The Southeastern Conference released its coaches’ 2014 All-Southeastern Conference football team today, and six different Tigers in all received mention, including two who landed on the first team, with four on the second team.
Leading the way was Shane Ray, who was named 1st-Team All-SEC, matching the same honors he won yesterday from the Associated Press. Ray emerged from the shadow of 2013 standouts Michael Sam and Kony Ealy, who were both first-team All-SEC picks a year ago, and forged his own path, breaking records along the way. The first-year starter set a school record with 14.0 quarterback sacks, and he also totaled 21.0 tackles for loss, while ranking fifth on the team with his 61 tackles on the year. Ray leads the SEC and ranks 3rd nationally in sacks, while he ranks 2nd in the league, and 6th nationally in tackles for loss.
Joining Ray on the coaches’ first team is senior all-purpose man Marcus Murphy (DeSoto, Texas), who was honored twice as a first-teamer – on offense as an all-purpose back, and on special teams as a return specialist. Murphy emerged as one of the nation’s most versatile players and dangerous return men, as he ranks second in the SEC in all-purpose average (131.9 yds.). He is the only player in the nation to score TDs in 2014 via all four all-purpose categories: Rushing (4), Kickoff Returns (2), Punt Returns (1) and Receiving (1), and improved from 2nd-Team All-SEC acclaim in 2013.
Four Tiger standouts – representing all four team captains in 2014 – were named second-team All-SEC by league coaches, including senior DE Markus Golden (St. Louis, Mo.), senior OL Mitch Morse (Austin, Texas), senior WR Bud Sasser (Denton, Texas) and senior SS Braylon Webb (Gilmer, Texas).
Golden overcame a hamstring injury which limited his production during the middle portion of the year, to close strong with 8.5 sacks, 16.0 tackles for loss and 68 total tackles (fourth on the team), while adding a team-high nine pass break ups.
Morse was a steady and productive presence on a young offensive line, manning the critical position of left tackle. Morse started all 13 games guarding the blind side for Tiger signal callers, as the offense’s improvement over the last half of the year was a key to MU’s Eastern Division championship run.
Sasser developed into Mizzou’s top receiving threat a year after Mizzou lost 78% of its receiving production from 2013. He established career bests in every category, catching 70 passes for 935 yards and 10 touchdowns, ranking second, fourth and third, respectively, in the SEC in those categories.
Webb was recognized for his steady play that saw him grab four interceptions, break up three passes and recover a fumble, while ranking third on the team with 69 total tackles. With 42 career starts for Mizzou, Webb has the most starts of any safety in the SEC.
Mizzou is off from practice until this Saturday, when they begin on-field preparations for the 2015 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl against Minnesota, set for Jan. 1st in Orlando, Fla.
— MU Sports Information —