Alabama football has eleven players named by coaches to preseason All-SEC squads

The Southeastern Conference Football Media Days are set to begin this week, and at the end of the week the media’s preseason All-SEC team will be released. Last Thursday, the SEC announced the preseason All-SEC team as named by the league’s coaches.

Alabama had four players named to the first-team. 6-foot-6, 335-pound offensive lineman D.J. Fluker made the first team along with fellow offensive lineman and the Crimson Tide’s new center Barrett Jones.

Jones made the first-team offense last season as an offensive lineman and former center William Vlachos made the team as a center. This season, it’s Jones who makes the list as the center and anchor of the Tide offensive line.

The Crimson Tide had two linebackers make the first-team as well. Senior inside linebacker Nico Johnson made the list for the first time as did junior inside linebacker C.J. Mosley. Johnson was fourth on the team in tackles in 2011 with 46 total tackles. Mosley, who is coming off of a hip injury he suffered during the BCS National Championship Game, was seventh on the team with 36 tackles.

Junior running back Eddie Lacy made the second-team offense during his first season as the probable first-string back. Lacy rushed for 674 yards and seven touchdowns in 2012. Barring any setbacks, this year will be Lacy’s turn to take hold of the Alabama backfield.

Senior offensive lineman Chance Warmack also made the second-team offense. This is Warmack’s first season making a preseason All-SEC team. The 6-foot-3, 320-pound guard is one of the Tide’s strongest contributors on the offensive line and will be a strongpoint for the Tide in 2012.

Two Alabama seniors also made the second-team defense as well. Defensive back Robert Lester made the second-team for the first time. Last season, Lester was coming off of a phenomenal year as a ball-hawking safety and as a result was named to the first-team All-SEC defense by the coaches. After a bit of a step backwards in terms of production in 2011, it will be interesting to see how Lester responds in his final season.

Brisbane, Australia-native Jesse Williams made the second-team defense for the first time this season. Williams recorded 24 tackles as a junior during his first season with the Crimson Tide in 2011. The massive defensive lineman worked during spring practice as a nose tackle and will likely be asked to anchor the middle of the Crimson Tide defensive line.

The Crimson Tide also had three players named to the preseason All-SEC third team. Junior A.J. McCarron made the list after leading the Crimson Tide to its 14th national championship in 2011. The Tide’s signal caller threw for 2634 yards and had a completion percentage of 66.8 during 2011.

Senior tight end Michael Williams also made the third-team offense. The 6-foot-6, 269-pounder from Reform, Ala., caught 16 passes in 2011 for 191 yards and two touchdowns. Williams was one of the Tide’s best blocking tight ends and will only benefit from another year of experience.

The final Tide player to be named to an All-SEC preseason team is junior defensive back Dee Milliner. Milliner was named to the third-team defense and will play a massive role in the Crimson Tide secondary in 2012.