Media Selects Samuel, Bailey and Charlton to Preseason All-SEC Teams
July 20, 2018
Three members of the South Carolina football team were named to 2018 preseason All-SEC squads, while the Gamecocks were picked to finish second in the Eastern Division, according to the media voting conducted at the SEC Football Media Days in Atlanta this week and was announced today.
Senior Deebo Samuel was a first-team selection as a wide receiver, return specialist and as an all-purpose back. Junior punter Joseph Charlton was a second-team selection, while senior offensive lineman Zack Bailey was a third-team pick.
Samuel, a 6-0, 210-pounder from Inman, S.C., is one of the most electrifying players in college football. He owns 86 career receptions for 1,194 yards and has scored 15 career touchdowns – seven on the ground, five receiving and three via kickoff return. Samuel is the school’s record-holder in kick returns for touchdowns.
Charlton, a 6-5, 188-pound local product from A.C. Flora High School in Columbia, put together a very solid campaign in his first year handling the duties in 2017. He earned the Jim Carlen Award as the MVP on special teams and the Most Productive Player award for special teams. He ranked sixth in the SEC and 30th in the nation in punting, averaging 43.5 yards per punt. The Gamecocks finished 19th in the nation in net punting at 40.5 yards per punt. Charlton logged 15 punts inside the 20, 17 of 50-yards or longer and only four touchbacks among his 55 punts.
Bailey, a 6-6, 314-pounder from Summerville, S.C., returned to his more natural position of left guard in the spring after serving as the starting right tackle in 2017. A versatile performer who began his career as a guard, Bailey has also played center. He has played in 34 games over the past three seasons, making 26 starts (15 at left guard, eight at right tackle and three at center).
Alabama received 193 votes to be crowned SEC Champion on December 1 in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, while Georgia was second with 69 votes.
Georgia was selected to win the SEC Eastern Division with 1,977 points, including 271 first-place votes, while South Carolina was second with 1,535 points and 8 votes to win the division. Florida was third with 1,441 total points. Points were awarded on a 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale.
Alabama was picked to win the SEC Western Division with 1,971 total points, while Auburn was second with 1,664. Alabama received 263 first-place votes in the SEC West. Mississippi State was third with 1,239 points.
Only six times since 1992 has the predicted champion at SEC Media Days proceeded to win the SEC Championship.
EASTERN DIVISION (1st Place votes in parenthesis)
Georgia (271) 1977
South Carolina (8) 1535
Florida (4) 1441
Missouri 1057
Kentucky (1) 874
Tennessee (1) 704
Vanderbilt 392
WESTERN DIVISION (1st Place votes in parenthesis)
Alabama (263) 1971
Auburn (19) 1664
Mississippi State (2) 1239
Texas A&M 1091
LSU 1025
Ole Miss 578
Arkansas 412
SEC CHAMPION
Alabama 193
Georgia 69
Auburn 14
South Carolina 4
Florida 2
Mississippi State 1
Missouri 1
2018 PRESEASON MEDIA DAYS ALL-SEC TEAM
OFFENSE
First-Team
QB Drew Lock, Missouri
RB Damien Harris, Alabama
RB Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky
WR A.J. Brown, Ole Miss
WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
TE Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
OL Jonah Williams, Alabama
OL Greg Little, Ole Miss
OL Martez Ivey, Florida
OL Trey Smith, Tennessee
C Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama
Second-Team
QB Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
RB D’Andre Swift, Georgia
RB Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M
WR Terry Godwin, Georgia
WR Ryan Davis, Auburn
TE Isaac Nauta, Georgia
OL Andrew Thomas, Georgia
OL Lester Cotton, Alabama
OL Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas
OL Garrett Brumfield, LSU
C Lamont Gaillard, Georgia
Third-Team
*QB Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State
*QB Jake Fromm, Georgia
RB Aeris Williams, Mississippi State
RB Jordan Scarlett, Florida
WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
WR Emanuel Hall, Missouri
TE C.J. Conrad, Kentucky
OL Matt Womack, Alabama
OL Zack Bailey, South Carolina
OL Javon Patterson, Ole Miss
OL Marquel Harrell, Auburn
C Erik McCoy, Texas A&M
DEFENSE
First-Team
DL Raekwon Davis, Alabama
DL Cece Jefferson, Florida
DL Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
DL Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
LB Devin White, LSU
LB Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
LB Mack Wilson, Alabama
DB Deandre Baker, Georgia
DB Greedy Williams, LSU
DB J.R. Reed, Georgia
DB Deionte Thompson, Alabama
Second-Team
DL Jonathan Ledbetter, Georgia
DL Terry Beckner, Missouri
DL Derrick Brown, Auburn
DL Isaiah Buggs, Alabama
LB Josh Allen, Kentucky
LB Deshaun Davis, Auburn
LB D’Andre Walker, Georgia
DB Mike Edwards, Kentucky
DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Kentucky
DB Jamel Dean, Auburn
DB CJ Henderson, Florida
Third-Team
DL Dontavius Russell, Auburn
DL Rashard Lawrence, LSU
DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn
*DL Kingsley Keke, Texas A&M
*DL Landis Durham, Texas A&M
LB Dylan Moses, Alabama
LB David Reese, Florida
LB De’Jon Harris, Arkansas
DB Mark McLaurin, Mississippi State
DB Marco Wilson, Florida
DB Javaris Davis, Auburn
DB Santos Ramirez, Arkansas
SPECIALISTS
First-Team
P Corey Fatony, Missouri
PK Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
RS Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
AP Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
Second-Team
P Joseph Charlton, South Carolina
PK Daniel LaCamera, Texas A&M
RS Mecole Hardman, Georgia
AP Trevon Diggs, Alabama
Third-Team
P Zach Von Rosenberg, LSU
PK Tucker McCann, Missouri
RS Trevon Diggs, Alabama
AP Kadarius Toney, Florida
* – Indicates a tie
