HOOVER, Ala. — Houston Nutt got his wish. The media that covers the Southeastern Conference voted the Arkansas Razorbacks third rather than first in the Western Division.

“ Don’t vote us first, ” Nutt kidded with Arkansas media members Wednesday. “ It never works out. ”

The Razorbacks have only been selected first in the West once at SEC Media Days since joining the league in 1992, and the Hogs faltered with a 4-4 SEC mark to finished tied for third in the West.

The four times the Razorbacks have won or tied for the Western Division title, they were not picked first, including last season when the Hogs posted their best SEC record at 7-1 to win the Division.

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This year, the media tabbed LSU first followed by Auburn, Arkansas, Alabama, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

In the East, Florida landed in first in the balloting, followed by Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.

LSU was picked as the overall champion on 54 ballots followed by Florida with seven votes and Arkansas with five.

But the media did show respect for the Hogs, with four Razorbacks receiving a total of five first-team preseason All-SEC spots, the most of any school.

Darren McFadden was the lone unanimous first-team selection and his backfield mate Felix Jones was named first-team as a running back and a return specialist for three of the spots. Senior wide receiver Marcus Monk and junior center Jonathan Luigs joined them.

However, no Razorback defender made the first or second team and no other offensive players made the second team.

“ We’re used to not being picked, ” Arkansas middle linebacker Weston Dacus said Wednesday. “ It’s nothing new. We have to go out and prove ourselves every year. It’s nothing new. ”

McFadden said being selected in the middle of the SEC pack will only provide motivation for the Hogs.

“ I think it will just make us that much more hungry, ” McFadden said Wednesday. “ We’ll use it to our favor. ”