Rob Weintraub’s 2021 All-SEC Awards

NFL – The NFL Alumni Awards series has made it to its tenth year, which, sad to say, is known as the Tin Anniversary. There’s nothing malleable about these awards, my friends! I’ve had a great time capping off the NFL season over the last decade by determining who is the very best professional player from each of the Power 5 schools. It’s a great way to gauge the health of the collegiate teams, an indicator of the volatility of the pro game, and, most of all, a fun argument starter.

We begin with the conference that has won the national title 12 of the last 16 years, including 2021, the almighty SEC, via Georgia for the first time since 1980. As it happens, Athens produced another recent champion… 

GEORGIA (41 alumni in the pros, per ESPN)
2012: Geno Atkins—DT Cincinnati
2013: A.J. Green—WR Cincinnati
2014: Justin Houston—LB Kansas City
2015: Thomas Davis—LB Carolina
2016: Geno Atkins—DT Cincinnati
2017: Todd Gurley—RB Los Angeles Rams
2018: Todd Gurley—RB Los Angeles Rams
2019: Nick Chubb—RB Cleveland
2020: Roquan Smith—LB Chicago

2021: Matthew Stafford—QB Los Angeles Rams

Last year I posited this query:
“Will Matthew Stafford rebound from his career doldrums to contest for this trophy next season with a new team?”
Answer—a resounding yes. The last two winners were sensational again, but no one comes near the Super Bowl champ.

ALABAMA (57)
2012: Julio Jones—WR Atlanta
2013: Marcell Dareus—DT Buffalo
2014: Marcell Dareus—DT Buffalo
2015: Julio Jones—WR Atlanta
2016: Julio Jones—WR Atlanta
2017: Mark Ingram—RB New Orleans
2018: Julio Jones—WR Atlanta
2019: Derrick Henry—RB Tennessee
2020: Derrick Henry—RB Tennessee

2021: Trevon Diggs—CB Dallas

Henry’s injury opened the door for some new blood, and boy, howdy, were there plenty of suitors for the elephantine trophy. Bama alums scored 96 touchdowns in 2021, by far the most in the league. Last year’s first round was the Tuscaloosa Invitational, and wideouts Jalen Waddle (Miami) and DeVonta Smith (Philly), running back Najee Harris (Pittsburgh), and quarterback Mac Jones in New England all had strong debuts in the pros. Another Patriots rookie, Christian Barmore, was also good, but he was just one of a raft of Tide tackles—Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne in DC, Dalvin Tomlinson in Minnesota, Raekwon Davis in Miami, Jarran Reed in KC, A’Shawn Robinson in LA—with good seasons in 2021. But the big plays Diggs turned in tilted the award his way. Yes, he was the definition of boom or bust in coverage, but his 11 interceptions (and two pick-sixes) changed the way teams approached throwing against Dallas. 

ARKANSAS (23)
2012: George Wilson—S Buffalo
2013: Jason Peters—OT Philadelphia
2014: Jason Peters—OT Philadelphia 
2015: Darren McFadden—RB Dallas
2016: Jason Peters—OT Philadelphia
2017: Alex Collins—RB Baltimore
2018: Trey Flowers—DE New England
2019: Dre Greenlaw—LB San Francisco
2020: Frank Ragnow—C Detroit

2021: Hunter Henry—TE New England

Henry took advantage of Frank Ragnow’s injury in Detroit to capture the Sooey Award for the first time. 
 
AUBURN (30)
2012: Ben Grubbs—G New Orleans
2013: Cam Newton—QB Carolina
2014: Cam Newton—QB Carolina
2015: Cam Newton—QB Carolina
2016: Dee Ford—LB Kansas City
2017: Cam Newton—QB Carolina
2018: Dee Ford—LB Kansas City
2019: Braden Smith—G Indianapolis
2020: Cam Newton—QB New England

2021: C.J. Uzomah—TE Cincinnati

The talent drain on the Plains has to be alarming for War Eagle fans. At least Uzomah, who caught just 29 balls in his college career, 20 fewer than he caught in 2021 alone, was on the scene. His rebound from a torn Achilles to provide a seam threat was an important piece in Cincinnati’s surprise run to the Super Bowl.

FLORIDA (40)
2012: Maurkice Pouncey—C Pittsburgh
2013: Joe Haden—CB Cleveland
2014: Maurkice Pouncey—C Pittsburgh
2015: (tie) Reggie Nelson—S Cincinnati and Carlos Dunlap—DE Cincinnati
2016: Carlos Dunlap—DE Cincinnati
2017: Carlos Dunlap—DE Cincinnati
2018: Mike Pouncey—C Los Angeles Chargers
2019: Joe Haden—CB Pittsburgh
2020: D.J. Humphries—OT Arizona

2021: Kyle Pitts—TE Atlanta 

Pitts is much more overgrown wideout than swift tight end—regardless, while not quite the matchup nightmare folks expected him to be immediately, the rookie cracked 1,000 yards (though somehow scored just one touchdown, embittering him to fantasy owners). An argument could have been made that Evan “Future 10x All-Pro” McPherson’s kicking heroics in Cincinnati earned the bronze Gator, but the horrid “Money Mac” nickname the media tried to hang on him kiboshed that effort. 

KENTUCKY (20)
2012: Randall Cobb—WR Green Bay
2013: Danny Trevathan—LB Denver
2014: Randall Cobb—WR Green Bay
2015: Danny Trevathan—LB Denver
2016: Randall Cobb—WR Green Bay
2017: Larry Worford—G New Orleans
2018: Larry Worford—G New Orleans
2019: Za’Darius Smith—LB Green Bay
2020: Za’Darius Smith—LB Green Bay

2021: Josh Allen—LB Jacksonville

Not a strong group of Wildcats in 2021; by dint of both sacking and intercepting his (Buffalo quarterback) namesake in one game, Allen grabbed the big blue snarling slab of steel.

LSU (54)
2012: Patrick Peterson—CB Arizona
2013: Patrick Peterson—CB Arizona
2014: Odell Beckham, Jr.—WR New York Giants
2015: (tie) Patrick Peterson—CB Arizona and Tyrann Mathieu—CB Arizona
2016: Andrew Whitworth—OT Cincinnati
2017: Deion Jones—LB Atlanta
2018: Jamal Adams—S New York Jets
2019: Tre’Davious White—CB Buffalo
2020: Justin Jefferson—WR Minnesota

2021: Joe Burrow—QB Cincinnati

DBU has been replaced by WRU, as Jefferson was matched by his former teammate, Bengals rookie Ja’Marr Chase, while Odell Beckham, Jr. found new life in SoCal (thanks to Odell Beckham, Sr.). But there is little doubt this award goes to the guy who threw the bombs to Chase all season, the Comeback Player of the Year, No. 9 in your program but NO. 1 in your heart (at least this devout Bengals fan’s heart), Joseph Lee Burrow. Never has the Bayou Bengal Award been more appropriately given.

MISSISSIPPI STATE (27)
2012: Vick Ballard—RB Indianapolis
2013: K.J. Wright—LB Seattle
2014: Fletcher Cox—DE Philadelphia
2015: Fletcher Cox—DE Philadelphia
2016: Dak Prescott—QB Dallas
2017: Fletcher Cox—DT Philadelphia
2018: Fletcher Cox—DT Philadelphia
2019: Dak Prescott—QB Dallas
2020: Chris Jones—DT Kansas City

2021: Dak Prescott—QB Dallas

Speaking of comebacks, Dak shrugged off the brutal broken leg he suffered in 2020 to turn in a strong season at the helm of the Cowpokes to claim his third Cowbell. 

MISSOURI (20)
2012: Aldon Smith—LB San Francisco
2013: Sheldon Richardson—DT New York Jets
2014: Sheldon Richardson—DT New York Jets
2015: Jeremy Maclin—WR Kansas City
2016: Shane Ray—LB Denver
2017: Sheldon Richardson—DT Seattle
2018: Sheldon Richardson—DT Minnesota
2019: Mitch Morse—C Buffalo
2020: Mitch Morse—C Buffalo

2021: Mitch Morse—C Buffalo

A three-peat for the Morseman of the Apocalypse, which describes the Bills divisional playoff game in Kansas City. Speaking of the Chiefs, linebacker Nick Bolton provided some much-needed competition for the Mizzou Award, as did Markus Golden and his eleven sacks. But Morse’s consistent strong play in the middle of Buffalo’s potent offense earns the trophy.

OLE MISS (18)
2012: Patrick Willis—LB San Francisco
2013: Patrick Willis—LB San Francisco
2014: Eli Manning—QB New York Giants
2015: Eli Manning—QB New York Giants
2016: Laremy Tunsil—G Miami
2017: Evan Engram—TE New York Giants
2018: Eli Manning—QB New York Giants
2019: A.J. Brown—WR Tennessee
2020: (TIE) A.J. Brown—WR Tennessee and DK Metcalf—WR Seattle

2021: DK Metcalf—WR Seattle

Injuries hampered Brown enough to let Metcalf slide past him to grab his second Rebel trophy in a far less scintillating race than the 2020 photo finish. The two wideouts are now even with two Alumni Awards apiece, or 1.5, depending on how you look at it. 

SOUTH CAROLINA (25)
2012: John Abraham—DE Atlanta
2013: Alshon Jeffrey—WR Chicago
2014: Stephon Gilmore—CB Buffalo
2015: Johnathan Joseph—CB Houston
2016: Jadeveon Clowney—LB Houston
2017: Jadeveon Clowney—LB Houston
2018: Stephon Gilmore—CB New England
2019: Stephon Gilmore—CB New England
2020: Javon Kinlaw—DT San Francisco

2021: Deebo Samuel—WR/RB San Francisco

Samuel piled up 1,770 yards from scrimmage and 14 combined touchdowns, while lapping the field in tweets from highly paid NFL media types containing such penetrating insights as “Deebo is such a freaking stud!” Sorry, folks—he’s a Cock!

TENNESSEE (28)
2012: Peyton Manning—QB Denver
2013: Peyton Manning—QB Denver
2014: Peyton Manning—QB Denver
2015: Eric Berry—S Kansas City
2016: Eric Berry—S Kansas City
2017: Alvin Kamara—RB New Orleans
2018: Alvin Kamara—RB New Orleans
2019: Alvin Kamara—RB New Orleans
2020: Alvin Kamara—RB New Orleans

2021: Cordarrelle Patterson—RB/WR Atlanta

Kamara’s Drive for Five Vol Trophies ran into a ditch (he was dead last—50th—among qualifying running backs in DYAR). Rookie guard Trey Smith had an outstanding season in the interior of Kansas City’s rebuilt line, but he had lots of help. Patterson was a mini-Deebo in Atlanta, topping 1,000 scrimmage yards and scoring a combined 11 touchdowns and seemingly was a one-man attack in many games. That versatility (and the cooler name) allowed Cordarrelle to nip Smith.

TEXAS A&M (27)
2012: Von Miller—LB Denver
2013: Ryan Tannehill—QB Miami
2014: Von Miller—LB Denver
2015: Von Miller—LB Denver
2016: Von Miller—LB Denver
2017: Von Miller—LB Denver
2018: Von Miller—LB Denver
2019: Ryan Tannehill—QB Tennessee
2020: Ryan Tannehill—QB Tennessee

2021: Myles Garrett—DE Cleveland

At last, a winner not named Miller or Tannehill! Last season Tannehill edged out Garrett mainly due to positional advantage and Covid—this year, Major Myles was not to be denied (as he denied the Defensive Player of the Year). Given the level of insanely great recruiting in College Station these days, the competition is likely to stiffen for the Aggie Award, but Garrett will be tough to unseat now that has won the trophy at last. 

VANDERBILT (17)
2012: Jay Cutler—QB Chicago
2013: Zac Stacy—RB St. Louis
2014: Jordan Matthews—WR Philadelphia
2015: Jay Cutler—QB Chicago
2016: Casey Hayward—CB San Diego
2017: Casey Hayward—CB Los Angeles Chargers
2018: Zach Cunningham—LB Houston
2019: Zach Cunningham—LB Houston
2020: Zach Cunningham—LB Houston

2021: Casey Hayward—CB Las Vegas

Quite nice to see Hayward stay healthy and reclaim the Vandy Trophy in his third city (and with his second franchise).