AP names Sears to All-SEC team
By Staff
Mike Self, FCT Sports Editor
Former Russellville High School star Arron Sears, now a senior tackle at the University of Tennessee, has been named to the Associated Press All-SEC team for the second straight season.
Sears, who helped lead the Golden Tigers to a school-record 14 wins and a Super Six berth as a senior in 2002, joined Arkansas running back Darren McFadden as the only two unanimous selections in voting announced on Monday.
"I had always sort of predicted that Arron would achieve all these honors, because he sets such high goals for himself," Russellville coach Perry Swindall. "It's rare for a player to be as focused on his future as Arron was in high school. He was a great high school football player, and he set his sights on becoming a great player at the college level. Now that he's achieved that, I'm sure he's hoping to go on and be a great professional player, and I believe he will. He's a tremendous football player and a good person. I'm proud of everything he's accomplished."
Sears had already been selected for first-team All-American honors by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). The 6-foot-4, 320-pound senior finished the 2006 season with 71 knockdown blocks and extended his streak of consecutive starts to 31.
A Jacobs Award candidate for best blocker in the SEC, Sears has demonstrated a high level of durability and versatility while at Tennessee. He has missed just one start since his freshman season and has started at every position on the line except center.
Auburn placed three players on the All-SEC first team: Guard Ben Grubbs, defensive end Quentin Groves and placekicker Jon Vaughn.
Defensive back Simeon Castille was the only Alabama player named to the first team.
McFadden, a Heisman Trophy candidate, was a unanimous choice for SEC Offensive Player of the Year. The sophomore back led the conference with 1,558 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, helping the Razorbacks go 10-3 and reach the SEC championship game.
Arkansas coach Houston Nutt received Coach of the Year honors.
Ole Miss senior linebacker Pat Willis was chosen as Defensive Player of the Year, and Florida's Percy Harvin was named Freshman of the Year.
Willis led the conference with 137 tackles, 27 more than anyone else.
Harvin was named MVP of the SEC Championship Game on Saturday, catching a 37-yard touchdown pass and also scoring on a 67-yard run.
The second-ranked Gators, who will face Ohio State in the national title game on January 8, placed just two players on the first team-defensive backs Reggie Nelson and Ryan Smith.
Other first-team selections on offense included LSU quarterback Jamarcus Russell; Ole Miss running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis; wide receivers Earl Bennett of Vanderbilt and Robert Meachem of Tennessee; Kentucky tight end Jacob Tamme; offensive linemen Tony Ugoh of Arkansas, Daniel Inman of Georgia and Jonathan Luigs of Arkansas; kicker James Wilhoit of Tennessee, and all-purpose player Keenan Burton of Kentucky.
Other first-team choices on defense included linemen Jamaal Anderson of Arkansas, Glenn Dorsey of LSU and Turk McBride of Tennessee; linebackers Sam Olajubutu of Arkansas, Quinton Culberson of Mississippi State and Jasper Brinkley of South Carolina; defensive back LaRon Landry of LSU; and Tennessee punter Britton Colquitt.
Offensive lineman Tim Duckworth, running back Kenny Irons and punter Kody Bliss of Auburn were named second-team All-SEC.
