Texas A&M freshman wide receiver Christian Kirk was named Southeastern Conference Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press on Monday. In all, four Aggies were included on the AP's elite SEC squad – Kirk, sophomore defensive end Myles Garrett, senior punter Drew Kaser and senior placekicker Taylor Bertolet.
Kirk, from Scottsdale, Ariz., earned Newcomer of the Year and first-team All-SEC honors at all-purpose after a record-setting debut season for the Aggies. Kirk led the team in receptions (70), receiving yards (925), all-purpose yards (1,659), punt return yards (341), kickoff return yards (348) and total touchdowns (8). Among SEC freshmen, Kirk leads the way in receptions (5.8/G), receiving yards (77.1/G), punt return average (24.4), and all-purpose yardage. In the Texas A&M freshman record book, Kirk ranks No. 2 in season receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns and he owns the freshman record for all-purpose yards.
Garrett, from Arlington, Texas, earned first-team All-SEC honors after leading the SEC with 11.5 QB sacks, 17.0 tackles for loss (tie) and five forced fumbles, and he ranks in the top five nationally in all three of those statistical categories. He also has 57 tackles, seven QB hurries, a blocked punt and an interception on his 2015 resume.
Kaser, from Strongsville, Ohio, earned first-team honors after leading the SEC with a 47.96 average, which is just fractionally behind the FBS national lead in 2015. Kaser's 2015 average is on pace to break his own school record of 47.4 from 2013 and ranks No. 3 in the SEC annals (min. 50 punts). He is the chasing the SEC record of 48.2 set by Vanderbilt's Anderson in 1984.
Bertolet, from Reading, Pa., connected on nearly 90 percent of all his placekicks as a senior with a 57-of-65 worksheet on total field goal and extra point attempts. Bertolet hit 22-of-30 field goal tries and tied for the SEC lead for most field goals. A scoring threat from long distances, Bertolet led the FBS in field goals from 50 or more yards (5) was one of just three players with 10 or more three-pointers from at least 40 yards.
2015 Associated Press All-SEC Team
FIRST TEAM
Offense
WR — Laquon Treadwell, Mississippi, 6-2, 210, Jr.
WR — Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina, 5-11, 207, Jr.
L — Cam Robinson, Alabama, 6-6, 326, So.
L — Vadal Alexander, LSU, 6-6, 329, Sr.
L — John Theus, Georgia, 6-6, 303, Sr.
L — Sebastian Tretola, Arkansas, 6-5, 334, Sr.
C — Ryan Kelly, Alabama, 6-5, 297, Sr.
TE — Hunter Henry, Arkansas, 6-5, 253, Jr.
QB — Dak Prescott, Mississippi State, 6-2, 230, Sr.
RB — u-Derrick Henry, Alabama, 6-3, 242, Jr.
RB — u-Leonard Fournette, LSU, 6-1, 230, So.
PK — u-Daniel Carlson, Auburn, 6-4, 213, So.
All-Purpose — Christian Kirk, Texas A&M, 5-11, 200, Fr.
Defense
L — Myles Garrett, Texas A&M, 6-5, 262, So.
L — Jon Bullard, Florida, 6-3, 280, Sr.
L — Jonathan Allen, Alabama, 6-3, 283, Jr.
L — A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama, 6-4, 312, Jr.
LB — Reggie Ragland, Alabama, 6-2, 252, Sr.
LB — Kentrell Brothers, Missouri, 6-1, 235, Sr.
LB — Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
CB — u-Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida, 5-11, 200, Jr.
CB — Jalen Tabor, Florida, 6-0, 197, So.
S — Eddie Jackson, Alabama, 6-0, 194, Jr.
S — Dominick Sanders, Georgia, 6-0, 189, So.
P — Drew Kaser, Texas A&M, 6-3, 215, Sr.
___
SECOND TEAM
Offense
WR — Fred Ross, Mississippi State, 6-2, 207, Jr.
WR — t-Drew Morgan, Arkansas, 6-0, 195, Jr.
WR — t-Calvin Ridley, Alabama, 6-1, 188, Fr.
L — Dan Skipper, Arkansas, 6-10, 331, Jr.
L — Kyler Kerbyson, Tennessee, 6-4, 318, Sr.
L — Braden Smith, Auburn, 6-6, 286, So.
L — Dylan Wiesman, Tennessee, 6-4, 304, Jr.
C — Brandon Kublanow, Georgia, 6-3, 282, Jr.
TE — Jake McGee, Florida, 6-6, 244, Sr.
QB — Chad Kelly, Mississippi, 6-2, 215, Jr.
RB — Alex Collins, Arkansas, 5-11, 215, Jr.
RB — Jalen Hurd, Tennessee, 6-4, 240, So.
PK — Taylor Bertolet, Texas A&M, 5-9, 188, Sr.
All-Purpose — t-Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina, 5-11, 207, Jr.
All-Purpose — t-Evan Berry, Tennessee, 5-11, 207, So.
Defense
L — Robert Nkemdiche, Mississippi, 6-4, 296, Jr.
L — Jarran Reed, Alabama, 6-4, 313, Sr.
L — Derek Barnett, Tennessee, 6-3, 257, So.
L — t-Cory Johnson, Kentucky, 6-3, 300, Sr.
L — t-Marquis Haynes, Mississippi, 6-3, 220, So.
L — t-Charles Harris, Missouri, 6-3, 255, So.
LB — Antonio Morrison, Florida, 6-1, 234, Sr.
LB — Skai Moore, South Carolina, 6-2, 218, Jr.
LB — Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Tennessee, 6-0, 225, Jr.
CB — Tre'Davious White, LSU, 5-11, 191, Jr.
CB — Mike Hilton, Mississippi, 5-9, 184, Sr.
S — Trae Elston, Mississippi, 5-11, 195, Sr.
S — Jamal Adams, LSU, 6-1, 211, So.
P — Johnny Townsend, Florida, 6-1, 200, So.
___
Offensive Player of the Year
u-Derrick Henry, Alabama
___
Defensive Player of the Year
Reggie Ragland, Alabama
___
Coach of the Year
Jim McElwain, Florida
___
Newcomer of the Year
Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
Kirk, from Scottsdale, Ariz., earned Newcomer of the Year and first-team All-SEC honors at all-purpose after a record-setting debut season for the Aggies. Kirk led the team in receptions (70), receiving yards (925), all-purpose yards (1,659), punt return yards (341), kickoff return yards (348) and total touchdowns (8). Among SEC freshmen, Kirk leads the way in receptions (5.8/G), receiving yards (77.1/G), punt return average (24.4), and all-purpose yardage. In the Texas A&M freshman record book, Kirk ranks No. 2 in season receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns and he owns the freshman record for all-purpose yards.
Garrett, from Arlington, Texas, earned first-team All-SEC honors after leading the SEC with 11.5 QB sacks, 17.0 tackles for loss (tie) and five forced fumbles, and he ranks in the top five nationally in all three of those statistical categories. He also has 57 tackles, seven QB hurries, a blocked punt and an interception on his 2015 resume.
Kaser, from Strongsville, Ohio, earned first-team honors after leading the SEC with a 47.96 average, which is just fractionally behind the FBS national lead in 2015. Kaser's 2015 average is on pace to break his own school record of 47.4 from 2013 and ranks No. 3 in the SEC annals (min. 50 punts). He is the chasing the SEC record of 48.2 set by Vanderbilt's Anderson in 1984.
Bertolet, from Reading, Pa., connected on nearly 90 percent of all his placekicks as a senior with a 57-of-65 worksheet on total field goal and extra point attempts. Bertolet hit 22-of-30 field goal tries and tied for the SEC lead for most field goals. A scoring threat from long distances, Bertolet led the FBS in field goals from 50 or more yards (5) was one of just three players with 10 or more three-pointers from at least 40 yards.
2015 Associated Press All-SEC Team
FIRST TEAM
Offense
WR — Laquon Treadwell, Mississippi, 6-2, 210, Jr.
WR — Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina, 5-11, 207, Jr.
L — Cam Robinson, Alabama, 6-6, 326, So.
L — Vadal Alexander, LSU, 6-6, 329, Sr.
L — John Theus, Georgia, 6-6, 303, Sr.
L — Sebastian Tretola, Arkansas, 6-5, 334, Sr.
C — Ryan Kelly, Alabama, 6-5, 297, Sr.
TE — Hunter Henry, Arkansas, 6-5, 253, Jr.
QB — Dak Prescott, Mississippi State, 6-2, 230, Sr.
RB — u-Derrick Henry, Alabama, 6-3, 242, Jr.
RB — u-Leonard Fournette, LSU, 6-1, 230, So.
PK — u-Daniel Carlson, Auburn, 6-4, 213, So.
All-Purpose — Christian Kirk, Texas A&M, 5-11, 200, Fr.
Defense
L — Myles Garrett, Texas A&M, 6-5, 262, So.
L — Jon Bullard, Florida, 6-3, 280, Sr.
L — Jonathan Allen, Alabama, 6-3, 283, Jr.
L — A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama, 6-4, 312, Jr.
LB — Reggie Ragland, Alabama, 6-2, 252, Sr.
LB — Kentrell Brothers, Missouri, 6-1, 235, Sr.
LB — Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
CB — u-Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida, 5-11, 200, Jr.
CB — Jalen Tabor, Florida, 6-0, 197, So.
S — Eddie Jackson, Alabama, 6-0, 194, Jr.
S — Dominick Sanders, Georgia, 6-0, 189, So.
P — Drew Kaser, Texas A&M, 6-3, 215, Sr.
___
SECOND TEAM
Offense
WR — Fred Ross, Mississippi State, 6-2, 207, Jr.
WR — t-Drew Morgan, Arkansas, 6-0, 195, Jr.
WR — t-Calvin Ridley, Alabama, 6-1, 188, Fr.
L — Dan Skipper, Arkansas, 6-10, 331, Jr.
L — Kyler Kerbyson, Tennessee, 6-4, 318, Sr.
L — Braden Smith, Auburn, 6-6, 286, So.
L — Dylan Wiesman, Tennessee, 6-4, 304, Jr.
C — Brandon Kublanow, Georgia, 6-3, 282, Jr.
TE — Jake McGee, Florida, 6-6, 244, Sr.
QB — Chad Kelly, Mississippi, 6-2, 215, Jr.
RB — Alex Collins, Arkansas, 5-11, 215, Jr.
RB — Jalen Hurd, Tennessee, 6-4, 240, So.
PK — Taylor Bertolet, Texas A&M, 5-9, 188, Sr.
All-Purpose — t-Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina, 5-11, 207, Jr.
All-Purpose — t-Evan Berry, Tennessee, 5-11, 207, So.
Defense
L — Robert Nkemdiche, Mississippi, 6-4, 296, Jr.
L — Jarran Reed, Alabama, 6-4, 313, Sr.
L — Derek Barnett, Tennessee, 6-3, 257, So.
L — t-Cory Johnson, Kentucky, 6-3, 300, Sr.
L — t-Marquis Haynes, Mississippi, 6-3, 220, So.
L — t-Charles Harris, Missouri, 6-3, 255, So.
LB — Antonio Morrison, Florida, 6-1, 234, Sr.
LB — Skai Moore, South Carolina, 6-2, 218, Jr.
LB — Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Tennessee, 6-0, 225, Jr.
CB — Tre'Davious White, LSU, 5-11, 191, Jr.
CB — Mike Hilton, Mississippi, 5-9, 184, Sr.
S — Trae Elston, Mississippi, 5-11, 195, Sr.
S — Jamal Adams, LSU, 6-1, 211, So.
P — Johnny Townsend, Florida, 6-1, 200, So.
___
Offensive Player of the Year
u-Derrick Henry, Alabama
___
Defensive Player of the Year
Reggie Ragland, Alabama
___
Coach of the Year
Jim McElwain, Florida
___
Newcomer of the Year
Christian Kirk, Texas A&M