Coaches unveil All-SEC picks for 2020, two Aggies named first-team all-conference

On Tuesday morning, the Southeastern Conference released the 2020 SEC Football Awards and the All-SEC teams, as voted on by the league’s coaches. As has been the case in years past, there was a noticeable lack of Maroon & White on the list.

Texas A&M had two players named to the first-team All-SEC team in running back Isaiah Spiller and defensive tackle Bobby Brown. Tight end Jalen Wydermyer, along with offensive linemen Kenyon Green, Dan Moore and Carson Green received second-team honors.

A sophomore from Klein Collins, Spiller headlined the Aggies’ ground game and amassed 986 yards and seven touchdowns in just nine contests this year. He ranked third in the league in rushing yards behind Alabama’s Najee Harris (1,262 in 11 games) and South Carolina’s Kevin Harris (1,138 in 10 games). Spiller shares the first-team running back honors with Harris.

Brown, a junior from Arlington Lamar, only played in eight of A&M’s nine games this season, missing the Aggies’ trip to Mississippi State. Still, the 6-4, 325-pound wrecking ball recorded 20 tackles (8 solos) and 5.5 sacks. Brown finished tied for fifth in the SEC in tackles.

Wydermyer led the Aggies in receptions with 45 for a team-high 502 receiving yards to go along with six touchdowns. However, where he has made his biggest strides is as a blocker, where he helped the A&M offensive line pave the way for a running game that averaged 202.9 yards per game. Florida’s Kyle Pitts received the first-team honors.

While three of Josh Henson’s Maroon Goons were named to the second team, the fact that a unit that is a finalist for the Joe Moore Award did not have a single first-teamer is surprising. The Aggies allowed just 0.44 sacks in nine games, the lowest average in the nation over the last 15 years (0.25 by Minnesota in 2005). Kenyon Green had even been mentioned by some as a possible first-team All-American.

Among the noticeable absences from Jimbo Fisher’s squad are DeMarvin Leal and Buddy Johnson, who both had fantastic campaigns leading the league’s top-rated defensive unit.

Leal, just a sophomore, is considered by many one of the best defensive linemen in the country, let alone the SEC. He finished 2020 with 30 tackles, 2.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. 

Johnson led the Aggies with 76 tackles to go along with three sacks, an interception (which he returned for a touchdown vs. LSU) and two forced fumbles.

McKinnley Jackson was named to the all-freshman team for his contributions along the defensive line, while cornerback Jaylon Jones — who has emerged a lockdown corner — was snubbed.

In other award-related news, Jimbo Fisher was named one of eight finalists for the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year award, and Jalen Wydermyer was named a finalist for the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end.

2020 All-SEC Coaches' Team

First Team

Offense
TE - Kyle Pitts (Florida)
OL - Alex Leatherwood (Alabama), Landon Young (Kentucky), Ben Cleveland (Georgia), Trey Smith (Tennessee)*, Deonte Brown (Alabama)*
C - Landon Dickerson (Alabama)
WR - DeVonta Smith (Alabama), Elijah Moore (Ole Miss)
QB - Mac Jones (Alabama)
RB - Najee Harris (Alabama), Isaiah Spiller (Texas A&M)
AP - Kadarius Toney (Florida)

Defense
DL - Christian Barmore (Alabama), Kingsley Enagbare (South Carolina), Trajan Jeffcoat (Missouri), Bobby Brown III (Texas A&M)
LB - Nick Bolton (Missouri), Dylan Moses (Alabama), Grant Morgan (Arkansas)
DB - Patrick Surtain II (Alabama), Kaiir Elam (Florida), Richard LeCounte (Georgia), Derek Stingley (LSU)

Special Teams
PK - Cade York (LSU)
P - Jake Camarda (Georgia)
RS - Kadarius Toney (Florida)

Second Team

Offense
TE - Jalen Wydermyer (Texas A&M)
OL - Darian Kinnard (Kentucky), Kenyon Green (Texas A&M), Dan Moore Jr. (Texas A&M), Carson Green (Texas A&M)
C - Drake Jackson (Kentucky)
WR - Kadarius Toney (Florida), Treylon Burks (Arkansas)
QB - Kyle Trask (Florida)
RB - Kevin Harris (South Carolina), Larry Rountree (Missouri)
AP - Jerrion Ealy (Ole Miss)

Defense
DL - Big Kat Bryant (Auburn), Jordan Davis (Georgia), Dayo Odeyingbo (Vanderbilt), Ali Gaye (LSU)
LB - Azeez Ojulari (Georgia), Bumper Pool (Arkansas), Christopher Allen (Alabama)
DB - Eric Stokes (Georgia), Malachi Moore (Alabama), Jalen Catalon (Arkansas), Jaycee Horn (South Carolina)

Special Teams
PK - Anders Carlson (Auburn)
P - Zach Von Rosenberg (LSU)
RS - Jaylen Waddle (Alabama)

Freshman All-SEC

Offense
TE - Arik Gilbert (LSU)*, Hudson Henry (Arkansas)*
OL - Warren McClendon (Georgia), Javion Cohen (Alabama), Brady Latham (Arkansas), Charles Cross (Mississippi State)
WR - Kayshon Boutte (LSU), Jaden Walley, Mississippi State
QB - Connor Bazelak (Missouri)
RB - Tank Bigsby (Auburn), Kendall Milton (Georgia)
AP - Tank Bigsby (Auburn)

Defense
DL - Colby Wooden (Auburn), Jalen Carter (Georgia), BJ Ojulari (LSU), McKinnley Jackson (Texas A&M)
LB - Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama), J.J. Weaver (Kentucky), Mohamed Kaba (South Carolina)
DB - Malachi Moore (Alabama), Eli Ricks (LSU), Jalen Catalon (Arkansas), Emmanuel Forbes (Mississippi State)

Special teams
PK - Harrison Mevis (Missouri)
P - Kai Kroeger (South Carolina)
RS - Kayshon Boutte (LSU)

(* - Ties )