Alabama dominates All-SEC selections; Georgia shut out

Three days after winning a third straight Southeastern Conference football championship, the Alabama Crimson Tide continued to dominate the league's all-star landscape.

Alabama had 11 representatives on the All-SEC first and second teams that were voted on by league coaches and released Tuesday afternoon by the league office. True freshman Jalen Hurts was selected as the first-team quarterback after helping lead the Crimson Tide to a 13-0 record, and he was joined on the first team by Tide receiver ArDarius Stewart, left tackle Cam Robinson, defensive end Jonathan Allen, inside linebacker Reuben Foster, defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick and punter JK Scott.

Tight end O.J. Howard, receiver Calvin Ridley, outside linebacker Tim Williams and safety Eddie Jackson were second-team selections for Alabama, which has led the SEC in all-star recognition nine consecutive seasons.

LSU had nine combined selections, including first-team running back Derrius Guice and second-team running back Leonard Fournette, while Auburn, Florida and Texas A&M were next with six selections apiece.

At the other end of the spectrum was Georgia, which did not have a single first- or second-team representative for the first time since 1990, when SEC coaches voted only for a first team. The Bulldogs had three selections last year with first-team offensive lineman John Theus, second-team outside linebacker Leonard Floyd and second-team defensive back Dominick Sanders.

Georgia was shut out despite finishing 12th, eighth, fifth and eighth nationally the past four years in the 247Sports.com recruiting rankings. The Bulldogs have the nation's No. 3 crop of commitments for 2017 behind Alabama and Ohio State.

"The biggest objective for us currently is all-aboard recruiting," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said this week. "We've really been on the road hard, trying to improve some areas of need and get some more depth."

South Carolina was the only other school to get shut out, as 11 of the 14 league members had at least two picks.

Tennessee and Vanderbilt each had three selections, with first-team defensive end Derek Barnett, second-team quarterback Josh Dobbs and second-team return specialist Evan Berry representing the Volunteers. Dobbs tied for the second-team quarterback spot with Chad Kelly of Ole Miss.

The Commodores were represented by first-team linebacker Zach Cunningham, second-team running back Ralph Webb and second-team offensive lineman Will Holden.

"I'm pleased the head coaches in our league recognized how well Zach, Will and Ralph have played this year," Vandy coach Derek Mason said. "All three are very deserving of All-SEC recognition. These guys have performed at a very high level and have meant a great deal to our squad."

SEC coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.

The league will release its individual award winners today and its all-freshman team Thursday.

Georgia tabs captains

Georgia players recently voted junior running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, senior center Brandon Kublanow and senior safety Maurice Smith as the permanent captains for the 2016 season during the annual team gala. Chubb and Michel shared offensive MVP honors, while Maurice Smith and sophomore inside linebacker Roquan Smith shared defensive MVP honors.

Junior receiver Isaiah McKenzie was voted MVP for special teams.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.