BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The defending national champion LSU Tigers led all teams with 14 players selected to the 2008 Southeastern Conference Coaches Pre-season All-SEC Football Team, the league office announced Monday.

LSU placed a league-high number of players on the squad for the second straight season. There were first, second and third-teams selected for this year’s coaches pre-season squad. Coaches could not vote for their own players.

Florida was the only other SEC team with double figure selections with 10. Georgia had nine players selected to the three squads followed by Alabama, Auburn and South Carolina with eight and Tennessee had seven. Eleven of the 12 SEC teams had first-team selections and every conference school has representatives on the All-SEC squad.

LSU placed four senior players on the first team, including defensive end Tyson Jackson, linebacker Darry Beckwith, place kicker Colt David and offensive lineman Herman Johnson.

The Tigers also had five second-team selections: junior tight end Richard Dickson, senior center Brett Helms, junior offensive lineman Ciron Black, senior wide receiver Demetrius Byrd and defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois. Junior wide receiver Brandon LaFell, junior running back Keiland Williams, senior defensive end Kirston Pittman and junior return specialist Trindon Holliday were all named to the third team.

This is the fifth year of the SEC Coaches Pre-season All-SEC Football Team.  It is released in advance of the 2008 SEC Football Media Days, which will be held July 23-25, at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Ala.

Media in attendance at SEC Football Media Days will vote on the All-SEC Team and a predicted order of finish for the league. LSU head coach Les Miles, Helms and Jackson will participate in SEC Media Days on Wednesday.

The Tigers report to campus, on Sunday, Aug. 3 before opening practice on Monday, Aug. 4. LSU opens the season on Aug. 30 in Tiger Stadium against Appalachian State in a game televised nationally by ESPN. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.