Fansided

FanSided preseason college football All-American teams: SEC leads the way

By Nate Williamson

MADISON, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 24: Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs with the ball in the first quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Camp Randall Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 24: Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs with the ball in the first quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Camp Randall Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Alabama and Clemson are well-represented on the FanSided preseason All-American team, but Tua Tagovailoa edges Trevor Lawrence for first-team honors.

As some of the nation’s best athletes prepare to go head-to-head on the gridiron, let’s take a look at who might land themselves a spot to be recognized among the nation’s best, as an All-American.

The two teams were incredibly difficult to pick with nearly every position a battle for the top spot. Probably the hardest position to pick came in the form of the quarterback of the first team. Tua Tagovailoa has the perfect opportunity to strike back with a vengeance after Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence stole the spotlight in last year’s season.

Another notable player comes on the second team, working his way onto this list is Vanderbilt’s Ke’Shawn Vaughn. After transferring from Illinois, Vaughn has starred for the Commodores and could be set up for an All-American performance in his senior season.

Some more of the more notable “for sure” names on the first team include Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy, who could be the best player in college football this year, along with Wisconsin’s Tyler Biadasz and Jonathan Taylor.

Alabama is very well represented on this list, with nine players between the two teams. with Georgia topped Clemson’s four players with five. Syracuse sends two to the nation’s best teams as they hunt for more than just a bowl appearance. The Big Ten fell short of topping the SEC for sheer player numbers on this list, with just 11 to the SEC’s 20.

Even the second team of All-Americans on this list is riddled with star potential, players who have a chance to make their names known even more with the right break down the stretch of the season. It wasn’t an easy call by any means, and that means that some players, naturally, missed the cut.

Sliding off the list are noteworthy names like Washington’s Trey Adams. Clemson’s talented duo of wide receivers in Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross also miss the list for this pre-season, alongside Alabama’s Najee Harris in the running back position.

On the defensive side of the ball, names like Miami’s Trajan Bandy and Shaquille Quarterman narrowly miss the list, and Georgia’s J.R. Reed falls just short of nabbing a safety spot.

First-Team All-Americans: Offense

  • QB: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
  • RB: Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
  • RB: Travis Etienne, Clemson
  • WR: Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
  • WR: Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State
  • TE: Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
  • OT: Walker Little, Stanford
  • OG: Shane Lemieux, Oregon
  • C: Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
  • OG: Tommy Kraemer, Notre Dame
  • OT: Andrew Thomas, Georgia

First-Team All-Americans: Defense

  • DL: A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
  • DL: Derrick Brown, Auburn
  • DL: Chase Young, Ohio State
  • DL: Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
  • LB: Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
  • LB: Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
  • LB: Dylan Moses, Alabama
  • CB: Bryce Hall, Virginia
  • CB: CJ Henderson, Florida
  • S: Grant Delpit, LSU
  • S: Andre Cisco, Syracuse

First-Team All-Americans: Specialists

  • K: Andre Szmyt, Syracuse
  • P: Braden Mann, Texas A&M
  • KR: Savon Scarver, Utah State
  • PR: Isaiah Wright, Temple
  • All-Purpose: Rondale Moore, Purdue

Second-Team All-Americans: Offense

  • QB: Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
  • RB: D’Andre Swift, Georgia
  • RB: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt
  • WR: Rondale Moore, Purdue
  • WR: Laviska Shenault, Colorado
  • TE: Colby Parkinson, Stanford
  • OT: Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
  • OG: Ben Bredeson, Michigan
  • C: Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
  • OG: Solomon Kindley, Georgia
  • OT: Calvin Throckmorton, Oregon

Second-Team All-Americans: Defense

  • DL: Bradlee Anae, Utah
  • DL: Xavier Thomas, Clemson
  • DL: Raekwon Davis, Alabama
  • DL: Leki Fotu, Utah
  • LB: K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU
  • LB: Joe Bachie, Michigan State
  • LB: Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
  • CB:  Kristian Fulton, LSU
  • CB:  Paulson Adebo, Stanford
  • S: Xavier McKinney, Alabama
  • S: Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame

Second-Team All-Americans: Specialists

  • K: Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
  • P: James Smith, Cincinnati
  • KR: Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa
  • PR: Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
  • All-Purpose: J.J. Taylor, Arizona

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