Dec. 9, 2010

2010 Freshman All-SEC Team

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina tailback Marcus Lattimore and wide receiver Ace Sanders both earned spots on the 2010 Freshman All-SEC Team, the Southeastern Conference office announced Thursday.

Lattimore earned a spot on the team after being named consensus SEC Freshman of the Year and a unanimous first team All-SEC selection earlier in the week. It is yet another award to add to Lattimore’s ever-growing list after he was named National Freshman of the Year by CBSSports.com. Heading into the Chick-fil-A Bowl, Lattimore has carried 248 times for 1,198 yards and is third highest in single-season rushing yards at Carolina. Lattimore’s 99.8 yards rushing per game is the highest by a running back in the SEC and second highest in the league among all offensive players. He is also second in the league in scoring with his 19 touchdowns, which is a school record for a single season.

Sanders played in all 13 games for South Carolina this season and was the team’s fourth-leading receiver with 24 receptions for 300 yards and two touchdowns. Sanders also carried the ball five times for 63 yards – including a 53-yard burst against Southern Miss the first time he touched the football as a Gamecock – and emerged as Carolina’s primary punt returner late in the season. Sanders had a career-high 70 yards on two catches vs. Kentucky, caught two touchdown passes in the win over Troy – including a season-long 51-yard reception – and totaled 100 yards of offense in his career debut against Southern Miss.

Eleven of the 12 SEC football squads were represented on the 11th annual SEC Coaches’ All-Freshman Team. Florida led the way with five selections, while Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee had four each. Georgia, LSU and Vanderbilt each had three representatives on the team.