Auburn’s veteran-heavy roster won’t be flying under the radar in 2010.

One year after Auburn placed only two players on the SEC coaches’ preseason all-conference teams, the Tigers landed six of their upperclassmen on the 2010 squads, which were released Tuesday on an SECSports.com live online chat.

Offensive tackle Lee Ziemba and linebacker Josh Bynes received first-team recognition. Wide receiver Darvin Adams, center Ryan Pugh, linebacker Craig Stevens and cornerback Neiko Thorpe were named to the second team.

Auburn tied for third-most first- and second-team all-conference players, trailing Florida and Alabama.

Last year, when expectations were low for the Tigers, Ziemba and defensive end Antonio Coleman served as Auburn’s lone representatives, both landing on the second team.

Bynes, who has started 21 consecutive games at middle linebacker, emerged as one of Auburn’s defensive leaders in 2009, leading the team with 104 tackles, a total that ranked sixth in the SEC.

Ziemba, a prototypical left tackle, passed up on the NFL to return for his senior season. If he starts all 12 games this season, he will set the Auburn record for most career starts with 50.

Adams had a breakthrough sophomore season in 2009, hauling in an Auburn single-season record 60 receptions and racking up 997 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, both of which ranked third-best in school history and second-best among SEC players in 2009.

Stevens was right behind Bynes with 95 tackles and was named Auburn’s Co-Defensive MVP. Like a number of players on Auburn’s depth-deprived defense, he barely missed a snap and has started in 26 consecutive games.

Pugh arrived in the same class as Ziemba and has seen almost as much action. He was named to the Associated Press All-SEC second team following the 2009 season after leading the team with 70 knockdown blocks.

Thorpe, a junior, is considered one of Auburn’s most promising defensive players. He started all 13 games in 2009, finishing third behind Bynes and Stevens with 84 tackles, including the game-saving stop in overtime against Northwestern in the Outback Bowl. He was second on the team with nine pass break-ups, had two interceptions and returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown against Kentucky.

Ziemba, Bynes and senior safety Aairon Savage will represent Auburn at SEC Media Days on Friday.

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