Georgia tops midseason All-SEC team with five picks; Tennessee lands three

With roughly half of the 2026 season played, Saturday Down South has put together its midseason All-SEC team, with its staff voting on selections based on statistical impact and influence on winning games. Georgia led the way with five selections, while Tennessee and Missouri each placed three players on the team.

Tennessee's representatives came on both sides of the ball, starting with running back DeSean Bishop. Bishop is the SEC's leading rusher through seven weeks and is the only running back in the country averaging more than 6 yards per carry on at least 130 attempts this season. He has also scored 10 rushing touchdowns, second in the conference behind Jadan Baugh, and Missouri's Jamal Roberts was among the other backs who drew support.

On defense, tackle Xavier Gilliam was a unanimous choice. Gilliam leads all SEC interior defensive linemen with 15 quarterback hurries and is tied for the league lead with 6 sacks. He was joined in the middle by Missouri's Donta Simpson, while the edge spots went to Texas standout Colin Simmons, whose 10.5 sacks lead the nation, and LSU's Princewill Umanmielen, who has 8 sacks.

Safety Dejuan Lane gave Tennessee its third selection. Lane has 3 interceptions this year, one off the SEC lead held by Kentucky's Jordan Castell, and Pro Football Focus grades him with the third-best pass coverage mark among qualified SEC safeties. For Tennessee, having a leading rusher, a disruptive interior lineman and a ball-hawking safety all recognized at midseason underlines how much of the Volunteers' success has been built on individual production at key spots.