Five Aggies Earn All-SEC Recognition
Dec 08, 2015 | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Texas A&M placed five players on the 2015 All-Southeastern Conference Team, as selected by the SEC head coaches, the conference office announced on Tuesday. Myles Garrett and Drew Kaser earned first-team honors, while Germain Ifedi, Christian Kirk and Taylor Bertolet were named to the second-team.
Garrett, a sophomore defensive-end, is the SEC leader in quarterback sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles and earned recognition from the league's coaches for the second straight season as he was named to the second-team as a freshman. The Arlington native was named college football's top defensive lineman last week when he received the Bill Willis Award from the Touchdown Club of Columbus (Ohio). Additionally, Garrett has been named a finalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award and the Hendricks Award.
Kaser, a senior punter, is averaging 46.30 yards (7,455 yards on 161 punts) for his career, which is just .01 behind the NCAA record of 46.31 by West Virginia's Todd Sauerbrun from 1991-94 (7,733 yards on 167 punts). The Strongville, Ohio native, is on pace to join Sauerbrun as the only FBS players to average more than 46 punt yards for a career (min. 150 punts). Kaser's sustained greatness has put him far ahead of the current school and SEC career records owned by Shane Lechler (44.7, 1996-99) and Ricky Anderson of Vanderbilt (45.6, 1983-84), respectively.
Ifedi, a junior offensive lineman, was named to the All-SEC second team, marking the fourth consecutive season that an Aggie offensive lineman has earned honors from the league's coaches (2014 – Cedric Ogbuehi , 2013 – Jake Matthews, 2012 – Matthews and Luke Joeckel). The Houston native has started 36 of a possible 37 games, becoming a mainstay in A&M's offensive line rotation in 2013 as a redshirt freshman. Ifedi has started 14 consecutive games for the Aggies, the third longest active streak on the team.
Kirk, a freshman wide-receiver and return specialist set a new Texas A&M freshman single-season record for all-purpose yards, passing the total of 1,542 set by Cyrus Gray in 2008. The Arizona native's season total of 1,659 yards ranks fifth in school history behind Cyrus Gray (1,806, 2010), Darren Lewis (1,739 in 1990 and 1,705 in 1988) and Leeland McElroy (1,709 in 1995). Kirk needs 65 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for the season, to go along with his 45 rush, 341 punt-return and 348 kick-return yards. The Arizona native paced the Aggies with eight touchdowns on the year, six receiving and two punt return. Kirk was the first Aggie with multiple punt return touchdowns in a single season since Aaron Glenn in 1993.
Bertolet, a senior place-kicker, tied the SEC record for field goals in a game against Vanderbilt in late November. The Reading, Pa. native, had a career day, connecting on six field goals against the Commodores to etch his name into the A&M record books, tying the school record for field goals in a game originally set by Alan Smith in 1983. The senior places sixth in the NCAA with 23 made field goals, while pacing the country from long-distance. Bertolet connected on five field goals of 50 yards or more this season and went a perfect 35-for-35 on point after attempts.
Texas A&M has accepted a bowl invitation to the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn., and will face off against Louisville of the Atlantic Coast Conference in Nissan Stadium on Dec. 30. To stay up to date on Texas A&M Football follow @AggieFootball on twitter or log on to 12thMan.com
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
TE - Hunter Henry, Arkansas
OL - Sebastian Tretola, Arkansas; Vadal Alexander, LSU; Cam Robinson, Alabama; John Theus, Georgia
C - Ryan Kelly, Alabama
WR - Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss; Fred Ross, Mississippi State; Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
QB - Dak Prescott, Mississippi State
RB - Derrick Henry, Alabama; Leonard Fournette, LSU
AP - Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
DEFENSE
DL - Myles Garrett, Texas A&M; Jonathan Allen, Alabama; Jonathan Bullard, Florida; A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama
LB - Kentrell Brothers, Missouri; Reggie Ragland, Alabama; Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
DB - Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida; Eddie Jackson, Alabama; Jalen Tabor, Florida; Trae Elston, Ole Miss
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK - Daniel Carlson, Auburn
P - Drew Kaser, Texas A&M
RS - Evan Berry, Tennessee
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
TE - Evan Engram, Ole Miss
OL - Dominick Jackson, Alabama; Shon Coleman, Auburn; Dan Skipper, Arkansas; Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M
C - Ethan Pocic, LSU
WR - Calvin Ridley, Alabama; Christian Kirk, Texas A&M; De'Runnya Wilson, Mississippi State
QB - Chad Kelly, Ole Miss
RB - Alex Collins, Arkansas; Jalen Hurd, Tennessee
AP - Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
DEFENSE
DL - Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss; Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss; Charles Harris, Missouri; Derek Barnett, Tennessee
LB - Leonard Floyd, Georgia; Antonio Morrison, Florida; Skai Moore, South Carolina
DB - Mike Hilton, Ole Miss; Dominick Sanders, Georgia; Tre'Davious White, LSU; Jamal Adams, LSU
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK - Taylor Bertolet, Texas A&M; Adam Griffith, Alabama
P - Johnny Townsend, Florida
RS - Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
Garrett, a sophomore defensive-end, is the SEC leader in quarterback sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles and earned recognition from the league's coaches for the second straight season as he was named to the second-team as a freshman. The Arlington native was named college football's top defensive lineman last week when he received the Bill Willis Award from the Touchdown Club of Columbus (Ohio). Additionally, Garrett has been named a finalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award and the Hendricks Award.
Kaser, a senior punter, is averaging 46.30 yards (7,455 yards on 161 punts) for his career, which is just .01 behind the NCAA record of 46.31 by West Virginia's Todd Sauerbrun from 1991-94 (7,733 yards on 167 punts). The Strongville, Ohio native, is on pace to join Sauerbrun as the only FBS players to average more than 46 punt yards for a career (min. 150 punts). Kaser's sustained greatness has put him far ahead of the current school and SEC career records owned by Shane Lechler (44.7, 1996-99) and Ricky Anderson of Vanderbilt (45.6, 1983-84), respectively.
Ifedi, a junior offensive lineman, was named to the All-SEC second team, marking the fourth consecutive season that an Aggie offensive lineman has earned honors from the league's coaches (2014 – Cedric Ogbuehi , 2013 – Jake Matthews, 2012 – Matthews and Luke Joeckel). The Houston native has started 36 of a possible 37 games, becoming a mainstay in A&M's offensive line rotation in 2013 as a redshirt freshman. Ifedi has started 14 consecutive games for the Aggies, the third longest active streak on the team.
Kirk, a freshman wide-receiver and return specialist set a new Texas A&M freshman single-season record for all-purpose yards, passing the total of 1,542 set by Cyrus Gray in 2008. The Arizona native's season total of 1,659 yards ranks fifth in school history behind Cyrus Gray (1,806, 2010), Darren Lewis (1,739 in 1990 and 1,705 in 1988) and Leeland McElroy (1,709 in 1995). Kirk needs 65 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for the season, to go along with his 45 rush, 341 punt-return and 348 kick-return yards. The Arizona native paced the Aggies with eight touchdowns on the year, six receiving and two punt return. Kirk was the first Aggie with multiple punt return touchdowns in a single season since Aaron Glenn in 1993.
Bertolet, a senior place-kicker, tied the SEC record for field goals in a game against Vanderbilt in late November. The Reading, Pa. native, had a career day, connecting on six field goals against the Commodores to etch his name into the A&M record books, tying the school record for field goals in a game originally set by Alan Smith in 1983. The senior places sixth in the NCAA with 23 made field goals, while pacing the country from long-distance. Bertolet connected on five field goals of 50 yards or more this season and went a perfect 35-for-35 on point after attempts.
Texas A&M has accepted a bowl invitation to the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn., and will face off against Louisville of the Atlantic Coast Conference in Nissan Stadium on Dec. 30. To stay up to date on Texas A&M Football follow @AggieFootball on twitter or log on to 12thMan.com
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
TE - Hunter Henry, Arkansas
OL - Sebastian Tretola, Arkansas; Vadal Alexander, LSU; Cam Robinson, Alabama; John Theus, Georgia
C - Ryan Kelly, Alabama
WR - Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss; Fred Ross, Mississippi State; Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
QB - Dak Prescott, Mississippi State
RB - Derrick Henry, Alabama; Leonard Fournette, LSU
AP - Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
DEFENSE
DL - Myles Garrett, Texas A&M; Jonathan Allen, Alabama; Jonathan Bullard, Florida; A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama
LB - Kentrell Brothers, Missouri; Reggie Ragland, Alabama; Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
DB - Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida; Eddie Jackson, Alabama; Jalen Tabor, Florida; Trae Elston, Ole Miss
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK - Daniel Carlson, Auburn
P - Drew Kaser, Texas A&M
RS - Evan Berry, Tennessee
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
TE - Evan Engram, Ole Miss
OL - Dominick Jackson, Alabama; Shon Coleman, Auburn; Dan Skipper, Arkansas; Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M
C - Ethan Pocic, LSU
WR - Calvin Ridley, Alabama; Christian Kirk, Texas A&M; De'Runnya Wilson, Mississippi State
QB - Chad Kelly, Ole Miss
RB - Alex Collins, Arkansas; Jalen Hurd, Tennessee
AP - Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
DEFENSE
DL - Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss; Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss; Charles Harris, Missouri; Derek Barnett, Tennessee
LB - Leonard Floyd, Georgia; Antonio Morrison, Florida; Skai Moore, South Carolina
DB - Mike Hilton, Ole Miss; Dominick Sanders, Georgia; Tre'Davious White, LSU; Jamal Adams, LSU
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK - Taylor Bertolet, Texas A&M; Adam Griffith, Alabama
P - Johnny Townsend, Florida
RS - Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
Players Mentioned
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