BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Eight Tennessee representatives have been selected to the 2016 Preseason Coaches All-SEC Football Team, as announced Thursday by the league office.
The eight Vols cover nine selections over the first, second and third teams.
Thursday's announcement marks the 14th consecutive year that SEC Coaches Preseason All-SEC Teams have been formulated.
Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players when selecting their preseason all-conference teams.
Four members of Team 120 landed on the first team, headlined by the selection of defensive end Derek Barnett, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin and defensive back Cameron Sutton to the first team.
Evan Berry, who the nation in kick returns yards last season, also earned a first-team nod on special teams.
Second team picks included quarterback Joahua Dobbs and tailback Jalen Hurd.
Rounding out the list for Tennessee were offensive lineman Jashon Robertson and punter Trevor Daniel, who both garnered third-team mention.
Sutton also saw his name on the third-team listing as a punt returner.
The preseason honors from the league's coaches are the second for Barnett, Dobbs, and Sutton, each of whom appeared on the Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team prior to the start of the 2015 season. Barnett and Sutton were second-team selections while Dobbs was named to the third team.
Tennessee returns 17 starters -- second-most among Power Five teams -- from a squad that went 9-4 last season and picked up a dominating 45-6 win over No. 13 Northwestern in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day. The Vols will begin the season ranked ninth and 10th in the preseason AP Poll and USA Today Coaches Poll, respectively -- their highest preseason ranking since coming in at No. 3 in both polls entering the 2005 season.
Tennessee opens the 2016 season on Thursday, Sept. 1 with a matchup against Appalachian State at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on the SEC Network with Brent Musberger, Jesse Palmer, and Laura Rutledge calling the action.
First Team
OFFENSE
TE – O.J. Howard, Alabama
OL – Cam Robinson, Alabama; Dan Skipper, Arkansas; Greg Pyke, Georgia; Alex Kozan, Auburn
C – Ethan Pocic, LSU
WR – Calvin Ridley, Alabama; Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
QB – Chad Kelly, Ole Miss
RB – Leonard Fournette, LSU; Nick Chubb, Georgia
AP – Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
DEFENSE
DL – Myles Garett, Texas A&M; Jonathan Allen, Alabama; Derek Barnett, Tennessee; Carl Lawson, Auburn
LB – Reuben Foster, Alabama; Kendell Beckwith, LSU; Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Tennessee; Jarrad Davis, Florida
DB – Eddie Jackson, Alabama; Jalen Tabor, Florida; Cameron Sutton, Tennessee; Tre’Davious White, LSU
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Daniel Carlson, Auburn
P – J.K. Scott, Alabama
RS – Christian Kirk, Texas A&M; Evan Berry, Tennessee
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
TE – Evan Engram, Ole Miss
OL – William Clapp, LSU; Avery Gennesy, Texas A&M; Martez Ivey, Florida; Alphonse Taylor, Alabama; Braden Smith, Auburn
C – Brandon Kublanow, Georgia
WR – Fred Ross, Mississippi State; Malachi Dupre, LSU
QB – Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee
RB – Jalen Hurd, Tennessee; Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt
AP – Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia
DEFENSE
DL – Montdravious Adams, Auburn; Charles Harris, Missouri; Bryan Cox, Florida; Davon Godchaux, LSU
LB – Tim Williams, Alabama; Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt; Brooks Ellis, Arkansas; Arden Key, LSU
DB – Jamal Adams, LSU; Dominick Sanders, Georgia; Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama; Tony Conner, Ole Miss
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Adam Griffith, Alabama; Elliot Fry, South Carolina
P – Johnny Townsend, Florida
RS – Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
TE – Jeremy Sprinkle, Arkansas
OL – David Sharpe, Florida; Mason Zandi, South Carolina; Jashon Robertson, Tennessee; Frank Ragnow, Arkansas
C – Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama; Frank Ragnow, Arkansas; Jon Toth, Kentucky
WR – Travin Dural, LSU; Drew Morgan, Arkansas
QB – Brandon Harris, LSU
RB – Stanley “Boom” Williams, Kentucky; Brandon Holloway, Mississippi State
AP – Derrius Guice, LSU
DEFENSE
DL – Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss, Lewis Neal, LSU; Deatrich Wise, Arkansas; Daeshon Hall, Texas A&M; A.J. Jefferson, Mississippi State
LB – Richie Brown, Mississippi State; Oren Burks, Vanderbilt; Lorenzo Carter, Georgia
DB – Marcus Maye, Florida; Marlon Humphrey, Alabama; Johnathan Ford, Auburn; Quincy Wilson, Florida
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Gary Wunderlich, Ole Miss
P – Trevor Daniel, Tennessee
RS – Marcus Davis, Auburn, Cameron Sutton, Tennessee, Brandon Holloway, Mississippi STate
(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)