Eleven Tigers named preseason All-SEC
Auburn had 11 players named to the Southeastern Conference Coaches Preseason All-SEC Football Team, the conference announced Wednesday.
That figure trails only Florida, which leads the SEC with 12. Auburn leads Tennessee, which has 10, then Alabama and Georgia, both with nine.
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Senior offensive tackle Marcus McNeill highlighted Auburn's All-SEC contingent. He is the only unanimous first-team preseason All-SEC selection. Since coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players, McNeill appeared on 11 ballots.
Auburn had six players named to the first-team, two each from the offense, defense and special teams. Of those six, two are seniors - McNeill and linebacker Travis Williams.
Four juniors made the first-team list for the Tigers, including wide receiver Courtney Taylor, defensive end Stanley McClover, kicker John Vaughn and punter Kody Bliss.
Also representing Auburn's offense is senior tight end Cooper Wallace, who was named to the second-team, and senior wide receiver Ben Obomanu, who made the third-team.
Auburn senior linebacker Antarrious Williams made the second-team defense, and is backed up by sophomore defensive end Quentin Groves, named to the third-team. Lastly, senior Tre Smith was named to the special teams third-team as a return specialist.
The 2005 season marks the second year of the SEC Coaches' Preseason All-SEC Football Team. Ten of the 12 SEC teams had first-team selections while every school has at least one representative to the All-SEC squad.
Auburn opens the 2005 season by hosting Georgia Tech, Sept. 3 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:45 p.m. CT. The game will be aired on ESPN.