Four Bulldogs Combine For Five Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team Honors

STARKVILLE, Miss. – With the focus shifting from preseason to the regular season, four of Mississippi State's own were named to the Preseason Coaches All-Southeastern Conference Team, the league office announced Thursday morning.

Senior wide receiver Fred Ross was named to the second team, while senior triple-threat Brandon Holloway, senior defensive end A.J. Jefferson and senior linebacker Richie Brown were all placed on the third team. Holloway made the third team twice, as a running back and as a return specialist.

Ross, a candidate for the Biletnikoff and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Awards, enters his final year with a chance to break numerous MSU career records. He sits fifth in catches (127), ninth in receiving touchdowns (10), 10th in receiving yards (1,611) and second in 100-yard receiving games (7). As a junior in 2015, the Tyler, Texas, native led the SEC in receptions per game (6.8) and his 70 catches in conference games led the SEC and were the second-most nationally.

An option in the running, passing and return game, Holloway is up for four national awards (Paul Hornung, Doak Walker, Wuerffel and Allstate AFCA Good Works) and joins 2015 Heisman Finalist Christian McCaffrey as the only two FBS players to return in 2016 who registered at least 400 rushing yards, 300 receiving yards and 500 kickoff return yards a season ago.

In contention for the Nagurski Trophy and Butkus Award, Brown is up for two national awards and is the first MSU player to return after a 100-plus tackle season since Benardrick McKinney in 2013. Jefferson ranks ninth in MSU career history in tackles for loss (24.5) and is a candidate for the Ted Hendricks Award.

The Maroon and White will open the 2016 season on Saturday, Sept. 3 at home in Davis Wade Stadium against South Alabama at 11 a.m. CT on SEC Network.

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2016 Mississippi State Preseason Honors

Richie Brown, LB

Nagurski Trophy Watch List

Butkus Award Watch List

Senior Bowl Watch List

All-SEC – Coaches (Third Team), Media (Third Team), Athlon Sports (Third Team), Phil Steele (Fourth Team)

Brandon Bryant, S

All-SEC – Athlon Sports (Fourth Team), Phil Steele (Fourth Team)

Jamaal Clayborn, C

Rimington Trophy Watch List

Senior Bowl Watch List

All-SEC – Athlon Sports (Fourth Team)