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No conference sends more players to the NFL than the SEC.
Among the former SEC players who have become nationwide stars is Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones. Once an electric playmaker at Alabama, Jones has the Falcons on the verge of their second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.
Jones isn’t the only one on the brink of making a Super Bowl, however. In fact, there are 41 former SEC players on the four teams competing in the conference championship round.
Those 41 players may be the only ones with something left to play for, but there are plenty of former SEC standouts who deserve recognition for the season they put together in 2016.
So, without further ado, here is Saturday Down South’s All-SEC NFL Team.
Quarterback
Dak Prescott – Dallas Cowboys, Mississippi State
Stats: 311/459 (67.8%), 3,667 YDS, 23 TDs, 4 INTs
It was a good year for many former SEC quarterbacks, but Prescott took the NFL by storm as a rookie. Alongside first-year running back Ezekiel Elliott, Prescott guided the Cowboys to a No. 1 seed in the playoffs and broke some rookie quarterback records along the way.
Honorable mention – Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions, UGA)
Running back
Mark Ingram – New Orleans Saints, Alabama
Stats: 205 ATT, 1,043 YDS, 5.1 YDS/ATT, 6 TDs
Ingram became the first New Orleans running back to top 1,000 yards since Deuce McAllister in 2006. He averaged a career-best 5.1 yards per carry, which ranked fifth among all NFL running backs. Ingram also became just the fourth former Alabama running back to reach the 1,000-yard mark.
Honorable mention – Spencer Ware (Kansas City Chiefs, LSU)
Wide receivers
Julio Jones – Atlanta Falcons, Alabama
Stats: 83 REC, 1,409 YDS, 17.0 AVG, 6 TDs
Considered one of the best – if not the best – receivers in the NFL, Jones put together another impressive campaign, despite battling injuries. Jones set a franchise record with a career-high 300 yards in a Week 4 victory and became just the sixth receiver in NFL history to gain 300 yards in a game.
Odell Beckham Jr. – New York Giants, LSU
Stats: 101 REC, 1,367 YDS, 13.5 AVG, 10 TDs
OBJ has become one of the most popular players in the NFL thanks to his penchant for making jaw-dropping plays. Despite drawing the focus of each defense he faced in 2016, Beckham finished third in receiving yards and helped carry the Giants to the playoffs.
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Honorable mention – Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Texas A&M)
Tight end
Martellus Bennett – New England Patriots, Texas A&M
Stats: 55 REC, 701 YDS, 12.7 AVG, 7 TDs
Bennett’s first season with the Patriots has been an important one. New England planned on utilizing several two-tight end sets, but after Rob Gronkowski went down with an injury, Bennett became a vital part of the offense. He responded with one of his best NFL seasons and is still in the hunt for a Super Bowl.
Honorable mention – Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee)
Offensive tackle
Andrew Whitworth – Cincinnati Bengals, LSU
Whitworth is making his second straight trip to the NFL Pro Bowl after another excellent year. In 637 snaps, the Bengals’ left tackle allowed only 15 pressures. He earned a 91.3 grade from Pro Football Focus, which was second among all NFL tackles.
Marcus Gilbert – Pittsburgh Steelers, Florida
At right tackle, Gilbert has earned this selection. Although he missed some time with injury, Gilbert was a wall on the right side of the Steelers’ offensive line. Pro Football Focus has him ranked seventh among all tackles with an 88.4 grade.
Honorable mention – Jason Peters (Philadelphia Eagles, Arkansas)
Offensive guard
Ramon Foster – Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee
As good as Gilbert has been for Pittsburgh, Foster has been even better. The left guard hasn’t given up a sack yet this season and his grade of 88.8 is the second-highest Pro Football Focus grade for a guard.
James Carpenter – New York Jets, Alabama
Carpenter was the lone bright spot on a bad Jets offensive line. Showing tremendous improvement in pass protection, Carpenter had one of the best seasons of his NFL career and allowed just two sacks.
Honorable mention – Larry Warford (Detroit Lions, Kentucky)
Center
Ben Jones – Tennessee Titans, Georgia
Tennessee had one of the best offensive lines in the NFL this season, and Jones anchored it from the middle. The Titans’ line paved the way for 2,180 rushing yards – the third-most in the league – and Jones was a key part of that effort.
Honorable mention – Maurkice Pouncey (Pittsburgh Steelers, Florida)
Defensive tackle
Fletcher Cox – Philadelphia Eagles, Mississippi State
Stats: 43 Tackles, 6.5 Sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR
Cox was a force for the Eagles’ very good defensive line. He ranked among the best defensive tackles in generating pressure on the quarterback and finished the year with 6.5 sacks.
Geno Atkins – Cincinnati Bengals, Georgia
Stats: 32 Tackles, 9 Sacks
The former Georgia standout has been one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL for a while now. As a whole, the Bengals’ defensive line did not have a good year, but Atkins continued his excellent play and led all defensive tackles with nine sacks.
Honorable mention – Kyle Williams (New York Jets, LSU)
Defensive end
Danielle Hunter – Minnesota Vikings, LSU
Stats: 56 Tackles, 12.5 Sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR
Hunter had a breakout campaign in his second NFL season. As one of the top pass rushers on a very good Vikings defense, Hunter received plenty of exposure and proved he was worthy of his growing reputation. The former LSU Tiger finished the year tied for third in the league with 12.5 sacks.
danielle hunter is 22 years old pic.twitter.com/hsYrXGYFKx
— charles (“you look good” – andy reid) mcdonald (@FourVerts) December 26, 2016
Carlos Dunlap – Cincinnati Bengals, Florida
Stats: 49 Tackles, 8 Sacks, 3 FF, 15 PD
Aside from Atkins, Dunlap was the only positive for Cincinnati’s defensive line. Dunlap recorded eight sacks and was extremely active with his hands, knocking down 15 passes.
Honorable mention – Michael Bennett, (Seattle Seahawks, Texas A&M)
Linebacker
Von Miller – Denver Broncos, Texas A&M
Stats: 78 Tackles, 13.5 Sacks, 3 FF, 3 PD
The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year picked up right where he left off last season. With 13.5 sacks, Miller had the second-most in the league despite drawing the focus of every offense he faced.
Markus Golden – Arizona Cardinals, Missouri
Stats: 51 Tackles, 12.5 Sacks, 4 FF, 1 FR
Missouri’s reputation for developing talented pass rushers certainly applies to Golden. The former defensive end blossomed in his second year as an outside linebacker for the Cardinals and registered 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.
Kwon Alexander – Tampa Bay Buccaneers, LSU
Stats: 145 Tackles, 3 Sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT, 1 TD
Another second-year linebacker, Alexander continued his ascension to the ranks of the elite. Alexander’s 145 tackles were the fourth-most in the NFL and he was arguably the best player on an emerging Tampa Bay defense.
Honorable mention – K.J. Wright (Seattle Seahawks, Mississippi State)
Cornerback
Casey Hayward – San Diego Chargers, Vanderbilt
Stats: 58 Tackles, 20 PD, 7 INTs, 1 TD
Hayward proved to be one of the top free agent signings in the NFL and became a Pro Bowler for the first time. The former Commodore led the league with seven interceptions and broke up 20 passes all while shadowing some of the NFL’s best receivers.
Patrick Peterson – Arizona Cardinals, LSU
Stats: 51 Tackles, 6 PD, 3 INT
To look at his stats, it would appear that Peterson had a down year. The sixth-year cornerback had only three interceptions and six passes defended, but that’s largely due to the fact that opposing quarterbacks didn’t risk throwing the ball his way. Opponents recorded two catches or less against Peterson in nine games this season.
Honorable mention – Stephon Gilmore (Buffalo Bills, South Carolina)
Safety
Landon Collins – New York Giants, Alabama
Stats: 125 Tackles, 13 PD, 5 INTs, 4 Sacks, 1 FR, 1 TD
Collins was one of the best defensive players in the NFL. He finished the year with 125 tackles, 14th-most in the league, and five interceptions. Collins also recorded four sacks and was one of the best defensive backs at generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Eric Berry – Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee
Stats: 77 Tackles, 9 PD, 4 INTs, 2 TDs, 1 FR
Berry’s incredible journey back from cancer has been well chronicled, but his caliber of play in 2016 was something very few saw coming. Berry recorded 77 tackles, four interceptions and had two touchdowns, firmly cementing himself as one of the premier safeties in the NFL once again.
Eric Berry was simply dominant in Chiefs-Falcons today. pic.twitter.com/KgtF3MSV9l
— SB Nation (@SBNation) December 4, 2016
Honorable mention – Keanu Neal (Atlanta Falcons, Florida)
Kicker
Caleb Sturgis – Philadelphia Eagles, Florida
Stats: 35/41 FGA (85.4%)
With 35 made field goals, Sturgis converted the second-most kicks in the NFL. His success rate of 85.4 percent was also among the best in the league.
Punter
Shane Lechler – Houston Texans, Texas A&M
Stats: 72 Punts, 47.5 AVG, 30 IN20
Lechler was plenty busy in 2016. He recorded 72 punts and his average of 47.5 yards per kick was one of the highest in the NFL.