BIRMINGHAM — Mississippi State’s dynamic defensive duo did it again.

Senior defensive end Montez Sweat and junior defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons were named to the 2018 coaches All-Southeastern Conference first team, the league office announced Tuesday. It’s the second year in a row both players were picked for the first team.

Bulldog senior safety Johnathan Abram and senior offensive lineman Deion Calhoun were on the second team. MSU’s four overall All-SEC selections were the program’s most since 2014.

A semifinalist for the 2018 Bednarik Award and an All-American candidate, Sweat closed the regular season as one of the most dominant edge rushers in the country.

Sweat led the SEC and finished sixth in the FBS with 11 sacks. Sweat boasted 40 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, which was the second most in the SEC among all edge defenders.

Sweat added 51 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble over the regular season en route to two SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week selections and two national defensive player of the week awards.
Simmons, meanwhile, closed the regular season with 59 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and four pass breakups.

An All-American candidate and semifinalist for the Bednarik Award, and the winner of the Conerly Trophy as the best college player in Mississippi, Simmons’ 14.5 tackles for loss ranked fourth in the SEC.

The Macon native was one of just four SEC defensive interior linemen with at least 15 hurries and four quarterback hits this season. He is one of three players in the league with at least 12 tackles for loss over the last two seasons.

SEC champion Alabama hada league-high 12 players on the all-conference team. Georgia had seven players selected, while Missouri and South Carolina each had five.

LSU had four first-team selections in linebacker Devin White, defensive backs Grant Delpit and Greedy Williams, and kicker Cole Tracy.

Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.

Alabama’s five first-team selections included wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, defensive back Deionte Thompson, offensive lineman Jonah Williams and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams.
Ole Miss wide receiver A.J. Brown and offensive tackle Greg Little also made the first team. The Rebels had no second-team picks.