Key and Guice are two of the SEC’s most respected players
Alabama is the overwhelming favorite to win another Southeastern Conference championship.
So, it is not surprising that Crimson Tide players dominate the preseason lists for the individual national awards. There are 13 Alabama players who were members of the award watchlists. Florida is the only other SEC school with at least ten nominees. The Gators have 11 players on national watchlists.
Those 13 Crimson Tide players account for a total of 29 nominations. Eight Alabama players are nominated for more than one award. LSU is next with four players on multiple watchlists. Crimson Tide cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick is a preseason nominee for six awards to lead all SEC players.
However, LSU has the only other two players who are on more than three preseason watchlists. Outside linebacker Arden Key is right behind Fitzpatrick with five nominations. Running back Derrius Guice has received four preseason nominations.
Here are the SEC players who are preseason nominees for national awards.
EASTERN DIVISION
FLORIDA (11 players, 13 nominations)
CB Duke Dawson: Bednarik, Nagurski, Thorpe
WR Antonio Callaway: Hornung
TE DeAndre Goolsby: Mackey
OT Martez Ivey: Outland
DE Cece Jefferson: Bednarik
C T.J. McCoy: Rimington
K Eddy Pineiro: Groza
RB Jordan Scarlett: Walker
P Johnny Townsend: Guy
QB Malik Zaire: Maxwell
DE Jabari Zuniga: Nagurski
GEORGIA (9 players, 14 nominations)
RB Nick Chubb: Camp, Maxwell, Walker
DT Trent Thompson: Bednarik, Nagurski, Outland
QB Jacob Eason: Maxwell, O’Brien
LB Davin Bellamy: Butkus
LB Lorenzo Carter: Butkus
RB Sony Michel: Walker
TE Isaac Nauta: Mackey
S Dominick Sanders: Thorpe
LB Roquan Smith: Bednarik
SOUTH CAROLINA (6 players, 11 nominations)
LB Skai Moore: Bednarik, Butkus, Nagurski
WR Deebo Samuel: Biletnikoff, Hornung, Maxwell
QB Jake Bentley: Maxwell, O’Brien
RB Rico Dowdle: Walker
TE Hayden Hurst: Mackey
C Alan Knott: Rimington
KENTUCKY (5 players, 8 nominations)
LB Jordan Jones: Bednarik, Butkus, Nagurski
RB Benny Snell: Maxwell, Walker
TE CJ Conrad: Mackey
S Mike Edwards: Thorpe
K Austin MacGinnis: Groza
MISSOURI (4 players, 6 nominations)
RB Damarea Crockett: Maxwell, Walker
DE Marcell Frazier: Bednarik, Nagurski
P Corey Fatony: Guy
WR J’Mon Moore: Biletnikoff
TENNESSEE (4 players, 4 nominations)
KR Evan Berry: Hornung
P Trevor Daniel: Guy
G Jashon Robertson: Outland
E Ethan Wolf: Mackey
VANDERBILT (3 players, 4 nominations)
RB Ralph Webb: Maxwell, Walker
LB Oren Burks: Butkus
K Tommy Openshaw: Groza
WESTERN DIVISION
ALABAMA (13 players, 29 nominations)
CB Minkah Fitzpatrick: Bednarik, Camp, Hornung, Nagurski, Maxwell, Thorpe
QB Jalen Hurts: Camp, Maxwell, O’Brien
NT Da’Ron Payne: Bednarik, Nagurski, Outland
WR Calvin Ridley: Biletnikoff, Maxwell, Hornung
RB Bo Scarbrough: Camp, Maxwell, Walker
C Bradley Bozeman: Outland, Rimington
LB Rashaan Evans: Butkus, Nagurski
S Ronnie Harrison: Nagurski, Thorpe
LB Shaun Dion Hamilton: Butkus
RB Damien Harris: Walker
TE Hale Hentges: Mackey
P JK Scott: Guy
OT Jonah Williams: Outland
AUBURN (8 players, 10 nominations)
K Daniel Carlson: Camp, Groza
RB Kamryn Pettway: Maxwell, Walker
C Austin Golson: Rimington
RB Kerryon Johnson: Hornung
S Tray Matthews: Bednarik
OT Braden Smith: Outland
QB Jarrett Stidham: Maxwell
LB Tre Williams: Butkus
ARKANSAS (6 players, 8 nominations)
QB Austin Allen: Maxwell, O’Brien
C Frank Ragnow: Outland, Rimington
WR Jared Cornelius: Hornung
G Hjalte Froholdt: Outland
LB Dre Greenlaw: Butkus
RB Devwah Whaley: Walker
OLE MISS (6 players, 8 nominations)
DE Marquis Haynes: Bednarik, Nagurski
QB Shea Patterson: Maxwell, O’Brien
LB DeMarquis Gates: Butkus
OT Greg Little: Outland
C Sean Rawlings: Rimington
K Gary Wunderlich: Groza
LSU (5 players, 14 nominations)
LB Arden Key: Bednarik, Butkus, Camp, Maxwell, Nagurski
RB Derrius Guice: Camp, Hornung, Maxwell, Walker
C Will Clapp: Outland, Rimington
CB Kevin Toliver: Bednarik, Nagurski
CB Donte Jackson: Thorpe
TEXAS A&M (5 players, 9 nominations)
WR Christian Kirk: Biletnikoff, Hornung, Maxwell
S Armani Watts: Bednarik, Nagurski, Thorpe
C Colton Prater: Rimington
P Shane Tripucka: Guy
RB Trayveon Williams: Walker
MISSISSIPPI STATE (3 players, 4 nominations)
QB Nick Fitzgerald: Maxwell, O’Brien
P Logan Cooke: Guy
RB Aeris Williams: Walker
Here are the national awards.
Chuck Bednarik: best defensive player in the country
Biletnikoff: best receiver in the country
Butkus: best linebacker in the country
Walter Camp: best player in the country
Lou Groza: best kicker in the country
Ray Guy: best kicker in the country
Paul Hornung: most versatile player in the country
John Mackey: best tight end in the country
Maxwell: best player in the country
Nagurski: best defensive player in the country
Outland: best interior lineman in the country
Rimington: best center in the country
Jim Thorpe: best defensive back in the country
Doak Walker: best running back in the country