Six Rebels Make Coaches’ Preseason All-SEC Teams

Photo by Robert Jordan/Ole Miss Communications

Ole Miss sophomore Denzel Nkemdiche was named first team All-SEC to lead six Rebels voted to the 2013 Southeastern Conference Coaches’ Preseason All-SEC Football Teams, announced by the league office on Thursday.

Junior receiver Donte Moncrief and senior punter Tyler Campbell made second team, while junior offensive lineman Aaron Morris, junior defensive end C.J. Johnson and senior cornerback Charles Sawyer were third-team picks.

Nkemdiche is a linebacker on the first team All-SEC defense, adding to his pile of preseason honors. The 5-foot-11, 207-pounder from Loganville, Ga., has also been tabbed preseason first team All-SEC by the league media, Phil Steele, Birmingham News and Lindy’s. He is on watch lists for the Lombardi Award and Nagurski Trophy. He led the Rebels last year with 82 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and three interceptions.

Moncrief has been named preseason second team All-SEC by the league media, Phil Steele, Birmingham News, Athlon and Lindy’s, and is also on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List. The Raleigh, Miss., native tied a school record with 10 touchdown catches last year and racked up 66 receptions for 979 yards to rank among the SEC leaders.

Campbell received second-team honors from the Birmingham News and third-team accolades from Athlon. He redshirted last year after serving as one of the SEC’s top punters the previous three seasons. The Little Rock, Ark., native was the NCAA punting champion with a 46.37-yard average as a sophomore.

Morris is also a second team preseason All-SEC pick by Athlon and third team by Phil Steele. The Jackson, Miss., native has started 18 career games at left guard.

Johnson was named second team by Birmingham News and Athlon and third team by the league media and Lindy’s. A native of Philadelphia, Miss., he led the Rebels with 6.5 sacks last year, with 55 total tackles and 8.0 tackles for loss.

Sawyer is a second teamer with Birmingham News and Lindy’s and third team with the league media and College Sports Madness. The Miami, Fla., native is the veteran leader of the Ole Miss defensive backs, with 37 games, 29 starts, 182 tackles, seven interceptions and 26 passes defended entering his senior year.

-UM-

August 22, 2013

Ole Miss Athletics Media Relations