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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Claxton, Grier, Strong Earn All-SEC Honors
12/9/2002 | Football
Dec. 9, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Seniors Ben Claxton, Matt Grier and Eddie Strong all were named to the 2002 Coaches All-Southeastern Conference football team, the league office announced Monday. The league's coaches voted on the teams.
Strong, a Batesville, Miss., native, and Grier, a Smithville, Miss., native, earned All-SEC first team honors, while Claxton, from Dublin, Ga., received All-SEC second team accolades. The Rebels also placed four players on the Coaches SEC All-Freshman Team, as McKinley Boykin, Mike Espy, Travis Johnson and Tre' Stallings all were honored.
After missing most of the first four games of 2002, Strong finished the regular season as the squad's fifth-leading tackler with 53 total hits, including 34 solo stops. He had 6.5 TFLs and 2.5 QB sacks, and also recorded a team-high 3 fumble recoveries. Grier was second on the squad with 73 tackles, including 51 solo hits. He also led the Rebels with 12 TFLs and 4 QB sacks and tied for the team lead with 5 interceptions. Following his two-interception game against No. 6 Florida, Grier was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week.
Claxton was named to the league's second team for the second straight year, as he also earned the honor in 2001. Once again, Claxton was the leader of the Rebel offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in the SEC with only 13 in 2002. The Ole Miss offense also generated over 350 yards of total offense in seven games, including four games of 450 yards or better.
Espy and Stallings were named to the SEC All-Freshman Team offense. Espy, from Madison, Miss., played in all 12 games and was the Rebels' third-leading receiver with 28 receptions for 411 yards and 3 TDs. Stallings, a Magnolia, Miss., native, was a vital member of the Rebel offensive line that allowed the fewest QB sacks in the SEC with only 13 in 2002. He started all 12 games at left tackle.
Boykin and Johnson were selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team defense. Boykin, a Bessemer, Ala., native, played in all 12 games on the Rebel defensive line. He made 48 tackles, including 19 solo hits, and was second on the team with 8 QB pressures. Johnson, from Shannon, Miss., recorded 43 total tackles, including 35 solo stops. He also had 2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries and tied for the team lead with 5 pass deflections.
The Rebels (6-6) received a bid to the MainStay Independence Bowl and will meet Nebraska Dec. 27 in Shreveport, La. The game, which will be televised by ESPN, is slated for a 3:30 p.m. (CT) kickoff.