Which Tennessee Players Landed on the All-SEC Preseason Teams

After a week of SEC Media Days in Nashville, the SEC released the three preseason All-SEC teams as voted by the SEC media on Thursday.

Tennessee landed four players in total on the various teams, with three players potentially getting snubbed from the list along the way.

Vols wide receiver Bru McCoy, back for his second season with Tennessee, is the Vols’ highest-ranked player on the lists as a Second Team All-SEC offensive selection.

Tennessee also had a trio of Third Team All-SEC offensive selections in quarterback Joe Milton III, offensive lineman Javontez Spraggins, and center Cooper Mays.

The Vols did not have a player listed on any All-SEC defensive team or All-SEC specialists team.

While it’s not entirely shocking that Tennessee did not have any defensive players on the list, it was a little surprising that neither defensive tackle Omari Thomas nor linebacker Aaron Beasley made the cut.

Thomas, a representative for Tennessee during the 2023 SEC Media Days in Nashville, was a productive starter for the Vols in all 13 games last season. Thomas finished third amongst the Tennessee defensive lineman in terms of tackles.

Beasley, on the other hand, emerged as a wrecking ball in the middle of the field last season and finished the year with a tremendous performance in the Capital One Orange Bowl victory over Clemson to close out December. Beasley closed out the year as a selection for the 2022 Associated Press All-Bowl team.

Tennessee’s top return man Dee Williams was another player that could have seen his name land on one of the specialist’s teams. While Williams only accounted for one punt return touchdown last year, the former East Central (Miss.) C.C. transfer was constantly a threat at that position and had plenty of big returns that just didn’t make it back to the house. Williams racked up 281 yards on 15 punt returns for an average of 18.7 yards per return.

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2022 Stats for Tennessee’s 2023 All-SEC Preseason Selections and Snubs

Second Team All-SEC WR Bru McCoy

-12 games played
-52 receptions, 667 yards
-4 touchdowns
-70-yard long
-12.8 Avg YPC

Third Team All-SEC QB Joe Milton III

-9 games played
-53-of-82, 65% passing
-10 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
-18 rush attempts, 77 yards

Third Team All-SEC OL Javontez Spraggins

-Started all 13 games for Tennessee
-SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week (9/24 vs No. 20 Florida)

Third Team All-SEC C Cooper Mays

-Started all 13 games for Tennessee
-SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week (11/12 vs Missouri)

Defensive Lineman Omari Thomas

-13 games played
-11 solo tackles, 15 assisted tackles
-26 total tackles
-2.5 tackles for loss for 16 yards
-2 sacks for 15 yards
-4 passes deflected
-1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery

Linebacker Aaron Beasley

-13 games played
-39 solo tackles, 37 assisted tackles
-76 total tackles
-13 tackles for loss for 50 yards
-3 sacks for 25 yards
-3 passes deflected
-1 fumble recovery
-2022 AP All-Bowl Team

Punt Returner Dee Williams

-9 games played
-15 punt return attempts
-281 yards, 1 touchdown
-Longest return of 73 yards
-18.7 average yards per return