ATHENS — Georgia landed four players on the SEC Coaches’ preseason first-team, five players on the second team, and had one third-team selection.
Alabama led the way with a conference-best 19 players on the Preseason Coaches All-SEC team announced Tuesday, including six on the first team.
The No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide and the No. 3-ranked Bulldogs are the favorites to win their respective divisions and meet in the SEC Championship Game.
Alabama won last year’s SEC title game 41-24, but UGA avenged that loss with a 33-18 win in the CFP Championship Game thanks in part to the efforts of their four first-team selections.
Kelee Ringo and Brock Bowers scored touchdowns, Jalen Carter blocked a field goal and Warren McClendon paved the way for a run game that took over in the fourth quarter.
The first-team Bulldogs are:
• TE Brock Bowers
• OT Warren McClendon
• DT Jalen Carter
• DB Kelee Ringo
Bowers, Carter and Ringo were named AP and Walter Camp preseason All-Americans, as well.
The second-team Georgia players, as selected by the coaches are:
• QB Stetson Bennett
• C Sedrick Van Pran
• OLB Nolan Smith
• S Christopher Smith
• WR-KR Kearis Jackson
The third-team pick:
• WR Ladd McConkey
Georgia had five first-team preseason All-SEC picks at SEC Media Days in Atlanta last month, with Bowers, McClendon, Carter, Ringo and Nolan Smith making first-team.
The No. 3-ranked Bulldogs open the season at 3:30 p.m. on Sept,. 3 against No. 11 Oregon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.