SEC announces Players of the Year, Coach of the Year for 2024 football season

The SEC has announced its individual football awards, including Players of the Year and Coach of the Year, for the 2024 season. The conference previously announced the coaches’ All-SEC team and is set to announce the SEC All-Freshman Team Thursday.

Here’s a look at the award winners:

2024 SEC Football Individual Awards

Offensive Player of the Year
Dylan Sampson, Tennessee

Sampson rewrote the Tennessee record books, rushing for 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2024. He cracked triple digits rushing 10 times. Sampson is the SEC leader in rushing yards per game (123.8) heading into postseason play.

Defensive Player of the Year 
Kyle Kennard, South Carolina

Kennard led all SEC defenders with 15.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. He is also up for the Bronko Naguski Trophy, a national honor for top defensive player in college football.

Special Teams Player of the Year
Alex Raynor, Kentucky

Raynor made his first 15 field goals of the season, finishing 15-of-16. He broke a UK school record making 93.8% of his field goals and is up for the Lou Groza Award to honor the nation’s top place kicker .

Freshman of the Year
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

Sellers was recognized in the SEC’s weekly honors 4 times this season. The Gamecock quarterback threw for 2,274 yards and 17 touchdowns, adding 655 yards and 7 scores on the ground.

Newcomer of the Year
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

Pavia made a splash in his first SEC season as a transfer addition for the Commodores. The quarterback threw for 2,133 yards and 17 touchdowns, adding 716 yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground.

Jacobs Blocking Trophy
Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas 
Will Campbell, LSU

Banks was a 12-game starter for a Longhorn squad that secured a College Football Playoff bid. He is a finalist for prominent national honors the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy. The Texas o-line is a finalist for the Joe Moore Award.

Campbell started all 12 games for LSU and is a finalist for the Lombardi Award. The Tigers lead the SEC with just 15 sacks allowed through 12 games.

Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Brady Cook, Missouri

Cook graduated magna cum laude from Mizzou in 2022. He is pursuing a Master’s of Business Administration.

Coach of the Year
Clark Lea, Vanderbilt

Lea guided Vanderbilt to a 6-win season, securing the Commodores’ first bowl berth since 2018. The Dores knocked off a No. 1-ranked Alabama team 40-35 on Oct. 5.

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.