Georgia, Auburn split top awards on All-SEC team

After meeting in the Southeastern Conference Championship game, Georgia and Auburn split the top awards on The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference team released Monday.

Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson was picked as the offensive player of the year, while Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith was selected as the top defensive player. Smith was MVP of the title game, coming up with two fumble recoveries in the Bulldogs’ 28-7 victory .

Georgia’s Kirby Smart got the nod as SEC coach of the year after leading his team to the College Football Playoff in just his second season between the hedges. Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham, a transfer from Baylor, and Georgia freshman quarterback Jake Fromm shared the award for newcomer of the year.

Alabama, which also claimed a spot in the four-team national playoff despite failing to win the SEC West, led the way with eight players voted to the first team: receiver Calvin Ridley, offensive tackle Jonah Williams, tackle Ross Pierschbacher, center Bradley Bozeman, defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne, linebacker Rashaan Evans and safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ronnie Harrison.

There were no unanimous selections to the team. Fitzpatrick and Auburn offensive guard Braden Smith came the closest to a sweep, each picked on all but one ballot. freshman going through this for the first time. It’s possible as he continues to mature and develop that he can improve enough in those areas to cash in on his obvious physical abilities.

But it’s also fair to have doubts about Franks after seeing no tangible progress from the start of the season to the end in what became a substantial sample size.

Mullen and his staff will make their evaluation as they dissect the Gators’ 2017 game film and watch the QBs work in spring practice.

The position is wide open, so any scenario or outcome is possible at this point, espe- cially if Mullen doesn’t land Fields. But Franks looks like a long shot for the starting job after his struggles this fall and more specifically the ways in which he struggled.

He also didn’t seem to agree with the criticisms that mounted as the season went on, and he’ll need to take a humble and honest look at his flaws in order to find a way to utilize his strengths.

A motivated and driven person can accomplish a lot, but it’s on Franks now to prove himself and win over believers all over again if he wants to regain the reins to the offense next September.