Swearinger, Sanders also honored by media
Though South Carolina sophomore defensive end Jadeveon Clowney beat Georgia’s Jarvis Jones on the field, Jones evened the score on Monday.
The junior outside linebacker won SEC Defensive Player of the Year in the Associated Press vote. Jones tallied 77 tackles, including 22.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks, one interception, seven forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 11 games this season.
Clowney was a unanimous selection for the AP All-SEC first team, along with Jones. He is second in the nation in both sacks (13.0) and tackles for loss (21.5), both single-season school records, and was also a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy. He is still up for the Lombardi, Bednarik and Hendricks awards. Clowney was named to the American Football Coaches Association’s and CBS Sports’ first team All-American roster.
USC senior safety D.J. Swearinger and junior all-purpose player Ace Sanders earned second team All-SEC selections. Junior running back Marcus Lattimore earned honorable mention, despite having his season end after the Tennessee game because of a severe knee injury.
AP All-SEC First Team
OFFENSE
WR — u-Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas, 6-3, 209, Sr.
WR — Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt, 6-3, 205, Jr.
L — Chance Warmack, Alabama, 6-3, 320, Sr.
L — Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M, 6-6, 310, Jr.
L — Jake Matthews, Texas A&M, 6-5, 305, Jr.
L — Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State, 6-4, 320, Jr.
C — u-Barrett Jones, Alabama, 6-5, 302, Sr.
TE — Jordan Reed, Florida, 6-3, 243, Jr.
QB — u-Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M, 6-1, 200, Fr.
RB — Todd Gurley, Georgia, 6-1, 218, Fr.
RB — Mike Gillislee, Florida, 5-11, 209, Sr.
K — Caleb Sturgis, Florida, 5-11, 184, Sr.
All-Purpose — Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee, 6-3, 205, Jr.
DEFENSE
T — Sharrif Floyd, Florida,6-3, 303, Jr.
T — Sheldon Richardson, Missouri, 6-4, 295, Jr.
E — u-Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina, 6-6, 256, So.
E — Damontre Moore, Texas A&M, 6-4, 250, Jr.
LB — u-Jarvis Jones, Georgia, 6-3, 241, Jr.
LB — C.J. Mosley, Alabama, 6-2, 232, Jr.
LB — Kevin Minter, LSU, 6-2, 245, Jr.
CB — u-Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State, 6-2, 185, Sr.
CB — u-Dee Milliner, Alabama, 6-1, 199, Jr.
S — Matt Elam, Florida, 5-10, 202, Jr.
S — Eric Reid, LSU, 6-2, 212, Jr.
P — Kyle Christy, Florida, 6-2, 199, So.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
u-Johnny Manziel, quarterback, Texas A&M
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jarvis Jones, linebacker, Georgia
COACH OF THE YEAR
Kevin Sumlim, Texas A&M
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Johnny Manziel, quarterback, Texas A&M
*- “u” denotes a unanimous selection