complete a ballot just before the due date, we’re sharing our All-SEC teams before stepping foot inside the Omni.

As you’ll see, we aren’t exactly abiding by the SEC’s restrictions. The league still groups players by positions like it’s 1996 and every year it forces fumes to leak from Luckett’s ears. Here’s what an actual All-SEC team should look like.

Roush’s First Team All-SEC Offense

QB: Carson Beck, Georgia
RB: Jarquez Hunter, Auburn
RB: Montrell Johnson, Florida
WR: Luther Burden III, Missouri
WR: Tre Harris, Ole Miss
WR: Isaiah Bond, Texas
TE: Oscar Delp, Georgia
OT: Will Campbell, LSU
OT: Kelvin Banks, Texas
OG: Tate Ratledge, Georgia
OG: Tyler Booker, Alabama
C: Cooper Mays, Tennessee

This is one of the most challenging years to pick a First Team All-SEC quarterback. Three of them could be at the Heisman Trophy ceremony, but I’m betting on Carson Beck. After seeing his coming-out performance last fall in person against Kentucky, and knowing the weapons he has to work with, Beck has the most going for him entering 2024.

You can’t say the same about the league’s running backs, where things are pretty wide open this fall, aside from Hugh Freeze’s run-heavy offense on The Plains. While it feels like there is a clear top two at wide receiver, I’m going a little off the grid with Isaiah Bond. He was at his best in big moments for Alabama and he’ll be Texas’ top target this fall. Brock Bowers may be gone, but Georgia has another excellent tight end ready to put up big numbers this fall.

Luckett’s First Team All-SEC Offense

QB: Carson Beck, Georgia
RB: Rocket Sanders, South Carolina
RB: Jarquez Hunter, Auburn
WR: Luther Burden III, Missouri
WR: Tre Harris, Ole Miss
WR: Andrew Armstrong, Arkansas
TE: Oscar Delp, Georgia
OT: Will Campbell, LSU
OT: Kelvin Banks, Texas
OG: Tate Ratledge, Georgia
OG: Tyler Booker, Alabama
C: Parker Brailsford, Alabama

Carson Beck was the best quarterback last year and he will be the best quarterback in the SEC this year protected by the league’s best offensive line. I expect Rocket Sanders to return to All-SEC form at South Carolina after an injury-plagued 2023 campaign at Arkansas. Former Division II wideout Andrew Armstrong is the best player in the league you do not know and will be key figure in Bobby Petrino’s Arkansas offense. Luther Burden III is the best slot receiver in college football while Kelvin Banks and Will Campbell could both become top-10 picks at tackle.

Roush’s First Team All-SEC Defense

DE: James Pearce, Tennessee
DT: Deone Walker, Kentucky
DT: Shemar Turner, Texas A&M
DE: Mykel Williams, Georgia
EDGE: Trey Moore, Texas
LB: Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky
LB: Harold Perkins, LSU
LB: Deontae Lawson, Alabama
Nickel: Malachi Moore, Alabama
Safety: Billy Bowman, Oklahoma
Safety: Malaki Starks, Georgia
Cornerback: Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Cornerback: Isaiah Hamilton, Ole Miss

Deone Walker might be the most dominant trench player in the SEC, but it’s hard to stand out among this talented group of defensive linemen and EDGE rushers. I’m fascinated to see what Blake Baker does with Harold Perkins after Matt House botched it last fall. He may be more of an EDGe than an LB once the season gets rolling.

Maxwell Hairston doesn’t have the most returning defensive touchdowns in the SEC. Billy Bowman had three last season for the Sooners.

Luckett’s First Team All-SEC Defense

DE: James Pearce, Tennessee
DT: Deone Walker, Kentucky
DT: Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
DE: Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
EDGE: Mykel Williams, Georgia
LB: Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky
LB: Harold Perkins, LSU
LB: D’Eryk Jackson, Kentucky
Nickel: Malachi Moore, Alabama
Safety: Billy Bowman, Oklahoma
Safety: Malaki Starks, Georgia
Cornerback: Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Cornerback: Jason Marshall, Florida

Why does Kentucky’s defense have a chance to surprise folks this year? Because the Wildcats have some bonafide star power. Georgia transfer Jamon Dumas-Johnson and D’Eryk Jackson look like the best off-ball linebacker duo in the league, Deone Walker will be a preseason All-American, and Maxwell Hairston is the top returning cornerback in the conference. There is much to like about Brad White’s bunch.

Transfer Walter Nolen (Texas A&M) and Nic Scourton (Purdue) show up on the defensive line while Mykel Williams‘ position switch to outside linebacker could pay big dividends for Georgia. The Bulldogs might have the best overall football player (Malaki Starks) in the conference.