Preseason All-SEC media vote: UK respected in East, five Cats named All-SEC

Kentucky is earning some football respect across the Southeastern Conference. Just look at this year’s All-SEC preseason media voting results, released Friday.

UK was picked to finish third in the Eastern Division, behind Georgia and Florida, the school’s highest preseason position since the league went to a divisional format in 1992. The Wildcats were selected by two voters to win the East, and were one of five teams outside of the top challengers — Alabama and Georgia — to receive a single vote to win the SEC championship this fall.

Offensive tackle Darian Kinnard, an All-America player last season, was one of five Wildcats named to the All-SEC squad. He was UK’s only First Team representative, and one of three players named on offense. Running back Chris Rodriguez, who led the league in rushing average (6.6 yards per game) last season, and lineman Luke Fortner, a fifth-year senior who has started 23 straight games, were both named to the Third Team offense.

Josh Paschal was named to the Second Team defense. Paschal, a defensive end, is entering his fifth season and has 25 starts under his belt.

Defensive back Yusuf Corker was named to the Third Team defense. Corker was UK’s second-leading tackler a year ago with 77 and is set to reclaim a starting role on the defense.

You can view the complete preseason All-SEC media selections on the league website.

SEC media poll

Voting for 2021 league order of finish, with points received (first-place votes in parentheses):

Eastern Division

1. Georgia (124) 923

2. Florida (7) 784

3. Kentucky (2) 624

4. Missouri 555

5. Tennessee 362

6. South Carolina (1) 355

7. Vanderbilt 149

Western Division

Alabama (130) 932

Texas A&M (1) 760

LSU (1) 633

Mississippi (1) 529

Auburn 440

Arkansas (1) 241

Mississippi State 217

SEC champion

Alabama (84) 84

Georgia (45) 45

Mississippi (1) 1

Texas A&M (1) 1

Florida (1) 1

Kentucky (1) 1

South Carolina (1) 1

All-SEC teams

OFFENSE

First Team

QB: Matt Corral, Mississippi

RB: Tank Bigsby, Auburn

RB: Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M

WR: John Metchie III, Alabama

WR: Treylon Burks, Arkansas

TE: Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M

OL: Evan Neal, Alabama

OL: Darian Kinnard, Kentucky

OL: Kenyon Green, Texas A&M

OL: Cade Mays, Tennessee

C: Nick Brahms, Auburn

Second Team

QB: JT Daniels, Georgia

RB: Kevin Harris, South Carolina

RB: Zamir White, Georgia

WR: Kayshon Boutte, LSU

WR: George Pickens, Georgia

TE: Jahleel Billingsley, Alabama

OL: Jamaree Salyer, Georgia

OL: Emil Ekiyor Jr., Alabama

OL: Ed Ingram, LSU

OL: Austin Deculus, LSU

C: Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas

Third Team

QB: Bo Nix, Auburn

RB: Brian Robinson Jr., Alabama

RB: Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kentucky

WR: Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

WR: Jacob Copeland, Florida

TE: Nick Muse, South Carolina

OL: Charles Cross, Mississippi State

OL: Nick Broeker, Mississippi

OL: Myron Cunningham, Arkansas

OL: Luke Fortner, Kentucky

*C: Michael Maietti, Missouri

*C: Ben Brown, Ole Miss

DEFENSE

First Team

DL: Jordan Davis, Georgia

DL: Phidarian Mathis, Alabama

DL: Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina

*DL: Zachary Carter, Florida

*DL: DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M

LB: Henry To’o To’o, Alabama

LB: Christian Harris, Alabama

LB: Will Anderson Jr., Alabama

DB: Derek Stingley, LSU

DB: Josh Jobe, Alabama

DB: Malachi Moore, Alabama

DB: Kaiir Elam, Florida

Second Team

DL: Josh Paschal, Kentucky

DL: LaBryan Ray, Alabama

DL: Ali Gaye, LSU

DL: Trajan Jeffcoat, Missouri

LB: Grant Morgan, Arkansas

LB: Ventrell Miller, Florida

LB: Zakoby McClain, Auburn

DB: Smoke Monday, Auburn

DB: Jordan Battle, Alabama

DB: Jalen Catalon, Arkansas

DB: Elias Ricks, LSU

Third Team

DL: DJ Dale, Alabama

DL: Jayden Peevy, Texas A&M

DL: Travon Walker, Georgia

DL: Derick Hall, Auburn

LB: Owen Pappoe, Auburn

LB: Nakobe Dean, Georgia

LB: Christopher Allen, Alabama

DB: Roger McCreary, Auburn

DB: Lewis Cine, Georgia

DB: Alontae Taylor, Tennessee

DB: Yusuf Corker, Kentucky

SPECIALISTS

First Team

P: Jake Camarda, Georgia

PK: Cade York, LSU

RS: Jerrion Ealy, Mississippi

AP: Jerrion Ealy, Mississippi

Second Team

P: Paxton Brooks, Tennessee

PK: Will Reichard, Alabama

RS: Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

AP: Tank Bigsby, Auburn

Third Team

P: Mac Brown, Mississippi

PK: Anders Carlson, Auburn

RS: Kearis Jackson, Georgia

AP: Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

* - Indicates a tie

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