BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Auburn infielders Ryan Bliss and Rankin Woley have been voted Preseason First Team All-SEC by Southeastern Conference head coaches, the league office announced Thursday.
Bliss and Woley have already earned preseason attention as Bliss has been named Preseason Third Team All-America by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball and D1 Baseball, while Woley has also been named Preseason Third Team All-America by Collegiate Baseball.
The duo has accounted for 99 hits apiece since the start of the 2019 season, marking the sixth most in the SEC during that time and the second most among active players.
A native of LaGrange, Georgia, Bliss ranked second in the SEC and sixth in the country in hits (29) in 2020. He also appeared in the top 10 in the league in runs (21), doubles (seven), triples (two) and total bases (46) and ranked in the top 20 in the NCAA in runs and total bases.
Making the move from second base to shortstop prior to the 2020 season, Bliss started in all 18 games and didn't commit an error in 58 chances en route to earning Third Team All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball at the position. He enters the 2021 season regarded by Baseball America as the No. 76 overall prospect for the 2021 MLB Draft.
Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Woley got it done both on and off the field in 2020 as he was named Third Team All-America by Collegiate Baseball, CoSIDA Academic All-America and the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He became the second Auburn player to be named both All-America and Academic All-America in the same season (Casey Dunn, 1999).
Woley, who has been named Preseason All-SEC for the second straight season, tied for the team lead and ranked tied for eighth in the SEC with a .412 average in 2020. He also ranked in the top 10 in the league in hits (28), doubles (eight), RBI (22) and total bases (42) and was the lone player in the country to rank in the top 20 in hits, doubles and RBI.
2021 SEC Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll
Eastern Division
1. Florida (13) - 91
2. Vanderbilt (1) – 79
3. Tennessee – 58
4. South Carolina – 55
5. Georgia – 51
6. Missouri – 28
7. Kentucky – 23
Western Division
1. Ole Miss (7) – 78
2. Mississippi State (3) – 73
3. Arkansas (2) – 72
4. LSU (2) – 63
5. Texas A&M – 36
6. Auburn – 32
7. Alabama – 31
SEC Champion: Florida (12), Mississippi State (1), Vanderbilt (1)
2021 SEC Baseball Coaches Preseason All-SEC Teams
First Team
C: Casey Optiz, Arkansas
1B: T.J. Collett, Kentucky
2B: Robert Moore, Arkansas
3B: Rankin Woley, Auburn
SS: Ryan Bliss, Auburn
OF: Jud Fabian, Florida
OF: Christian Franklin, Arkansas
OF: Tanner Allen, Mississippi State
DH/UTL: Matt Goodheart, Arkansas
SP: Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt
SP: Connor Prielipp, Alabama
RP: Devin Fontenot, LSU
Second Team
C: Hayden Hunhurst, Ole Miss
1B: Josh Hatcher, Mississippi State
2B: Max Ferguson, Tennessee
3B: Tim Elko, Ole Miss
SS: Josh Rivera, Florida
OF: Rowdey Jordan, Mississippi State
OF: Owen Diodati, Alabama
OF: Cade Beloso, LSU
DH/UTL: Wes Clarke, South Carolina
SP: Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt
SP: Tommy Mace, Florida
RP: Ben Specht, Florida
The Tigers are scheduled to start the 2021 season against Presbyterian on Feb. 19 at 4 p.m. CT at Plainsman Park. Information related to attendance and safety protocols at Plainsman Park this season can be found at auburntigers.com/baseballgameday.