Alabama on top of predicted 2022 standings
Alabama football is predicted to win the 2022 SEC title, media voted this week at SEC Media Days.
The league released its annual media poll and three ALL-SEC teams. Since 1992, the predicted champion has gone on to win the SEC Championship Game only nine times. However, that includes the past two seasons.
Alabama and Georgia dominated the voting in the division standings, taking up 96.4% of the 362 first-place votes. Perhaps jokingly (or perhaps not), South Carolina received three votes to win the championship and Vanderbilt received one.
Vanderbilt is projected to finish last in the SEC East; Auburn was voted last in the SEC West.
The Crimson Tide also led the conference with nine first-team ALL-SEC selections – four on offense, four defense and a place kicker. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs also appeared on the first team as all-purpose.
Preseason ALL-SEC team First team ALL-SEC
Quarterback: Bryce Young, Alabama Running back: Tank Bigsby, Auburn Running back: Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
Wide receiver: Kayshon Boutte, LSU Wide receiver: Jermaine Burton, Alabama
Tight end: Brock Bowers, Georgia Offensive line: Emil Ekiyor Jr., Alabama
Offensive line: Warren Mcclendon, Georgia
Offensive line: O'cyrus Torrence, Florida
Offensive line: Nick Broeker, Ole Miss Offensive line (center): Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas
Defensive line: Jalen Carter, Georgia Defensive line: BJ Ojulari, LSU Defensive line: Derick Hall, Auburn Defensive line: Byron Young, Tennessee
Linebacker: Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
Linebacker: Nolan Smith, Georgia Linebacker: Henry To'oto'o, Alabama Defensive back: Jordan Battle, Alabama
Defensive back: Kelee Ringo, Georgia Defensive back: Eli Ricks, Alabama Defensive back: Jalen Catalon, Arkansas
Punter: Nik Constantinou, Texas A&M Kicker: Will Reichard, Alabama Return Specialist: Kearis Jackson, Georgia
All-purpose: Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
Second team ALL-SEC
QB – Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
RB - Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kentucky RB - Devon Achane, Texas A&M
WR - Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
WR - Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss
TE - Cameron Latu, Alabama Offensive line: Layden Robinson, Texas A&M
Offensive line: Kenneth Horsey, Kentucky
Offensive line: Darnell Wright, Tennessee
Offensive line: Javion Cohen, Alabama
Offensive line (center): Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia
Defensive line: Zacch Pickens, South Carolina
Defensive line: D.J. Dale, Alabama Defensive line: Ali Gaye, LSU Defensive line: Colby Wooden, Auburn
Linebacker: Bumper Pool, Arkansas Linebacker: Dallas Turner, Alabama Linebacker: Brenton Cox Jr., Florida Defensive back: Cam Smith, South Carolina
Defensive back: Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
Defensive back: Christopher Smith, Georgia
Defensive back: Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
Punter: Oscar Chapman, Auburn Kicker: Anders Carlson, Auburn
Return Specialist: Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
All-purpose: Devon Achane, Texas A&M
Third team ALL-SEC
Quarterback: Will Levis, Kentucky Running back: Zach Evans, Ole Miss Running back: Kenny Mcintosh, Georgia
Wide receiver: Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
Wide receiver: Josh Vann, South Carolina
Tight end: Jaheim Bell, South Carolina Offensive line: Brady Latham, Arkansas
Offensive line: Tyler Steen, Alabama Offensive line: Javon Foster, Missouri Offensive line: Jeremy James, Ole Miss (tie)
Offensive line: Kendall Randolph, Alabama (tie)
Offensive line (center): Cooper Mays, Tennessee
Defensive line: Gervon Dexter, Florida Defensive line: Justin Eboigbe, Alabama
Defensive line: Maason Smith, LSU Defensive line: Mckinnley Jackson, Texas A&M
Linebacker: Owen Pappoe, Auburn Linebacker: Ventrell Miller, Florida Linebacker: Jeremy Banks, Tennessee Defensive back: Kool-aid Mckinstry, Alabama
Defensive back: Trey Dean III, Florida Defensive back: Trevon Flowers, Tennessee
Defensive back: Malachi Moore, Alabama
Punter: Paxton Brooks, Tennessee Kicker: Harrison Mevis, Missouri Return specialist: Jojo Earle, Alabama All-purpose: Ainias Smith, Texas A&M