Seven LSU football players were named Tuesday to the 2021 Preseason Coaches All-SEC teams.
Junior cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and junior placekicker Cade York earned first-team recognition; sophomore wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, senior offensive guard Ed Ingram, senior defensive end Ali Gaye and sophomore cornerback Eli Ricks were voted to the second team; and graduate offensive tackle Austin Deculus was a third-team selection.
Stingley, a Baton Rouge native who prepped at the Dunham School, goes into the 2021 season looking to join Tommy Casanova (1969-71) as the only three-time first team All-Americans in LSU history.
Stingley is on the Watch Lists for a number national awards, including the Bednarik Award (Defensive Player of the Year), the Jim Thorpe Award (Best Defensive Back), the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Best Defensive Player) and the Paul Hornung Award (Best All-Purpose Player).
Stingley, who started all 15 games as a true freshman during LSU’s 2019 national championship season, earned consensus All-America honors that year followed by first team All-America recognition from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) in 2020. Stingley was also voted as the SEC Newcomer of the Year in 2019 after leading the league in interceptions with six, including two in the SEC Championship Game win over Georgia.
In two years with the Tigers, Stingley has recorded 65 tackles, six interceptions and 26 pass breakups. He has also recovered two fumbles and forced another.
York, a junior from McKinney, Texas, is on the 2021 Watch List for the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the nation’s most outstanding placekicker.
He kicked his way into the LSU record books last year when he delivered a 57-yard game-winning field goal with 23 seconds left in the 37-34 victory over sixth-ranked Florida in Gainesville.
York earned second team All-America honors last year from the Associated Press and the Football Writers Association of America after converting 18-of-21 field goals during the COVID-shortened season. In two years at LSU, York ranks No. 5 in LSU history in career field goals (39) and he’s the school-record holder for most 50-yard field goals in a career (10) and a season (six in 2020).
Boutte, a native of New Iberia, La., capped his rookie season in 2020 with three straight 100-yard receiving games – including an SEC single-game record 308 yards versus Ole Miss – and he went on to earn Freshman All-America and Freshman All-SEC honors.
Over LSU’s final three games in 2020, Boutte combined to catch 27 passes for 527 yards and four TDs, including three in the Tigers’ win over Ole Miss. He also scored on a 33-yard reception in LSU’s win at No. 6 Florida.
In 10 games in 2020, Boutte caught 45 passes for 735 yards and five touchdowns. He ranked among the league leaders in both receptions and receiving yards. He is a candidate this season for the Maxwell Award, given annually to the nation’s best college football player.
Ingram, a product of DeSoto, Texas, is a three-year starter on the offensive line for the Tigers, and he is regarded as one of the top linemen in college football.
Ingram, who earned an LSU bachelor’s degree in sport administration in May, has played in 34 games during his career, starting 24 times and distinguishing himself with tremendous technique, power and knowledge of the game.
Gaye, a native of Lynnwood, Wash., bolstered the LSU defense last season after transferring from Garden City (Kan.) Community College. He collected 32 total tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Gaye was also credited in 2020 with seven passes defended, an interception and a forced fumble. He recorded a season-high six tackles and the interception in the Tigers’ season finale win over Ole Miss.
Ricks, a Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., native, made an immediate impact during his rookie season a year ago as he led the Tigers and ranked second in the SEC in interceptions with four. Ricks returned two of his interceptions for touchdowns – the first in a win over South Carolina and the other coming in the upset of sixth-ranked Florida.
Ricks earned Freshman All-America and Freshman All-SEC honors, and he was named third team All-America by the Associated Press. He was named in July as a candidate for the 2021 Bednarik Award, presented each year to the nation’s best defensive player.
Deculus, who hails from Mamou, La., is a 2020 LSU graduate in sport administration and a member of the 2020 SEC Academic Honor Roll who is pursuing a master’s degree in liberal arts.
He enters his fourth season as a starting offensive tackle for the Tigers, and he has appeared 49 career games (34 starts). A powerful run blocker who also excels in pass protection, Deculus is seeking to become in 2021 the first player in LSU football history to appear in 60 career games.
2021 PRESEASON COACHES ALL-SEC FOOTBALL TEAMS
First Team Preseason All-SEC
OFFENSE
QB – Matt Corral, Ole Miss
RB – Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M
RB – Tank Bigsby, Auburn
WR – John Metchie III, Alabama
WR – Treylon Burks, Arkansas
TE – Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M
OL – Evan Neal, Alabama
OL – Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
OL – Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
OL – Cade Mays, Tennessee
C – Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas
AP – Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss
DEFENSE
DL – Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina
DL – Jordan Davis, Georgia
DL – Zachary Carter, Florida
DL – Phidarian Mathis, Alabama
LB – Christian Harris, Alabama
LB – Grant Morgan, Arkansas
LB – Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
DB – Derek Stingley Jr., LSU
DB – Kaiir Elam, Florida
DB – Malachi Moore, Alabama
DB – Josh Jobe, Alabama
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Cade York, LSU
P – Jake Camarda, Georgia
RS – Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss
Second Team Preseason All-SEC
OFFENSE
QB – JT Daniels, Georgia
RB – Kevin Harris, South Carolina
RB – Zamir White, Georgia
WR – Kayshon Boutte, LSU
WR – George Pickens, Georgia
TE – Jahleel Billingsley, Alabama
OL – Ed Ingram, LSU
OL – Jamaree Salyer, Georgia
OL – Emil Ekiyor Jr., Alabama
OL – Charles Cross, Mississippi State
C – Nick Brahms, Auburn
AP – Tank Bigsby, Auburn
DEFENSE
DL – DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M
DL – Ali Gaye, LSU
DL – Trajan Jeffcoat, Missouri
DL – Josh Paschal, Kentucky
LB – Henry To’o To’o, Alabama
LB – Zakoby McClain, Auburn
LB – Ventrell Miller, Florida
DB – Eli Ricks, LSU
DB – Jordan Battle, Alabama
DB – Jalen Catalon, Arkansas
DB – Smoke Monday, Auburn
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Anders Carlson, Auburn
P – Paxton Brooks, Tennessee*
P – Mac Brown, Ole Miss*
RS – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
Third Team Preseason All-SEC
OFFENSE
QB – Bo Nix, Auburn*
QB – Connor Bazelak, Missouri*
RB – Chris Rodriguez, Jr., Kentucky
RB – Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss*
RB – Brian Robinson, Jr., Alabama*
WR – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
WR – Jacob Copeland, Florida*
WR – Jermaine Burton, Georgia*
TE – Nick Muse, South Carolina
OL – Austin Deculus, LSU
OL – Myron Cunningham, Arkansas
OL – Luke Fortner, Kentucky
OL – Nick Broeker, Ole Miss*
OL – Brodarious Hamm, Auburn*
OL – Ty Clary, Arkansas*
C – Michael Maietti, Missouri
AP – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
DEFENSE
DL – LaBryan Ray, Alabama
DL – Travon Walker, Georgia
DL – Jayden Peevy, Texas A&M
DL – Zacch Pickens, South Carolina
LB – Nakobe Dean, Georgia
LB – Owen Pappoe, Auburn
LB – Christopher Allen, Alabama
DB – Roger McCreary, Auburn
DB – Alontae Taylor, Tennessee
DB – Yusuf Corker, Kentucky
DB – Leon O’Neal Jr., Texas A&M*
DB – Lewis Cine, Georgia*
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Will Reichard, Alabama
P – Grant McKinniss, Missouri
RS – Kearis Jackson, Georgia
* ties not resolved
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