Dec. 5, 2006
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A trio of Commodores – receiver Earl Bennett, linebacker Jonathan Goff and offensive lineman Chris Williams – were named to the 2006 All-Southeastern Conference Coaches’ Football Team, the league announced Tuesday.
Bennett, Williams and Goff were second team All-SEC selections by the coaches. It was the first time in three years that no Vanderbilt player was included on the coaches’ first team all-conference squad. In 2005, Commodores’ Jay Cutler, Moses Osemwegie and Bennett were recognized on the coaches’ first team squad.
League champion Florida had a league-high 11 representatives to the coaches’ squad while Western Division Champion Arkansas led with six members on the first-team. There were two unanimous selections to this year’s All-SEC squad – Arkansas sophomore running back Darren McFadden and Ole Miss senior linebacker Patrick Willis. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players, thus a unanimous selection earns 11 of 12 first-team votes.
It was Bennett’s third honor in five days, coming on the heels of All-American recognition by Rivals.com last Thursday, and first team All-SEC selection by Associated Press sportswriters on Monday.
It was the first postseason honor for both Goff, a redshirt junior from Lynn, Mass., and Williams, a redshirt junior from Glynn, La.
Head Coach Bobby Johnson was pleased that fellow coaches in the SEC recognized three Vanderbilt players. It represents the sixth time at least three Commodores were picked in a given year since the coaches initiated two All-SEC teams in 1992. The most Commodores ever named by the coaches came last year when five players were recognized.
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“This recognition is great for Vanderbilt, and great for these three very deserving young men. I’m pleased that coaches around the league took notice of their effort and production on the field,” Johnson said. “Earl, Jonathan and Chris are outstanding All-SEC representatives for our football team and the university.”
Bennett, a sophomore from Birmingham, Ala., was one of the most productive offensive players in a conference that featured a corps of outstanding wide receivers. Bennett finished the season with 82 receptions, seventh most in league history, and 1,146 receiving yards, second most in team history and the SEC’s 13th highest single-season total.
In 2006, Bennett was able to improve on a remarkable freshman campaign that culminated with him setting a SEC freshman receiving record with 79 catches. This year, he became the first receiver in SEC history to post at least two seasons with more than 75 catches.
Goff, the Commodores’ defensive captain, finished the season with a career-high 93 total tackles, tied for sixth most in the SEC. He was fourth in the league with 67 solo tackles, and ranked among the Commodore leaders with 2.5 quarterback sacks, six tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
Goff started the 2006 season in superb fashion, posting 14 tackles and a blocked field goal at Michigan and 13 tackles and two forced fumbles at Alabama. He achieved at least five tackles in 11 of 12 games.
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Williams started every game in his first season protecting the quarterback’s blindside at left tackle, and earned the unit’s highest blocking grade in nine games. He was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his play in Vanderbilt’s 24-22 win at Georgia. Williams did not allow a quarterback sack in the Commodores’ eight games against SEC teams.
On Wednesday, the SEC individual award winners will be released. The coaches’ SEC All-Freshman will be announced on Thursday.
COACHES’ 2006 ALL-SEC FOOTBALL TEAM
OFFENSE
FIRST-TEAM
Tight Ends – *Martrez Milner, Georgia, 6-4, 255, Sr., Gainesville, Ga.; *Jacob Tamme, Kentucky, 6-5, 240, Jr., Danville, Ky.;
Line – Arron Sears, Tennessee, 6-4, 320, Sr., Russellville, Ala.; Zac Tubbs, Arkansas, 6-6, 335, Sr., Cullman, Ala.; Tim Duckworth, Auburn, 6-4, 310, Sr., Taylorsville, Miss.; Tony Ugoh, Arkansas, 6-5, 305, Sr., Houston, Texas
Center -*Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas, 6-4, 305, So., Little Rock, Ark.; *Steve Rissler, Florida, 6-3, 310, Jr., Sarasota, Fla.
Receivers – Robert Meachem, Tennessee 6-3, 210, Jr., Tulsa, Okla.; *Dwayne Bowe, LSU, 6-3, 217, Sr., Miami, Fla.; *Dallas Baker, Florida, 6-3, 206, Sr., New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Quarterbacks – JaMarcus Russell, LSU, 6-6, 252, Jr., Mobile, Ala.
Running Backs – #Darren McFadden, Arkansas, 6-2, 212, So., Little Rock, Ark.; Kenny Irons, Auburn, 5-11, 200, Sr., Dacula, Ga.
SECOND-TEAM
Tight End – *Andy Boyd, South Carolina, 6-4, 265, Sr., Concord, N.C.; *Richard Dickson, LSU, 6-3, 237, Fr., Ocean Springs, Miss.
Line – Chris Williams, Vanderbilt, 6-6, 315, Jr., Glynn, La.; Drew Miller Florida, 6-5, 305, Jr., Sarasota, Fla.; *Michael Oher, Ole Miss, 6-5.5, 322, So., Memphis, Tenn.; *Phil Trautwein, Florida, 6-6, 308, Jr., Voorhees, N.J.; *Michael Aitcheson, Kentucky, 6-3, 300, Sr., Miami, Fla.; *Antoine Caldwell, Alabama, 6-4, 294, So., Montgomery, Ala.; *Ben Grubbs, Auburn, 6-3, 301, Sr., Eclectic, Ala.
Center – Nick Jones, Georgia, 6-3, 296, Sr., Bowdon, Ga.
Receivers – * Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt, 6-1, 202, So., Birmingham, Ala.; *D.J. Hall Alabama 6-2 188 Jr. Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.; *Sidney Rice South Carolina 6-4 200 So. Gaffney, S.C.; *Keenan Burton Kentucky 6-2 195 Jr. Louisville, Ky.
Quarterbacks – *Chris Leak, Florida, 6-0, 207, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.; *Andre’ Woodson Kentucky 6-5 232 Jr. Radcliff, Ky.
Running Backs – BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Ole Miss, 5-11, 215, Jr., New Orleans, La.; Felix Jones Arkansas 6-0 200 So. Tulsa, Okla.
DEFENSE
FIRST-TEAM
Line – Glenn Dorsey, LSU, 6-2, 284, Jr., Gonzales, La.; Quentin Groves, Auburn, 6-3, 250, Jr., Greenville, Miss.; *Jamal Anderson Arkansas, 6-6, 280, Jr., Little Rock, Ark.; *Ray McDonald, Florida, 6-3, 280, Sr., Belle Glade, Fla.
Linebackers – #Patrick Willis Ole Miss, 6-2, 240, Sr., Bruceton, Tenn.; Quinton Culberson, Mississippi State, 6-0, 239, Sr., Jackson, Miss.; Sam Olajubutu, Arkansas, 5-9, 225, Sr., LaGrange, Ga.; *Earl Everett, Florida, 6-2, 231, Sr., Webster, Fla.; *Wesley Woodyard, Kentucky, 6-1, 212, Jr., LaGrange, Ga.
Defensive Backs – Reggie Nelson, Florida, 6-1, 195, Jr., Melbourne, Fla.; Tra Battle, Georgia, 5-11, 176, Sr., Forsyth, Ga.; Simeon Castille, Alabama, 6-1, 192, Jr., Birmingham, Ala.; LaRon Landry, LSU, 6-2, 204, Sr., Ama, La.
SECOND-TEAM
Line – Titus Brown, Miss. State, 6-3, 247, Jr., Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Derrick Harvey, Florida, 6-4, 260, So., Greenbelt, Md.; *Tyson Jackson, LSU, 6-5, 281, So., Edgard, La.; *Charles Johnson, Georgia, 6-2, 270, Sr., Hawkinsville, Ga.; *Antwain Robinson, Arkansas, 6-3, 255, So., Little Rock, Ark.
Linebackers – Will Herring, Auburn, 6-3, 220, Sr., Opelika, Ala.; Jonathan Goff, Vanderbilt, 6-4, 240, Jr., Lynn, Mass.; Brandon Siler, Florida, 6-2, 235, Jr., Orlando, Fla.; *Tony Taylor, Georgia, 6-1, 237, Sr., Watkinsville, Ga.; *Ali Highsmith, LSU, 6-1, 226, Jr., Miami, Fla.
Defensive Backs – Jonathan Wade, Tennessee, 6-0, 195, Sr., Shreveport, La.; Fred Bennett, South Carolina, 6-1, 199, Sr., Manning, S.C.; Derek Pegues, Mississippi State, 5-10, 188, So., Batesville, Miss.; *Jonathan Hefney, Tennessee, 5-9, 185, Jr., Rock Hill, S.C.; *Chris Houston, Arkansas, 5-11, 188, Jr., Austin, Texas; *David Irons, Auburn, 5-11, 188, Sr., Dacula, Ga.; *Ryan Smith, Florida, 5-10, 165, Jr., Diamond Bar, Calif.
SPECIALISTS
FIRST-TEAM
Placekickers – *John Vaughn, Auburn, 6-1, 197, Sr., Brentwood, Tenn.; *James Wilhoit, Tennessee, 5-10, 195, Sr., Hendersonville, Tenn.
Punter – Britton Colquitt, Tennessee, 6-3, 198, So., Knoxville, Tenn.
Return Specialist – Mikey Henderson, Georgia 5-10, 163, Jr., Buford, Ga.
SECOND-TEAM
Placekickers – PK Ryan Succop, South Carolina, 6-3, 214, So., Hickory, N.C.
Punter – P Kody Bliss Auburn, 5-10, 177, Sr., Brentwood, Tenn.
Return Specialists – *Felix Jones, Arkansas, 6-0, 200, So., Tulsa, Okla.; *Craig Davis, LSU, 6-2, 199, Sr., New Orleans, La.
(*-Ties / #-Unanimous Selection) (Coaches could not vote for their own players)
