SEC Media days wrapped up on Thursday and with that comes the release of the preseason poll and All-SEC Team honors by voters who attended SEC Media days in Atlanta. LSU was voted to finish fifth in the SEC West as they head into the 2022 season.
The Tigers were picked to finish behind Alabama, Texas A&M, Arkansas and Ole Miss. They found themselves in the same situation back in 2018, but they exceeded those expectations by finishing with a 10-3. LSU will look to turn their program around after a two-year record stretch of 11-12.
SEC preseason media poll
East
1. Georgia (172 1st place votes)
2. Kentucky (4)
3. Tennessee (1)
4. Florida
5. South Carolina (3)
6. Missouri
7. Vanderbilt (1)West
1. Alabama (177)
2. Texas A&M (3)
3. Arkansas (1)
4. Ole Miss
5. LSU
6. Mississippi State
7. Auburn— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 22, 2022
Tigers That Made the Preseason All-SEC Team Selections
LSU has four players on the preseason All-SEC teams. Kayshon Boutte and BJ Ojulari recieves first-Team honors. Ali Gaye receives first-team honors and Maason Smith receives third-team honors. . LSU leads the conference with the most defensive lineman on the preseason All-SEC teams.
Kayshon Boutte continues to pick up the preseason accolades as earlier in the week he was featured in the Maxwell and Biletnikoff Award watch list. The playmaker for the Tigers’ offense missed time in 2021 due to an ankle injury. Boutte led the Tigers in receiving yards (509) and touchdowns (9).
Ojulari, Gaye and Smith will be a focal point for the front seven for a Tigers’ defense looking to improve in 2022. Ojulari led all Tigers defensive lineman with 55 tackles and in sacks with 7.0. His best game of the 2021 season was against Florida where he recorded a career-best eight tackles.
Ali Gaye’s 2021 season was cut short due to injuries. He recorded 19 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in his four games during his senior year. He would suffer an injury during the game against Kentucky and would miss the remainder of the season. Gaye will look to stay healthy and be a key contributor for the Tiger defense.
Gaye’s absence gave Smith more opportunity to make a name for himself. Maason Smith had added opportunities during his freshman career in light of Gaye’s injury. Smith played in nine games during his freshman season in 2021. He showed what he was capable of in his home debut against McNeese where he recorded six tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks.