BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Alabama football team was selected as the favorite to win the Southeastern Conference’s Western Division and the 2020 SEC Championship, the conference office announced on Wednesday morning. The Crimson Tide also landed a league-leading 13 players on the All-SEC Teams, with both the predicted finish and all-league nominees being selected by media members covering SEC football.
The Crimson Tide was picked to win the SEC Western Division with 86 first-place votes and 660 total points, ranking ahead of LSU, which was predicted to finish second in the division with 489 points. Alabama also received the most votes to finish as SEC champions once again, with the Tide finishing at 77 points compared to seven for both Georgia and LSU.
Alabama occupies 15 slots on the All-SEC list made up a group of 13 players that includes eight first-team honorees to go with one second-teamer and four third-team selections. The eight first-teamers include five players on offense, three on defense and two specialist spots occupied by one player.
The Crimson Tide’s eight first-team selections involves a five-man offensive group that is made up of seniors Landon Dickerson (OL), Najee Harris (RB), Alex Leatherwood (OL) and DeVonta Smith (WR) along with junior Jaylen Waddle (WR). The defensive trio features juniors LaBryan Ray (DL) and Patrick Surtain II (DB) along with senior Dylan Moses (LB). Waddle also occupies two slots in the specialist group including at return specialist and all-purpose player.
Senior offensive lineman Deonte Brown is the Crimson Tide’s lone second-teamer. Alabama’s group is rounded out on the third team with sophomore DJ Dale (DL) on defense to go with junior Mac Jones (QB), sophomore Evan Neal (OL) and Dickerson again, this time at center.
Alabama enters the 2020 campaign having won a league-leading 27 SEC Championships in program history, including four of the last six conference titles. The Crimson Tide is scheduled to open the 2020 season on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT in Columbia, Mo., as Alabama squares off with the Missouri Tigers. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaFTBL on Twitter and Facebook and AlabamaFBL on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
