College Football Network proudly presents our Preseason 2024 All-American College Football Honors ahead of this fall’s campaign. A terrific year of football is on the way and we’re here to highlight all of the top players from every corner of the country. While realignment and the transfer portal bring with them unique roster changes this year, nothing is more exciting than the action on the field on Saturdays.
Follow along with each of our All-Conference honors as well as our National Honors this offseason: AAC | ACC | B1G | Big 12 | Conference USA | MAC |Mountain West | Pac-12 | SEC | Sun Belt | FBS Independent
Preseason All-American Football Team Honors for 2024
Player of the Year: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
You’ve been living under a rock if you haven’t heard how disruptive and dangerous James Pearce Jr. is for the Tennessee defense. At 6’5″, 243 pounds, Pearce packs a punch with his size and frame, but it’s his strength-to-speed combination that is truly awe-inspiring.
At the drop of a hat, Pearce can be a power rusher or a speed rusher, routinely flipping the script on his intended blockers to get to the quarterback. His array of pass-rush moves are uncanny and he understands his length and power, as well as how to use it to his advantage.
When it comes down to it, there may not be a more influential player in all of college football this season than James Pearce.
Offensive Player of the Year: Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
Shaping up to be one of the most prolific quarterbacks of all time, Dillon Gabriel has the chance to break the unthinkable record Case Keenum put up during his time at Houston. With Gabriel’s landing in Eugene with the Oregon Ducks, Gabriel leads one of the most talented teams in the land and returns as the most proven commodity in the QB ranks this year.
Gabriel is the most accurate deep ball thrower we’ve seen in a decade, yet it’s his mobility from within the pocket that sets him apart. No throw is out of range and no window is too small for Gabriel.
He’s set up for the most success at Oregon and he brings the most talent at the quarterback position of the top signal-callers returning to college football this season.
Defensive Player of the Year: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
What we haven’t said about Pearce above can now be expanded upon. Pearce is a dominant force at the point of attack, no matter the play call. If it’s a run, Pearce can shed his blocker and get downhill in a hurry.
But if it’s a pass, you better believe opposing offensive lines are set to double-team Pearce this season. And they’d be wise to do such a thing.
Pearce ripped through for multiple pressures in seemingly every game a season ago and didn’t even start until the tail-end of the year. That’s how talented he is.
Biggest Transfer Impact of the Year: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
We waffled back and forth here: Do we give this award to Dillon Gabriel or do we isolate the term “biggest transfer impact” a bit further? We settled on the former, using Gabriel’s roster he’s transferring to as a point of emphasis to Cam Ward, who transferred to a significantly less talented team.
Yes, Miami is talented this year, but the straw that will stir their drink is undoubtedly Ward. As Ward goes, Miami will go. And if he’s as improved as he’s looked so far, this ‘Canes team can go far in 2024.
Ward’s lone bugaboo through his career has been turnovers and ball security, something Mario Cristobal and Co. have seemingly worked on this summer. He’s incredibly talented and should make the biggest impact of any offensive transfer in relation to isolated success.
Coach of the Year: Jamey Chadwell, Liberty
No coach did more with less than Jamey Chadwell did a season ago. Chadwell is bringing Liberty to the national stage once again and presents a tough out for any opponent on their schedule. In fact, he likely presents a sure-fire loss for every team they go against in 2024.
Chadwell’s scheme, roster construction, and overall philosophy have taken Liberty to new heights and 2024 should be more of the same.
Impact Freshman of the Year: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
To have your black stripe taken away as early as Jeremiah Smith did really sums up how talented the top freshman receiver is. He’s set up to have the biggest impact not only on the field, but because of the incredibly talented wide receiver room he’s set to battle through in order to see the field.
Word out of Columbus is simple: Smith is special. And he’s about to put on a show in 2024. Look for his special abilities to be on display early and often through OSU’s early-season schedule.
Preseason All-American Offense
Quarterback of the Year: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
What more can we say about Gabriel? Short of going on forever, it’s really quite simple: He’s the most efficient and reliable quarterback returning to the game and the one who is clearly set up to put up the biggest numbers in 2024.
There’s a reason he’s on top of the latest Heisman odds after all.
Gabriel has thrown for 14,865 passing yards in his illustrious career, tossing 125 touchdowns in the process. He averages 8.9 yards per attempt, but enters the Oregon offense on the heels of a career-best 9.5 yards per attempt last season with Oklahoma.
If anyone across the country has proven to be apt at adjusting quickly to new surroundings, it’s Gabriel. A leader of men and a talented signal-caller, Gabriel is the complete package at the most important position in all of team sports.
Running Back of the Year: Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
The reigning Doak Walker Award winner and last season’s CFN Top Running Back of the Year award winner returns to Stillwater, hoping to improve on what was a ridiculous stretch of games for Ollie Gordon II last year. Gordon torched opposing defenses for 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns, but that barely begins to discuss his impact on Oklahoma State’s success last year.
As Gordon began to gain national attention — right after his 282-yard output against WVU — opposing defenses began to focus on him, stacking defenders in the box, putting specific defensive formations on the field, and selling out against the run. It would come as no surprise that of Alan Bowman’s 15 total passing touchdowns last year, he threw nine of them after that WVU game and had his most successful stretch of his brief tenure to date.
Gordon is a dynamic runner with speed, size, elusiveness, contact balance, and every thinkable trait an elite running back needs. He can also catch it out of the backfield and make defenders look silly in the process. Gordon is the most elite do-it-all running back who still remains nationally underrated, it feels.
Wide Receiver of the Year: Luther Burden III, Missouri
A man who needs little introduction to those at College Football Network, Luther Burden III exploded onto the scene with Missouri in 2022, carrying that success as a true freshman over into a sensational sophomore season.
As talented as Burden is in space and as a separator, it’s the fact that he returns his QB (Brady Cook) and his offensive coordinator (Kirby Moore) in 2024, setting him up for a potentially record-breaking campaign.
As if hauling in over 1,200 yards wasn’t enough last year. Burden is as talented as they come with his hands, routes, quick feet, awareness, and after-the-catch ability, winning no matter where he’s aligned on the field.
You’ve been warned, Burden is the most talented receiver in football and should be on the same pedestal we all placed Marvin Harrison Jr. on last preseason.
Tight End of the Year: Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Wake up, fans, the college football world is bigger than the top four teams that the big media entities talk about. In fact, college football — at it’s core — is best enjoyed when watching programs like Bowling Green and players like Harold Fannin Jr. dominate regularly on Saturdays (or Tuesdays and Wednesdays for BGSU’s midweek MACtion slate).
Fannin was the go-to target for the Falcons a season ago, repaying his quarterbacks with a ridiculous average yards per catch over 14 yards and six scores. He caught everything thrown his way and did so while receiving double-teams and sometimes triple-teams down the stretch of the season.
Bowling Green did an immaculate job of scheming Fannin open on tunnel screens, and he took most of those plays to the maximum distance allowed by the defenses, if not extracting even more than he should have. He’s a talented pass catcher while representing an equally as gifted blocker in both facets.
With his all-around skill set, Fannin is must-watch TV in 2024.
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Clay Webb, G, Jacksonville State
Thanks to EA Sports College Football 25, Clay Webb is no longer a sleeper at the national level. One of the top-rated guards in the game, Webb has been arguably the best guard in the country for the past two seasons at Jacksonville State.
Formerly a Georgia Bulldog, Webb exploded onto the national stage with the Gamecocks in 2022 and parlayed that success over at the FBS level in 2023 with the littlest of ease.
Webb can bully smaller defenders or use his incredibly quick feet and hands to overpower even the fastest of rushers. Though he may lack a bit of size on the inside against bigger pass-rushers, Webb hardly gives up an inch and even more rarely gives up a single pressure on his quarterback.
A mauler on the ground and a physically dominant pass protector, Webb has it all.
Offensive Tackle of the Year: Will Campbell, LSU
They don’t make ’em much better than Will Campbell in terms of stalwart protectors on the left side. At 6’6″ and 320 pounds, Campbell packs a punch with his size, but it’s his nimble footwork and solid foundation that surely has NFL Draft scouts drooling.
But stay away NFL, Campbell is ours for at least this season. And you better be watching when he takes the field in 2024.
Campbell has put forth two dominant years at LSU, paving the way as one of the most technically-refined lineman in the country while also presenting as one of the strongest and athletic big men in the game.
Offensive Guard of the Year: Clay Webb, Jacksonville State
As we said, it was never in doubt who the top offensive guard in all of college football was in 2024. Webb is just simply that dude when it comes to returning production and overall elite skill set.
Need a pancake block on the ground? Webb’s your guy.
Need a stalwart pass protector on the inside? Webb is, again, your guy.
You name it, Webb can handle it. The Gamecocks know it, opposing CUSA defenses know it, and the nation is waking up to his overall skill set.
Offensive Center of the Year: Parker Brailsford, Alabama
Parker Brailsford was the only other player in consideration for impact newcomer and offensive transfer of the year with the two quarterbacks in question. And that speaks volumes to the big man’s ability on the inside.
Oft-overlooked, a center’s ability within their offense should be measured by not just their consistency on the ground or in pass protection but also with their ability to call the shots on the offensive line and be the only person on the field that’s guaranteed to touch the ball on every play.
Brailsford is consistent in all facets and really turned it up a notch against top-tier opponents. He’s gifted in pass protection, but a physically-dominant specimen on the ground.
Offensive Line of the Year: Georgia Bulldogs
Across their front, there is no better offensive line returning to college football than the Bulldogs. From left to right: Earnest Greene III, Dylan Fairchild, Jared Wilson, Tate Ratledge, and Xavier Truss represent arguably the best five-a-side we’ve seen in some time.
In fact, those five could all hear their names called early next April, if not bring home some serious hardware in December as well. Greene III is the relative newcomer on the left side, but presents with the most upside.
All together, this group makes up a massive thorn in the sides of every Bulldog opponent this season. Or better yet, as a pancake block likely coming their way.
Offensive Transfer of the Year: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
As stated, Ward earns the award as top offensive transfer because he’s set to have the most impact on his new team’s success than Gabriel. Ward is an elevator of talent and should use his past experiences at Incarnate Word and Washington State to his advantage in this situation with the Hurricanes.
When it all comes down to it, Ward is a gifted signal-caller with an incredibly high ceiling if he can continue to take care of the football. The Miami offense hasn’t seen a player with his boom-or-bust ability in some time.
Preseason First-Team All-American Offense
Quarterback: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
What else need be said about Gabriel? Because we can keep going, and going, and going.
Gabriel averaged 304.6 passing yards per game last season, and if you look at Bo Nix’s second season in Eugene (2023) as the new benchmark for success with this offense, Gabriel could very well average north of that figure this fall. Given the fact that the Ducks are a heavy favorite to make the College Football Playoff and potentially compete for the Big Ten Championship this season, that gives Gabriel 12 meaningful regular season games and at least two postseason contests to push his yardage total sky high.
Nix averaged 318.1 yards per game in 2023 with the Ducks. If you average the two (304.6 and 318.1) you get a relatively large target of 311.4 yards per game as a safe number for Gabriel to attain in 2024.
Through 14 games next season, that’d be a total of 4,359 passing yards. All that total would do is push Gabriel’s career passing yard total to 19,224. Or to put it even more simply: That’d be 7 yards ahead of Case Keenum on the all-time passing list.
Running Back: Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
As mentioned, Gordon’s skill set is completely well-rounded. He totaled well over 2,000 all-purpose yards a season ago, scoring 22 total touchdowns in the process. It’s not just the all-around ability that makes him such a talented back, it’s the mix of size, speed, and elite receiving abilities that mirror his ability on the ground that does.
Gordon is a home-run threat on the ground or through the air. He’s a smash-mouth back through the tackles or a speedster when he gets into the open field. Few can catch him, and even fewer can tackle him one-on-one.
Running Back: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Speaking of multi-talented running backs, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty may not be a household name — yet — but he’s well on his way to being a high NFL Draft pick, though we likely get him for another season in college football. The Broncos star hauled in nearly 600 yards through the air and five scores to go with his 1,344 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns a season ago.
Jeanty possesses an elite first step at every level: in the backfield, at the line of scrimmage, and making a defender miss. He uses his lightning-fast feet to avoid tacklers in space just as he uses his surprisingly strong frame to power through arm tackles all over the field.
When it boils down to it, Jeanty is the most elusive back in college football, and Boise State does a tremendous job of manufacturing touches for their star despite opposing defenses keying on him.
Wide Receiver: Luther Burden III, Missouri
Burden is a star; there are no two ways around that. What makes Burden’s stardom all the more impressive is the fact that he came with such high expectations when he signed with Mizzou.
As the consensus No. 1 receiver recruit (and No. 3 overall player), Burden spurned many of the “blue blood” programs to stay close to home and play for Eli Drinkwitz. A decision many penciled in as the future of Missouri Football.
Despite those lofty expectations, Burden captured the hearts of the Tigers faithful with his electric special teams play while still making an impact as a true freshman receiver. This was, of course, prior to his breakout season in 2023.
Now, entering Year 3, those expectations have been put to pasture, and Burden is free to continue to build on his legacy. A legacy that is likely to end with some more hardware if all goes to plan, including his spot here.
Wide Receiver: Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
Dudes who stand 6’5″ and 210 pounds shouldn’t be able to do the things that Tetairoa McMillan does when the ball is in the air. But that’s not even close to describing the gifts that McMillan has because whenever he’s making a highlight-reel catch look incredibly easy, he’s also likely running full speed and has two defenders bracketing him in coverage.
McMillan is a mismatch all over the field and has historically good hands. He’ll catch everything thrown his way with his incredibly sticky hands and long reach. His natural length at the catch point gives him an advantage over every defensive back in his wake and his body control only makes him more difficult to cover in any one-on-one situation.
As the proverbial expression goes, any 50-50 ball thrown to McMillan is more likely a 75-25 ball in favor of the offense.
Wide Receiver: Ricky White, UNLV
There was a time that us here at College Football Network warned viewers of Ricky White’s skill. The year was 2022. Okay, fine, it was two preseasons.
All White did last year was break out with a 600-plus yard season and multiple touchdowns, only to follow that up with a near-1,500-yard season and eight more scores in 2023. Now, he’s back as a First-Team All-American selection and a gifted one to boot.
White can flat-out fly. He’ll line up anywhere on the field, though he dominates outside, and can utilize his natural separation ability against any type of defender in his wake. He’s got vice grips attached to his hands and uses his elite body control to make himself a viable target, no matter the depth of the field.
Tight End: Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Fannin stands 6’4″ and 230 pounds. He’s a mismatch for slower linebackers with his speed and an imposing force for smaller safeties to see in coverage. Because of that, no matter where Fannin gets the ball, he’s a threat to take it the distance, or at least for a first down, the latter of which he whipped out at a fast rate a season ago.
Fannin is a running back with the ball in his hands and averaged north of nine yards after the catch per reception a season ago. Oh, and as we mentioned before, Fannin can block with the best of them.
In fact, Fannin is so talented that you can classify his receiving, pass-blocking, and run-blocking skills at elite levels.
Flex Offense: Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
Landing at the flex offensive spot, Omarion Hampton plays second fiddle to no running back in college football. Hampton is an electric downhill runner just as he is a savvy, elusive back in space.
Find him with the ball in his hands and he’s liable to make defenders look silly in his wake. With 15 touchdowns on the ground and 1,500 yards, Hampton rushed for over 150 yards in five different outings a year ago, including a career-high 234 against App State early in the season.
The simple fact of the matter is this, though: Hampton is a bruising back with an elusive ability that somehow gets overlooked. He’ll churn through contact with ease and it’s not likely that one tackler can bring him down. For as elusive as he is, Hampton’s yards after contact don’t get talked about enough.
Tackle: Will Campbell, LSU
As mentioned, Campbell is downright dominant, and he has been for two seasons now. As the NFL likely comes calling (early) for Campbell next April, fans of his at LSU can remember fondly that three-year stretch where Campbell was essentially a brick wall in pass protection and even more talented in space as a run blocker.
There is not a single defender in college football that wants to see Campbell running their way. And there are even less that want to try and go up against him when it comes to getting after the quarterback because it simply never ends up going your way.
Guard: Tate Ratledge, Georgia
A dominating physical force, Tate Ratledge had to wait his turn for two seasons until he finally got his shot in 2022. He followed up a dominant 2022 season with a downright brilliant 2023 and he’s back to finish off his career with a bang for the Bulldogs.
Ratledge is big and mean, physical and athletically gifted. At 6’6″ and 310 pounds, he’s shaped like a tackle but has big-man moves on the inside. A sound run blocker, Ratledge has the anchor of a highly-paid left tackle when it comes to pass protection.
He does it all at elite levels, and for one last season, Ratledge is back to prove he’s in the conversation as the top interior blocker in all of college football.
Center: Parker Brailsford, Alabama
After a dominant year at Washington, you better believe Kalen DeBoer’s first call when he took over at Alabama was to try and retain his gifted center in Brailsford. Sure, we don’t know if it was actually his first call, but with how quickly Brailsford entered and exited the portal, it had to be up there.
But it’s all for good reason. Brailsford was a stalwart in pass protection. Given the number of snaps the Washington offense played last year, the fact that such little pressure came up the middle on Michael Penix is a testament to Brailsford in its own right.
For Brailsford, however, it’s his run blocking that takes the cake. A mauler or road grader doesn’t even cut it. He’s downright scary to see coming at you in the run game.
Guard: Clab Webb, Jacksonville State
It’s amazing to think that at one time, the Georgia Bulldogs had Ratledge and Webb alongside Broderick Jones, Sedrick Van Pran, Jamaree Salyer, Warren McClendon, Xavier Truss, and Justin Shaffer.
What’s even more amazing is that Webb — the lone defect — may be the most talented of the whole group. Jacksonville State has seen the benefits of Webb’s talent for two seasons now, with one final year to go.
If history is any indicator, Webb’s 2024 season is set to be his best yet, and he’s finally starting to get the national recognition he deserves.
Tackle: Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
A big man with a bad attitude, you don’t want to get in front of Wyatt Milum in any facet as a defender. Stuck with trying to get by him to bring down a running back? You’re going to be pancaked more often than not.
Tasked with going against him in a pass-rush situation? Advantage: Milum.
The big man from Huntington has come into his own over the past three seasons at West Virginia and as he enters his fourth season as a starting tackle for the Mountaineers, Milum is one of the nation’s best.
Preseason Second-Team All-American Offense
QB: Carson Beck, Georgia
RB: Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
RB: RJ Harvey, UCF
WR: Kevin Concepcion, NC State
WR: Tory Horton, Colorado State
WR: Tre Harris, Ole Miss
TE: RJ Maryland, SMU
FLEX: Zachariah Branch, USC
OT: Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
OG: Cole Potts, James Madison
OC: Maurice Smith, Florida State
OG: Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
OT: Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona
Preseason Third-Team All-American Offense
QB: Kaidon Salter, Liberty
RB: Jaydn Ott, Cal
RB: Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech
WR: Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
WR: Evan Stewart, Oregon
WR: Tez Johnson, Oregon
TE: Amari Niblack, Texas
FLEX: Barion Brown, Kentucky
OT: Josh Conerly, Oregon
OG: Dylan Fairchild, Georgia
OC: Jonah Monheim, USC
OG: John Champe, Northern Illinois
OT: Emery Jones Jr., LSU
Preseason Honorable Mention All-American Offense
QB: Noah Fifita, Arizona
QB: Jalen Milroe, Alabama
QB: Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
QB: Seth Henigan, Memphis
RB: Devin Neal, Kansas
RB: Ismail Mahdi, Texas State
RB: DJ Giddens, Kansas State
RB: Dean Connors, Rice
RB: Quinton Cooley, Liberty
RB: TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
WR: Antwane Wells Jr., Ole Miss
WR: Xavier Restrepo, Miami
WR: Kris Mitchell, Notre Dame
WR: Joey Hobert, Texas State
WR: Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
WR: Caullin Lacy, Louisville
WR: Jalen Royals, Utah State
WR: Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
TE: Colston Loveland, Michigan
TE: Bryson Nesbit, North Carolina
TE: Brant Kuithe, Utah
FLEX: Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse
FLEX: Jalen Buckley, Western Michigan
FLEX: Terion Stewart, Bowling Green
OT: Ajani Cornelius, Oregon
OT: Earnest Greene III, Georgia
OT: Darius Washington, Florida State
OG: Logan Jones, Iowa
OG: Garrett Dellinger, LSU
OG: Joshua Gray, Oregon State
OC: Branson Hickman, SMU
OC: Jake Slaughter, Florida
OC: Brian Stevens, Virginia
OG: Tyler Cooper, Minnesota
OG: AJ Gillie, Louisiana
OG: Tellek Lockette, Texas State
OT: Rashad Green, Tulane
OT: Josh Fryar, Ohio State
OT: Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
Preseason All-American Defense
Defensive Lineman of the Year: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
If you feel like we’re going on and on about how talented James Pearce Jr. is, he deserves every bit of praise. Or the fact that he’s just starting to realize this talent and the world better wake up.
Pearce is a dominant force on the outside for Tennessee. Standing up to rush the passer or with his hand in the dirt, Pearce is electric. He can also play off the ball in coverage, which makes him a truly special talent.
As the CFN Defensive Lineman of the Year, we fully expect Pearce to continue what he started last season into one of the more dominant seasons we’ve seen from a defender off the edge in some time.
EDGE Defender of the Year: James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
As mentioned, Pearce is truly a special talent. He can bullrush like a massive interior defender. He can club you and speed around tackles like a pure speed rusher.
Combining the fact with his size and frame makes Pearce one of the enigmas of the 2024 season. Can any offensive lineman actually stop Pearce on a consistent basis?
Our money’s on no. No, they cannot.
Defensive Interior of the Year: Mason Graham, Michigan
When you speak of big man with incredibly gifted athletic traits, you think of Mason Graham. Guys that tip the scales at 6’3″ and 318 pounds shouldn’t be able to move as fast as he does or as low as he does, as Graham just simply dominates at the point of attack.
Graham’s block shedding is arguably the best in the country and he’s a pitbull when it comes to getting after ball carriers. If interior pressure is more valuable than edge pressure, then you better believe Graham is as valuable as any, if not more so, than any other defensive lineman not named James Pearce.
Linebacker of the Year: Jay Higgins, Iowa
It took him three seasons in waiting to finally break out, but when Jay Higgins finally did, boy was it special. Higgins ripped through opposing offenses with elite skill in every facet for a middle linebacker.
Blitzes? Higgins was terrific.
Off in coverage? Higgins was brilliant.
Stopping the run? Higgins was outstanding.
No matter the assignment, no matter the area of the field, Higgins was everywhere for the Hawkeyes in 2023.
Cornerback of the Year: Will Johnson, Michigan
At a time in college football where coverage is king on defense, Will Johnson reigns supreme. Johnson’s brand of sticky coverage is matched at elite levels by his athleticism, range, and shear football IQ.
No pass is easily completed on Johnson in man coverage and he’s a sure-fire candidate to break up passes not in his area in zone coverage. The talent he flashed in 2022 was exemplified in 2023 where he limited quarterbacks to lower than a 50% completion percentage when testing him.
For cornerbacks, sometimes it’s not about interceptions or plays on the ball. But for Johnson, it’s about his total plays on the ball and his ability to lock down an entire side of the field. Few can do what Johnson does on a per-play basis and he gives new meaning to lockdown coverage.
Safety of the Year: Malaki Starks, Georgia
Exploding onto the scene as a true freshman, Malaki Starks took his game to the next level in 2023. Starks spent time dominating from either safety spot, but shined brightest when he was able to roam free and let his athletic ability be put on display.
His versatility shows through when he’s coming down him in the run game on one play or dropping back into coverage and showing of his range in coverage by batting passes down on a complete other side of the field all the same.
At 6’1″ and 205 pounds, Starks has the ideal size of a true cover safety, but his frame has allowed him more strength at the point of attack than it may indicate. Starks is an all-around elite player in every facet.
Defensive Line of the Year: Michigan
The Wolverines take the cake as the top defensive line in the country mainly because of their interior duo of Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. It doesn’t hurt, however, to have Josaiah Stewart, Derrick Moore, and Rayshaun Benny in that defensive front.
The Wolverines possess an elite run-stopping unit, but it’s the pass-rushing flashes that each have shown that give them a significant advantage in 2024. Graham earns the top spot on the defensive line in Ann Arbor as a do-everything type defender on the inside.
But the remaining players have also shown to possess top-notch skills as well. Stewart is likely the most underrated of the group after he transferred in from Coastal Carolina in 2022. A season ago, Stewart came on strong down the stretch and started to realize his full potential, similar to Moore.
With this group, depth is the key to their success, but their talent at the top is unmatched across the country.
Secondary of the Year: Ohio State
Even before the addition of Caleb Downs, the Ohio State secondary had its sights set on being the top unit in the country. Downs’ entrance into the lineup secured the title and made it nearly impossible for anyone else (on paper) to come close to catching up with them.
Downs is arguably the best sophomore in all of college football, regardless of position, as his talent at Alabama a season ago came through as early as Week 1. The rest of the Buckeyes, however, are no slouches.
Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun combined for over a dozen plays on the ball last season while doing an incredible job of limiting even the most basic completions into their coverage. Burke enjoyed a career resurgence in 2023 and looks to be back to the same form that had some penciling him in as a first-round NFL Draft pick.
Elsewhere, Lathan Ransom, Jordan Hancock, Ja’Had Carter, and Lorenzo Styles make up an incredibly deep room of talented and ever-evolving talent in the Ohio State secondary. Considering each of those four would likely be a starter at the majority of other FBS schools across the country, the Ohio State secondary is beyond reproach in 2024.
Defensive Transfer of the Year: Anton Juncaj, EDGE, Arkansas
If you don’t know the name Anton Juncaj yet, be warned and take notice. Juncaj transfers from Albany and isn’t all too dissimilar from the likes of someone named Jared Verse, who also transferred from Albany after a dominant year.
Like Verse, Juncaj has multiple seasons of eligibility left and could be penciled in as a potential first-round pick if all goes to plan with the Razorbacks. But unlike Verse, Juncaj comes fully equipped with ridiculous size for a man of his talents.
At 6’3″, 275 pounds, Juncaj has positional versatility within his massive frame and knows how to use his strengths at the point of attack. He’ll push past smaller linemen while utilizing his fast first step to beat any flat-footed personnel all the same.
Preseason First-Team All-American Defense
EDGE Defender: James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
If you thought we ran out of superlatives for Pearce at this point, think again. A menacing force off the edge for Tennessee, Pearce brings with him an incredibly gifted set of talents into the 2024 season.
Given the fact that he ripped through over 50 total pressures a season ago and hardly ‘started’ more than a handful of games, it means he’s ready to put the world on notice in 2024. His pass-rushing is already at elite levels, and he has very little left to prove to fans of Rocky Top this season.
Yet, it could be said that he’s still an unpolished and unrefined pass rusher for NFL scouts, so this season could be all about vaulting his NFL Draft stock for next April. Don’t worry, Vols fans, that just means he’ll be dominant on a play-in, play-out basis, and that will absolutely lead to defensive victories more than it won’t.
Defensive Interior: Mason Graham, Michigan
It’s not how much Graham wins that makes him so special; it’s how fast he wins. There were times last season that opposing offenses were set completely off schedule because of Graham’s ability to penetrate and disrupt the backfield no matter the play call.
He sets offenses off script, off schedule, and keeps every offensive lineman in his wake unbalanced. The way Graham wins is with speed and power, dominating every offensive lineman in his wake. The 2024 season could be a movie for Graham.
Defensive Interior: Patrick Jenkins, Tulane
After two years of dominating for Tulane, Patrick Jenkins has gotten a glimmer of the national attention he deserves. Under new stewardship in Jon Sumrall, however, the Green Wave star interior defender could be set up for a career-year in 2024.
Jenkins wins with power and speed, much like many players on this list, but it’s the versatility that Jenkins has shown over his career that gives him an edge over most.
Line Jenkins up off the tackle, and he’ll win. Put him heads up over a center, and he’ll win. Put him as an off-ball linebacker, and we bet he’ll win.
No matter the assignment, Jenkins has shown to be an elite defender against every facet, from anywhere on the field, and in any situation. Power, strength, speed, quickness, athleticism, you name it, Jenkins has it in spades.
EDGE Defender: Abdul Carter, Penn State
We’re not one to force comps around here, but it’s hard not to when you see a No. 11 running around in a Penn State uniform and causing the type of disruption Abdul Carter does for the Nittany Lions. No, Carter is not the next Micah Parsons; he’s Abdul Carter.
But he may just be the next do-everything-at-elite-levels-from-the-get-go NFL star when all is said and done, like Parsons. Carter is an NFL-ready edge defender, transitioning to more of a down-lineman role in 2024 for Penn State.
That means he’ll be able to utilize his dominant pass-rushing ability more frequently this season. And that should scare every opposing quarterback on the PSU schedule this fall. Carter is a thoroughbred athlete with top-notch abilities both against the run and the pass.
Watch 2024 be a breakout year before he eventually hears his name called early next April.
Linebacker: Jay Higgins, Iowa
The 2023 season was downright dominant for Higgins. From the season opener against Utah State to the close of the year against Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl (the result notwithstanding), Higgins was like a proverbial man amongst boys.
At 6’2″ and 233 pounds, Higgins has the size to be a complete disruptor for the Hawkeyes once again in 2024 before ultimately making an impact at the next level. But for one final season, Iowa fans and Hawkeye haters should have the privilege of watching No. 34 run rampant on opposing offenses for one final season this fall.
Linebacker: Harold Perkins, LSU
With speed for days, it took a bit of time for Harold Perkins to get used to his role as an off-ball linebacker in 2023. However, once the position took, he looked like a man possessed. And the gifts that Perkins possesses are elite.
As fast as they come, Perkins also showcased his ridiculous instincts down the stretch of the 2023 season. Sniffing out rushing lanes before coming downhill with a vengeance was the tip of the iceberg to him rounding out his skills a season ago.
A year later, Perkins is ready to put forth yet another dominant display in 2024 for the Tigers. Perkins is a tackling machine with perhaps the best set of athletic gifts at the linebacker position in 2024.
Linebacker: Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
Despite the fact that Jason Henderson has played in just three seasons, one of which he didn’t even start, Henderson currently ranks in the top 30 all-time for total tackles in college football history. So when you call Henderson a tackling machine, you can actually mean it.
Henderson needs just under 100 total tackles in 2024 to reach second place on the all-time list, and considering he’s averaged 123 tackles in each of the past two seasons, it’s a safe lock to say he’ll get there.
That historic figure is a testament to his overall ability, his instincts and nose for the football, his athleticism, and his film study, each of which are second to none at the G5 level, if not overall in all of college football.
Cornerback: Will Johnson, Michigan
As mentioned, the term lockdown corner was invented for a player like Will Johnson. No matter the route, no matter the receiver, the odds are in favor of the Wolverines whenever Johnson is covering the intended target.
He can play off, he can play press. Johnson can jam his receivers, or Johnson can track and trail his targets with the utmost ease.
His lengthy frame allows him to make up for any missed step along the way at the catch point, and his ball skills rival that of an elite receiver. Johnson truly is the complete package outside for Michigan.
Cornerback: Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
To paraphrase Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings, Benjamin Morrison is so talented that he moves as fast in reverse as he does going forward. And that’s a small glimpse at how talented the Notre Dame cornerback is.
There is a reason he’s recorded nine interceptions and a dozen pass breakups over the past two seasons, and it’s that innate and unique ability to play forward as fast as he plays in reverse.
Morrison also plays incredibly well on an island, understanding the routes and plays breaking down in front of him brilliantly. His ceiling is incredibly high for this season at Notre Dame as he’s seemingly gotten better in every game of his career to date.
Cornerback: D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
Of all the players transitioning to Indiana under new head coach Curt Cignetti, the top dog of the group is undoubtedly D’Angelo Ponds at cornerback. The former JMU cornerback earned a slew of honors from us at CFN last season following a dominant display in his true freshman season, and he’s ready to showcase that in the Big Ten this fall.
Ponds has elite range and an immaculate first step in coverage. He’ll stick his nose into the run game all the same but it’s his abilities in coverage that make him a First-Team All-American here.
He’ll stick with any receiver and plays with positional versatility, allowing his defensive coordinators to deploy him all over the field. No receiver is out of range for him as he’ll utilize his ball skills to contest any catch or his beautiful timing to execute perfectly-timed pass breakups on passes into his coverage.
He was tested in 2023 with JMU, but he responded with big play after big play. The sky is the limit for Ponds at Indiana.
Strong Safety: Caleb Downs, Ohio State
As mentioned, there is arguably no better safety transitioning from one team to another than Downs. In fact, there may be no better safety in the country than Downs, and his transfer to Ohio State gave the Buckeyes a clear-cut lead in our secondary rankings immediately.
Downs has a unique set of skills that allows him to come downhill like a linebacker and cover like a sticky cornerback. It’s that rare ability that few have possessed and fortunately for college football fans, we get him for at least two more seasons in Columbus.
Free Safety: Dillon Thieneman, Purdue
The future of the safety position is in good hands with Downs and his running mate on our First-Team All-American list: Dillon Thieneman. Much like Downs, Thieneman flashed as a true freshman in 2023, putting forth a display like few have seen before at the position.
Thieneman can cover with the best of them and uses his range and speed to cover a ton of ground on every play. He routinely makes plays on balls over the middle of the field in coverage or has enough range to make plays at the boundary all the same.
He can stick his nose in against the run and even knows how to time a blitz attempt with near perfection. When it all comes down to it, Thieneman is an elite player for the Boilermakers, presenting a challenge for opposing offensive coordinators to scheme around in 2024.
Safety: Malaki Starks, Georgia
Let it be known, the CFN team was torn between the three true sophomore safeties, so we added a separate spot just for each to fill. This gives Starks the unique advantage as being the top safety, as opposed to being pigeon-holed into one spot at free or strong safety.
And let’s be honest, that’s perfect for his all-around game as that’s where Starks thrives. As mentioned, his versatility was shown in every facet: run defense and in coverage. He also blitzed a handful of times with great success.
When it all comes down to it, Starks is a cover safety with plus-run defense skills. And he’s a darn good one at that.
Flex Defense: Travis Hunter, Colorado
Travis Hunter is the reason we have a Flex Defense spot, though we could likely re-name a spot on our All-American list the “Travis Hunter Award” and give it to the most versatile player in the land. The problem is, that award would go to Hunter until he eventually and inevitably leaves for the NFL.
Hunter is as talented as a cornerback as he is a wide receiver, so talented that he absolutely deserves a place as a First-Team All-American on the defensive side of the ball. He’s not afraid of contact and can use his elite receiving skills to his advantage in coverage on every rep.
His ball skills, obviously, are out of this world, and his knowledge of route trees, stems, and breaks are uncanny. It’s incredibly rare for a gifted receiver to be able to play with his back turned to the ball on defense, but that’s what Hunter is: An incredibly rare and gifted athlete.
Preseason Second-Team All-American Defense
EDGE: Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina
DT: Deone Walker, Kentucky
DT: Howard Cross III, Notre Dame
EDGE: Ashton Gillotte, Louisville
LB: Francisco Mauigoa, Miami (FL)
LB: Barrett Carter, Clemson
LB: Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
CB: Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
CB: Tacario Davis, Arizona
CB: Shavon Revel, East Carolina
S: Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma
S: Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
FLEX: Sebastian Castro, Iowa
Preseason Third-Team All-American Defense
EDGE: Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State
DT: Darius Alexander, Toledo
DT: Kenneth Grant, Michigan
EDGE: Ben Bell, Texas State
LB: Kavian Gaither, Sam Houston
LB: DJ Lundy, FSU
LB: Sonny Styles, Ohio State
CB: Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon
CB: Ricardo Hallman, Wisconsin
CB: Quincy Riley, Louisville
S: Ike Larsen, Utah State
S: Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin
FLEX: Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
Preseason Honorable Mention All-American Defense
EDGE: Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss
EDGE: Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
DT: Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
DT: Adin Huntington, Tulane
DT: Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
DT: Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
EDGE: Elijah Roberts, SMU
EDGE: Trey Moore, Texas
LB: Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
LB: Andrew Simpson, Boise State
LB: Nickolas Martin, Oklahoma State
LB: Jack Kiser, Notre Dame
LB: Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
LB: Power Echols, North Carolina
CB: Denzel Burke, Ohio State
CB: Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech
CB: Aydan White, NC State
CB: Upton Stout, Western Kentucky
CB: Fentrell Cypress II, FSU
CB: Ra’Mello Dotson, Kansas
S: Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa
S: Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State
S: Jonas Sanker, Virginia
FLEX: Raion Strader, Miami (OH)
Preseason All-American Special Teams
Kicker of the Year: Graham Nicholson, Alabama
It was a pretty easy exercise to give Graham Nicholson the top honors here. Nicholson transfers to Alabama, where he can put his cannon for a leg and surefire accuracy to good use on an even bigger basis than he ever did with Miami.
Nicholson was 22-of-29 from 40+ yards in his three-year career with the RedHawks but was simply automatic in his final season with Miami from shorter distances. This was a perfect 17-of-17 from within 39 yards, thus making the RedHawks’ red zone a near automatic point-scoring zone.
He has been good from plus-50 in his career, and he’s improved his lone bugaboo (his extra points) in each year of his career. Pushing it more in favor of Nicholson is the fact that he also booted 52 touchbacks a season ago on kickoffs.
Punter of the Year: Ryan Hanson, James Madison
It’s rare that a punter is the star of a game, but in 2023, against Marshall, the punters stole the show. Ryan Hanson won the day for the Dukes against Marshall by knocking all seven of his punts inside the 20 while averaging 39.3 yards per punt.
He coffin-cornered multiple punts and was dominant on a pure-punt basis in every game. In total, Hanson knocked 31 of his 59 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and punted for an average of 38.4 net yards a season ago for the Dukes.
Specialist of the Year: Ladarius Tennison, UCF
Few players play the amount of snaps on special teams as Ladarius Tennison. In fact, in four collective seasons at the major college football level, Tennison has played in at least 80 total plays across each of the following units:
- Kick return
- Kickoff coverage
- Punt return
- Punt coverage
- Field goal block
He transfers to UCF for his final season in 2024 where he may have a larger role on defense with the Knights, but there’s no denying his overall skill on special teams, and his willingness to play on every unit.
Preseason First-Team All-American Specialists
Kicker: Graham Nicholson, Alabama
As we mentioned, Nicholson does it all. But when it comes to field goals, no returning kicker has been more automatic from shorter distances while also presenting a boot that’s good from distance at the same time as Nicholson.
He makes a welcome addition to the Crimson Tide, as he replaces former CFN All-American Will Reichard, the all-time leading scorer in CFB history.
Nicholson isn’t on Reichard’s level in that regard, but he certainly knows a thing or two about scoring points. After all, Nicholson has scored a whopping 281 points in his career.
And if Nicholson hits 24 field goals, he’ll tie Reichard’s place on the all-time leaderboard with 84 field goals made over a career.
Kickoff Specialist: Will Stone, Texas
With so many kickoffs comes a great responsibility (to paraphrase Uncle Ben). Will Stone booted 96 kickoffs a year ago, and has 181 over the past two seasons. And all he’s done is average a ridiculous field position for their opponents at the 23.9-yard line, on average.
Stone booted 52 touchbacks a year ago on his 96 kickoffs and allowed just an average of 20 yards on returns with his placement and hangtime. In every game a season ago, Stone kicked at least five kickoff attempts and had at least three touchbacks in all but three games in 2024.
Punter: Ryan Hanson, James Madison
As mentioned, Hanson stole the show for the Dukes a season ago. However, that was just his first in Harrisonburg after he was a dominant punter for Sun Belt rival Arkansas State the three years prior.
In his career, Hanson has averaged 40.2 net yards per punt and booted 84 total punts inside the 20. His hangtime has increased in just about every season, but it’s his situational punting that gives him the edge over every other punter in the country.
Kick Returner: Barion Brown, Kentucky
A dominant athlete with the ball in his hands, it’s safe to assume most teams will avoid kicking to Barion Brown in 2024. He took three of his 16 kick returns to the house a year ago, averaging a ridiculous touchdown per every 5.3 kick-return attempts in the process.
Even better, Brown averaged 36.7 yards per kick return and book-ended the season with his third kick return touchdown against Clemson after opening the season with a touchdown against Ball State.
He’s the fastest returning player in the country and clocked his top speed on a kick return in the process. He may not get as many opportunities in 2024, but you better believe the Wildcats would be smart to scheme him back there and do whatever they can to get him the ball in the open field on these returns this fall.
Punt Returner: Zachariah Branch, USC
What a fabulous true freshman season it was for Zachariah Branch. On just 16 punt return attempts, Branch averaged 20.4 yards per return and scored early on in his career. He’s a threat to take it the distance no matter where he touches it, and it’s clear to see that opposing special teams units were kicking away from him as the season went along.
As such, most units won’t have that luxury or will have better punters in the Big Ten this year, that Branch may have more opportunities in 2024 than ever. That is, of course, until the Big Ten recognizes and replicates what happened last year by avoiding him altogether.
Special Teamer: Ladarius Tennison, UCF
As mentioned, Tennison has left his mark on the special teams units at every stop. That includes two years at Ole Miss and two years at Auburn. In his career, Tennison has made a total of 12 special teams tackles, leading up to a career-high six special teams stops a year ago.
He’ll provide a spark on every unit he lands on with UCF as he provides another dominant player in his own right landing with Gus Malzahn and Co.
Preseason Second-Team All-American Specialists
PK: Michael Hughes, Appalachian State
KOS: Dragan Kesich, Minnesota
P: James Ferguson-Reynolds, Boise State
KR: Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
PR: LaJohntay Wester, Colorado
ST: Kobe Wilson, SMU
Preseason Third-Team All-American Specialists
PK: Jonah Dalmas, Boise State
KOS: Tyler Loop, Arizona
P: James Burnip, Alabama
KR: Matthew Golden, Texas
PR: Keionte Scott, Auburn
ST: Botros Alisandro, Purdue
Preseason Honorable Mention All-American Specialists
PK: Mason Shipley, Texas State
KOS: Caden Davis, Ole Miss
P: Ryan Eckley, Michigan State
KR: Jayden Harrison, Notre Dame
PR: Dean Patterson, FIU
ST: KP Price, Boston College
Congratulations to all those players selected. For any questions regarding these selections or the process behind them, feel free to email them to me or ask on Twitter (@CamMellor).