2009 SEC Power Poll

All-SEC Team: Defensive Backs

Check out the Complete All-SEC Team at Team Speed Kills!

Well, due to a complete lack of judgment on the part of the SEC Power Poll brain-trust, Gate 21 has been selected to announce the Power Poll All-SEC Team selections at defensive back.   The following positions for the 2009 All-SEC team have already been announced:

• Alligator Army:  Quarterback
• Roll Bama Roll: Running Backs
• Hey Jenny Slater: Wide Receivers
• Team Speed Kills: Tight End

The rest of the positions are being announced today and tomorrow across the blogosphere.  In case you miss one, be sure to check in for the most up-to-date announcements over at Team Speed Kills.

The envelope, please…

The 2009 SEC Power Poll All-SEC Selections at Defensive Back are (in order of votes received): Eric Berry (Tennessee), Joe Haden (Florida), Javier Arenas (Alabama) and Mark Barron (Alabama). The reasons behind these should be obvious, but in case they aren’t here’s why these fine athletes are the cream of the crop:

Eric Berry • 14

Tennessee Volunteers

5’11” • 203 • Junior • Defensive Back

What can you really say about Eric Berry that hasn’t already been said?

This deep-ball predator is the sound of pain to backs and receivers in the open field, and a quarterback’s worst nightmare. This defensive terror has amassed nearly every accolade possible in his three seasons at Tennessee. He has broken almost every record for interceptions, some of which had stood for a very long time. Berry holds records for most interceptions at UT in a single season (which previously stood for 37 years), most career interceptions at UT (39 years), SEC record for most interceptions in a season (52 years) and SEC most career interceptions (59 years). He was named freshman defensive player of the year in 2007, as well as Freshman All-American.  As a sophomore, he once again garnered

unanimous All-American honors, and was a unanimous first-team All-SEC selection in both “official” and SEC Power Poll All-SEC balloting.  This season, he was once again unanimously selected as an All-American, won the coveted Jim Thorpe Award, was a unanimous All-SEC (official) selection and now, once again, has been unanimously selected as a member of the 2009 SEC Power Poll All-SEC Team.

This season, Berry was seen all over the field as he rotated between Safety, Linebacker, and even Kickoff Return Specialist.  Here are his career statistics through the end of the 2009 regular season:

As the only unanimous selection in this category (garnering 12 votes) Berry is truly in a class of his own.

Joe Haden • 5

Florida Gators

5’11” • 190 • Junior • Corner Back

Joe Haden has dominated the backfield for Florida for three seasons.  A 2007 Freshman All-American, he led the Gators in tackles by a corner back in both his freshman and sophomore seasons.  In 2009 he was again a force to be reckoned with recording 4 interceptions, 57 tackles, and a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks.  He led the Gators in Interceptions and finished the season near the top of the SEC in both Passes defended and Interceptions.

Here are his career statistics through the end of the 2009 regular season:

Haden garnered 9 votes (75%) for the 2009 SEC Power Poll All-SEC Team.

Javier Arenas • 28

Alabama Crimson Tide

5’9” • 189 • Junior • Defensive Back

Javier Arenas is truly a man of many parts, having contribute to the Crimson Tide attack on defense, special teams, and offense.  As a freshman, Arenas was only used on special teams to return kicks.  Then, in 2007 the sophomore broke out as a defensive back and began terrorizing quarterbacks across the SEC.  As a junior he was selected a member of the second-team All-SEC team, and produced 3 interceptions.  This year, Arenas continued notching 65 tackles, 5 sacks, and 3 interceptions.

Here are his career defensive statistics through the end of the 2009 regular season:

Arenas garnered 8 votes (66%) for the 2009 SEC Power Poll All-SEC Team.

Mark Barron • 14

Alabama Crimson Tide

6’2” • 215 • Sophomore • Defensive Back

Despite only being a sophomore, Mark Barron had an impressive season.  Leading the SEC with 7 interceptions, he also recorded 68 tackles, and 125 return yards.  This included a pick-six return for 77 yards and a touchdown against South Carolina.  With two years of eligibility remaining, it is probably fair to say that the other members of the SEC will be watching this predator in the secondary very closely in 2010.

Here are his career statistics through the end of the 2009 regular season:

Arenas garnered 6 votes (66%) for the 2009 SEC Power Poll All-SEC Team.

Other Receiving Votes

In addition to these four All-SEC Selections, the following players also received votes:

• Patrick Peterson • LSU Tigers (4 votes)
• Trevard Lindley • Kentucky Wildcats (3 votes)
• Major Wright • Florida Gators (1 vote)
• Walt McFadden • Auburn Tigers (1 vote)
• Ahmad Black • Florida Gators(1 vote)
• Sam Maxwell • Kentucky Wildcats (1 vote)
• Chad Jones • LSU Tigers (1 vote)
• Marquis Johnson • Alabama Crimson Tide (1 vote)

The Rest of All-SEC Team

You can check out the rest of the Power Poll All-SEC Team by visiting Team Speed Kills, where the complete All-SEC Team rundown will be updated as each position is rolled-out.

– So it goes …

Image(s) Courtesy of:   UT Sports.com •   Gator Zone.com •   Roll Tide.com ||  Statement on Fair Use

About the Author:  "Lawvol" -- I'm just a guy living in North Carolina who has an unnatural fascination with the color orange. Just because I'm a Tennessee alum and die-hard Volunteer fan doesn't mean that I can't poke a little fun at the Big Orange and anybody else for that matter. Feel free to complain all you want. >> Read more from this author

Allegedy Related Posts (Computer Generated):

• SEC Power Poll: 2009 All-SEC Football Selections Ballot (3)
• 2009 SEC Football Power Poll: Week 6 (2)
• 2009 SEC Football Power Poll: Week 4 (0)

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