KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Punter Donnie Jones, offensive lineman Rodney Reed and running back LaBrandon Toefield represented LSU on the 2000 Knoxville News-Sentinel All-Southeastern Conference Freshman Team, the newspaper announced on Friday.
All three Tigers named to the team were redshirt freshmen during the 2000 season.
Jones, a native of Baton Rouge and a product of Catholic High School, punted 57 times for 2,174 yards with a long of 69 yards against Alabama-Birmingham, the longest punt for the Tigers since Matt DeFrank hit a 69-yarder against Kentucky on Oct. 17, 1987. Jones landed 17 punts inside the 20 and averaged 38.1 yards as the Tigers’ lone punter.
DeFrank also hit a 71-yard punt in 1986 against Florida, five yards short of the school record of 76 yards set by Ray Coates on Oct. 7, 1944.
Before injuring his ankle in the 10th game of the season, Toefield led the Tigers on the ground, rushing for 682 yards on 165 carries. He scored five touchdowns and also caught seven passes for 44 yards in 10 games.
Reed, a redshirt freshman from West Monroe, La., started at both left guard and left tackle for the Tigers in 2000, filling in for one of three Tiger starters who missed most of the season with injuries. He helped the LSU rushing game gain 1,442 yards this season.
Toefield and Reed were also named to The Sporting News’ Freshman All-America Teams on Tuesday.
2000 Knoxville News-Sentinel Freshman All-SEC Team
CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
JABARR GAFFNEY, WR, Florida, 6-1,191
JARED LORENZEN, QB, Kentucky 6-4, 285
QUARTERBACK: Casey Clausen, Tennessee 6-4, 210
RUNNING BACK: Musa Smith, Georgia, 6-1, 208
RUNNING BACK: LaBrandon Toefield, LSU 6-0, 224
RUNNING BACK: Chad Scott, Kentucky 5-10, 175
OFFENSIVE LINE: Michael Munoz, Tennessee, 6-6, 310
OFFENSIVE LINE: Antonio Hall, Kentucky 6-5, 293
OFFENSIVE LINE: Rodney Reed, LSU 6-4, 284
OFFENSIVE LINE: Travelle Wharton, S.C. 6-4, 300
OFFENSIVE LINE: Dennis Alexander, Alabama, 6-6, 339
WIDE RECEIVER: Derek Abney, Kentucky, 5-10, 174
WIDE RECEIVER: Deandre Green, Auburn, 6-2, 210
ATHLETE: Damien Gary, Georgia, 5-10, 180
KICK RETURNER: Ray Perkins, Vanderbilt 5-10, 190
PUNTER: Donnie Jones, LSU 6-3, 211
DEFENSIVE END: Clint Mitchell, Florida 6-7, 245
DEFENSIVE END: Reggie Torbor, Auburn, 6-3, 225
DEFENSIVE TACKLE: DeMarco McNeil, Auburn 6-1, 296
DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Dewayne Robertson, Kentucky 6-3, 325
LINEBACKER: Travis Harris, Florida, 6-3, 220
LINEBACKER: Jason Clark, Miss. St, 6-3, 240
DEFENSIVE BACK: Ken Hamlin, Ark 6-2, 210
DEFENSIVE BACK: Roshard Gilyard, Aub, 5-9, 199
DEFENSIVE BACK: Deandre Eiland, S.C. 6-0, 175
DEFENSIVE BACK: Rashad Baker, Tennessee, 5-11, 180
DEFENSIVE BACK: Guss Scott, Florida, 5-10, 190
KICKER: Billy Bennett, Georgia, 5-8, 160