LSU All-SEC players
Cornerback Morris Claiborne is the sole LSU player to make 1st team All-SEC. Wide receiver Rueben Randle, defensive end Barkevious Mingo, linebacker Ryan Baker, and cornerback Tyrann Mathieu made 2nd team All-SEC. Offensive lineman Alex Hurst and defensive end Sam Montgomery were select 3rd team All-SEC.
1st Team All-SEC
Only Mississippi State placed fewer players on the preseason 1st team All-SEC than LSU. Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Ole Miss tied LSU with only 1 player selected to the 1st team. Alabama placed 7 players. Georgia placed 6. South Carolina placed 4. Arkansas placed 3. And even Kentucky managed to place 2 players on the preseason 1st team All-SEC team.
Overall - 1st, 2nd and 3rd Team All-SEC
This chart shows how each school did in terms of placing players on 1st, 2nd or 3rd team preseason All-SEC:
| School | 1st Team | 2nd Team | 3rd Team | Total |
| Alabama | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| Arkansas | 3 | 5 | 6 | 14 |
| Auburn | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Florida | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Georgia | 6 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Kentucky | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| LSU | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| Ole Miss | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Mississippi State | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| South Carolina | 4 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| Tennessee | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Vanderbilt | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
So What does all of this mean for LSU?
If you trust the collective judgement of the SEC coaches, then it could mean that we could expect LSU to finish somewhere in the middle of the pack this year based on talent. Or it could mean that Les Miles is the best coach in the country considering the relative lack of talent at LSU versus the rest of the SEC. But, honestly, I don't think it means a darn thing! If Alabama and Arkansas have twice or nearly twice the number of talented players than LSU, then Nick Saban and Bobby Petrino are grossly over rated as coaches. As much as I would like to say that is close to the truth, it's not even sort of true. It is unbelievable that the national media can rank LSU in the top five in most any poll that you consult and yet, SEC coaches cannot find more than one 1st team caliber LSU player. I watched the LSU-North Carolina game rerun recently and now wonder at the announcers saying that Morris Claiborne was in for a difficult season because of his inexperience and unfamiliarity at cornerback. One year later he is LSU's sole 1st team All-SEC selection. Way to Go Mo! Still, I feel sure that even Morris Claiborne would tell you that being selected 1st team preseason All-SEC is an indication of very little. It is how you play on the field in games that matter.
What does this mean for LSU? This means that LSU players that are far more talented than SEC coaches realize have something to prove. If I were Les Miles, I would post this list in the locker room and write a note that says: "If you are on this list, prove you belong. If you are not on this list, I dare you to prove them wrong!" LSU is used to earning respect. I am not sure that I would want it any other way. Geaux Tigers!!!
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