USA TODAY Sports’ preseason All-American teams
Sam Darnold of Southern California and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson of Louisville headline USA TODAY Sports’ preseason All-America teams, while individual teams such as USC, Florida State, Alabama, Penn State and Ohio State flexed their muscles on the who’s-who list of college football’s top players heading into the 2017 season.
Darnold and Jackson are deserving, but an impressive list of quarterbacks missed out: Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, Washington’s Jake Browning, Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett and UCLA’s Josh Rosen, for example.
USC had three players recognized, with Darnold and linebacker Cameron Smith landing first-team honors. They are joined by two Penn State offensive skill players, running back Saquon Barkley and tight end Mike Gesicki. A pair of Florida State defensive backs also earned first-team accolades in safety Derwin James and cornerback Tarvarus McFadden.
Ten teams had multiple selections: Alabama, USC, Clemson, Washington, Florida State, LSU, Ohio State, Iowa, Louisville and Penn State.
Five players from Group of Five conferences are included. Middle Tennessee State wideout Richie James and Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver were first-teamers. Southern Methodist wideout Courtland Sutton, Massachusetts tight end Adam Breneman and Central Florida linebacker Shaquem Griffin are second-teamers.