SEC coaches don't show Vanderbilt much love on preseason all-conference team

With 14 teams now officially members of the Southeastern Conference, it is more difficult than ever for players to earn spots on the coaches’ preseason all-conference football teams, which were released by the conference office Thursday.

No school had a more difficult time than Vanderbilt.

Running back Zac Stacy, the conference’s leading rusher in 2011, was named to the second-team offense and defensive lineman Rob Lohr earned a spot on the third-team defense.

Two selections matched the fewest for any school.

The Commodores were one of three programs (Ole Miss and Missouri were the others) without at least one player on the first team. Tennessee had one first-team honoree, wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers.

With three teams each named on offense, defense and special teams, a total of 87 players made the coaches’ preseason team. Alabama and LSU, with 11 selections each, took up slightly more than 25 percent of those spots.

Conference newcomers Texas A&M and Missouri had seven and four players, respectively, selected.

This is the ninth year SEC coaches have voted on a preseason all-conference team.

To view the entire team, click here [1].

• Two named to watch-lists: Lohr and offensive lineman Wesley Johnson were named to preseason watch-lists for national awards.

In addition to his All-SEC honor, Lohr was named s one of 84 candidates for the Nagurski Trophy, awarded to the nation’s top defensive player. The senior form Phoenixville, Pa., was second on the team in 2011 with five sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss – both career-highs.

Johnson, a Montgomery Bell Academy product, is one of 71 candidates for the Outland Trophy, given to the country’s top interior lineman. The redshirt junior played all three positions – guard, tackle and center – in 2011.