Image – Whole Hog Sports
Left-hand pitchers Hunter Dietz, Ethan McElvain, and catcher Ryder Helfrick all earned All-SEC honors on Monday. Dietz earned a first-team selection, McElvain was on the second team, and Helfrick was named to the all-defensive team.
After each of their all-conference honors, Arkansas now has 70 All-SEC selections in program history. The trio helped Dave Van Horn earn 60 SEC honorees for his tenure with the Razorbacks. Under Van Horn, at least one Hog has received an All-SEC nod in each of the last nine full seasons (2017-present), and in 21 of his 23 full seasons at the helm (excludes shortened 2020 season).
It is the fourth consecutive season that an Arkansas starting pitcher has been on the All-SEC first team. It is the longest such streak since LSU did so from 2012-2015. With Hagen Smith (2023-2024), Zach Root (2025), and Hunter Dietz (2026), the Razorbacks are the first team in league history with a first-team All-SEC left-handed starting pitcher in four straight years.
Since joining the staff ahead of the 2019 staff, Matt Hobbs has developed 12 All-SEC pitchers in his tenure on the Hill. Those names include Matt Cronin (2019), Connor Noland (2019, 2022), Patrick Wicklander (2019, 2021), Kevin Kopps (2021), Peyton Pallette (2021), Smith (2022-24), Brady Tygart (2022), Gage Wood (2023), Gabe Gaeckle (2024), Root (2025), Dietz (2026) and McElvain (2026).
Dietz makes the first team
Image – Sports Illustrated
After two seasons hampered by injury, Dietz appeared on the All-SEC first team after an impressive redshirt sophomore regular season. He has a 7-3 record with a 3.32 ERA. His 117 strikeouts lead the conference in 78.2 innings through 14 starts.
Dietz is holding opponents to a .221 batting average and has logged an SEC-leading nine quality starts, the most by a Razorback pitcher since Hagen Smith in 2024.
The left-hander has already been named a semifinalist for both the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy.
McElvain appears on second team
Image – Whole Hog Sports
McElvain becomes the first Razorback relief pitcher to be named on an All-SEC team since Kopps in 2021. He recorded an impressive 5-0 record with a 1.24 ERA, 45 strikeouts, and a team-leading five saves. He recorded his numbers in 29.0 innings across 17 appearances. The Vanderbilt transfer is holding opposing batter to a small .165 batting average.
Helfrick makes all-defensive team
Image – Arkansas Razorbacks
Helfrick is the first Arkansas catcher to be named an All-SEC player since Grant Koch in 2018. Helfrick, Koch, and Jack Wise (2014) are the only three catchers in Razorback history to be named to the all-defensive team.
The junior is also a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy as well as the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award. Helfrick has started all 54 games of the regular season, slashing .292/.437/.568 with .292/.437/.568 with 37 runs, 53 hits, six doubles, one triple, 15 home runs, 48 runs batted in, and led Arkansas in walks at 53.
2026 SEC Player of the Year
Player of the Year: Daniel Jackson, Georgia
Pitcher of the Year: Aidan King, Florida
Freshman of the Year: Anthony Pack Jr., Texas
Newcomer of the Year: Aiden Robbins, Texas
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Gavin Grahovac, Texas A&M
Coach of the Year: Wes Johnson, Georgia
2026 All-SEC Teams
First Team
C: Daniel Jackson, Georgia
1B: Gavin Grahovac, Texas A&M
2B: Chris Hacopian, Texas A&M
2B: Chris Rembert, Auburn
3B: Tre Phelps, Georgia
3B: Ace Reese, Mississippi State
SS: Tyler Bell, Kentucky
OF: Caden Sorrell, Texas A&M
OF: Aiden Robbins, Texas
OF: Rylan Lujo, Georgia
DH/Util: Noah Sullivan, Mississippi State
SP: Dylan Volantis, Texas
SP: Aidan King, Florida
SP: Tomas Valincius, Mississippi State
SP: Hunter Dietz, Arkansas
RP: Sam Cozart, Texas
RP: Walker Hooks, Ole Miss
RP: Clayton Freshcorn, Texas A&M
Second Team
C: Carson Tinney, Texas
1B: Will Furniss, Ole Miss
1B: Ethin Bingaman, Auburn
2B: Mike Mancini, Vanderbilt
3B: Judd Utermark, Ole Miss
SS: Kolby Branch, Georgia
SS: Steven Milam, LSU
OF: Anthony Pack Jr., Texas
OF: Derek Curiel, LSU
OF: Bryce Chance, Mississippi State
DH/Util: Brady Neal, Alabama
SP: Cade Townsend, Ole Miss
SP: Tegan Kuhns, Tennessee
SP: Jaxon Jelkin, Kentucky
SP: Tyler Fay, Alabama
RP: Jackson Sanders, Auburn
RP: Ethan McElvain, Arkansas
RP: Ben Davis, Mississippi State
2026 All-SEC Freshman Team
Anthony Pack Jr., Texas
Sam Cozart, Texas
Jorian Wilson, Texas A&M
Ethin Bingaman, Auburn
Cam Appenzeller, Tennessee
Omar Serna Jr., LSU
Jacob Parker, Mississippi State
Trent Grindlinger, Tennessee
Myles Upchurch, Alabama
Nico Partida, Texas A&M
Mason Braun, LSU
Jack Bauer, Mississippi State
2026 All-SEC Defensive Team
C: Ryder Helfrick, Arkansas
1B: Gavin Grahovac, Texas A&M
2B: Mike Mancini, Vanderbilt
3B: Eric Guevara, Auburn*
3B: Tre Phelps, Georgia*
SS: Steven Milam, LSU
OF: Caden Sorrell, Texas A&M
OF: Derek Curiel, LSU
OF: Jason Walk, Oklahoma
P: Hunter Elliott, Ole Miss
*Tie
