Dec. 7, 2006
As a true freshman, D.J. Moore finished with 37 total tackles while ranking among the SEC and team leaders with three fumble recoveries.
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Commodore defensive back D.J. Moore was Vanderbilt’s lone representative to the Southeastern Conference Coaches’ All-Freshman Team, league officials announced Thursday.
Moore, from Spartanburg, S.C., started nine games in the Vanderbilt secondary as a true freshman. He finished with 37 total tackles while ranking among the SEC and team leaders with three fumble recoveries.
All 12 members of the Southeastern Conference are represented on the seventh annual SEC Coaches’ All-Freshman Team. In 2005, a trio of Commodores – receiver Earl Bennett, safety Reshard Langford and punter Bryant Hahnfeldt – were named to the freshman squad. As many as five Commodore players have been recognized since SEC coaches began the freshmen team in 1986.
“I’m happy for D.J. Moore, who played very well for our defense in his first year with the program,” Vanderbilt Head Coach Bobby Johnson said. “He was one of several freshmen contributing in our defensive secondary, so the early experience and production should benefit our squad in the future.” Other first-year contributors in the Commodore secondary this season were fellow cornerback Joel Caldwell, a redshirt freshman from Hoover, Ala., and nickel back Darlron Spead, a redshirt freshman from Kingsland. Ga. Last week, Spead earned All-SEC honors from the Sporting News.
Moore played every game, earning his first collegiate start at Alabama. He contributed six tackles and a fumble recovery against the Crimson Tide, then played arguably his finest game of the season in Vanderbilt’s 24-22 victory at Georgia where he earned a season-high night tackles and a fumble recovery. Moore helped seal Vanderbilt’s win at Duke late in the season with his first career interception.
The entire team is listed below:
2006 FRESHMAN ALL-SEC FOOTBALL TEAM
(*-Ties / Coaches could not vote for their own players)
FRESHMAN OFFENSE
Tight End – Ben Cleveland, Arkansas, 6-4, 235, Springdale, Ark.
Line – Andre Smith, Alabama, 6-5, 315, Birmingham, Ala.; Ciron Black, LSU, 6-5, 314, Tyler, Texas; John Jerry, Ole Miss, 6-5, 350, Batesville, Miss.; *Justin Jeffries, Kentucky, 6-5, 300, Louisville, Ky.
*Craig Jenkins, Mississippi State, 6-4, 319, Pearl, Miss.
Center – Josh McNeil, Tennessee, 6-4, 290, Collins, Miss.
Wide Receivers – Percy Harvin, Florida, 5-11, 180, Virginia Beach, Va.; *Brandon LaFell, LSU, 6-3, 194 Houston, Texas; *Damian Williams, Arkansas, 6-1, 188, Springdale, Ark.
Quarterbacks – *Matthew Stafford, Georgia, 6-3 228, Dallas, Texas; *Tim Tebow, Florida, 6-3, 229, Jacksonville, Fla.
Running Backs – LaMarcus Coker, Tennessee, 5-11, 205, Antioch, Tenn.; Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State, 6-1, 235, Jackson, Miss.
FRESHMAN DEFENSE
Line – Ricky Jean-Francois, LSU, 6-3, 281, Miami, Fla.; Sen’Derrick Marks, Auburn, 6-1, 287, Mobile, Ala.; Kade Weston, Georgia, 6-5, 315, Red Bank, N.J.
Linebackers – Prince Hall, Alabama, 5-11, 253, Moreno Valley, Calif.; Rodney Paulk, South Carolina 6-0 200 Columbia, S.C.; Micah Johnson Kentucky, 6-2, 255, Ft. Campbell, Ky.; *Rico McCoy, Tennessee, 6-1, 215, Washington, D.C.; *Wendel Davis, Arkansas, 6-1, 205, Sweeny, Texas; *Jamon Hughes, Mississippi State, 6-0, 221, Rolling Fork, Miss.
Defensive Backs – Trevard Lindley, Kentucky, 6-0, 175, Hiram, Ga.; Emanuel Cook, South Carolina, 6-0, 205, Riviera Beach, Fla.; D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt, 5-10, 180, Spartanburg, S.C.; *Aairon Savage, Auburn, 5-11, 187 Albany, Ga.; *Jerraud Powers, Auburn, 5-9, 184, Decatur, Ala.
FRESHMAN SPECIALISTS
Kickers – *Lones Seiber Kentucky 5-9 180 Knoxville, Tenn.; *Joshua Shene Ole Miss 5-9 170 Oklahoma City, Okla.
Punter – P.J. Fitzgerald Alabama 6-0 196 Coral Springs, Fla.
Return Specialist – Brandon James Florida 5-7 180 St. Augustine, Fla.
