Alabama had two players earn first-team honors and three who were named to the second team. LSU led the voting with eight honorees, while Kentucky and Florida had six each. Tennessee and Arkansas joined the Tide with five players on All-SEC teams.
Senior defensive back Simeon Castille, who was one of two players to represent the Tide at the SEC Media Days at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, was the lone UA defensive player to earn first-team honors. Castille, who was also included on the Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list, led the Tide in interceptions and fumble recoveries in 2006. The Birmingham native received 78 votes from the media, the most of any UA player.
Andre Smith, a freshmen All-American honoree last season, was the only offensive player to be included on the first team All-SEC list by the media. The sophomore from Birmingham was the only sophomore on the first team, joining five seniors and as many juniors.
Senior center Antoine Caldwell, who joined Castille in Hoover on Thursday, was included on the media’s preseason second team. Caldwell was a second team All-SEC performer in 2006 and is on the 2007 Rimington Award preseason watch list.
Defensive lineman Wallace Gilberry was one of two Tide defensive players to be included on the second team. Gilberry started all 13 games in 2006 and led the team with 10.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
The second sophomore to be included on the media’s preseason All-SEC team was Tide linebacker Prince Hall. The native of Moreno Valley, Calif., was a freshman All-SEC honoree in 2006 after recording 77 tackles in his initial season, third-highest on the team.
The media also cast votes to predict the order of finish in the team standings. LSU was picked to win the league, with Florida tabbed to win the SEC East. Alabama was slated to finish fourth in the SEC West.
The 2007 SEC Football Media Days was the highest attended in the 23 years of the event, with more than 830 credentialed media members.