Ad Disclosure
SEC elite players filled both the offense and defense of ESPN’s 2024 All-American teams, with 4 players from the conference being named to each unit on Wednesday morning.
On the offensive side of the ball, all 4 of the SEC first-team selections were on the offensive line, which is an amazing feat considering we’re talking about the entire country. So, ESPN believed that 4 of the 5 best offensive linemen in the country came from the SEC, starting with offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. of Texas. The other 3 SEC offensive linemen on the first team were center Jake Slaughter of Florida, guard Tyler Booker of Alabama and tackle Will Campbell of LSU.
On ESPN’s first-team defense, the SEC was well-represented at the linebacker spot with Anthony Hill Jr. of Texas and Jalon Walker of Georgia earning a spot. That means ESPN thought 2 of the best 3 linebackers in the country were from the SEC.
The other 2 SEC selections on defense were defensive tackle Walter Nolen of Ole Miss and cornerback Jahdae Barron of Texas.
So, while the SEC isn’t represented for the second straight season in the national title game, the conference was recognized for its excellence, particularly on the offensive line, during the 2024 season.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
