AUBURN, Ala. – Kickoff on The Plains is just six weeks away. On Friday, the Southeastern Conference unveiled the 2023 Preseason Media Days All-SEC Team, and Auburn was represented with five players among the three squads.
Punter Oscar Chapman and place kicker Alex McPherson both made Third Team All-SEC. Chapman, a Ray Guy Award semifinalist last year, ranked fourth in the SEC with a 43.9-yard average on 57 punts. He had 12 punts of 50-plus yards. McPherson will be entering his first full season as the starter. He made two field goals in each of his three starts last year.
On offense, running back Jarquez Hunter was named Third Team All-SEC. Hunter rushed for 675 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022, and his 6.49 yards per carry was sixth-highest in the conference. He went over 100 yards in each of Auburn's final three games, including a season-best 134 yards on 11 carries against Alabama.
Defensively, cornerbacks D.J. James and Nehemiah Pritchett each earned Third Team All-SEC honors. The duo combined for 75 tackles, and both had eight pass break-ups last year. With a PFF grade of 82.2 in 2022, James has the third-highest grade among returning cornerbacks in the SEC.
The media also predicted Auburn to finish sixth in the SEC West in 2023.
Preseason All-SEC 🏆 pic.twitter.com/uILqFK1sy6
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) July 21, 2023