Eight Tigers Named to AP All-SEC Teams
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The LSU football team placed eight players on the 2008 Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference first and second teams, it was announced by the organization on Monday.
Wide receiver Brandon LaFell, offensive lineman Herman Johnson and defensive end Rahim Alem were first-team selections. Offensive lineman Ciron Black, running back Charles Scott, place kicker Colt David, defensive end Tyson Jackson and linebacker Darry Beckwith earned second-team recognition.
LSU has placed 15 players on the AP All-SEC first team since 2005 and 21 players on the first and second teams since head coach Les Miles? first season. LSU has placed at least three players on the AP All-SEC first team every season since 2003.
LaFell, a junior from Houston, led LSU in receiving catches (61), yards (903) and touchdowns (8). His 75.2 yards per game ranked third in the league while his 5.08 receptions per contest was second-best in the SEC. LaFell is the first LSU receiver to earn first-team All-SEC honors by the Associated Press since Michael Clayton did so in 2003.
Johnson, a senior from Olla, La., is making his first appearance on the AP first team after earning second-team honors a year ago. Johnson started all 12 games for the Tigers this season and has started 37 games in his career.
Alem, a native of New Orleans, received first team recognition after an outstanding junior season in which he racked up 27 tackles, including a team-best 11 for losses and eight sacks for a loss of 66 yards. His 0.67 sacks per game ranked third best in the conference. LSU has placed a defensive lineman on the AP All-SEC First Team for the sixth straight season dating back to 2003.
Black has started at left tackle for the Tigers in all 39 career games he has played. Meanwhile, Scott heads into the 2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl with 1,202 yards rushing, which ranks ninth-best in school history. He ranked fourth in the league in rushing yards per game with 92.4 yards.
David has shattered nearly every LSU career kicking and scoring record this season after connecting on 15-of-20 field goals. He became the school?s all-time leading scorer surpassing Kevin Faulk and stands at 361 career points. David earned All-SEC honors for the second consecutive season.
Jackson and Beckwith represent LSU?s defense on the AP second team. Jackson, a senior from Edgard, La., finished the regular season with 34 tackles and ranked second on the team in tackles for losses with 8.5 and sacks with 4.5. His 18.5 career sacks sit in eighth place in LSU career annals.
Beckwith, a Baton Rouge native, is making his first appearance on the AP team. The senior is also one of 12 finalists for the Butkus Award, presented annually to college football?s top linebacker.
FIRST TEAM
Offense WR -- Brandon LaFell, LSU, 6-3, 209, Jr. WR -- A.J. Green, Georgia, 6-4, 200, Fr. L -- u-Michael Oher, Mississippi, 6-5, 318, Sr. L -- u-Andre Smith, Alabama, 6-5, 330, Jr. L -- Phil Trautwein, Florida, 6-6, 310, Sr. L -- Clint Boling, Georgia, 6-5, 286, So. L -- Herman Johnson, LSU, 6-7, 375, Sr. C -- Antoine Caldwell, Alabama, 6-3, 305, Sr. TE -- D.J. Williams, Arkansas, 6-2, 250, So. QB -- u-Tim Tebow, Florida, 6-3, 240, Jr. RB -- u-Knowshon Moreno, Georgia, 5-11, 208, So. RB -- Glen Coffee, Alabama, 6-1, 198, Jr. K -- Joshua Shene, Mississippi, 5-8, 170, Jr. All-Purpose -- Percy Harvin, Florida, 5-11, 195, Jr.<
Defense E -- Rahim Alem, LSU, 6-3, 254, Jr. E -- Antonio Coleman, Auburn, 6-3, 250, Jr. T -- Terrence Cody, Alabama, 6-5, 365, Jr. T -- Peria Jerry, Mississippi, 6-2, 290, Sr. LB -- u-Brandon Spikes, Florida, 6-3, 245, Jr. LB -- Rolando McClain, Alabama, 6-4, 249, So. LB -- Eric Norwood, South Carolina, 6-1, 253, Jr. CB -- Trevard Lindley, Kentucky, 6-0, 175, Jr. CB -- D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt, 5-10, 182, Jr. S -- u-Rashad Johnson, Alabama, 6-0, 186, Sr. S -- Eric Berry, Tennessee, 5-11, 195, So. P -- Tim Masthay, Kentucky, 6-2, 203, Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Offense WR -- Percy Harvin, Florida, 5-11, 195, Jr. WR -- Julio Jones, Alabama, 6-4, 210, Fr. WR -- Mohamed Massaquoi, Georgia, 6-2, 204, Sr. L -- Garry Williams, Kentucky, 6-3, 300, Sr. L -- Ciron Black, LSU, 6-5, 325, Jr. L -- Mike Johnson, Alabama, 6-6, 299, Jr. L -- Anthony Parker, Tennessee, 6-3, 300, Sr. C -- Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas, 6-4, 314, Sr. TE -- Jared Cook, South Carolina, 6-5, 240, Jr. QB -- Matthew Stafford, Georgia, 6-3, 228, Jr. RB -- Michael Smith, Arkansas, 5-7, 173, Jr. RB -- Charles Scott, LSU, 5-11, 233, Jr. K -- Colt David, LSU, 5-9, 172, Sr. All-Purpose -- Dexter McCluster, Mississippi, 5-8, 165, Jr.<
Defense E -- Robert Ayers, Tennessee, 6-3, 270, Jr. E -- Jermaine Cunningham, Florida, 6-3, 250, Jr. E -- Carlos Dunlap, Florida, 6-6, 290, So. E -- Tyson Jackson, LSU, 6-5, 290, Sr. T -- Malcolm Sheppard, Arkansas, 6-3, 277, Jr. T -- Myron Pryor, Kentucky, 6-1, 310, Sr. LB -- Dominic Douglas, Mississippi St., 6-2, 235, Sr. LB -- Rennie Curran, Georgia, 5-11, 228, So. LB -- Darry Beckwith, LSU, 6-1, 232, Sr. LB -- Patrick Benoist, Vanderbilt, 6-0, 222, Jr. CB -- Javier Arenas, Alabama, 5-9, 198, Jr. CB -- Joe Haden, Florida, 5-11, 185, So. S -- Emanuel Cook, South Carolina, 5-10, 203, Jr. S -- Reshad Jones, Georgia, 6-2, 212, So. P -- Jeremy Davis, Arkansas, 5-9, 206, Sr. P -- Brian Mimbs, Georgia, 5-11, 209, Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Offense Brandon James, All-Purpose, Florida, 5-11, 186, Jr.; Kenny McKinley, WR, South Carolina, 6-0, 187, Sr.; Jonathan Phillips, K, Florida, 5-10, 210, Sr.; Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida, 6-5, 312, So.; Mike Pouncey, G, Florida, 6-5, 312, So.; Jevan Snead, QB, Mississippi, 6-3, 215, So.; Ryan Succop, K, South Carolina, 6-3, 221, Sr.; Jason Watkins, T, Florida, 6-6, 310, Sr.
Defense Ahmad Black, S, Florida, 5-9, 190, So.; Greg Hardy, E, Mississippi, 6-4, 265, Jr.; Jeremy Jarmon, E, Kentucky, 6-3, 277, Jr.; Micah Johnson, LB, Kentucky, 6-2, 250, Jr.; Sen'Derrick Marks, T, Auburn, 6-2, 296, Jr.; Lawon Scott, T, Mississippi, 6-1, 322, So.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Tim Tebow, Florida
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Eric Berry, Tennessee
COACH OF THE YEAR Nick Saban, Alabama
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Julio Jones, Alabama
u- indicates unanimous pick
