Alabama Football: All-SEC teams make statement about Tide player development

Not surprisingly, Alabama football dominated the All-SEC teams as voted by the league coaches. Another year of proof the Tide excels at player development.

Alabama football out-distanced other SEC teams in the 2018 coaches’ All-SEC selections. The Crimson Tide had a total of 12 players selected; five on the first team and seven on the second team.

The Georgia Bulldogs were next in numbers of players selected with seven, Missouri and South Carolina followed with five players each. Twelve of the conference’s 14 schools had players selected. The two on the outside looking in were Arkansas and Tennessee. Coaches are not allowed to vote for players on their own team.

Some college football experts believe the Tide’s continued domination in SEC player awards is solely a byproduct of recruiting. No doubt, a program that begins almost every season with the most, new, top talent has a significant advantage. But history shows, recruiting stars carry no guarantee for excellence at the college level.

Blue chip, 5-Stars do sometimes fail to reach anywhere near their potential. In reality, all players need continued development in college. For Alabama football, some of the most successful development efforts have come for 3-Star (or lower) recruits. 3-Star recruits who became great Tide players.

Two current Crimson Tide examples of development success are Irv Smith Jr. and Josh Jacobs. Smith was an All-SEC, second team selection at tight end. Jacobs did not make an ALL-SEC team but few will argue he is one of the most complete running backs in the SEC. Both young men were 3-Star recruits.

Quinnen Williams is another good example of Crimson Tide development. Williams was a lower, 4-Star recruit late in the 2017 cycle and rated as the 12th best recruit in the Alabama football 2016 signing class. Now he is projected to be an NFL first-round pick. Quinnen’s first team, ALL-SEC pick was a no-brainer since he is often described as one of the top two or three, defensive linemen in the nation.

FIRST TEAM – OFFENSE

TE: Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M

OL: Jonah Williams, Alabama, Andrew Thomas, Georgia, Greg Little, Ole Miss, Bunchy Stallings, Kentucky

C: Lamont Gaillard, Georgia

WR: A.J. Brown, Ole Miss, Jerry Jeudy, Alabama

QB: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

RB: Benny Snell, Kentucky, Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M

All Purpose: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina

FIRST TEAM – DEFENSE

DL: Quinnen Williams, Alabama, Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State, Jachai Polite, Florida, Montez Sweat, Mississippi State

LB: Josh Allen, Kentucky, Devin White, LSU, Deshaun Davis, Auburn

DB: Deandre Baker, Georgia, Grant Delpit, LSU, Greedy Williams, LSU, Deionte Thompson, Alabama

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK: Cole Tracy, LSU

P: Braden Mann, Texas A&M

Return Specialist: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina

SECOND TEAM – OFFENSE

TE: Irv Smith Jr., Alabama

OL: Martez Ivey, Florida, Alex Leatherwood, Alabama, Deion Calhoun, Mississippi State, Zack Bailey, South Carolina

C: Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama

WR: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina, Emanuel Hall, Missouri

QB: Drew Lock, Missouri

RB: D’Andre Swift, Georgia, Damien Harris, Alabama

All Purpose: Lynn Bowden, Kentucky

SECOND TEAM – OFFENSE

DL: Isaiah Buggs, Alabama, Jonathan Ledbetter, Georgia, Terry Beckner, Missouri, Derrick Brown, Auburn

LB: Dylan Moses, Alabama, Cale Garrett, Missouri, Mack Wilson, Alabama

DB: CJ Henderson, Florida, Johnathan Abram, Mississippi State Joejuan Williams, Vanderbilt, DeMarkus Acy, Missouri

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK: Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia

P: Joseph Charlton, South Carolina

Return Specialist: Mecole Hardman, Georgia

Individual player awards will be announced on Wednesday and Freshman Team selections will be announced on Thursday.