Preseason All-SEC Coaches Team

Football: USC puts five on coaches’ list

Matthews, Gilmore named to first-team defense


University of South Carolina junior defensive end No. 83 Cliff Matthews tackles University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia in this Nov. 14, 2009, file photograph.
Erik Campos/ecampos@thestate.com

Written by TRAVIS HANEY, The (Charleston) Post & Courier

Posted on 07.20.10

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — South Carolina placed five players on the coaches’ All-SEC preseason teams, which were released Tuesday in advance of this week’s media days in Hoover, Ala.

Senior defensive end Cliff Matthews and sophomore cornerback Stephon Gilmore were USC’s first-team selections.

Senior defensive tackle Ladi Ajiboye, senior cornerback Chris Culliver and sophomore receiver Alshon Jeffery were the second-teamers.

Summerville’s A.J. Green is getting used to being a first-teamer, both before and after seasons. Georgia’s junior receiver was again part of the first team; Green had 1,771 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in his first two seasons at Georgia.

Jeffery might have been deserving of a first-team nod. The St. Matthews native, who did not get going until the middle of his freshman year, finished with 763 yards and six touchdowns.
Alabama’s Julio Jones, had 596 yards and four touchdowns last season, was the other first-team receiver.

Matthews, a captain, tied Eric Norwood for the team lead in sacks last season with seven. Matthews will be asked to become the team’s leading pass-rusher, replacing Norwood, who holds the school record for sacks and tackles for a loss.

Gilmore was growing into his potential as one of the league’s top shutdown corners. Culliver is moving from safety to corner this season and Akeem Auguste is moving to safety.

Alabama had an SEC-high six players on the first team and Florida had a league-high 10 players on the first and second teams. The Tide and Gators are expected to be the favorites in their respective divisions when those projections are released Friday.

South Carolina’s day at the media days is Thursday. Steve Spurrier, Matthews, senior tight end Pat DiMarco and junior linebacker Shaq Wilson will field questions from the media.

Coaches All-SEC Team

First Team Offense

QB: Ryan Mallett, Arkansas. RB: Mark Ingram, Alabama; Derrick Locke, Kentucky. WR: A.J. Green, Georgia; Julio Jones, Alabama. TE: D.J. WIlliams, Arkansas. OL: Clint Boling, Georgia; Carl Johnson, Florida; Barrett Jones, Alabama; Lee Ziemba, Auburn; Mike Pouncey, Florida.

First Team Defense

DL: Marcell Dareus, Alabama; Jerrell Powe, Mississippi; Cliff Matthews, USC. LB: Josh Byrnes, Auburn; Dont’a Hightower, Alabama; Chris Marve, Vanderbilt; Kelvin Sheppard, LSU. DB: Mark Barron, Alabama; Patrick Peterson, LSU; Stephon Gilmore, USC; Janoris Jenkins, Florida.

First Team Special Teams

PK: Blair Walsh, Georgia. P: Drew Butler, Georgia. RS: Warren Norman, Vanderbilt. AP: Randall Cobb, Kentucky.

Second Team Offense

QB: Greg McElroy, Alabama. RB: Jeff Demps, Florida; Trent Richardson, Alabama. WR: Darvin Adams, Auburn; Alshon Jeffery, USC. TE: Luke Stocker, Tennessee. OL: James Carpenter, Alabama; DeMarcus Love, Arkansas; Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State; Cordy Glenn, Georgia; Joseph Barksdale, LSU; Ryan Pugh, Auburn.

Second Team Defense

DL: Pernell McPhee, Mississippi State; Drake Nevis, LSU; DeQuin Evans, Kentucky; Chris Walker, Tennessee; Ladi Ajiboye, USC. LB: Jerry Franklin, Arkansas; A.J. Jones, Florida; Craig Stevens, Auburn; K.J. Wright, Mississippi State. DB: Ahmad Black, Florida; Chris Culliver, USC; Will Hill, Florida; Neiko Thorpe, Auburn.

Second Team Special Teams

PK: Caleb Sturgis, Florida. P: Chas Henry, Florida. RS: Brandon Boykin, Georgia. AP: Chris Rainey, Florida. [/b]