Banks & Lawrence Named Preseason All-SEC First Team
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State seniors Johnthan Banks and Cameron Lawrence were named to the 2012 Preseason All-SEC First Team in a vote by the league's 14 football information directors, the Birmingham News announced Sunday in its 66th annual Spring SEC Football Preview. In addition, junior offensive guard Gabe Jackson earned second-team honors on offense.
Banks, already a 2012 preseason All-American by Phil Steele, was the only cornerback in the SEC last year to rack up at least 70 tackles and record five interceptions. A 2011 All-SEC second team member by the AP, the Maben, Miss., native was a finalist for the Conerly Trophy and was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.
Another
2012 preseason All-SEC pick by Steele, Lawrence earned a first-team nod by the
conference football directors after being credited with 123 tackles, including
50 solo. The leading returning tackler in the SEC in 2012, Lawrence recorded
6.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions and one fumble recovery in
13 starts for the Maroon and White.
Jackson was named to his second preseason All-SEC squad so far after earning
second-team All-SEC honors last year by the AP and Rivals.com. After starting
in all 13 games at left guard and leading the offensive line with 67 takedowns,
Scout.com also named the offensive lineman a sophomore All-American. As an
anchor on the line, Jackson was part of an offensive line that reached the top
10 in school history for season-season marks in passing touchdowns, passing
completions, total yards and first downs.
For more information on the All-SEC trio and the MSU football program, follow
the program on Twitter at @MStateFB and like
the team on Facebook at Facebook.com/MStateFB.
Birmingham News 66th Annual Spring All-SEC Team
Johnthan
Banks - CB - First Team (Defense)
Cameron
Lawrence - LB - First Team (Defense)
Gabe
Jackson - OG - Second Team (Offense)