The All-SEC team honors are in before the start of the season as we project who should have the most dominant fall in the conference. Ahead of the 2022 college football season, Pro Football Network is proud to debut our All-Conference honors for each of the 10 conferences and the FBS Independents.
Detailing out our projected top players, units, and teams ahead of the action, PFN’s team of draft evaluators and national college football analysts looked at who they each thought would be the conference’s best in 2022. The results are in, and here is the cream of the crop heading into the fall.
Follow along with all of our All-Conference awards this preseason: AAC | ACC | B1G | Big 12 | C-USA | MAC | Mountain West | Pac-12 | Sun Belt | FBS Independent
Preseason All-SEC football team honors for 2022
It’s important to note that these are awards and honors from Pro Football Network for each individual’s expected prowess on the field this season. This is in no way a projection of their NFL draft status nor a report on the specific conference awards given this preseason. These honors are from Pro Football Network, as judged by our team of college football analysts and draft evaluators projecting their success on the field in 2022.
- SEC Player of the Year
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama - SEC Offensive Player of the Year
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama - SEC Defensive Player of the Year
Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia - SEC Newcomer of the Year
O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida
Coming as no surprise, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner is the pick for the top player and offensive player in the conference. Bryce Young played well beyond his years a season ago as the big-armed kid from California threw his way into the record books at Alabama. Young is back for one more season to cement his legacy and push the Crimson Tide back into the national championship. He plays equally well under pressure as he does from clean-pocket situations, making him deadly for defenses at all times.
Jalen Carter may surprise some as the top defensive player in the conference, but the big man in the middle for Georgia is every bit of a top player across the country. Carter has some of the best interior pass-rush moves not just this season but that we’ve seen in decades. Comparing him to Warren Sapp is all too easy because it jumps off the screen. He’ll be in the running for the Heisman Trophy before the season is over.
Be mindful of the big man in the middle for Florida as well as the Gators brought in O’Cyrus Torrence from Louisiana with new head coach Billy Napier. Torrence has a feisty attitude and even better technique as he’s a mauler in the run game and a stalwart in pass protection.
Offensive All-SEC team and player honors
- SEC QB of the Year
Bryce Young, Alabama - SEC RB of the Year
Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama - SEC WR of the Year
Cedric Tillman, Tennessee - SEC TE of the Year
Brock Bowers, Georgia - SEC Offensive Line of the Year
Georgia Bulldogs - SEC Offensive Lineman of the Year
O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida
Young headlines the group but Georgia Tech transfer Jahmyr Gibbs may shock some. If all goes to plan, Gibbs should be the bell cow for the Crimson Tide in 2022 and is the first truly dynamic running back for Alabama in years. His versatility paired with his creativity on the ground, should make him a favorite of Alabama fans.
Cedric Tillman broke out late last season as he and Hendon Hooker dominated in Tennessee’s offense under Josh Heupel. Tillman brings his long stride down the field with ease and can navigate to the football better than most in the country.
Georgia is honored with the top offensive line as a unit, but they also have an inline tight end who can line up as a slot receiver with elite skills in the pass-catching game. A true enigma, Brock Bowers is essentially a receiver who also excels when blocking. Bowers is faster than most defensive backs in the SEC and has a terrific ability at the catch point.
Defensive All-SEC team and player honors
- SEC Defensive Line of the Year
Alabama Crimson Tide - SEC DL of the Year
Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia - SEC LB of the Year
Will Anderson Jr., Alabama - SEC Secondary of the Year
Missouri Tigers - SEC CB of the Year
Kelee Ringo, Georgia - SEC S of the Year
Jaylon Carlies, Missouri
The Crimson Tide are awarded the top defensive line as a unit due to their depth. Will Anderson Jr. is the star as the outside linebacker does everything at a high level for Alabama. He’s at his best when rushing the passer, and it’s been said that he would’ve been the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft had he been eligible.
As far as the secondary, Kelee Ringo stands as the country’s top cornerback returning to action. He’s a massive CB with speed and burst to the football and even better coverage instincts.
However, it’s the Missouri Tigers and Jaylon Carlies that earn the top spot for overall secondary. Led by their star defender, who comes downhill like a linebacker and coveres like a true rangy free safety, Missouri brings back multiple stars. Most notably, Carlies pairs with CB Kris Abrams-Draine as both are looking to scratch their way into first-round consideration in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Special teams All-SEC team and player honors
- SEC K of the Year
Harrison Mevis, Missouri - SEC P of the Year
Nik Constantinou, Texas A&M - SEC Specialist of the Year
Tayvion Robinson, PR/KR, Kentucky