Top 10 Auburn athletes of 2017

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Top 10 Auburn athletes of 2017

Posted December 26, 2017 at 06:00 AM | Updated December 26, 2017 at 06:00 AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

The top 10 Auburn athletes in 2017

Several Auburn athletes delivered incredible individual seasons in 2017.

As the year comes to a close, we take a look back at the top 10 Auburn athletes over the last 12 months, with an emphasis on those with All-American and All-SEC distinctions.

By James Crepea | jcrepea@al.com

Maxime Hinnisdaels in a match agaisnt Kentucky on Sunday, April 17, 2016 in Auburn, Ala.

Dakota Sumpter/Auburn Athletics

10: Max Hinnisdaels, men's tennis

 

 

 

 

Max Hinnisdaels was a second team All-SEC honoree last season and had 65 singles wins and 43 doubles wins in his career.

The Belgium native was ranked No. 57 in singles nationally and No. 19 in doubles with Conner Huertas del Pino.

 

Alizee Michaud in a match against Ole Miss on Saturday, March 26, 2016 in Auburn, Ala.

Kenny Moss/Auburn Athletics

9: Alizee Michaud, women's tennis

 

 

 

 

Alizee Michaud was named first team All-SEC for the second straight year after leading the conference in singles victories (33) last season, including 14 over ranked opponents, also led the SEC with 23 singles wins in dual-matches.

Auburn place kicker Daniel Carlson (38) kicks off against Mississippi State during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Auburn, Ala.

AP/Butch Dill

8: Daniel Carlson, football

 

 

 

 

Daniel Carlson was named a first team All-American by the AFCA and second team selection by the AP, FWAA, Walter Camp and Sporting News, was a first team All-SEC selection by both the AP and coaches and repeated as SEC Special Teams Player of the Year.

The three-time Lou Groza Award finalist is 21 of 28 on field goals this season and has a 72.41 touchback percentage on kickoffs. Cartlson leads the country in field goals made (11) and attempted (13) against ranked teams this season and is the SEC's all-time leading scorer (471 points) and second in scoring in NCAA history among kickers and fifth overall.

 

Carlee Wallace in an at-bat against Liberty on Thursday, March 2, 2017 in Auburn, Ala.

Wade Rackley/Auburn Athletics

7: Carlee Wallace, softball

 

 

 

 

 

Carlee Wallace was a first team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive team honoree last season, when she hit .333 with seven home runs and a team-high 55 hits and 52 RBI while starting all 61 games.

She was the only SEC catcher to rank in the top 15 in the conference in batting average, slugging percentage (team-high .599) and on-base percentage (.464). Wallace also led the SEC in doubles (20) and was named the team's clutch performer of the year for her 13 game-winning plays.

Jesse Earl (3) gets a dig against Texas A&M on Saturday, November 26, 2016 in Auburn, Ala.

Anthony Hall/Auburn Athletics

6: Jesse Earl, volleyball

 

 

 

 

Jesse Earl concluded her career as perhaps the best player in Auburn volleyball history with All-America honorable mention from the American Volleyball Coaches Association, a first in school history.

The libero earned back-to-back All-SEC recognition, leading the conference with 5.19 digs/set in 2017, which was the best single-season in program history. Earl had 529 digs for the season, recorded double-digit digs in 26 of 27 matches and set a career-high with 36 in the win at Tennessee on Oct. 4, tying a single-match program record.

She also led the Tigers with 42 aces as her .41 aces/set ranked third in the SEC and set an Auburn single-season record. She also had 120 assists. 

Kara Kaufmann rides against Baylor on Saturday, October 21, 2017 in Auburn, Ala.

Anthony Hall/Auburn Athletics

5: Kara Kaufmann, equestrian

 

 

 

 

Kara Kauffmann was a first team NCEA All-American in Horsemanship and was the SEC’s Freshman Horsemanship Rider of the Year and All-SEC with 11 wins in the event.

Kauffmann was named the Horsemanship Most Valuable Player and overall Rookie of the Year in Auburn's team awards.

Auburn's Casey Mize pitches against Florida Saturday, March 18, 2017, during an NCAA baseball game in Auburn, Ala.

Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com

4: Casey Mize, baseball

 

 

 

 

Casey Mize earned second team All-American honors from ABCA/Rawlings and third team distinction from Perfect Game and Baseball America.

He went 8-2 with a 2.04 ERA, which ranked third in the SEC, and led the nation with a 12.1-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, finishing with 109 strikeouts to just nine walks.

Auburn offensive lineman Braden Smith (71) lining up against Mississippi State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Auburn, Ala.

AP/Butch Dill

3: Braden Smith, football

 

 

 

 

Braden Smith was named a first team All-American by the AP and second team selection by the AFCA, FWAA, Walter Camp and Sporting News.

Smith was also a first team All-SEC selection by both the AP and coaches after starting all 13 games at right guard for the Tigers. He allowed just five pressures on 408 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

 

Kaylee Carlson (16) pitches against Kentucky during the SEC Tournament in Knoxville, Tenn.

Dakota Sumpter/Auburn Athletics

2: Kaylee Carlson, softball

 

 

 

 

Kaylee Carlson was named a third team All-American by the NFCA as she tied a single-season program record with 27 wins and her 1.36 ERA was lowest among SEC pitchers with at least 30 starts.

She allowed one earned run or less in 33 appearances, including the second perfect game in program history against Ohio State on March 18. Carlson was also a first team All-SEC selection, an SEC All-Tournament team honoee and was named Auburn's team MVP.

Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson (21) runs the ball against Georgia during the first half Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.

Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com

1: Kerryon Johnson, football

 

 

 

 

Kerryon Johnson was named the SEC's Offensive Player of the Year by the AP and was a second team All-American by the AFCA, AP, FWAA and Sporting News.

The junior running back has 263 carries for 1,320 yards and 17 touchdowns, 23 receptions for 188 yards and two scores and a touchdown pass this season. Johnson finished ninth in voting for the Heisman Trophy.

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