Mizzou football: Coaches place plenty Tigers on preseason teams
The coaches love Mizzou football players a little more than the media.
The SEC coaches released their picks for All-SEC players Thursday morning, and several Missouri Tigers made the list.
It appears conference coaches think more highly of the team than the media, as eight Mizzou football players were given preseason accolades by the coaches as opposed to five by the media. And a trio of players were awarded better teams as well.
Tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, offensive guard Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms and linebacker Cale Garrett all come in as preseason first-teamers.
That’s quite an accomplishment for the three players. Only Okwuegbunam was a first-team pick by the media last month when the media released their first, second and third teams.
Okwuegbunam also was awarded a preseason All-American by this media outlet earlier this week.
Wallace-Simms and Garrett both were second-teamers during SEC Media Days.
The only second-team player for Mizzou is cornerback DeMarkus Acy. He was listed third by the media last month.
Running back Larry Rountree III came in on the third team once again. Players on the coaches third team also included offensive tackle Yasir Durant, defensive tackle Jordan Elliott and place kicker Tucker McCann.
It’s interesting that quarterback Kelly Bryant didn’t get the third-team placement. That honor went to Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond.
Other than that, the coaches preseason picks give Missouri a little bit more love as players such as Garrett were placed higher than before. I’m sure Alabama fans think Anfernee Jennings deserves the top team, but putting Garrett there isn’t a knock on Jennings, Garrett’s tackling production far outweighs Jennings, who likely is a first-round pick in next year’s draft.
Durant, Elliott and McCann all deserve preseason nods as well, so it’s good that the coaches see that. The latter two were ties but still got placed on the team.
Next. Acy and Holmes hope to bring chemistry and consistency. dark
As for one other fun nugget: CBS released its All-Time All-American team for the best players in the 150 years of college football. This lists a first team, a second team and honorable mention players.