Mathieu selected SEC’s top defender

By Paul Newberry

Associated Press

LSU and Alabama are the nation’s highest-ranked teams. It’s only appropriate they would have the two best players in the SEC.

Alabama running back Trent Richardson was a unanimous choice for offensive player of the year, while LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu took the honor as top defensive player on The Associated Press All-SEC team released Monday.

LSU’s Les Miles was tabbed as coach of the year after he guided the top-ranked Tigers (13-0) to the conference championship and a spot in the national title game against No. 2 Alabama, their division rival.

As expected, LSU and Alabama (11-1) led the selections, with both powerhouses placing five players on the first team.

Mathieu gained national attention with his big plays as both a defender and a punt returner, not to mention his nickname. Dubbed the “Honey Badger” after a humorous YouTube video that chronicled the world’s fiercest animal, the sophomore showed no fear despite his diminutive size — just 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds.

“He’s a hard worker. He’s an achiever. Just watching him on the sideline is great,” LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson said. “He’s a big-time ballplayer.”

Despite being suspended for one game, Mathieu led the Tigers in tackles, caused six fumbles and recovered five loose balls, returning two of them for touchdowns. He also intercepted two passes and broke up seven other throws. On special teams, he averaged more than 16 yards per return and scored two more TDs, capped by an MVP performance in Saturday’s SEC Championship game.

“He’s a guy who gives everything to his team,” Miles said. “He’s a playmaker, and if he’s given an opportunity, he will do what he can. That’s pretty special, to make a difference in a game.”

Richardson proved to be a worthy replacement to Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram in the Alabama backfield. The junior led the SEC with 1,583 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns, receiving every vote for the top offensive award.

He’s also a leading contender for the Heisman Trophy after putting up the second-highest rushing total in school history, surpassed only by Ingram’s 1,658 yards in 13 games during his 2009 Heisman season. He matched Ingram’s record with nine 100-yard games on the ground.

Georgia was coming off its first losing season since 1996 when Isaiah Crowell signed with the Bulldogs, revealing his choice by breaking out an actual canine at the news conference. His talent and skills are undeniable; he ranked fifth in the SEC with 847 yards rushing. But he had problems off the field, missing the first quarter of one game for a violation of team rules and another whole game entirely after failing a drug test.

Late in the season, he went down with an ankle injury, forcing him to sit out the regular-season finale against Georgia Tech and leaving him largely ineffective in the SEC Championship game.

Richardson and Mathieu were among four unanimous selections to the first team, along with Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones and Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones.