BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Florida Gators had 12 players - including three first-teamers - selected to the coaches' preseason All-Southeastern Conference team.
Defending league champion Auburn led the way with six first-team picks. The Tigers, who had 11 players make the list, also had the only unanimous choice in offensive tackle Marcus McNeill.
For Florida, offensive linemen Randy Hand and Mike Degory and wide receiver Andre Caldwell were first-team selections.
Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler was the first-team pick at quarterback, selected over Chris Leak of Florida and Brodie Croyle of Alabama.
Leak, wide receiver Dallas Baker, punter Eric Wilbur, linebacker Earl Everett and defensive backs Jarvis Herring and Demetrice Webb were the Gators' second-team picks. Offensive lineman Tavares Washington, wide receiver Chad Jackson and linebacker Brandon Siler were third-team selections.
Surgery successful
Florida State cornerback Antonio Cromartie, a preseason Playboy All-American, had successful surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament, the lateral collateral ligament and the hamstring tendon in his left knee, the school said.
"We expect full recovery for Antonio just as we do for all of our student-athletes," FSU director of sports medicine Randy Oravetz said. "He will begin rehab in 2-to-3 weeks once everything calms down."
Cromartie, a junior who hadn't used a redshirt season, is expected to need nine months to rehabilitate the knee he injured during a voluntary workout July 12.
USF: Former Bucs defensive end Steve White joined the Bulls coaching staff as a defensive graduate assistant, coach Jim Leavitt said. White, 31, played for the Bucs from 1996-2001 and the New York Jets in 2002.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC: The school moved its game at Louisiana-Lafayette to a Thursday night kickoff - 8 p.m. on Oct. 6 - to give the Owls a third televised game.
Times staff writers Brian Landman and Greg Auman contributed to this report.
