Four Bulldogs Earn Pre-Season All-SEC Honors
Mississippi State had four football players selected to the 2007 Coaches’ Pre-Season All-SEC team, the league office announced Thursday.
Junior defensive back Derek Pegues (Batesville, Miss.) was selected to the coaches’ pre-season all-SEC first team in the secondary, while senior defensive end Titus Brown (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) earned second-team honors. Senior center Royce Blackledge (Sandersville, Miss.) and junior linebacker Jamar Chaney (Fort Pierce, Fla.) were accorded third-team recognition.
Pegues, a second-team all-SEC defensive back and kick returner last year, finished eighth in the conference in interceptions in 2006 with four picks, and second and fifth, respectively, in the league in punt and kickoff returns. His punt return yardage total was the fifth-highest single-season mark in school history.
Brown, a second-team, all-SEC performer a year ago by both the league’s coaches and the Associated Press, finished third and fifth, respectively, in the league in 2006 in tackles for loss and quarterback sacks.
Blackledge has played in 24 career games for the Bulldogs, starting 18 straight games from midway through his sophomore season on. He started all 12 games for State last year at center.
Chaney started 11 times last year at outside linebacker and finished third on the club with 66 total tackles. He had seven and one-half tackles for loss, two and a half sacks a year ago. He will play middle linebacker in 2007.
