Eight Florida football players named to Phil Steele’s preseason All-SEC teams

Florida football was well-represented in Phil Steele’s preseason All-SEC team.

Steele named eight Florida Gators to All-SEC honors in his preseason magazine, including two to the preseason All-SEC first team.

Senior running back Montrell Johnson and senior punter Jeremy Crawshaw earned first-team honors for UF.

The 5-foot-11, 213-pound Johnson led Florida in rushing (817 yards) for the second straight season in 2023, averaging 5.4 yards per carry and 68.0 yards per game. He’s recorded six 100-yard rushing games in two seasons as a Gator and enters this season with 2,496 career rushing yards.

Crawshaw set a UF record for punting distance last season, averaging 48.9 yards per punt on 42 punts in 2023. That included seven punts 60 yards or more, a career-best 21 of 50 yards or more, 15 inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and a long of 68 yards.

Linebacker Shemar James, cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. and long snapper Rocco Underwood earned All-SEC second-team honors. James finished second on UF in tackles (55) and tackles for loss (5.5) despite missing UF’s final four games after undergoing surgery to repair a dislocated kneecap. Marshall started all 12 games for UF last season, posting a career-high 10 pass breakups.

Left tackle Austin Barber and kicker Trey Smack were named to the third team. The 6-foot-6, 316-pound Barber has started 13 games over the last two seasons at UF. Smack went 17-for-21 on field goal attempts and 29-for-29 on extra points last season. He went 6 for 10 on field goal attempts of 40 or more yards and was a perfect 11-for-11 on attempts inside 40 yards.

Safety Jordan Castell earned fourth-team honors after starting 11 of 12 games a true freshman for the Gators last season. The 6-foot-2, 207-pound Castell led UF in tackles last season (60) and had one interception.

Florida opens its season Aug. 31 at The…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/eight-florida-football-players-named-181638974.html

Author : The Gainesville Sun

Publish date : 2024-06-12 18:16:38

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