SEC media preseason polls, teams released

SEC Media Days are wrapped up, and training camp is about underway.

On Friday, the media released its preseason polls and teams to conclude the long summer.

The Missouri Tigers were picked to finish third in the SEC East, right behind No. 1 Georgia and No. 2 Florida. The Tigers received three first-place votes, well behind the first-place Bulldogs, who picked up 233 top votes.

South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Vanderbilt follow the Tigers of the east, respectively.

In 2018, Mizzou was picked to finish fourth in the division. They ended up fourth.

As for the West, Alabama got the No. 1 nod with a league-high 253 votes. The rest of the teams follow in order: LSU, Texas A&M, Auburn, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Arkansas.

The polls are not too surprising as most teams seem fit to where they fall. Some Mizzou fans will have gripes for being picked after Florida, and rightfully so.

Mizzou thumped the Gators in Gainesville last season 38-17.

The good news: the Tigers get that chance again. This time, it’s in CoMo on Nov. 16.

Alabama was picked as the media’s conference champions.

As for the individuals, Mizzou landed some solid recognitions.

Albert Okwuegbunam received the media’s first-team pick for tight end.

That’s not surprising at all. Okwuegbunam likely is the top tight end in next year’s draft class, which should garner him a first-round pick. He also was voted the top preseason tight end in last year’s poll.

Offensive tackle Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms received a second-team nod while running back Larry Rountree, linebacker Cale Garrett and cornerback DeMarkus Acy picked up third-team selections.

Last season, Missouri had six players picked for a preseason team, so this year’s five is a tiny drop-off (Kelly Bryant might have something to say about that). But the team very well could be deeper as a whole this season.

For a complete list of the preseason poll and teams, click here