Six Auburn football players landed spots on the All-SEC preseason teams. The players honored were senior Steven Clark, junior Reese Dismukes, senior Dee Ford, junior Tre Mason, senior Cody Parkey and junior C.J. Uzomah.
The SEC football coaches voted for the preseason All-SEC teams and were not allowed to vote for any of their own players.
Of the six, four were named to the second team and two were named to the third team.
Clark, Dismukes, Mason and Parkey made the second team and Ford and Uzomah made the third team.
After Mason's breakout 1,002-yard sophomore season last year, he was the first non-quarterback to lead Auburn in total offense since Bo Jackson in 1985. Mason is expected to lead Auburn tailbacks in carries this season, with Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant also getting touches in the backfield. Mason was also named to the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list, which is given to the best running back in college football at the end of the season.
Dismukes, going into his third season as a starter at center, is expected to guide this year's offensive line. He has been commended on his leadership throughout preseason practices by coaches and teammates. Dismukes was also named to the Rimington Trophy preseason watch list, which is awarded to the best center in college football.
"(Dismukes) is like a coach on the field," offensive lineman Shon Coleman said.
Parkey is going into his third year as starting placekicker. Last year, he was a perfect 27 for 27 for PATs and 11-14 on field goals, with a career-long 46-yard in the Clemson game. Parkey was named to the preseason Lou Groza award watch list for the second consecutive year, which is given to the best placekicker in college football.
Clark has already had a successful career as starting punter for Auburn and has one more season to potentially win the Ray Guy award for the best punter in college football. In 2011, Clark was the first Auburn punter in school history to be a finalist for the Ray Guy award and also earned first team All-SEC honors. Last season Clark was one of 10 punters in the country to be a semifinalist for the Ray Guy award and only five of his 70 punts were returned.
"We feel like we have the best kicker and punter in the country," coach Gus Malzahn said.
Uzomah has played tight end, wide receiver, on special teams and even threw a touchdown to Philip Lutzenkirchen against Georgia in 2011. Since Uzomah's role is likely to increase, this could be Uzomah's breakout season now that he is the clear starting tight end and was named to the John Mackey award preseason watch list, which is given to the best tight end in college football.
"He came back this fall and has been a good surprise for me," tight ends coach Scott Fountain said. "He's a better hand down blocking tight end, he's a better h-back for us in the backfield and we all know he can split out and do that type stuff. He's more of a complete guy that can do all of the things we ask to do in this offense and that's hard to find."
Although Ford will not start the season at defensive end because of a knee injury, he is expected to come back as one of Auburn's best pass rushers. Last season, he had 34 tackles and six sacks. Ford was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award preseason watch list, which is given to the best defensive player in college football.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
