Texas A&M’s Kirk, Watts, Martin earn preseason All-SEC mention
Jul 14, 2017 | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- Texas A&M football standouts Christian Kirk, Armani Watts and Koda Martin earned spots on the preseason All-Southeastern Conference team, as selected by the media attending the 2017 SEC Media Days on Friday.
Additionally, Watts was named to the "watch list" for the Jim Thorpe Award on Friday, which is given annually to the best defensive back in college football.
Kirk, a junior from Scottsdale, Ariz., led the way as a first-team selection at three positions – wide receiver, all-purpose and return specialist. Kirk was the only player in the SEC with more than 80 catches in 2016 (83 for 928 yards), and he led the nation with three punt returns for touchdowns. A preseason All-American, Kirk has also been named to the "watch list" for Maxwell Award, which is presented annually to the college player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club.
Watts, a senior from Forney, Texas, earned first-team All-SEC honors from the media at defensive back. The play-making Watts, whose 2016 season was cut short due to injury, made 56 tackles in nine games last season, and he was among an elite group of SEC defenders with at least two tackles for loss, interceptions, passes broken up, forced fumbles and recovered fumbles. Watts has been named to the Thorpe Award, Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch lists.
Martin, a junior from Manvel, Texas, was named to the All-SEC third team on the offensive line. He is projected as a starter on the Aggies' offensive front as serving as a top backup and spot starter the past two seasons. Martin saw action in all 13 games last season with four starts and helped clear the way for a balanced Aggie offense that gained 467.0 yards per game, with 211.8 rushing and 250.0 passing yards per game. Additionally, Martin has been nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
2017 PRESEASON MEDIA DAYS ALL-SEC TEAM
(Total points earned in parenthesis)
OFFENSE
First-Team
QB Jalen Hurts, Alabama (196)
RB Derrius Guice, LSU (223)
RB Nick Chubb, Georgia (211)
WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama (232)
WR Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (197)
TE Isaac Nauta, Georgia (134)
OL Braden Smith, Auburn (201)
OL Martez Ivey, Florida (198)
OL Jonah Williams, Alabama (187)
OL Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama (174)
C Frank Ragnow, Arkansas (174)
Second-Team
QB Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State (121)
RB Bo Scarbrough, Alabama (151)
RB Kamryn Pettway, Auburn (141)
WR Antonio Callaway, Florida (152)
WR J'Mon Moore, Missouri (91)
TE Hayden Hurst, South Carolina (115)
OL Isaiah Wynn, Georgia (116)
OL Jashon Robertson, Tennessee (108)
OL K.J. Malone, LSU (101)
OL Martinas Rankin, Mississippi State (101)
C Bradley Bozeman, Alabama (155)
Third-Team
QB Austin Allen, Arkansas (102)
RB Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt (105)
RB Sony Michel, Georgia (30)
WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina (64)
WR Jauan Jennings, Tennessee (42)
TE DeAndre Goolsby, Florida (76)
OL Lester Cotton, Alabama (96)
OL Greg Little, Ole Miss (94)
OL Javon Patterson, Ole Miss (87)
OL Koda Martin, Texas A&M (69)
C Will Clapp, LSU (66)
DEFENSE
First-Team
DL Da'Ron Payne, Alabama (196)
DL Da'Shawn Hand, Alabama (180)
DL Trenton Thompson, Georgia (172)
DL Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss (159)
LB Arden Key, LSU (191)
LB Rashaan Evans, Alabama (180)
LB Roquan Smith, Georgia (157)
DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama (232)
DB Ronnie Harrison, Alabama (156)
DB Armani Watts, Texas A&M (137)
DB Duke Dawson, Florida (137)
Second-Team
DL Cece Jefferson, Florida (151)
DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn (120)
DL Christian LaCouture, LSU (107)
DL Denzil Ware, Kentucky (78)
LB Shaun Dion Hamilton, Alabama (156)
LB Skai Moore, South Carolina (128)
LB Tre' Williams, Auburn (103)
DB Tray Matthews, Auburn (126)
DB Donte Jackson, LSU (123)
DB Carlton Davis, Auburn (109)
DB Dominick Sanders, Georgia (109)
Third-Team
DL Marcell Frazier, Missouri (77)
DL Jabari Zuniga, Florida (76)
DL Dontavius Russell, Auburn (70)
DL Rashard Lawrence, LSU (54)
LB Jordan Jones, Kentucky (91)
LB Lorenzo Carter, Georgia (82)
LB Oren Burks, Vanderbilt (58)
DB Anthony Averett, Alabama (104)
DB Marcell Harris, Florida (83)
DB Mike Edwards, Kentucky (71)
DB Tony Brown, Alabama (62)
SPECIALISTS
First-Team
P JK Scott, Alabama (222)
PK Daniel Carlson, Auburn (218)
RS Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (176)
AP Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (161)
Second-Team
P Johnny Townsend, Florida (99)
PK Eddy Piniero, Florida (106)
RS Evan Berry, Tennssee (117)
AP Derrius Guice, LSU (133)
Third-Team
P Trevor Daniel, Tennessee (58)
PK Gary Wunderlich, Ole Miss (94)
RS Antonio Callaway, Florida (84)
AP Kerryon Johnson, Auburn (66)
Texas A&M's "Watch List" Watch
Jim Thorpe Award (Presented to the best defensive back in college football by the Jim Thorpe Museum and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame)
Armani Watts, DB, Sr-3L, Forney, Texas
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Presented to the national defensive player of the year by the Charlotte Touchdown Club and the Football Writers Association of America)
Armani Watts, DB, Sr-3L, Forney, Texas
Maxwell Award (Presented to the college player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club)
Christian Kirk, WR/RS, Jr-2L, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Trayveon Williams, RB, So-1L, Houston, Texas
Bednarik Award (Presented to the college defensive player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club)
Armani Watts, DB, Sr-3L, Forney, Texas
Rimington Trophy (Presented to the nation's premier center by the Boomer Esiason Foundation)
Colton Prater, OL, So-1L, Bossier City, La.
Ray Guy Award (Presented to the college punter of the year by the Augusta Sports Council)
Shane Tripucka, P, Sr-1L, Allen, Texas
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team (Honors dedication to volunteerism and enriching the lives of others)
Koda Martin, OL, Jr-2L, Manvel, Texas
Additionally, Watts was named to the "watch list" for the Jim Thorpe Award on Friday, which is given annually to the best defensive back in college football.
Kirk, a junior from Scottsdale, Ariz., led the way as a first-team selection at three positions – wide receiver, all-purpose and return specialist. Kirk was the only player in the SEC with more than 80 catches in 2016 (83 for 928 yards), and he led the nation with three punt returns for touchdowns. A preseason All-American, Kirk has also been named to the "watch list" for Maxwell Award, which is presented annually to the college player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club.
Watts, a senior from Forney, Texas, earned first-team All-SEC honors from the media at defensive back. The play-making Watts, whose 2016 season was cut short due to injury, made 56 tackles in nine games last season, and he was among an elite group of SEC defenders with at least two tackles for loss, interceptions, passes broken up, forced fumbles and recovered fumbles. Watts has been named to the Thorpe Award, Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch lists.
Martin, a junior from Manvel, Texas, was named to the All-SEC third team on the offensive line. He is projected as a starter on the Aggies' offensive front as serving as a top backup and spot starter the past two seasons. Martin saw action in all 13 games last season with four starts and helped clear the way for a balanced Aggie offense that gained 467.0 yards per game, with 211.8 rushing and 250.0 passing yards per game. Additionally, Martin has been nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
2017 PRESEASON MEDIA DAYS ALL-SEC TEAM
(Total points earned in parenthesis)
OFFENSE
First-Team
QB Jalen Hurts, Alabama (196)
RB Derrius Guice, LSU (223)
RB Nick Chubb, Georgia (211)
WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama (232)
WR Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (197)
TE Isaac Nauta, Georgia (134)
OL Braden Smith, Auburn (201)
OL Martez Ivey, Florida (198)
OL Jonah Williams, Alabama (187)
OL Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama (174)
C Frank Ragnow, Arkansas (174)
Second-Team
QB Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State (121)
RB Bo Scarbrough, Alabama (151)
RB Kamryn Pettway, Auburn (141)
WR Antonio Callaway, Florida (152)
WR J'Mon Moore, Missouri (91)
TE Hayden Hurst, South Carolina (115)
OL Isaiah Wynn, Georgia (116)
OL Jashon Robertson, Tennessee (108)
OL K.J. Malone, LSU (101)
OL Martinas Rankin, Mississippi State (101)
C Bradley Bozeman, Alabama (155)
Third-Team
QB Austin Allen, Arkansas (102)
RB Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt (105)
RB Sony Michel, Georgia (30)
WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina (64)
WR Jauan Jennings, Tennessee (42)
TE DeAndre Goolsby, Florida (76)
OL Lester Cotton, Alabama (96)
OL Greg Little, Ole Miss (94)
OL Javon Patterson, Ole Miss (87)
OL Koda Martin, Texas A&M (69)
C Will Clapp, LSU (66)
DEFENSE
First-Team
DL Da'Ron Payne, Alabama (196)
DL Da'Shawn Hand, Alabama (180)
DL Trenton Thompson, Georgia (172)
DL Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss (159)
LB Arden Key, LSU (191)
LB Rashaan Evans, Alabama (180)
LB Roquan Smith, Georgia (157)
DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama (232)
DB Ronnie Harrison, Alabama (156)
DB Armani Watts, Texas A&M (137)
DB Duke Dawson, Florida (137)
Second-Team
DL Cece Jefferson, Florida (151)
DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn (120)
DL Christian LaCouture, LSU (107)
DL Denzil Ware, Kentucky (78)
LB Shaun Dion Hamilton, Alabama (156)
LB Skai Moore, South Carolina (128)
LB Tre' Williams, Auburn (103)
DB Tray Matthews, Auburn (126)
DB Donte Jackson, LSU (123)
DB Carlton Davis, Auburn (109)
DB Dominick Sanders, Georgia (109)
Third-Team
DL Marcell Frazier, Missouri (77)
DL Jabari Zuniga, Florida (76)
DL Dontavius Russell, Auburn (70)
DL Rashard Lawrence, LSU (54)
LB Jordan Jones, Kentucky (91)
LB Lorenzo Carter, Georgia (82)
LB Oren Burks, Vanderbilt (58)
DB Anthony Averett, Alabama (104)
DB Marcell Harris, Florida (83)
DB Mike Edwards, Kentucky (71)
DB Tony Brown, Alabama (62)
SPECIALISTS
First-Team
P JK Scott, Alabama (222)
PK Daniel Carlson, Auburn (218)
RS Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (176)
AP Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (161)
Second-Team
P Johnny Townsend, Florida (99)
PK Eddy Piniero, Florida (106)
RS Evan Berry, Tennssee (117)
AP Derrius Guice, LSU (133)
Third-Team
P Trevor Daniel, Tennessee (58)
PK Gary Wunderlich, Ole Miss (94)
RS Antonio Callaway, Florida (84)
AP Kerryon Johnson, Auburn (66)
Texas A&M's "Watch List" Watch
Jim Thorpe Award (Presented to the best defensive back in college football by the Jim Thorpe Museum and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame)
Armani Watts, DB, Sr-3L, Forney, Texas
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Presented to the national defensive player of the year by the Charlotte Touchdown Club and the Football Writers Association of America)
Armani Watts, DB, Sr-3L, Forney, Texas
Maxwell Award (Presented to the college player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club)
Christian Kirk, WR/RS, Jr-2L, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Trayveon Williams, RB, So-1L, Houston, Texas
Bednarik Award (Presented to the college defensive player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club)
Armani Watts, DB, Sr-3L, Forney, Texas
Rimington Trophy (Presented to the nation's premier center by the Boomer Esiason Foundation)
Colton Prater, OL, So-1L, Bossier City, La.
Ray Guy Award (Presented to the college punter of the year by the Augusta Sports Council)
Shane Tripucka, P, Sr-1L, Allen, Texas
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team (Honors dedication to volunteerism and enriching the lives of others)
Koda Martin, OL, Jr-2L, Manvel, Texas
Players Mentioned
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