USA TODAY International Edition
Burrow, Young top 2019’ s best in show
After setting school and conference records with 48 touchdowns and 4,715 passing yards, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow is the star of the USA TODAY Sports 2019 college football All- American teams.
The senior is completing 77.9% of his attempts for the No. 1 seed in the upcoming College Football Playoff. While Burrow was an easy pick as the first- team quarterback, Ohio State sophomore Justin Fields narrowly edged out Oklahoma senior Jalen Hurts and Clemson sophomore Trevor Lawrence for second- team honors.
Fields is joined by a number of Ohio State standouts, including running back J. K. Dobbins, defensive end Chase Young and cornerback Jeff Okudah. Young, the first defensive player to be a Heisman finalist since 2012, led the Big Ten in sacks and tackles for loss despite missing two games during the regular season.
No position inspired more debate than running back. Due to the deep class of runners, Utah senior Zack Moss missed the cut despite rushing for 1,359 yards and nearly driving the Utes into the College Football Playoff.
Each team includes 11 players on offense and 11 on defense along with three specialists – kicker, punter and returner – and an all- purpose player who excelled across multiple positions.
FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB: Joe Burrow, LSU ( Sr.) Burrow rewrote LSU’s record book by October and has delivered one of the most impressive statistical passing seasons by a quarterback in college history. RB: J. K. Dobbins, Ohio State ( Jr.) RB: Travis Etienne, Clemson ( Jr.) Dobbins ( 1,829 rushing yards) was at his best down the stretch as he keyed OSU wins against Penn State, Michigan and Wisconsin. Etienne ( 1,500 yards, 8.2 ypc) was the nation’s most productive per- play back and had just six carries in the fourth quarter all season due to Clemson’s dominant regular season. WR: Ja’Marr Chase, LSU ( So.)
WR: CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma ( Jr.) TE: Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic ( Sr.)
Chase ( 18 TDs) was Burrow’s top target. Lamb averaged 20.8 yards per catch along with 14 TDs in helping OU land another Big 12 championship. Bryant ( 1,004 yards) was the most complete tight end in the country.
OL: Penei Sewell, Oregon ( So.)
OL: Kevin Dotson, LouisianaLafayette ( Sr.)
OL: Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin ( Jr.) OL: Wyatt Davis, Ohio State ( So.) OL: Jedrick Wills Jr., Alabama ( Jr.)
Sewell might be the nation’s best player, period, and is making a case for being one of the top linemen to come through the Pac- 12 in years. Dotson keyed Louisiana’s powerful running game as the Ragin’ Cajuns finished second in the Sun Belt. Biadasz assumed a leadership mantle for a retooled Wisconsin front and bullied Big Ten interior linemen. Like Sewell, Davis is making a case for being a top draft pick after next season. Alabama graded out Willis with a 99.9% success rate during the season. Defense
DL: Chase Young, Ohio State ( Jr.) DL: Derrick Brown, Auburn ( Sr.)
DL: James Lynch, Baylor ( Jr.)
DL: Bradlee Anae, Utah ( Sr.) That Young ( 161⁄ sacks) was the rare 2 defensive player to earn a spot as a Heisman finalist speaks to his jawdropping junior season. No lineman on either side of the ball in the SEC demanded attention like Brown, who more than justified the decision to return to Auburn his senior season. Lynch ( 121⁄ 2 sacks) was the Big 12 defensive player of the year and the heart of Baylor’s ferocious defense. Anae ( 131⁄ tackles for 2 loss) is one of three Utah defenders to earn All- American honors.
LB: Micah Parsons, Penn State ( So.) LB: Evan Weaver, California ( Sr.) LB: Isaiah Simmons, Clemson ( Jr.) Parsons ( 95 tackles) is a freakish athlete poised to be the next all- everything linebacker for the Nittany Lions. Weaver leads the nation with 173 tackles. Simmons just does it all for Clemson.
CB: Jeff Okudah, Ohio State ( Jr.) CB: Derek Stingley Jr., LSU ( Fr.)
S: Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota ( So.)
S: Xavier McKinney, Alabama ( Jr.) Okudah ( three interceptions) has developed into the total package as the Buckeyes’ latest stopper on the outside. Perhaps no freshman corner in recent memory has equaled the impact Stingley ( six interceptions) had for LSU. After missing most of 2018 due to injury, Winfield ( 83 tackles, 7 interceptions) was one of the main reasons behind Minnesota’s push for the Rose Bowl. McKinney leads Alabama in tackles ( 85) and the SEC in forced fumbles ( four). K: Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia ( Sr.) P: Max Duffy, Kentucky ( Jr.)
RET: Jaylen Waddle, Alabama ( So.) AP: Lynn Bowden, Kentucky ( Jr.) Blankenship gets the nod over Iowa’s Keith Duncan due to his three field goals of 50 or more yards. Duffy leads the nation in yards per punt ( 48.6) while Kentucky leads in net yards per punt ( 45.1). Waddle averages a ridiculous 24.9 yards per punt return with two total return TDs. Bowden carried Kentucky to bowl play with 1,235 rushing yards, 330 yards passing and 348 receiving yards.
SECOND TEAM
QB: Justin Fields, Ohio State ( So.) RB: Chuba Hubbard, Okla. State ( So.) RB: Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin ( Jr.) WR: Rashod Bateman, Minnesota ( So.)
WR: Tee Higgins, Clemson ( Jr.)
TE: Brycen Hopkins, Purdue ( Sr.) OL: Andrew Thomas, Georgia ( Jr.) OL: Shane Lemieux, Oregon ( Sr.) OL: Matt Hennessy, Temple ( Jr.) OL: Alijah Vera- Tucker, Southern California ( So.)
OL: Mekhi Becton, Louisville ( Jr.) DL: Chris Rumph II, Duke ( So.)
DL: Javon Kinlaw, S. Carolina ( Sr.) DL: A. J. Epenesa, Iowa ( Jr.)
DL: Quincy Roche, Temple ( Jr.)
LB: Curtis Weaver, Boise State ( Jr.) LB: Logan Wilson Wyoming ( Sr.) LB: Zack Baun, Wisconsin ( Sr.)
CB: Corey Straughter, LouisianaMonroe ( Jr.)
CB: Jaylon Johnson, Utah ( Jr.)
S: Julian Blackmon, Utah ( Sr.)
S: J. R. Reed, Georgia ( Sr.)
K: Keith Duncan, Iowa ( Jr.)
P: Sterling Hofrichter, Syracuse ( Sr.) RET: Joe Reed, Virginia ( Sr.)
AP: Clyde- Edwards Helaire, LSU ( Jr.)