How do we know that Sam’s selection as co-defensive player in the SEC that year wasn’t politically rigged by the selection committee? I mean there are stats and there are ‘soft stats’. Garbage-time sacks against 2nd tier opponents should be discounted.
Sams ran up some pretty good stats his senior year - 11.5 sacks and 19 tackles for a loss - so the award was probably justified. But he also played end in a very good defense with Kony Ealy, Markus Golden, and Shane Ray so he likely benefited from other players being double-teamed.