The pool for ESPNs 2020 preseason All-America group was significantly smaller, which is weird. What hasnt been strange about this preseason, this offseason, this summer season?
Simply put, you wont see any gamers from the Big Ten, the Pac-12, the Mountain West or any of the conferences not set up to play this fall since of coronavirus issues. The same chooses any gamers who have actually chosen to decide out this season.
Nevertheless, there were some challenging choices, especially at the pass receiver, protective end and linebacker positions.
As an annual reminder, this is not a list of the leading NFL draft prospects, although a lot of these guys will end up as longtime pros. Its not necessarily a career accomplishment award, either, however rather a projection of what we think the All-America group will genuinely appear like come December.
Offense
Chuba Hubbard rushed for over 2,000 lawns last season and had 21 goals on the ground for the Cowboys. David Stacy/Icon SportswireQB: Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
Had the Big Ten not pulled out this fall, this would have been a tough call between Lawrence and Ohio States Justin Fields. Both guys have what it takes to be franchise quarterbacks at the next level. Lawrence didnt have his finest things against LSU in the national champion video game a year back, however he has actually improved every year and is primed for a hit junior season, especially with all of the skill surrounding him.
RB: Travis Etienne, Clemson
Dabo Swinney has proved to be a master employer, however the finest hire the Tigers landed this offseason was holding on to Etienne, who decided to return for his senior season. He hurried for 1,614 yards a year ago, emerged as a key weapon in the death video game and had 64 plays from scrimmage of 10 yards or longer, which leads all returning FBS players.
RB: Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State
Not only does Hubbard have one of the very best nicknames in college football (Canadas Cowboy), however the Alberta, Canada, native also has one of the finest well-rounded video games. As a redshirt sophomore a year back, Hubbard showcased his sprinter speed to lead the nation with 2,334 all-purpose yards and rushed for 150-plus lawns seven times. With Tylan Wallace likewise returning, Oklahoma State will boast among the most dynamic running back/wide receiver combos in the country.
Alabamas DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle both land on ESPNs preseason college football All-America team. Dannie Walls/Icon SportswireWR: DeVonta Smith, Alabama
The Alabama wide receiver space was overflowing with talent last season, with multiple guys who will play in the NFL. Getting Smith back for his senior season was a coup for the Crimson Tide. Hes averaged 17.9 lawns per catch during his profession and caught 14 goal passes a year ago. Smith is exceptionally explosive, but also captures everything that comes his way. Alabama just keeps producing elite pass receivers, and Smith is next in line.
WR: Tutu Atwell, Louisville
Atwell led the nation a year ago with four plays from skirmish of 70 backyards or longer and posted 6 100-yard receiving video games. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound junior is a blur with his sub-4.3 speed in the 40-yard dash, whichs whether hes turning a short toss into a huge gain or racing past a defender. Atwell led the ACC last season with 1,276 getting yards and 12 touchdowns, and the fun truly begins after he captures the ball.
TE: Charlie Kolar, Iowa State
Kolar had a breakout season a year ago as a redshirt sophomore with 51 catches for 697 yards, the finest ever for an Iowa State tight end, and also drew in seven goals. The 6-foot-6, 257-pound Kolar, who earned first-team Academic All-America honors a year ago, likewise has the benefit of among the leading quarterbacks in the nation tossing him the ball. Brock Purdy passed for 3,982 lawns and 27 touchdowns last season.
OT: Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
Stating he had “a lot more to provide,” Leatherwood chose to return for his senior year despite being projected by many as a first-round NFL draft pick. Hes been a force for the Crimson Tide at both guard and take on, however will remain at left take on for a second straight season after enabling simply 2 sacks and 3 quarterback rushes a year back. The 6-foot-6, 312-pound Leatherwood will anchor an Alabama offensive line that must be the very best in the country.
OG: Trey Smith, Tennessee
Smith was one of the very best stories in college football last season. He combated back from blood embolisms in his lungs in 2018 to make first-team All-SEC honors and develop himself as one of the most dominant interior offending linemen in the country. The 6-foot-6, 330-pound senior mauls his opponents in the run game and will be even much better from his left guard area in 2020 now that hes healthy enough to practice on a more constant basis.
C: Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
One of 3 finalists a year ago for the Rimington Trophy as the top center in the nation, the 6-foot-5, 320-pound Humphrey is back for his redshirt junior season. Hes made 26 consecutive starts at center, and with terrific gamers going and coming at the skill positions for the Sooners, its constantly great to have a rock in the middle of that offensive line the quality of Humphrey.
OG: Deonte Brown, Alabama
The 6-foot-4, 350-pound redshirt senior missed the very first four video games of the 2019 season after being suspended the year before for the College Football Playoff, however settled in as the Tides ideal guard. He could slide over to left guard this season to give the Tide an imposing left side with Leatherwood also at deal with on that side. Brown is an effective blocker in the run video game and also moves incredibly well in space for a guy his size.
OT: Samuel Cosmi, Texas
The 6-foot-7, 309-pound Cosmi is back for his redshirt junior season at left tackle to protect Sam Ehlingers blind side. Cosmis blend of size, fast feet and experience makes him among the most total offensive linemen in college football. He played right tackle 2 years ago for the Longhorns and gets in the 2020 season with 26 career starts.
AP: Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Alabama offending coordinator Steve Sarkisian stated Waddle will be an “every-down” target for the Crimson Tide this fall, which means opposing defenses and opposing protection units on special teams will get a heavy dosage of the 5-foot-10, 182-pound junior. Waddle had six receiving touchdowns last season and also had a 98-yard kickoff return for a goal against Auburn in addition to a 77-yard punt return for a touchdown versus LSU.
Defense
LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. is back in the secondary for the Tigers after 6 interceptions last season. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY SportsDE: Quincy Roche, Miami
The Hurricanes were poised to have the 2 best bookend pass-rushers in the nation until Gregory Rousseau chose to choose out for this season. However, Roche stays after transferring from Temple, where he had 19 tackles for loss last season, consisting of 13 sacks. You do not have to look too tough the last few seasons to find transfers who had huge effects. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Roche could be that guy this season.
DT: Marvin Wilson, Florida State
The 6-foot-5, 305-pound senior had his season cut short a year ago after going through hand surgery. However, he was still among just four protective takes on nationally with numerous video games in which he had at least 3 takes on for loss. Wilson completed with 8.5 tackles for loss and 5 sacks in 9 video games and is hungry to show himself as the finest interior defensive lineman in college football.
DT: Darius Stills, West Virginia
The Mountaineers will again have a double dosage of Stillses in the protective line, Darius and his younger bro Dante. Darius led the team with 14.5 deals with for loss from his nose guard area a year ago, some remarkable numbers for a guy facing continuous double teams. He may likewise play some at the defensive tackle spot this season. Wherever the 6-foot-1, 285-pound senior lines up, hes a disrupter in the middle of that West Virginia protective line.
DE: Chris Rumph II, Duke
One of the most explosive pass-rushers in the country, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Rumph included some bulk during the offseason and is equally reliable when it pertains to going after down ball-carriers. He will play more snaps in 2020, which indicates his production will only increase. Whichs after collecting 13.5 tackles for loss, including 6.5 sacks, and registering 11 quarterback rushes a year earlier.
POUND: Dylan Moses, Alabama
Losing Moses to a season-ending ACL tear simply days before the season opener a year earlier was a substantial blow to the Alabama defense. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior is as soon as again healthy and states hes determined to “put a punctuation mark on the back end of my Alabama profession.” Not just is Moses a reputable playmaker from his middle linebacker spot, but hes likewise a guy who knows the ins and outs of Nick Sabans defense, which will assist tidy up errors.
LB: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
More than ever in todays video game, protective organizers are looking for linebackers who can play all three downs. Owusu-Koramoah is the supreme hybrid protector for the Irish and will even line up some at rover. He has tremendous speed and impulses and blossomed a year ago after breaking his foot early in the 2018 season. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound redshirt junior led Notre Dame with 13.5 tackles for loss last season, and those numbers figure to just go up in 2020.
POUND: Jabril Cox, LSU
It will be a different-looking LSU team in 2020 with all of the personnel losses from a year ago and gamers opting out this season, that makes landing a graduate transfer as gifted as Cox even more important. A two-time FCS All-American, the 6-foot-4, 231-pound Cox was part of three nationwide championship teams at North Dakota State. A few weeks ago, LSU coach Ed Orgeron said Cox appeared like the very best player on the field, and that was when JaMarr Chase and Tyler Shelvin were still around.
S: Trevon Moehrig, TCU
All the best in finding a better tandem of securities in college football than Moehrig and Ar Darius Washington. Moehrig, a 6-foot-2, 202-pound junior, is a magnet for the football from his free safety position. A year back, he ranked amongst the Horned Frogs leaders in overall deals with (62 ), passes separated (15 ), interceptions (4) and forced fumbles (2 ). Moehrig established into an All-Big 12 gamer as a sophomore. Hell make the dive to All-American status in 2020.
S: Richard LeCounte, Georgia
The Dawgs defense need to be plenty salty in 2020, and its constantly great to have a senior eraser on the back end like the 5-foot-11, 190-pound LeCounte. He does not have prototypical size for a safety, but is always making plays, whether its obstructing passes, recuperating fumbles or requiring fumbles. LeCounte is among the best coverage securities in college football and also combined for 135 overall deals with the last 2 years.
CB: Derek Stingley Jr., LSU
For all of the offending firepower on that LSU championship game group a year back, the Tigers were similarly packed on defense. Right there at the top of the list was Stingley. Its difficult to think he will only be a sophomore after earning consensus All-America honors as a true freshman. He led the SEC with 6 interceptions. The phrase “shutdown corner” is probably utilized too typically, but few corners flourish in male protection the method the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Stingley does.
CB: Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
If not for Stingley, Surtain would be the leading cornerback in the nation and might still have something to say about that before the 2020 season is total. He has great size (6-foot-2, 202 pounds) and the instincts and athleticism to support that size. The talented junior forced three fumbles and obstructed 2 passes a year back. Alabama has produced some elite cornerbacks under Nick Saban, but Surtain could wind up being the finest.
Special teams
PK: Nick Sciba, Wake Forest
Lawrence didnt have his best things versus LSU in the nationwide champion video game a year back, however he has gotten better every year and is primed for a hit junior season, particularly with all of the talent surrounding him.
Kolar had a breakout season a year ago as a redshirt sophomore with 51 catches for 697 yards, the best ever for an Iowa State tight end, and also pulled in seven touchdowns. Hes been a force for the Crimson Tide at both guard and take on, however will remain at left take on for a 2nd straight season after enabling simply 2 sacks and 3 quarterback hurries a year back. He played right deal with 2 years ago for the Longhorns and enters the 2020 season with 26 profession starts.
Losing Moses to a season-ending ACL tear just days before the season opener a year earlier was a substantial blow to the Alabama defense.
He made an NCAA-record 34 field objectives in a row before missing a 48-yarder last season against Syracuse. He ended last season 24-of-25 on field goal efforts, and for his profession, is 7-of-8 in between 40 and 49 lawns.
P: Max Duffy, Kentucky
The Ray Guy Award winner a year ago as the leading punter in college football, Duffy returns for his junior season. The Perth, Australia, native led the country last season with a 48.1-yard average.
KR: Joshua Youngblood, Kansas State
Youngblood burst onto the scene a year ago as a real freshman with 3 kickoff returns for touchdowns versus Texas, Texas Tech and Iowa State, and he just had 13 chances to return kickoffs all season. The Wildcats intend to get the ball in his hands even more in 2020 as a receiver on offense. A previous quarterback in high school, the 5-foot-10, 181-pound Youngblood is a big play waiting to happen.
