No. 1 Alabama has 5 players first-team AP All-SEC selections
By The Associated Press - Dec. 03, 2018 12:20 PM EST
FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2018, file photo, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) scrambles for a first down against Texas A&M during the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Tagovailoa is the offensive player of the year and one of five members of the top-ranked Crimson Tide to earn first-team honors on The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference team, announced Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2018, file photo, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) scrambles for a first down against Texas A&M during the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Tagovailoa is the offensive player of the year and one of five members of the top-ranked Crimson Tide to earn first-team honors on The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference team, announced Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
FILE - In this July 16, 2018, file photo, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops speaks during NCAA college football Southeastern Conference media days at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. Stoops is the coach of the year on The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference team, announced Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)
FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, Vanderbilt running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn celebrates as he runs into the end zone after catching a pass for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, in Columbia, Mo. Vaughn was named newcomer of the year on The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference team, announced Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2018, file photo, Mississippi wide receiver A.J. Brown (1) scores on a 38-yard pass reception against Southern Illinois safety Michael Elbert (37) during an NCAA college football game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss. Brown is a unanimous first-team selection to The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference team, announced Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. ( Bruce Newman/The Oxford Eagle via AP, File)
FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2018, file photo, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops celebrates with fans after defeating Florida 27-16 in an NCAA college football game, in Gainesville, Fla. Stoops is the coach of the year on The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference team, announced Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa rolls out before throwing a touchdown pass on the first play of the game against Arkansas in the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Fayetteville, Ark. Tagovailoa is the offensive player of the year and one of five members of the top-ranked Crimson Tide to earn first-team honors on The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference team, announced Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. Tagovailoa, one of the prime contenders for the Heisman Trophy, has thrown 37 touchdown passes with only four interceptions to rank second nationally in passing efficiency. (AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)
FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2018, file photo, Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen (41) rushes South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley (19) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky. Allen is the defensive player of the year on The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference team, announced Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston, File)
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Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is the offensive player of the year and one of five members of the top-ranked Crimson Tide to earn first-team honors on The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference team.

No. 16 Kentucky (No. 14 College Football Playoff ) has the SEC's defensive player of the year in linebacker Josh Allen and the coach of the year in Mark Stoops. Vanderbilt running back and Illinois transfer Ke'Shawn Vaughn was named newcomer of the year.

Alabama (13-0) is the top seed in the College Football Playoff after overcoming Tagovailoa's ankle injury to rally past Georgia 35-28 in the Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday. Kentucky (9-3) will face No. 13 Penn State (9-3, No. 12 CFP) in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1 after posting its highest regular-season win total since 1977.

Tagovailoa, Allen and Mississippi wide receiver A.J. Brown were unanimous first-team selections.

Tagovailoa, one of the prime contenders for the Heisman Trophy, has thrown 37 touchdown passes with only four interceptions to rank second nationally in passing efficiency. He struggled in the SEC championship game before leaving in the second half with a high ankle sprain, though coach Nick Saban is hopeful the sophomore will be ready for the Dec. 29 Orange Bowl semifinal with No. 4 Oklahoma (12-1).

Allen has recorded 14 sacks to lead all Power Five players. Brown leads the SEC in catches (85) and yards receiving (1,320).

Vaughn has rushed for 1,001 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 6.95 yards per carry.

Alabama players joining Tagovailoa as first-team picks include offensive tackle Jonah Williams, center Ross Pierschbacher, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.

The Crimson Tide had eight overall all-SEC selections to lead all teams. No. 6 Georgia (No. 5 CFP) had seven players earn all-SEC honors, though cornerback Deandre Baker was the Bulldogs' only first-team selection.

A panel of 28 writers and broadcasters who cover the SEC voted on the AP all-conference team.

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The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference football team, with position, name, school, height, weight, class and hometown:

FIRST TEAM

Offense

u-WR - A.J. Brown, Mississippi (u), 6-1, 230, Jr., Starkville, Mississippi

WR - Jerry Jeudy, Alabama, 6-1, 192, So., Deerfield Beach, Florida

T - Greg Little, Mississippi, 6-6, 325, Jr., Allen, Texas

T - Jonah Williams, Alabama, 6-5, 301, Jr., Folsom, California

G - Bunchy Stallings, Kentucky, 6-3, 305, Sr., McComb, Mississippi

G - Tre'Vour Wallace-Simms, Missouri, 6-5, 330, Jr., East St. Louis, Illinois

C - Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama, 6-4, 309, Sr., Cedar Falls, Iowa

TE - Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M, 6-4, 250, Jr., Kingfisher, Oklahoma

u-QB - Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama, 6-1, 218, So., Ewa Beach, Hawaii

RB - Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky, 5-11, 223, Jr., Westerville, Ohio

RB - Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M, 5-9, 200, Jr., Houston

PK - Cole Tracy, LSU, 5-11, 188, Sr., Camarillo, California

All-purpose - Deebo Samuel, South Carolina, 6-0, 210, Sr., Inman, South Carolina

Defense

DE - Jachai Polite, Florida, 6-2, 242, Jr., Daytona Beach, Florida

DE - Montez Sweat, Mississippi State, 6-6, 245, Sr., Stone Mountain, Georgia

DT - Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State, 6-4, 300, Jr., Macon, Mississippi

DT - Quinnen Williams, Alabama, 6-4, 295, So., Birmingham, Alabama

u-LB Josh Allen, Kentucky, 6-5, 260, Sr., Montclair, New Jersey

LB - Deshaun Davis, Auburn, 5-11, 233, Sr., Prichard, Alabama

LB - Devin White, LSU, 6-1, 240, Jr., Springhill, Louisiana

CB - Deandre Baker, Georgia, 5-11, 185, Sr., Miami

CB - Greedy Williams, LSU, 6-3, 184, So., Shreveport, Louisiana

S - Johnathan Abram, Mississippi State, 6-0, 215, Sr., Columbia, Mississippi

S - Grant Delpit, LSU, 6-3, 203, So., Houston

P - Braden Mann, Texas A&M, 5-11, 190, Jr., Houston

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SECOND TEAM

Offense

WR - Kalija Lipscomb, Vanderbilt, 6-1, 201, Jr., New Orleans

WR - Deebo Samuel, South Carolina, 6-0, 210, Sr., Inman, South Carolina

T - Martez Ivey, Florida, 6-5, 306, Sr., Apopka, Florida

T - Andrew Thomas, Georgia, 6-5, 320, So., Lithonia, Georgia

G - Zack Bailey, South Carolina, 6-6, 314, Sr., Summerville, South Carolina

G - Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas, 6-5, 315, Sr., Svendborg, Denmark

C - Lamont Gaillard, Georgia, 6-2, 308, Sr., Fayetteville, North Carolina

TE - Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt, Jr., 6-4, 255, Norcross, Georgia

QB - Drew Lock, Missouri, 6-4, 225, Sr., Lee's Summit, Missouri

RB - D'Andre Swift, Georgia, 5-9, 215, So., Philadelphia

RB - Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt, 5-10, 222, Jr., Nashville, Tennessee

PK - Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia, 6-1, 191, Jr., Marietta, Georgia

All-purpose - Mecole Hardman, Georgia, 5-11, 183, Jr., Bowman, Georgia

Defense

DE - Isaiah Buggs, Alabama, 6-5, 286, Sr., Ruston, Louisiana

DE - Raekwon Davis, Alabama, 6-7, 316, Jr., Meridian, Mississippi

DT - Derrick Brown, Auburn, 6-5, 320, Jr., Sugar Hill, Georgia

DT - Terry Beckner Jr., Missouri, 6-4, 295, Sr., East St. Louis, Illinois

LB - De'Jon Harris, Arkansas, 6-0, 245, Jr., Harvey, Louisiana

LB - Erroll Thompson, Mississippi State, 6-1, 250, So., Florence, Alabama

LB —D'Andre Walker, Georgia, 6-3, 245, Sr., Fairburn, Georgia

CB - Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State, 6-2, 175, So., Hammond, Louisiana

CB - Joejuan Williams, Vanderbilt, 6-3, 210, Jr., Nashville, Tennessee

S - Mike Edwards, Kentucky, 6-0, 201, Sr., Cincinnati

S - Deionte Thompson, Alabama, 6-2, 196, Jr., Orange, Texas

P - Zach Von Rosenberg, LSU, 6-5, 245, So., Lake Charles, Louisiana

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Offensive Player of the Year —QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

Defensive Player of the Year_LB Josh Allen, Kentucky

Newcomer of the Year —RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt (Illinois transfer)

Coach of the Year_Mark Stoops, Kentucky

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u-Unanimous selection

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Voting Panel:

Reggie Anderson, WLTX, Columbia, South Carolina

Ben Baby, Dallas Morning News

Matt Baker, Tampa Bay (Florida) Times

John Bednarowski, Marietta (Georgia) Daily Journal

Robert Cessna, The Eagle, Bryan-College Station, Texas

John Clay, Lexington (Kentucky) Herald-Leader

David Cloninger, The Post and Courier, Charleston, South Carolina

Joel Coleman, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

Pat Dooley, The Gainesville (Florida) Sun

Garland Gillen, WVUE, New Orleans

Tom Green, Alabama Media Group

Jon Hale, The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky

Bob Holt, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Ben Jones, The Tuscaloosa (Alabama) News

Steve Layman, WTVF, Nashville, Tennessee

Logan Lowery, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

Maria Martin, WSFA, Montgomery, Alabama

Dave Matter, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Tom Murphy, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Patrick Murray, WBIR, Knoxville, Tennessee

Scott Rabalais, The Advocate, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Alex Schiffer, Kansas City Star

Adam Sparks, The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee

Nick Suss, The Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi

Jake Thompson, The Oxford (Mississippi) Eagle

Blake Toppmeyer, Knoxville (Tennessee) News-Sentinel

Josh Vitale, Montgomery (Alabama) Advertiser

Marc Weiszer, Athens (Georgia) Banner-Herald

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