Seven Alabama Players Named to Coaches All-SEC Football Squad
12/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Representing the Crimson Tide on the 2002 Coaches First-Team All-SEC team were senior offensive lineman Marico Portis (Prichard),sophomore offensive lineman Wesley Britt (Cullman), senior defensive lineman Kindal Moorehead (Memphis, Tenn.) and senior defensive lineman Kenny King (Daphne).
The Crimson Tide also had three players named to the Coaches All-SEC Second Team, including sophomore offensive lineman Justin Smiley (Ellabell, Ga.), senior defensive lineman Jarret Johnson (Chiefland, Fla.) and senior defensive back Gerald Dixon (Burtonsville, Maryland).
Georgia led all SEC teams with six players on the first-team followed by Alabama and Kentucky with four.
The Bulldogs, with five players on the second unit, had the most players on the squad with 11. LSU had eight players on both units, including three on the first team and five on the second team. Alabama was third overall with seven total selections, including four first-team picks.
The 2002 Freshman All-SEC team was also announced on Monday and the Crimson Tide was represented by freshman middle linebacker Freddie Roach (Killen, Ala.) and freshman defensive back Charlie Peprah (Plano, Texas).
Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players, thus a unanimous selection earns 11 of 12 first-team votes.
Here are the player thumbnails for the Crimson Tide's 2002 All-SEC selections.
OT Wesley Britt (6-8, 312, 1VL, So., Cullman, AL)
A Freshman All-America and first-team Freshman All-SEC selection in 2001, Britt has now started 25 consecutive games. He played 966 snaps this season, given up only one sack and has 191 knockdown blocks. He has graded 98 percent or better in 10 of the Tide's 13 games this season. He's been one of the mainstay blockers in helping the Tide to the SEC's second-best and the NCAA's 21st ranked rushing attack (207.7). Also helped UA to SEC's best offense, averaging 406 yards per game.
CB Gerald Dixon (5-10, 192, 3VL, Sr., Burtonsville, MD)
The most improved Tide defensive back this season, "Smoke" had 51 tackles, two interceptions (10 yards) and a team-high 14 pass break-ups this season. He had 7 tackles against Oklahoma, 9 tackles against Arkansas and has started 23 consecutive games. In 46 career games at Alabama, Dixon recorded 168 tackles (130 solos), including six TFLs (-17). He also added 28 pass breakups, one fumble recovery and three interceptions.
DT Jarret Johnson (6-4, 287, 3VL, Sr., Chiefland, FL)
A three-time All-SEC selection, Jarret was named to the 2002 Outland Trophy watch list. The heart of the Tide defensive line, he had 52 tackles, five sacks (-44), four TFLs (-11) and 20 QB pressures on a defensive unit that held seven of 13 opponents to less than 100 yards a game rushing. In 47 career games, Johnson had 190 tackles (110 solos), 23 sacks (194 yards) and 25 TFLs (122 yards). He also added three PBUs, five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick.
NT Kenny King (6-5, 277, 3VL, Sr., Daphne, AL)
A second-team All-SEC pick in 2001, Kenny is also a two-time Academic All-SEC pick. He is also a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District winner (2001-02). In 2002, King was named to the CoSIDA/Verizon Academic All-America team becoming the first player since Major Ogilvie in 1979 to earn Academic All-SEC honors. King finished the season with 51 tackles, three sacks (-15) and seven TFLs (-18). He also added 17 QB pressures. In his 43-game career, King recorded 190 tackles (88 solos), 11.5 sacks (-79 yards) and 26 TFLs (-85). King posted 37.5 combined sacks and TFLs (-164 yards) in his UA career.
DE Kindal Moorehead (6-4, 304, 3VL, Sr, Memphis, TN)
A two-time first-team All-SEC selection, Moorehead started all 13 games for Alabama this season. He concluded the year with 54 tackles, nine sacks (-74) and five TFLs (-10). Moorehead's nine sacks ranked second on the Alabama team and third in the SEC this season. Alabama led the SEC with 46 sacks and ranked in the Top 5 nationally. He concluded the year as the SEC's active sack leader. In addition, Moorehead added 20 pass breakups and three pass breakups. In his 46-game career, Moorehead had 165 tackles (91 solos), 25 sacks (-227 yards) and 34 TFLs (-156 yards). He combined for 49 career stops behind the line for 383 yards at Alabama.
OG Marico Portis (6-3, 312, 2VL, Sr., Prichard, AL)
Marico played 931 snaps this season and had 173 knockdown blocks to his credit. He started all 13 games and had 25 career starts for the Crimson Tide. He is part of an offensive line that paved the way for the SEC's second-best rushing team (213.2 yards) and the league's best offense (403.5). He graded 99 percent or better in 12 of the Tide's 13 games in 2002. He has had double-digit knockdowns in all but one game this season. He set the offensive line record in the bench press with a lift of 500 pounds.
OG Justin Smiley (6-4, 296, 1VL, So., Ellabell, GA)
A Second-Team All-SEC selection in 2002, Justin was a first-team Freshman All-America and was a consensus Freshman All-SEC pick last season. He was also a pre-season All-SEC pick in 2002. Smiley has started 25 consecutive games for the Tide. In 2002 he has 899 snaps and 179 knockdowns. He set the weight room record for offensive linemen with lift of 420 in the hang and clean and had a 32.5 inch vertical jump. In addition, Smiley was named to the 2002 collegefootballnews.com All-SEC squad and the 2002 Atlanta Constitution All-SEC team.
CB Charlie Peprah (5-11, 195, Fr., Plano, TX)
A SEC Coaches All-SEC Freshman team selection, Peprah played in all 13 games for the Crimson Tide. He finished the year with 47 tackles (39 solos), one TFL (-1) and a team-best four interceptions (90 return yards) and one TD. He had a interception return for a TD against Georgia and returned another interception to the one-yard line in a win at Tennessee. Against Georgia, he had 8 tackles and returned an interception 35 yards for a TD. Against Tennessee, he had 3 tackles and a 48-yard interception return.
LB Freddie Roach (6-2, 238, Fr., Killen, AL)
Named the 2002 SEC Freshman of the Year by the Atlanta Constitution. Also named to the Coaches All-SEC Freshman team in 2002. Roach started all 13 games at middle linebacker for the SEC's best statistical defense. The unit also ranked as the third best in the nation, allowing 257.3 yards per game. The Alabama run defense was the best in the nation, allowing 80.2 yards per game. For the season, Roach had 63 tackles (37 solos), one sack (-4), six TFLs (-17), five QB pressures, two fumbles recovered and one interception. In his Alabama debut, Roach had 10 tackles and a 41-yard interception return for a TD in the win over Middle Tennessee in the 2002 season opener.
Other All-SEC Teams ....
*Alabama had four players named to the 2002 Atlanta Constitution All-SEC team, including Justin Smiley (OL), Alonzo Ephraim (C), Kindal Moorehead (DE) and Kenny King (DT).
*The Crimson Tide also placed two players on the 2002 Collegefootballnews.com All-SEC team including Smiley (OL), Johnson (DL) and King (DL).
| Pos. | Name | School | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown |
| FIRST-TEAM ALL-SEC -- OFFENSE | ||||||
| TE | Jason Witten | Tennessee | 6-5 | 265 | Jr. | Elizabethton, Tenn. |
| OL | Shawn Andrews | Arkansas | 6-5 | 330 | So. | Camden, Ark. |
| OL | Jon Stinchcomb | Georgia | 6-6 | 297 | Sr. | Lilburn, Ga. |
| OL | Antonio Hall | Kentucky | 6-5 | 299 | Jr. | Canton, Ohio |
| *OL | Stephen Peterman | LSU | 6-4 | 325 | Jr. | Waveland, Miss. |
| *OL | Marico Portis | Alabama | 6-3 | 312 | Sr. | Prichard, Ala. |
| *OL | Wesley Britt | Alabama | 6-8 | 312 | So. | Cullman, Ala. |
| C | Ben Nowland | Auburn | 6-3 | 294 | Sr. | Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. |
| WR | Taylor Jacobs | Florida | 6-0 | 200 | Sr. | Monticello, Fla. |
| WR | Terrence Edwards | Georgia | 6-0 | 171 | Sr. | Tennille, Ga. |
| QB | David Greene | Georgia | 6-3 | 227 | So. | Snellville, Ga. |
| RB | Artose Pinner | Kentucky | 5-11 | 219 | Sr. | Hopkinsville, Ky. |
| RB | Fred Talley | Arkansas | 5-9 | 188 | Sr. | Longview, Texas |
| SECOND-TEAM ALL-SEC -- OFFENSE | ||||||
| TE | Aaron Walker | Florida | 6-6 | 261 | Sr. | Mims, Fla. |
| OL | Kevin Breedlove | Georgia | 6-2 | 300 | Sr. | Clemson, S.C. |
| OL | Shannon Snell | Florida | 6-5 | 312 | Jr. | Tampa, Fla. |
| OL | Justin Smiley | Alabama | 6-4 | 296 | So. | Ellabell, Ga. |
| OL | Will Ofenheusle | Tennessee | 6-8 | 305 | Sr. | Martin, Tenn. |
| C | Ben Claxton | Ole Miss | 6-3 | 302 | Sr. | Dublin, Ga. |
| WR | Michael Clayton | LSU | 6-4 | 192 | So. | Baton Rouge, La. |
| WR | Dan Stricker | Vanderbilt | 6-3 | 201 | Sr. | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| *QB | Rex Grossman | Florida | 6-1 | 215 | Jr. | Bloomington, Ind. |
| *QB | Jared Lorenzen | Kentucky | 6-4 | 275 | Jr. | Ft. Thomas, Ky. |
| RB | Musa Smith | Georgia | 6-2 | 226 | Jr. | Elliottsburg, Pa. |
| *RB | Domanick Davis | LSU | 5-10 | 215 | Sr. | Breaux Bridge, La. |
| *RB | Ronnie Brown | Auburn | 6-1 | 217 | So. | Cartersville, Ga. |
| FIRST-TEAM ALL-SEC -- DEFENSE | ||||||
| DL | David Pollack | Georgia | 6-3 | 264 | So. | Snellville, Ga. |
| DL | Kindal Moorehead | Alabama | 6-4 | 305 | Sr. | Memphis, Tenn. |
| DL | Kenny King | Alabama | 6-5 | 277 | Sr. | Daphne, Ala. |
| OLB | Boss Bailey | Georgia | 6-3 | 229 | Sr. | Folkston, Ga. |
| OLB | Karlos Dansby | Auburn | 6-5 | 221 | Jr. | Birmingham, Ala. |
| ^ILB | Bradie James | LSU | 6-3 | 248 | Sr. | West Monroe, La. |
| *ILB | Eddie Strong | Ole Miss | 6-4 | 245 | Sr. | Batesville, Miss. |
| *ILB | Hunter Hillenmeyer | Vanderbilt | 6-4 | 241 | Sr. | Nashville, Tenn. |
| DB | Ken Hamlin | Arkansas | 6-2 | 205 | Jr. | Memphis, Tenn. |
| DB | Corey Webster | LSU | 6-0 | 197 | Jr. | Vacherie, La. |
| *DB | Travaris Robinson | Auburn | 5-10 | 193 | Sr. | Miami, Fla. |
| *DB | Matt Grier | Ole Miss | 6-1 | 190 | Sr. | Smithville, Miss. |
| *DB | Julian Battle | Tennessee | 6-3 | 205 | Sr. | Royal Palm Beach, Fla. |
| *DB | Rashad Baker | Tennessee | 5-11 | 185 | Jr. | Camden, N.J. |
| SECOND-TEAM ALL-SEC -- DEFENSE | ||||||
| DL | Jarret Johnson | Alabama | 6-4 | 287 | Sr. | Chiefland, Fla. |
| DL | Johnathan Sullivan | Georgia | 6-3 | 299 | Jr. | Griffin, Ga. |
| *DL | Langston Moore | South Carolina | 6-2 | 290 | Sr. | Charleston, S.C. |
| *DL | Dewayne Robertson | Kentucky | 6-3 | 311 | Jr. | Memphis, Tenn. |
| OLB | Tony Bua | Arkansas | 5-11 | 218 | Jr. | River Ridge, La. |
| OLB | Eddie Moore | Tennessee | 6-0 | 220 | Sr. | South Pittsburg, Tenn. |
| ILB | Mark Brown | Auburn | 6-2 | 240 | Sr. | Germantown, Tenn. |
| *ILB | Tony Gilbert | Georgia | 6-1 | 244 | Sr. | Macon, Ga. |
| *ILB | Mario Haggan | Miss. State | 6-3 | 253 | Sr. | Clarksdale, Miss. |
| DB | Todd Johnson | Florida | 6-1 | 201 | Sr. | Sarasota, Fla. |
| DB | Keiwan Ratliff | Florida | 5-11 | 182 | Jr. | Columbus, Ohio |
| DB | Kentrell Curry | Georgia | 6-2 | 198 | Jr. | Toccoa, Ga. |
| *DB | Ahmad Carroll | Arkansas | 5-11 | 190 | So. | Atlanta, Ga. |
| *DB | Gerald Dixon | Alabama | 5-10 | 192 | Sr. | Burtonsville, Md. |
| *DB | Guss Scott | Florida | 5-10 | 200 | Jr. | Jacksonville, Fla. |
| FIRST-TEAM ALL-SEC -- SPECIAL TEAMS | ||||||
| P | Glenn Pakulak | Kentucky | 6-3 | 223 | Sr. | Lapeer, Mich. |
| PK | Billy Bennett | Georgia | 5-8 | 168 | Jr. | Athens, Ga. |
| RS | Derek Abney | Kentucky | 5-10 | 175 | Jr. | Mosinee, Wisc. |
| SECOND-TEAM ALL-SEC -- SPECIAL TEAMS | ||||||
| P | Donnie Jones | LSU | 6-3 | 217 | Jr. | Baton Rouge, La. |
| PK | John Corbello | LSU | 5-11 | 225 | Sr. | Lafayette, La. |
| RS | Domanick Davis | LSU | 5-10 | 215 | Sr. | Breaux Bridge, La. |
| SEC COACH OF THE YEAR - Mark Richt, Georgia | ||||||
| SEC PLAYER OF THE YEAR - David Pollack, DE, Georgia | ||||||
| JACOBS BLOCKING TROPHY - Shawn Andrews, OT, Arkansas | ||||||
