Nick Fitzgerald and Martinas Rankin were each named second-team All-SEC Friday
Fitzgerald, Rankin Each Earn Preseason Second-Team All-SEC Honors
July 14, 2017 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald and offensive lineman Martinas Rankin were each selected to the preseason All-Southeastern Conference second-team, the league announced Friday. The preseason list is selected by members of the media at SEC Football Media Days.
Under the guidance of head coach Dan Mullen, this marks the third time in four seasons a Bulldog quarterback has been on the list. NFL offensive Rookie of the Year Dak Prescott was voted second team in 2014 and first team in 2015.
Fitzgerald broke nine school records during his sophomore campaign in 2016. He also set two SEC records while leading the conference in total offense at 3,798 yards. His eight 100-yard rushing performances last season were the most by a quarterback in SEC history, and he also broke the SEC record for a signal caller with an average of 7.1 yards per rush.
Fitzgerald was twice named SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week during the year, and capped his stellar sophomore season earning MVP honors in the St. Petersburg Bowl. Through just one season as the Bulldogs' full-time starter, Fitzgerald already stands fifth in school history with 43 total touchdowns in his career.
Rankin, who is projected by many to be a first round draft pick in 2018, can play all positions but saw all of his action in 2016 at tackle. Rankin came to MSU as the nation's top rated junior college offensive lineman in 2015, but redshirted during his first year on campus. He earned 10 starts last season and played in all 13 of the Bulldogs' games in 2016.
Rankin was MSU's most dominant offensive lineman last season, playing a total of 857 snaps.
The Bulldogs were also pegged to finish sixth in the SEC West with 633 points.
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." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
2017 PRESEASON MEDIA DAYS ALL-SEC TEAM
(Total points earned in parenthesis)
OFFENSE
First-Team
QB Jalen Hurts, Alabama (196)
RB Derrius Guice, LSU (223)
RB Nick Chubb, Georgia (211)
WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama (232)
WR Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (197)
TE Isaac Nauta, Georgia (134)
OL Braden Smith, Auburn (201)
OL Martez Ivey, Florida (198)
OL Jonah Williams, Alabama (187)
OL Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama (174)
C Frank Ragnow, Arkansas (174)
Second-Team
QB Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State (121)
RB Bo Scarbrough, Alabama (151)
RB Kamryn Pettway, Auburn (141)
WR Antonio Callaway, Florida (152)
WR J'Mon Moore, Missouri (91)
TE Hayden Hurst, South Carolina (115)
OL Isaiah Wynn, Georgia (116)
OL Jashon Robertson, Tennessee (108)
OL K.J. Malone, LSU (101)
OL Martinas Rankin, Mississippi State (101)
C Bradley Bozeman, Alabama (155)
Third-Team
QB Austin Allen, Arkansas (102)
RB Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt (105)
RB Sony Michel, Georgia (30)
WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina (64)
WR Jauan Jennings, Tennessee (42)
TE DeAndre Goolsby, Florida (76)
OL Lester Cotton, Alabama (96)
OL Greg Little, Ole Miss (94)
OL Javon Patterson, Ole Miss (87)
OL Koda Martin, Texas A&M (69)
C Will Clapp, LSU (66)
DEFENSE
First-Team
DL Da'Ron Payne, Alabama (196)
DL Da'Shawn Hand, Alabama (180)
DL Trenton Thompson, Georgia (172)
DL Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss (159)
LB Arden Key, LSU (191)
LB Rashaan Evans, Alabama (180)
LB Roquan Smith, Georgia (157)
DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama (232)
DB Ronnie Harrison, Alabama (156)
DB Armani Watts, Texas A&M (137)
DB Duke Dawson, Florida (137)
Second-Team
DL Cece Jefferson, Florida (151)
DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn (120)
DL Christian LaCouture, LSU (107)
DL Denzil Ware, Kentucky (78)
LB Shaun Dion Hamilton, Alabama (156)
LB Skai Moore, South Carolina (128)
LB Tre' Williams, Auburn (103)
DB Tray Matthews, Auburn (126)
DB Donte Jackson, LSU (123)
DB Carlton Davis, Auburn (109)
DB Dominick Sanders, Georgia (109)
Third-Team
DL Marcell Frazier, Missouri (77)
DL Jabari Zuniga, Florida (76)
DL Dontavius Russell, Auburn (70)
DL Rashard Lawrence, LSU (54)
LB Jordan Jones, Kentucky (91)
LB Lorenzo Carter, Georgia (82)
LB Oren Burks, Vanderbilt (58)
DB Anthony Averett, Alabama (104)
DB Marcell Harris, Florida (83)
DB Mike Edwards, Kentucky (71)
DB Tony Brown, Alabama (62)
SPECIALISTS
First-Team
P JK Scott, Alabama (222)
PK Daniel Carlson, Auburn (218)
RS Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (176)
AP Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (161)
Second-Team
P Johnny Townsend, Florida (99)
PK Eddy Piniero, Florida (106)
RS Evan Berry, Tennssee (117)
AP Derrius Guice, LSU (133)
Third-Team
P Trevor Daniel, Tennessee (58)
PK Gary Wunderlich, Ole Miss (94)
RS Antonio Callaway, Florida (84)
AP Kerryon Johnson, Auburn (66)
2017 Preseason Honors
Nick Fitzgerald, QB, Jr.
Maxwell Award Watch List
Second-Team All-SEC (Media)
Martinas Rankin, OL, Sr.
Second-Team All-American (College Football News)
Second-Team All-SEC (AL.com, Media)
Logan Cooke, P, Sr.
Ray Guy Award Watch List
Jeffery Simmons, DL, So.
Second-Team All-SEC (Athlon Sports)
Under the guidance of head coach Dan Mullen, this marks the third time in four seasons a Bulldog quarterback has been on the list. NFL offensive Rookie of the Year Dak Prescott was voted second team in 2014 and first team in 2015.
Fitzgerald broke nine school records during his sophomore campaign in 2016. He also set two SEC records while leading the conference in total offense at 3,798 yards. His eight 100-yard rushing performances last season were the most by a quarterback in SEC history, and he also broke the SEC record for a signal caller with an average of 7.1 yards per rush.
Fitzgerald was twice named SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week during the year, and capped his stellar sophomore season earning MVP honors in the St. Petersburg Bowl. Through just one season as the Bulldogs' full-time starter, Fitzgerald already stands fifth in school history with 43 total touchdowns in his career.
Rankin, who is projected by many to be a first round draft pick in 2018, can play all positions but saw all of his action in 2016 at tackle. Rankin came to MSU as the nation's top rated junior college offensive lineman in 2015, but redshirted during his first year on campus. He earned 10 starts last season and played in all 13 of the Bulldogs' games in 2016.
Rankin was MSU's most dominant offensive lineman last season, playing a total of 857 snaps.
The Bulldogs were also pegged to finish sixth in the SEC West with 633 points.
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." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
2017 PRESEASON MEDIA DAYS ALL-SEC TEAM
(Total points earned in parenthesis)
OFFENSE
First-Team
QB Jalen Hurts, Alabama (196)
RB Derrius Guice, LSU (223)
RB Nick Chubb, Georgia (211)
WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama (232)
WR Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (197)
TE Isaac Nauta, Georgia (134)
OL Braden Smith, Auburn (201)
OL Martez Ivey, Florida (198)
OL Jonah Williams, Alabama (187)
OL Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama (174)
C Frank Ragnow, Arkansas (174)
Second-Team
QB Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State (121)
RB Bo Scarbrough, Alabama (151)
RB Kamryn Pettway, Auburn (141)
WR Antonio Callaway, Florida (152)
WR J'Mon Moore, Missouri (91)
TE Hayden Hurst, South Carolina (115)
OL Isaiah Wynn, Georgia (116)
OL Jashon Robertson, Tennessee (108)
OL K.J. Malone, LSU (101)
OL Martinas Rankin, Mississippi State (101)
C Bradley Bozeman, Alabama (155)
Third-Team
QB Austin Allen, Arkansas (102)
RB Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt (105)
RB Sony Michel, Georgia (30)
WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina (64)
WR Jauan Jennings, Tennessee (42)
TE DeAndre Goolsby, Florida (76)
OL Lester Cotton, Alabama (96)
OL Greg Little, Ole Miss (94)
OL Javon Patterson, Ole Miss (87)
OL Koda Martin, Texas A&M (69)
C Will Clapp, LSU (66)
DEFENSE
First-Team
DL Da'Ron Payne, Alabama (196)
DL Da'Shawn Hand, Alabama (180)
DL Trenton Thompson, Georgia (172)
DL Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss (159)
LB Arden Key, LSU (191)
LB Rashaan Evans, Alabama (180)
LB Roquan Smith, Georgia (157)
DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama (232)
DB Ronnie Harrison, Alabama (156)
DB Armani Watts, Texas A&M (137)
DB Duke Dawson, Florida (137)
Second-Team
DL Cece Jefferson, Florida (151)
DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn (120)
DL Christian LaCouture, LSU (107)
DL Denzil Ware, Kentucky (78)
LB Shaun Dion Hamilton, Alabama (156)
LB Skai Moore, South Carolina (128)
LB Tre' Williams, Auburn (103)
DB Tray Matthews, Auburn (126)
DB Donte Jackson, LSU (123)
DB Carlton Davis, Auburn (109)
DB Dominick Sanders, Georgia (109)
Third-Team
DL Marcell Frazier, Missouri (77)
DL Jabari Zuniga, Florida (76)
DL Dontavius Russell, Auburn (70)
DL Rashard Lawrence, LSU (54)
LB Jordan Jones, Kentucky (91)
LB Lorenzo Carter, Georgia (82)
LB Oren Burks, Vanderbilt (58)
DB Anthony Averett, Alabama (104)
DB Marcell Harris, Florida (83)
DB Mike Edwards, Kentucky (71)
DB Tony Brown, Alabama (62)
SPECIALISTS
First-Team
P JK Scott, Alabama (222)
PK Daniel Carlson, Auburn (218)
RS Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (176)
AP Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (161)
Second-Team
P Johnny Townsend, Florida (99)
PK Eddy Piniero, Florida (106)
RS Evan Berry, Tennssee (117)
AP Derrius Guice, LSU (133)
Third-Team
P Trevor Daniel, Tennessee (58)
PK Gary Wunderlich, Ole Miss (94)
RS Antonio Callaway, Florida (84)
AP Kerryon Johnson, Auburn (66)
2017 Preseason Honors
Nick Fitzgerald, QB, Jr.
Maxwell Award Watch List
Second-Team All-SEC (Media)
Martinas Rankin, OL, Sr.
Second-Team All-American (College Football News)
Second-Team All-SEC (AL.com, Media)
Logan Cooke, P, Sr.
Ray Guy Award Watch List
Jeffery Simmons, DL, So.
Second-Team All-SEC (Athlon Sports)
Players Mentioned
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