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College football All-American team: Trevor Lawrence, SEC, Alabama headline selections

By Richard Kimball

Trevor Lawrence of the Clemson Tigers. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Trevor Lawrence of the Clemson Tigers. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Presenting the 2020 preseason All-American team, featuring players like Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne and Ja’Marr Chase.

With the Big Ten and Pac-12 deciding to postpone their seasons to the winter/spring and the MAC and Mountain West canceling their seasons, the college football preseason All-American team will largely be limited to the remaining Power 3 with the SEC, ACC and Big 12 pushing forward with the season.

As a result, players like Ohio State quarterback and cornerback Justin Fields and Shaun Wade will not be represented on this All-American team. Additionally, Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons will not be represented after he opted-out ahead of the Big Ten’s decision. Furthermore, we won’t see Oregon left tackle and reigning Outland Trophy winner Penei Sewell occupy a spot. And then there’s Miami defensive end Gregory Rousseau who was the second-best sack artist last year behind Chase Young but has opted-out to prepare for the NFL Draft.

That said, there are plenty of talented college football players who will be playing this fall, including the All-American backfield at Clemson where Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne look to end their college careers with a second national championship.

All-American selections by conference:

  • SEC – 11
  • ACC – 10
  • Big 12 – 4
  • AAC – 1
  • Sun Belt – 1

All-American selections by team:

  • Alabama – 4
  • Clemson – 2
  • LSU – 2
  • Oklahoma – 2

Preseason All-American team offense

QB: Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

This pick is pretty much a no brainer. Trevor Lawrence has been the best quarterback in college football since he first stepped on campus. Lawrence will be without his top two targets from last season (Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross), but a quarterback of his pedigree should have no issues getting his new receivers acclimated.

RB: Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State

Chuba Hubbard was the best running back in college football last year and is back for another season. As a redshirt sophomore, Hubbard rushed for just under 2,100 yards and 21 touchdowns. Hubbard is a big-play running back, scoring on touchdowns on 90-plus yards, 80-plus yards and 70-plus yards in 2019.

RB: Travis Etienne, Clemson

While Lawrence has been the talk of college football, running back Travis Etienne has provided a healthy balance of a rushing attack in Clemson’s offensive gameplan. While Lawrence is the MVP, Etienne is the x-factor and difference-maker that helps keep the Tigers’ offensive moving forward.

WR: Ja’Marr Chase, LSU*

Editor’s Note: (The All-American team was determined prior to Chase opting out of the season and preparing for the NFL Draft)

As a sophomore, Ja’Marr Chase set the SEC record for receiving yards in a season (1,780) and receiving touchdowns in a season (20), earning him the 2019 Biletnikoff Award. Chase will be the first wide receiver taken off the board in the 2021 NFL Draft but still has unfinished business as he and the Tigers look to defend their title.

WR: DeVonta Smith, Alabama

Year-in and year-out, DeVonta Smith has done nothing but improve from the year before. Following a stellar junior season where Smith totaled over 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns, he looks to improve once again as he prepares for the 2021 NFL Draft. And another progressive year could have Smith rewriting the school’s record book.

TE: Kyle Pitts, Florida

Kyle Pitts was one of the biggest breakout college football stars in 2019. After just appearing in three games as a freshman, Pitts made a big leap his sophomore year, catching 54 passes for 649 yards and five touchdowns. Pitts also has a great frame to provide an extra hand in run blocking, which will have NFL scouts drooling all season long.

OT: Alex Leatherwood, Alabama

Alex Leatherwood was one of the best offensive tackles last season, allowing just two sacks and three quarterback hurries in 752 snaps. Leatherwood is a versatile offensive lineman, as he played right guard in 2018 before moving back to left tackle last season. The SEC has some of the best pass rushers but it will be no easy task getting in Alabama’s backfield in 2020.

OT: Samuel Cosmi, Texas

From honorable mention Big 12 freshman of the year in 2018 to 2nd team All-Big 12 in 2019, Samuel Cosmi has worked his way up the totem pole as not only one of the best offensive linemen in the Big 12 conference, but in all of college football. Cosmi has been the leading blocker for a Longhorns offense that is one of the best in the conference.

OG: Tommy Kraemer, Notre Dame

Tommy Kraemer entered 2019 as one of the guards in the country, being named to several preseason All-American teams and to the Outland Trophy watch list but a knee injury near the halfway point of the season has Kraemer back for one more season. Despite the injury, Kraemer has success to build off of, as he did not allow a single sack in 2019.

OG: Trey Smith, Tennessee

The Tennessee Volunteers seem to be on the right side of things as they turn their football program around, and guard Trey Smith has been one of the biggest highlights along the journey. Smith is without a doubt the best guard in all of college football and will be one of the first offensive linemen names called in next year’s NFL draft.

C: Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s offense has been on of college football’s best for the last half-decade or so, providing talent for the NFL at quarterback, wide receiver but also on the offensive line. And Creed Humphrey is ready to add his name to that list. In 2019, Creed did not allow a single sack in 799 plays, earning him a spot as a finalist for the Rimington Trophy (nation’s top center).