Despite 10 touchdown catches, Ole Miss WR Donte Moncrief was left off the All-SEC teams. (US Presswire) |
All-conference teams and awards are being handed out, but some don't get the recognition they deserve. To qualify for our underappreciated list, a player must not appear on the first or second All-SEC team of either the Associated Press or the coaches.
1. QB Aaron Murray, Georgia
He was just a few yards short of leading the Bulldogs all the way to the BCS National Championship Game after marching Georgia down the field in just over a minute against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. Among full-time starting QBs, he was second in the SEC in total passing yards and third in completion percentage.
Season stats: 231 of 353 passing for 3,466 yards, 31 TDs, 8 INTs
2. WR Donte Moncrief, Ole Miss
He had more TD receptions (10) than every other WR who made the teams with the exception of Mississippi State WR Chad Bumphis (12). He also had the highest yards-per-catch average (15.8) of any WR who had at least 60 receptions on the season in the SEC. He was a huge part of why Ole Miss was surprisingly good this season.
Season stats: 60 catches, 948 yards, 10 TDs
3. DE Chris Smith, Arkansas
There are a lot of quality DL in the league, yet Smith was able to finish in the top five in both sacks (9.5) and TFLs (13) on the season. He recorded at least one sack in each of his last six games.
Season stats: 52 tackles, 13 TFLs, 9.5 sacks, 12 QB hurries, FF
4. QB Tyler Bray, Tennessee
He was inconsistent at times, but numbers don't lie. He led the SEC in total passing yards and TD passes. His low completion percentage (59.4 percent), high number of INTs (12) and Tennessee's overall 5-7 campaign were what held him back from receiving higher honors.
Season stats: 268 of 451 passing for 3,612 yards, 34 TDs, 12 INTs
Offensive line play can't truly be measured in numbers. Nixon was a big part of protecting sophomore QB Jeff Driskel and helping Florida become a better and more physical team in 2012.
For more up-to-the minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Larry Hartstein and Daniel Lewis, follow @CBSSportsSEC.