Four 'Dores Named Preseason All-SEC Players by Coaches; Spear, Matthews, Hal on First Team

Vanderbilt is starting to earn the respect of the SEC's coaches.

For the first time in decades, the Commodores put three players on the first unit of the Coaches' All-SEC team. Kicker Carey Spear, receiver Jordan Matthews, and cornerback Andre Hal were named the best at their positions in the nation's toughest football conference. Offensive tackle Wesley Johnson earned second-team recognition. All four players were named team captains by their peers earlier in the week.

While the list honored the 'Dores best players, there were a few notable snubs that failed to land on the coaches' first, second, or third teams. Safety Kenny Ladler, who was named as a preseason All-SEC pick by Phil Steele, didn't make the cut. Neither did punt returner Jonathan Krause, linebacker Chase Garnham, or defensive end Walker May. Those players can consider the coaches' selections bulletin board material as they prepare for next week's season opener against Ole Miss.

Here's the entire All-SEC list:

OFFENSE

First-Team

QB – Aaron Murray, Georgia

RB – Todd Gurley, Georgia

RB – T.J. Yeldon, Alabama

WR – Amari Cooper, Alabama

WR – Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt

TE – Arthur Lynch, Georgia

OL – Jake Matthews, Texas A&M

OL – Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama

OL – Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State

OL – Antonio Richardson, Tennessee

C – Travis Swanson, Arkansas

Second-Team

QB – Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M

RB – LaDarius Perkins, Mississippi State

RB – Tre Mason, Auburn

WR – Mike Evans, Texas A&M

WR – Donte Moncrief, Ole Miss

TE – Rory Anderson, South Carolina

OL – Anthony Steen, Alabama

OL – Ja’Wuan James, Tennessee

OL – Wesley Johnson, Vanderbilt

OL – *A.J. Cann, South Carolina

OL – *Chris Burnette, Georgia

OL – *Zach Fulton, Tennessee

OL – *Jon Halapio, Florida

C – Reese Dismukes, Auburn

Third-Team

QB – AJ McCarron, Alabama

RB – Alfred Blue, LSU

RB – Keith Marshall, Georgia

WR – *Odell Beckham Jr., LSU

WR – *Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia

WR – *Dorial Green-Beckham, Missouri

TE – *Brian Vogler, Alabama

TE – *C.J. Uzomah, Auburn

OL – La’el Collins, LSU

OL – David Hurd, Arkansas

OL – Justin Britt, Missouri

OL – Aaron Morris, Ole Miss

C – James Stone, Tennessee

DEFENSE

First-Team

DL – Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina

DL – Dominique Easley, Florida

DL – Anthony Johnson, LSU

DL – Chris Smith, Arkansas

LB – C.J. Mosley, Alabama

LB – A.J. Johnson, Tennessee

LB – Denzel Nkemdiche, Ole Miss

DB – Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Alabama

DB – Craig Loston, LSU

DB – Andre Hal, Vanderbilt

DB – Loucheiz Purifoy, Florida

Second-Team

DL – Kelcy Quarles, South Carolina

DL – Daniel McCullers, Tennessee

DL – *Ed Stinson, Alabama

DL – *Xzavier Dickson, Alabama

DL – *Jeoffrey Pagan, Alabama

LB – Lamin Barrow, LSU

LB – Jordan Jenkins, Georgia

LB – Adrian Hubbard, Alabama

DB – Damian Swann, Georgia

DB – Marcus Roberson, Florida

DB – E.J. Gaines, Missouri

DB – Deion Belue, Alabama

Third-Team

DL – *Dee Ford, Auburn

DL – *C.J. Johnson, Ole Miss

DL – *Ronald Powell, Florida

DL – *Alvin Dupree, Kentucky

DL – *Denico Autry, Mississippi State

LB – Avery Williamson, Kentucky

LB – Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State

LB – *Ronald Powell, Florida

LB – *Trey DePriest, Alabama

DB – Deshazor Everett, Texas A&M

DB – Nickoe Whitley, Mississippi State

DB – Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama

DB – Charles Sawyer, Ole Miss

SPECIALISTS

First-Team

PK – Carey Spear, Vanderbilt

P – Kyle Christy, Florida

RS – Odell Beckham Jr., LSU

AP – Bruce Ellington, South Carolina

Second-Team

PK – Cody Parkey, Auburn

P – *Tyler Campbell, Ole Miss

P – *Cody Mandell, Alabama

P – *Steven Clark, Auburn

RS – Marcus Murphy, Missouri

AP – Odell Beckham Jr., LSU

Third-Team

PK – *Andrew Baggett, Missouri

PK – *Zach Hocker, Arkansas

P – Michael Palardy, Tennessee

RS – Bruce Ellington, South Carolina

AP – LaDarius Perkins, Mississippi State

Here is a breakdown of how many players each SEC team had represented:

Methodology: First team = 3 pts, Second team = 2 pts, Third team = 1 pt