BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Eight Gator football players - Caleb Sturgis (St. Augustine, Fla.), Andre Debose (Sanford, Fla.), Sharrif Floyd (Philadelphia, Pa.), Jon Bostic (Wellington, Fla.), Matt Elam (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.), Dominique Easley (Staten Island, N.Y.), Xavier Nixon (Fayetteville, N.C.) and Jelani Jenkins (Olney, Md.) - have been named to the Southeastern Conference Coaches Pre-Season All-SEC Team, announced by the league today.
Sturgis leads the pack with first-team specialist honors at kicker and is one of nine first-team selections from last year's coaches All-SEC post-season team. The redshirt senior went 22-of-26 in 2011 for the Gators with a season long 55-yard kick and was successful on all 31 of his PAT attempts. He held the third-longest kick in the FBS last season, and was one of three kickers to make three field goals of 50-or-more in 2011. Sturgis, an All-American last season, was a second-team preseason selection last season.
Four Gators were named to the defense and specialist second-teams. Debose was named the second-team's return specialist coming off a 2011 campaign where he led UF with 19 kick returns and 495 kick return yards. The junior wide receiver also had three 50-plus yard kick returns including a 99-yard touchdown in the Gator Bowl. Debose was the preseason third-team return specialist a year ago.
Floyd, Bostic and Elam all represented the Orange and Blue on the second-team defense. Floyd played in the final 11 games of the season in 2011 and recorded 46 tackles including 6.5 tackles for loss. He recorded a career-high 11 tackles against LSU last season. Bostic started all games at middle linebacker and led the team with 94 tackles and tied for second with 10.0 tackles for loss in his junior campaign. Bostic was a preseason third-team defensive selection a year ago. Elam completed last season as the leader in tackles-for-loss (11), pass breakups (seven), and forced fumbles (two). Bostic and Elam were two of five Gators to start all 13 games last season.
Rounding out Florida's honorees is third-team offense pick Nixon and third-team defense selections Easley and Jenkins. Nixon, a junior from Fayetteville, N.C., played in nine games last season and saw time at tackle in the Gator Bowl. Easley played in 12 games in 2011 as he recorded 37 tackles and finished fifth on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss. Wrapping up the honorees is Jenkins, who finished third in tackles (75) and second in breakups (six) last season. Jenkins was a preseason third-team defensive selection a year ago.
The Gators open the 2012 season when they host Bowling Green on Sept. 1. at The Swamp.
2012 SEC Coaches Pre-Season All-SEC Football Team
OFFENSE
First-Team
QB Tyler Wilson Arkansas 6-3 220 Sr. Greenwood, Ark.
RB Marcus Lattimore South Carolina 6-0 218 Jr. Duncan, S.C.
RB Knile Davis Arkansas 6-0 226 Jr. Missouri City, Texas
WR Da'Rick Rogers Tennessee 6-3 215 Jr. Calhoun, Ga.
WR *Cobi Hamilton Arkansas 6-3 209 Sr. Texarkana, Texas
WR *Ryan Swope Texas A&M 6-0 206 Sr. Austin, Texas
TE Philip Lutzenkirchen Auburn 6-5 256 Sr. Marietta, Ga.
OL Alex Hurst LSU 6-6 340 Sr. Bartlett, Tenn.
OL Luke Joeckel Texas A&M 6-6 310 Jr. Arlington, Texas
OL D.J. Fluker Alabama 6-6 335 Jr. Foley, Ala.
OL Larry Warford Kentucky 6-3 343 Sr. Richmond, Ky.
C Barrett Jones Alabama 6-5 311 Sr. Germantown, Tenn.
Second-Team
QB Aaron Murray Georgia 6-1 211 Jr. Tampa, Fla.
RB Eddie Lacy Alabama 6-0 220 Jr. Geismar, La.
RB Zac Stacy Vanderbilt 5-9 210 Sr. Centreville, Ala.
WR Justin Hunter Tennessee 6-4 200 Jr. Virginia Beach, Va.
WR *Emory Blake Auburn 6-2 197 Sr. Austin, Texas
WR *Odell Beckham, Jr. LSU 5-11 183 So. New Orleans, La.
WR *La'Rod King Kentucky 6-4 222 Sr. Radcliff, Ky.
TE Chris Gragg Arkansas 6-3 236 Sr. Warren, Ark.
OL Alvin Bailey Arkansas 6-5 312 Jr. Broken Arrow, Okla.
OL Chance Warmack Alabama 6-3 320 Sr. Atlanta, Ga.
OL Chris Faulk LSU 6-6 325 Jr. Slidell, La.
OL Gabe Jackson Miss. State 6-4 320 Jr. Liberty, Miss.
C T.J. Johnson South Carolina 6-6 319 Sr. Aynor, S.C.
Third-Team
QB A.J. McCarron Alabama 6-4 205 Jr. Mobile, Ala.
RB Spencer Ware LSU 5-11 223 Jr. Cincinnati, Ohio
RB Christine Michael Texas A&M 5-11 220 Sr. Beaumont, Texas
WR Malcolm Mitchell Georgia 6-1 184 So. Valdosta, Ga.
WR T.J. Moe Missouri 6-0 200 Sr. O'Fallon, Mo.
TE Michael Williams Alabama 6-6 269 Sr. Reform, Ala.
OL Jake Matthews Texas A&M 6-5 305 Jr. Missouri City, Texas
OL Dallas Thomas Tennessee 6-5 305 Sr. Baton Rouge, La.
OL Xavier Nixon Florida 6-6 309 Sr. Fayetteville, N.C.
OL Elvis Fisher Missouri 6-5 295 Sr. St. Petersburg, Fla.
C Travis Swanson Arkansas 6-5 305 Jr. Kingwood, Texas
DEFENSE
First-Team
DL Jadeveon Clowney South Carolina 6-6 256 So. Rock Hill, S.C.
DL Sam Montgomery LSU 6-4 245 Jr. Greenwood, S.C.
DL Corey Lemonier Auburn 6-4 240 Jr. Hialeah, Fla.
DL Barkevious Mingo LSU 6-5 240 Jr. West Monroe, La.
ILB *C.J. Mosley Alabama 6-2 234 Jr. Theodore, Ala.
ILB *Nico Johnson Alabama 6-3 245 Sr. Andalusia, Ala.
OLB Jarvis Jones Georgia 6-3 241 Jr. Columbus, Ga.
OLB Sean Porter Texas A&M 6-2 230 Sr. Schertz, Texas
DB Tyrann Mathieu LSU 5-9 175 Jr. New Orleans, La.
DB Bacarri Rambo Georgia 6-0 218 Sr. Donalsonville, Ga.
DB Eric Reid LSU 6-2 208 Jr. Geismar, La.
DB Johnthan Banks Miss. State 6-2 185 Sr. Maben, Miss.
Second-Team
DL John Jenkins Georgia 6-3 351 Sr. Meriden, Conn.
DL Devin Taylor South Carolina 6-8 267 Sr. Beaufort, S.C.
DL Jesse Williams Alabama 6-4 319 Sr. Brisbane, Australia
DL Sharrif Floyd Florida 6-3 305 Jr. Philadelphia, Pa.
ILB Jon Bostic Florida 6-1 243 Sr. Wellington, Fla.
OLB Alonzo Highsmith Arkansas 6-1 233 Sr. Missouri City, Texas
OLB DeVonte Holloman South Carolina 6-2 241 Sr. Rock Hill, S.C.
DB Robert Lester Alabama 6-2 210 Sr. Foley, Ala.
DB D.J. Swearinger South Carolina 6-0 210 Sr. Greenwood, S.C.
DB Prentiss Waggner Tennessee 6-2 185 Sr. Clinton, La.
DB Matt Elam Florida 5-10 210 Jr. Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Third-Team
DL Josh Boyd Miss. State 6-3 300 Sr. Philadelphia, Miss.
DL *Dominique Easley Florida 6-2 286 Jr. Staten Island, N.Y.
DL *Abry Jones Georgia 6-3 309 Sr. Warner Robins, Ga.
DL *Damontre Moore Texas A&M 6-4 250 Jr. Rowlett, Texas
DL *Rob Lohr Vanderbilt 6-4 290 Sr. Phoenixville, Pa.
ILB *Alec Ogletree Georgia 6-3 236 Jr. Newnan, Ga.
ILB *Daren Bates Auburn 5-11 211 Sr. Memphis, Tenn.
ILB *Jelani Jenkins Florida 6-0 233 Jr. Olney, Md.
OLB Zaviar Gooden Missouri 6-2 230 Sr. Pflugerville, Texas
OLB A.J. Johnson Tennessee 6-3 245 So. Gainesville, Ga.
DB Dee Milliner Alabama 6-1 196 Jr. Millbrook, Ala.
DB Charles Sawyer Ole Miss 5-11 175 Jr. Miami, Fla.
DB Akeem Auguste South Carolina 5-9 188 Sr. Hollywood, Fla.
DB *E.J. Gaines Missouri 5-10 190 Jr. Independence, Mo.
DB *Sanders Commings Georgia 6-2 217 Sr. Augusta, Ga.
SPECIALISTS
First-Team
P Brad Wing LSU 6-3 184 So. Melbourne, Australia
PK Caleb Sturgis Florida 5-11 187 Sr. St. Augustine, Fla.
RS Tyrann Mathieu LSU 5-9 175 Jr. New Orleans, La.
AP Dennis Johnson Arkansas 6-0 180 Jr. Russellville, Ark.
Second-Team
P Steven Clark Auburn 6-5 235 Jr. Kansas City, Mo.
PK Drew Alleman LSU 5-11 183 Sr. Lafayette, La.
RS Andre Debose Florida 5-11 186 Jr. Sanford, Fla.
AP Johnthan Banks Miss. State 6-2 185 Sr. Maben, Miss.
Third-Team
P *Dylan Breeding Arkansas 6-1 211 Sr. Hoover, Ala.
P *Tyler Campbell Ole Miss 6-2 220 Sr. Little Rock, Ark.
PK Zach Hocker Arkansas 6-0 180 Jr. Russellville, Ark.
RS Dustin Harris Texas A&M 6-0 175 Sr. Livingston, Texas
AP Bruce Ellington South Carolina 5-9 197 So. Moncks Corner, S.C.
* - Ties
UF's Sturgis named to SEC 1st team
The senior kicker from St. Augustine was the Gators only representative on the SEC 1st team
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