ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia sophomore Somto Cyril has been honored as a member of the SEC’s All-Defensive team for the 2025-26 season. The league office in Birmingham, Ala., released the SEC’s accolades, as voted on by league coaches, on Monday afternoon.

Cyril, a 6-11, 260-pound center from Enugu, Nigeria, has emerged as one of the nation’s top defensive players this season. He leads the SEC in blocks per game – both overall (2.34 bpg) and in SEC games (2.22 bpg). Cyril currently ranks No. 10 nationally in blocks per game at 2.34. 

Cyril has 74 rejections this season, which ranks No. 7 among Georgia’s all-time single-season leaders. That tally has upped Cyril’s career total to 125 swats in less than two seasons, which also is No. 7 among the Bulldogs’ career leaders. 

Cyril swatted a career-high eight shots against Arkansas, the most by any SEC player this season and the second-most ever by a Bulldog.

Cyril also has been a dominating presence on the offensive end of the court. He is currently shooting 76.1 percent from the field, shattering Georgia’s single-season field goal percentage record by an almost unfathomable 12.8 percent. Cyril could miss his next 28 shots and still maintain the Bulldogs’ record. 

On the season, Cyril is averaging 9.7 points and a team-high 5.6 rebounds per game.

Cyril is the fifth Bulldog named to the All-Defensive team, which was named in both 1991 and 1992 and in every season since 2998. He joins Rod Cole (1991), Reggie Tinch (1992), Sundiata Gaines (2008) and Marcus Thornton (2015).