Three Gators named to All-SEC teams as voted on by league coaches
Three Gators received All-SEC accolades on Monday afternoon, led by Florida catcher BT Riopelle. The transfer from Coastal Carolina was named to the All-SEC First Team. Sophomore Wyatt Langford was named a second-team outfielder, while Brandon Neely was named to the All-Frehman team.
Neely was one of 12 players to be tabbed to the Freshman All-SEC Team. Monday’s announcement marks the first-ever All-SEC nods for all three Gators.
For Riopelle, the Gators backstop collects All-SEC recognition in his first season in the conference after transferring to Florida from Coastal Carolina. Riopelle led all SEC catchers with 14 home runs, 50 RBI, and a .581 slugging percentage. The Marietta, Ga. native also owns a .306 batting average and .373 on-base percentage to go with 108 total bases, one triple, seven doubles, 33 runs, and five stolen bases while turning in a .990 fielding percentage.
Langford snubbed
Florida’s left fielder has put together an all-time great campaign for the Gators. He slashed .360/.452/.720 and becoming the sixth Gator to hit 20 or more home runs in a season. The Trenton native ranks tied for first in the SEC in home runs, tied for second with 61 runs scored, third with 152 total bases, third in slugging, tied for third with 76 hits, tied for seventh with 55 RBI, ninth in batting average, and 10th in on-base percentage. In his first season playing in the outfield, Langford has produced a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage across 94 defensive chances.
Langford had one of the hottest finishes to the season of any player in the country. Langford should have been considered for SEC Player of the Year, not just a second-team All-SEC nod.
Gators freshman stud
Neely takes home Freshman All-SEC status in the midst of a stellar debut campaign in which he pitched himself into a weekend starter role. In seven starts since joining the rotation, Neely is 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA, .173 batting average against, and 44 strikeouts across 36 2/3 innings of work. All told, the Seville, Fla. native is 3-1 on the season with one save, a 3.38 ERA, .192 BAA and 64 strikeouts over 56 frames. He is coming off seven shutout innings in his most recent start against South Carolina in which he struck out a career-high 10 batters to earn SEC Freshman of the Week honors.
Full ALL SEC Teams
Season Awards
Co-Player of the Year: Dylan Crews, LSU
Co-Player of the Year: Sonny DiChiara, Auburn
Pitcher of the Year: Chase Dollander, Tennessee
Freshman of the Year: Drew Beam, Tennessee
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Ben Anderson, Georgia
Coach of the Year: Tony Vitello, Tennessee
First Team All-SEC
C: BT Riopelle, Florida
1B: Sonny DiChiara, Auburn
2B: RJ Yeager, Mississippi State
3B: Trey Lipscomb, Tennessee
SS: Jacob Gonzalez, Ole Miss
OF: Enrique Bradfield Jr., Vanderbilt
OF: Dylan Crews, LSU
OF: Drew Gilbert, Tennessee
SP: Chase Dollander, Tennessee
SP: Jonathan Cannon, Georgia
RP: Tyler Guilfoil, Kentucky
DH/UT: Dominic Keegan, Vanderbilt
Second Team All-SEC
C: Logan Tanner, Mississippi State
1B: Tim Elko, Ole Miss
2B: Ryan Targac, Texas A&M
3B: Jacob Berry, LSU
SS: Josh Day, Missouri
OF: Wyatt Langford, Florida
OF: Spencer Jones, Vanderbilt
OF: Dylan Rock, Texas A&M
SP: Chase Burns, Tennessee
SP: Drew Beam, Tennessee
RP: Blake Burkhalter, Auburn
DH/UT: Brandt Belk, South Carolina*
DH/UT: Austin Bost, Texas A&M*
All-Freshmen Team
Chase Burns, SP, Tennessee
Drew Beam, SP, Tennessee
Brady Tygart, RP, Arkansas
Hunter Elliott, SP, Ole Miss
Hagen Smith, SP, Arkansas
Carter Holton, SP, Vanderbilt
Hunter Hines, INF/OF, Mississippi State
Blake Burke, 1B/OF, Tennessee
Brandon Neely, P, Florida
Devin Futrell, SP, Vanderbilt
Michael Braswell, INF/P, South Carolina
Dylan Ray, RP, Alabama*
Chris Cortez, RP, Texas A&M*
All-Defensive Team
C: Logan Tanner, Mississippi State
1B: Tre’ Morgan, LSU
2B: Robert Moore, Arkansas
3B: Blake Rambusch, Auburn
SS: Ryan Ritter, Kentucky
OF: Enrique Bradfield, Jr., Vanderbilt
OF: Dylan Crews, LSU
OF: Drew Gilbert, Tennessee
P: Connor Noland, Arkansas
