Six Kentucky Wildcats were honored today by being named to the 2017 Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team.
On the defensive side, junior linebacker Jordan Jones and junior defensive end Denzil Ware were named second-team defense, while junior safety Mike Edwards was named to third-team defense.
On the offensive side, junior tight end CJ Conrad and sophomore running back Benny Snell were named third-team offense. Finally, on the special teams, senior kicker Austin MacGinnis was named third-team special teams.
We’re all extremely excited for these guys, but the question has to be asked; are they underrated? Jordan Jones finished third in tackles in the SEC last year, Denzil Ware lead the SEC in defensive stops, and Mike Edwards ended the year with 100 tackles to go with three interceptions. Benny Snell is coming off a great freshman year, and Austin hit some very clutch field goals last year, including two game winners.
This is definitely an honor for all of these guys, and it should be celebrated. But, it just feels like Kentucky still hasn’t earned the respect of most voters, especially after the Cats were projected to finish 9th in the SEC.
Over the past few years, we’re seeing more and more Cats getting recognized in the pre-season. Not only are they making preseason All-SEC teams, but they’re even being put on watch lists for their respective positions best player. It’s good to see all their hard work finally pay off.
Congratulations to these Cats for this high honor. Look for each of them to prove their worth on the field this season.
A quick side note: FOOTBALL FULLY STARTS IN A WEEK AND A DAY!!