BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Texas A&M sophomore Christian Kirk was named to the first team of the 2016 All-Southeastern Conference Coaches' Football Team at three positions and led a four-player Aggie contingent on the elite squad, which was released on Tuesday.
Kirk, from Scottsdale, Arizona, made the All-SEC team at wide receiver, all-purpose and return specialist after a spectacular second season in the maroon and white. He was joined on the All-SEC first team by senior offensive tackle Avery Gennesy and junior defensive end Myles Garrett, while senior safety Justin Evans was named to the second team.
Kirk was the lone player in the SEC with more than 70 catches after the 2016 regular season and goes into the bowl season with a SEC-best 77 receptions for 842 yards and nine touchdowns. He was also the SEC's elite punt returner with a 24.5 average and three returns for a touchdown. Kirk doesn't have the requisite punt returns per game to qualify for the NCAA or SEC rankings, but his three touchdowns are the most in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Gennesy, from Southaven, Miss., helped clear the way for one of the SEC's most prolific and balanced offensive attacks in the conference. The Aggies averaged 468.1 total yards per game, which ranked No. 3 in the SEC, while averaging 217.5 rushing yards and 250.6 passing yards per contest.
Garrett, from Arlington, Texas, was disruptive as usual on the Aggies' defensive front with a team-best 8.5 sacks, 15.0 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Garrett is a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given annually to the nation's top defensive player.
Evans, from Wiggins, Miss., was dominant from his strong safety position with 85 tackles, including a team-high 52 solo stops, and four games with double-digit tackles. He led the team with four interceptions and broke up six other opponent aerials.
2016 All-SEC Football Team
Offense
TE - Evan Engram, Ole Miss
OL - Cam Robinson, Alabama
Dan Skipper, Arkansas
Avery Gennesy, Texas A&M
Will Clapp, LSU
C - Ethan Pocic, LSU
WR - Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
ArDarius Stewart, Alabama
QB - Jalen Hurts, Alabama
RB - Kamryn Pettway, Auburn
Derrius Guice, LSU
AP - Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
Defense
DL - Jonathan Allen, Alabama
Derek Barnett, Tennessee
Carl Lawson, Auburn
Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
LB - Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
Reuben Foster, Alabama
Kendell Beckwith, LSU
DB - Jalen Tabor, Florida
Tre'Davious White, LSU
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
Aarion Penton, Missouri
Special Teams
PK - Daniel Carlson, Auburn
P - JK Scott, Alabama
RS - Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
Second Team
Offense
TE - O.J. Howard, Alabama
OL - Braden Smith, Auburn
Will Holden, Vanderbilt
Martez Ivey, Florida
Alex Kozan, Auburn
C - Jon Toth, Kentucky
WR - Calvin Ridley, Alabama
Fred Ross, Mississippi State
QB - Chad Kelly, Ole Miss*
Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee*
RB - Rawleigh Williams III, Arkansas
Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt*
Leonard Fournette, LSU*
AP - Derrius Guice, LSU
Defense
DL - Arden Key, LSU
Montravius Adams, Auburn
Charles Harris, Missouri
Caleb Brantley, Florida
LB - Tim Williams, Alabama
Jarrad Davis, Florida
Jordan Jones, Kentucky
DB - Jamal Adams, LSU
Eddie Jackson, Alabama
Quincy Wilson, Florida
Justin Evans, Texas A&M
Special Teams
PK - Gary Wunderlich, Ole Miss
P - Johnny Townsend, Florida
RS - Evan Berry, Tennessee
Kirk, from Scottsdale, Arizona, made the All-SEC team at wide receiver, all-purpose and return specialist after a spectacular second season in the maroon and white. He was joined on the All-SEC first team by senior offensive tackle Avery Gennesy and junior defensive end Myles Garrett, while senior safety Justin Evans was named to the second team.
Kirk was the lone player in the SEC with more than 70 catches after the 2016 regular season and goes into the bowl season with a SEC-best 77 receptions for 842 yards and nine touchdowns. He was also the SEC's elite punt returner with a 24.5 average and three returns for a touchdown. Kirk doesn't have the requisite punt returns per game to qualify for the NCAA or SEC rankings, but his three touchdowns are the most in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Gennesy, from Southaven, Miss., helped clear the way for one of the SEC's most prolific and balanced offensive attacks in the conference. The Aggies averaged 468.1 total yards per game, which ranked No. 3 in the SEC, while averaging 217.5 rushing yards and 250.6 passing yards per contest.
Garrett, from Arlington, Texas, was disruptive as usual on the Aggies' defensive front with a team-best 8.5 sacks, 15.0 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Garrett is a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given annually to the nation's top defensive player.
Evans, from Wiggins, Miss., was dominant from his strong safety position with 85 tackles, including a team-high 52 solo stops, and four games with double-digit tackles. He led the team with four interceptions and broke up six other opponent aerials.
2016 All-SEC Football Team
Offense
TE - Evan Engram, Ole Miss
OL - Cam Robinson, Alabama
Dan Skipper, Arkansas
Avery Gennesy, Texas A&M
Will Clapp, LSU
C - Ethan Pocic, LSU
WR - Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
ArDarius Stewart, Alabama
QB - Jalen Hurts, Alabama
RB - Kamryn Pettway, Auburn
Derrius Guice, LSU
AP - Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
Defense
DL - Jonathan Allen, Alabama
Derek Barnett, Tennessee
Carl Lawson, Auburn
Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
LB - Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
Reuben Foster, Alabama
Kendell Beckwith, LSU
DB - Jalen Tabor, Florida
Tre'Davious White, LSU
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
Aarion Penton, Missouri
Special Teams
PK - Daniel Carlson, Auburn
P - JK Scott, Alabama
RS - Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
Second Team
Offense
TE - O.J. Howard, Alabama
OL - Braden Smith, Auburn
Will Holden, Vanderbilt
Martez Ivey, Florida
Alex Kozan, Auburn
C - Jon Toth, Kentucky
WR - Calvin Ridley, Alabama
Fred Ross, Mississippi State
QB - Chad Kelly, Ole Miss*
Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee*
RB - Rawleigh Williams III, Arkansas
Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt*
Leonard Fournette, LSU*
AP - Derrius Guice, LSU
Defense
DL - Arden Key, LSU
Montravius Adams, Auburn
Charles Harris, Missouri
Caleb Brantley, Florida
LB - Tim Williams, Alabama
Jarrad Davis, Florida
Jordan Jones, Kentucky
DB - Jamal Adams, LSU
Eddie Jackson, Alabama
Quincy Wilson, Florida
Justin Evans, Texas A&M
Special Teams
PK - Gary Wunderlich, Ole Miss
P - Johnny Townsend, Florida
RS - Evan Berry, Tennessee