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Six Georgia football players named to All-SEC preseason teams

By Justin Hubbard

Jul 12, 2016; Hoover, AL, USA; Georgia player Dominick Sanders speaks to the media during SEC media day at Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 12, 2016; Hoover, AL, USA; Georgia player Dominick Sanders speaks to the media during SEC media day at Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /
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This week during SEC Media Days, league reporters picked the preseason All-SEC teams, and six Georgia Bulldogs made the cut.

Related Story: Leonard Fournette says Nick Chubb is the best tailback in the SEC

The first-team roster included junior running back Nick Chubb and senior offensive guard Greg Pyke.

Chubb became Georgia’s primary tailback in 2014 – his freshman season – when Todd Gurley was suspended (and later injured) and Sony Michel suffered a shoulder injury.

Apr 16, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) laughs on the sideline during the second half of the spring game at Sanford Stadium. The Black team defeated the Red team 34-14. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) laughs on the sideline during the second half of the spring game at Sanford Stadium. The Black team defeated the Red team 34-14. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

In his time at Georgia, Chubb has racked up 2,294 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. Chubb is set to return sometime this season, possibly in the season opener against North Carolina, after suffering a significant knee injury halfway through the 2015 season.

Pyke helped the Bulldogs rush for nearly 2,500 total yards last season, and he and the other offensive linemen allowed just 15 sacks. Pyke should be a more prominently-featured asset to the offensive line this year, which will be more inexperienced than in recent times.

Brandon Kublanow was part of the offensive line’s strong showing last year, too, serving as a guard and center at various points throughout the season. For his efforts, Kublanow received a second-team nomination.

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Junior safety Dominick Sanders was named to the second-team roster, which feels like a snub. Sanders picked off six passes last year for 205 yards, which was a Georgia record. Alabama’s Eddie Jackson received a first-team selection, but he also had six interceptions and had more solo tackles than Sanders.

Jalen Tabor (Florida), Tre’Davious White (LSU) and Cameron Sutton (Tennessee) all made the first-team cut despite ranking below Sanders in terms of interceptions. They are all talented, but Sanders is a presence in the secondary. Earning a second-team nod doesn’t seem quite right for him.

Junior linebacker Lorenzo Carter made the All-SEC second team, too. In a contrast of Sanders’ placement, this one feels like a bit of a reach. Carter had a great rookie season, recording 41 total tackles with seven of those being for a loss and 4.5 being sacks, but his sophomore campaign wasn’t nearly as strong.

Apr 16, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Lorenzo Carter (7) drops into coverage during the first half of the spring game at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Lorenzo Carter (7) drops into coverage during the first half of the spring game at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Carter was pretty quiet last season, recording just 19 total tackles on limited playing time. None of his tackles were for loss, and none were sacks. The biggest highlight of Carter’s second season with the Bulldogs was his two forced fumbles. He should have a bigger role on the defense now that Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd are off to the NFL, so Carter could potentially break out of his slump this season.

Junior Isaiah McKenzie was voted to the third-team roster as as the team’s return specialist and all-purpose performer. McKenzie returned 17 punts for 217 yards and two touchdowns last season. The season before, he returned 19 punts for 230 yards and two touchdowns.

McKenzie returned 11 kickoffs his freshman season for 309 yards and a score, but saw his production in that category fall off last season. He didn’t return any kicks to the end zone in 2015. Still, McKenzie’s big-play propensity makes him a feared kick returner.

These Bulldogs will have the chance to validate their selection to the All-SEC teams – or prove why they should’ve been placed differently – when the 2016 season beings on Sept. 3 against North Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.

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