A pair of Bulldogs were named to the SEC All-Freshman team, Thursday.
Leo Lewis, Jeffery Simmons Named To All-SEC Freshman Team By Coaches
December 08, 2016 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State linebacker Leo Lewis and defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons were named to the All-Southeastern Conference Freshman Team as voted on by the league's coaches, the SEC announced Thursday.
It represents the second-straight year a Bulldog linebacker has earned the honor, as sophomore Gerri Green was named to the team in 2015. Simmons, a true freshman, is the first Bulldog defensive lineman to be named to the team since current Kansas City Chief Chris Jones in 2013.
This marks the first time since 2011 that multiple Bulldogs have received the honor, when defensive lineman Kaleb Eulls and tight end Malcolm Johnson did so that year. Dan Mullen has now coached 14 SEC All-Freshman players at MSU.
Lewis, the SEC Freshman of the Week following an Egg Bowl victory on Nov. 26, ranks second on the team in tackles with 72. His 72 tackles are the most by an MSU freshman since Benardrick McKinney recorded 102 as a redshirt freshman in 2012. He has also tallied 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack on the year. The Brookhaven, Miss., native leads all SEC freshmen in tackles and is 23 better than the next closest SEC freshman. Lewis is 18th overall in the conference in tackles.
Simmons, a native of Macon, Miss., collected 38 tackles on the season along with 3.5 tackles for loss. He is tied for the team lead in forced fumbles with two, a mark that leads all SEC freshman and is sixth overall in the league.
Lewis, Simmons and the rest of the Bulldogs will close their 2016 season in the St. Petersburg Bowl against Miami (Ohio), Dec. 26 at 10 a.m. CT on ESPN.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
All-SEC Freshman Team (* - Ties )
Offense
TE
Isaac Nauta, Georgia
OL
Jonah Williams, Alabama
Jawaan Taylor, Florida
Greg Little, Ole Miss
Logan Stenberg, Kentucky
C
Erik McCoy, Texas A&M
WR
Dimetrios Mason, Missouri
Van Jefferson, Ole Miss
QB
Jalen Hurts, Alabama
RB
Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky
Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M
AP
Jonathan Johnson, Missouri
Defense
DL
Jabari Zuniga, Florida
Marlon Davidson, Auburn
Ed Alexander, LSU
McTelvin Agim, Arkansas*
Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State*
LB
Leo Lewis, Mississippi State
Devin White, LSU
De'Jon Harris, Arkansas
DB
Javaris Davis, Auburn
Nigel Warrior, Tennessee
Ronnell Perkins, Missouri
Jaylon Jones, Ole Miss
Special Teams
PK
Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
P
Josh Growden, LSU
RS
Jonathan Johnson, Missouri
It represents the second-straight year a Bulldog linebacker has earned the honor, as sophomore Gerri Green was named to the team in 2015. Simmons, a true freshman, is the first Bulldog defensive lineman to be named to the team since current Kansas City Chief Chris Jones in 2013.
This marks the first time since 2011 that multiple Bulldogs have received the honor, when defensive lineman Kaleb Eulls and tight end Malcolm Johnson did so that year. Dan Mullen has now coached 14 SEC All-Freshman players at MSU.
Lewis, the SEC Freshman of the Week following an Egg Bowl victory on Nov. 26, ranks second on the team in tackles with 72. His 72 tackles are the most by an MSU freshman since Benardrick McKinney recorded 102 as a redshirt freshman in 2012. He has also tallied 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack on the year. The Brookhaven, Miss., native leads all SEC freshmen in tackles and is 23 better than the next closest SEC freshman. Lewis is 18th overall in the conference in tackles.
Simmons, a native of Macon, Miss., collected 38 tackles on the season along with 3.5 tackles for loss. He is tied for the team lead in forced fumbles with two, a mark that leads all SEC freshman and is sixth overall in the league.
Lewis, Simmons and the rest of the Bulldogs will close their 2016 season in the St. Petersburg Bowl against Miami (Ohio), Dec. 26 at 10 a.m. CT on ESPN.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
All-SEC Freshman Team (* - Ties )
Offense
TE
Isaac Nauta, Georgia
OL
Jonah Williams, Alabama
Jawaan Taylor, Florida
Greg Little, Ole Miss
Logan Stenberg, Kentucky
C
Erik McCoy, Texas A&M
WR
Dimetrios Mason, Missouri
Van Jefferson, Ole Miss
QB
Jalen Hurts, Alabama
RB
Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky
Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M
AP
Jonathan Johnson, Missouri
Defense
DL
Jabari Zuniga, Florida
Marlon Davidson, Auburn
Ed Alexander, LSU
McTelvin Agim, Arkansas*
Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State*
LB
Leo Lewis, Mississippi State
Devin White, LSU
De'Jon Harris, Arkansas
DB
Javaris Davis, Auburn
Nigel Warrior, Tennessee
Ronnell Perkins, Missouri
Jaylon Jones, Ole Miss
Special Teams
PK
Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
P
Josh Growden, LSU
RS
Jonathan Johnson, Missouri
Players Mentioned
LB
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