’Bama tops USA TODAY All-America teams
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey and seven players from Alabama highlight the USA TODAY Sports’ preseason All-America football teams.
Watson is the first-team quarterback, while McCaffrey joins LSU’s Leonard Fournette as firstteam running backs. The first team includes Alabama offensive tackle Cam Robinson, Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett, Iowa cornerback Desmond King and Michigan cornerback Jourdan Lewis.
Watson, McCaffrey, King, Lewis and Memphis’ Jake Elliott are returning from last season’s USA TODAY Sports All-America first team, and Fournette and Florida State offensive tackle Roderick Johnson were second-teamers then. Preseason second-team defensive backs Damontae Kazee of San Diego State and Marcus Maye of Florida also earned honors in 2015.
Alabama leads with seven selections across the two preseason teams. Ten other programs have multiple selections: Clemson, Michigan, Florida State, Southern California, Utah, Ohio State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Notre Dame and Florida.
First team
OFFENSE QB: Deshaun Watson, Clemson. The junior is the preseason favorite for the Heisman Trophy. RB: Christian McCaffrey, Stan- ford. He’s a do-everything, box score-filling weapon with no equal in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
RB: Leonard Fournette, LSU. College football hasn’t seen a physical athlete such as Fournette since Adrian Peterson at Oklahoma.
WR: JuJu Smith- Schuster, Southern California. Smith-Schuster is the next All-America pick for a program with a legacy of outstanding receivers.
WR: Calvin Ridley, Alabama. He’ll be an even more complete weapon as a sophomore.
TE: Jake Butt, Michigan. Amid a dearth of proven weapons at the position, Butt’s production stands out. OL: Cam Robinson, Alabama. The bulldozing junior would be the prototypical tackle for any offense. OL: Dan Feeney, Indiana. Fee- ney is undoubtedly the most under-recognized lineman in the country and one of the most unheralded stars in college football.
OL: Tyler Orlosky, West Virginia. The senior has earned the right to be recognized as the best center in the country.
OL: Dorian Johnson, Pittsburgh. An imposing running game rolls behind the Panthers left guard.
OL: Roderick Johnson, Florida State. This is the year Johnson combines his physical gifts with his growing experience.
DEFENSE
DL: Myles Garrett, Texas A&M. Destined to be a high pick in next year’s NFL draft, Garrett was fifth in sacks and eighth in tackles for losses last season.
DL: Malik McDowell, Michigan State. A strong close to 2015 has McDowell ready to lead the Spartans defense by example.
DL: Lowell Lotulelei, Utah. Lotulelei isn’t flashy, but he’s a nearly immovable force for perhaps the best defensive line in the country.
DL: Jonathan Allen, Alabama. Allen’s impact extends far beyond his own totals, which included the seventh-most sacks in the FBS in 2015.
LB: Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State. Ohio State’s offseason losses will vault McMillan onto center stage.
LB: Reuben Foster, Alabama. While not the only Crimson Tide linebacker with this potential, Foster will play a position that breeds All-America attention.
LB: Anthony Walker, Northwestern. Walker stops the run, defends the pass and gets to the quarterback — he had the fifthmost tackles for losses in the FBS in 2015.
CB: Desmond King, Iowa. Tied for the second-most interceptions in the FBS last season, King effectively negates one side of the field for a stingy defense.
CB: Jourdan Lewis, Michigan. Had the second-most pass breakups last season of any returning player.
S: Budda Baker, Washington. Teams in the Pac-12 Conference know all about Baker’s ability to influence an entire offense from his spot at safety.
S: Derwin James, Florida State. James will be a household name by the end of the regular season.
SPECIALISTS
K: Jake Elliott, Memphis. The 2015 Lou Groza Award finalist should bring home the hardware as a senior.
P: JK Scott, Alabama. Scott’s excellence makes him a vital part of the Tide’s defensive efforts.
RET: Evan Berry, Tennessee. Berry’s 2015 kickoff-return average was the FBS’ best by almost 5 yards.
Second team
OFFENSE QB: Josh Rosen, UCLA RB: Dalvin Cook, Florida State RB: Royce Freeman, Oregon WR: Gabe Marks, Washington State WR: Christian Kirk, Texas A&M TE: O.J. Howard, Alabama OL: Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame OL: Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame OL: Pat Elflein, Ohio State OL: Dan Skipper, Arkansas OL: Zach Banner, Southern California
DEFENSE DL: Charles Harris, Missouri DL: Carlos Watkins, Clemson DL: DeMarcus Walker, Florida State DL: Derek Barnett, Tennessee LB: Jabrill Peppers, Michigan LB: Malik Jefferson, Texas LB: Devonte Fields, Louisville CB: Damontae Kazee, San Diego State
CB: Jalen Tabor, Florida S: Marcus Maye, Florida S: Eddie Jackson, Alabama SPECIALISTS K: Andy Phillips, Utah P: Austin Rehkow, Idaho RET: Adoree’ Jackson, Southern California