Fansided

Nick Marshall, Todd Gurley headline preseason accolades in SEC

By Patrick Schmidt

Jan 6, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Nick Marshall (14) runs against the Florida State Seminoles during the second half of the 2014 BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 6, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Nick Marshall (14) runs against the Florida State Seminoles during the second half of the 2014 BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Spring football has been over for more than a month and the college football season is still a couple months from kicking off, so the offseason is a prime opportunity to have some debates over who the best players are at a number of positions, who the top Heisman candidates are in the country and who are the best leaders and most versatile players in the country.

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The 14 Sports Information Directors from the SEC took part in the 68th annual AL.com/Birmingham News SEC Spring Football Report and Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall and Georgia running back Todd Gurley are two headliners for these preseason superlatives that are sure to engage some hardcore college football fans.

Here you can see the results of their poll:

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

QB Nick Marshall, Auburn

Next: RB Todd Gurley, Georgia

TOP HEISMAN CANDIDATE

QB Nick Marshall, Auburn

Next: RB Todd Gurley, Georgia

MOST VERSATILE

Christion Jones, Alabama

Next: Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia

MOST UNDERRATED

OL A.J. Cann, South Carolina

Next: QB Dak Prescott, Mississippi State

BEST ATHLETE

QB Nick Marshall, Auburn

Next: WR/KR Christion Jones, Alabama

BEST LEADER

LB Ramik Wilson, Georgia

Next: LB Curt Maggitt, Tennessee

BEST OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

Alvin Dupree, Kentucky

Next: Kwon Alexander, LSU

BEST INSIDE LINEBACKER

Ramik Wilson, Georgia

Next: A.J. Johnson, Tennessee

BEST DEFENSIVE LINEMAN

Dante Fowler Jr. Florida

Next: Trey Flowers, Arkansas

BEST CORNERBACK

Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida

Next: Jalen Mills, LSU

BEST SAFETY

Landon Collins, Alabama

Next: Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss

BEST OFFENSIVE LINEMAN

Jarvis Harrison, Texas A&M

Next: Reese Dismukes, Auburn

BEST RECEIVER

Amari Cooper, Alabama

Next: Sammie Coates, Auburn

BEST RUNNER

Todd Gurley, Georgia

Next: Mike Davis, South Carolina

BEST BLOCKING BACK

Jalston Fowler, Alabama

Next: Mike Davis, South Carolina

BEST PASSER

Maty Mauk, Missouri

Next: Nick Marshall, Auburn

BEST KICK RETURNER

Christion Jones, Alabama

Next: Andre Dubose, Florida

BEST PLACEKICKER

Marshall Morgan, Georgia

Next: Colby Delahoussaye, LSU

BEST PUNTER

Drew Kaser, Texas A&M

Next: Devon Bell, Mississippi State

Which results were the most surprising to you? Sound off in the comments section below with your thoughts on the results of this poll.

I’ll get things started by saying Cedric Ogbuehi is the conference’s best blocker and a potential top-five pick in next year’s draft, Bo Wallace would be my pick for one of the top two passers in the league, not Marshall, who has work to do in regard to being a pure thrower despite being an incredible talent, and I’d make an argument for Laquon Treadwell from Ole Miss to be one of the top two receivers in the conference.

However, no real strong arguments from me on the other categories.

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