Several SEC stars featured on Sports Illustrated All-America team

Sports Illustrated published their 2016 All-America team on Tuesday afternoon and to no one’s surprise, a litany of talent from the Southeastern Conference is pretty prominently featured.

Headlining the offense is LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette. Fournette, a Heisman Trophy candidate, will go into 2016 with not only New York in his sights but Tampa as well as LSU figures to be a strong contender to make the College Football Playoff. Fournette is joined by Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Calvin Ridley as SEC skill players and Tide tackle Cam Robinson is also featured on the first team offense.

Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Myles Garrett is at the forefront of an outstanding defense. Garrett is joined by Alabama lineman Jonathan Allen on the defensive line while fellow Tide defender Reuben Foster is part of a stout linebacker corp that includes Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers, Ohio State’s Raekwon McMillian and Louisville’s Devonte Fields. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, the first team defense does not include any players from the SEC as it features two Big Ten cornerbacks (Desmond King, Jourdan Lewis), one ACC safety (Derwin James) and one from the Pac-12 (Budda Baker).

JK Scott of Alabama and Evan Berry of Tennessee are featured on the first team special teams unit which also includes Utah kicker Andy Phillips.

The second team also features quite a lot of SEC representation. In total, SI tabbed 10 players from the conference spreading over offense and defense. Wide receiver Christian Kirk of Texas A&M and tight end OJ Howard of Alabama are amongst the slew of skill position players on offense which also includes the potent Pac-12 running back tandem of Christian McCaffrey and Royce Freeman of Stanford and Oregon and Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams. The offensive line features LSU center Ethan Pocic and Auburn guard Braden Smith.

Defensively, Missouri defensive lineman Charles Harris nets some recognition as he and Auburn lineman Carl Lawson are featured on the defensive line. Alabama linebacker Tim Williams heads a solid corp featuring Ben Boulware, Anthony Walker and Malik Jefferson. While there were no first team secondary players, three-fourths of the secondary on the second team has players from the SEC. Jalen Tabor of Florida, Eddie Jackson of Alabama and Jamal Adams of LSU comprise the secondary that also features San Diego State’s Damontae Kazee. It’s likely no one would have put up a fight if LSU cornerback Tre’Davious White was featured either, which speaks to how great the DB talent is right now.

The season is steadfast approaching so you should expect more All-America teams to come out from various publishers (including SB Nation!) so this is just the start. As such, you should continue to expect the SEC to be featured as its bevy of talent is one of the best around.