Some of nation’s best are on losing teams
5 on All-america teams at schools below .500
Elite talent is spread across college football, and some of the top players are on teams that struggle. Consider this: five players on the AP All-america teams were at schools with losing records. Here are some great players on not-so-great teams
WR David Bell, Purdue
Bell is among the most dependable receivers in the country. He started all six games as the Boilermakers went 2-4 in their pandemic-shortened season, and he finished with 53 catches for 625 yards and eight TDS. He had four 100-yard receiving games and made a season-high 13 catches for 121 yards and three TDS against Iowa.
DE Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare, South Carolina
Enagbare recorded two sacks and a career-high nine tackles in the opener against Tennessee and finished with a team-best six sacks and three forced fumbles in eight games. He missed the last two games because of injury and is coming off hip surgery in the offseason.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Georgia Tech
One of the most versatile players in the country and a preseason ALL-ACC pick, he had 968 all-purpose yards and seven TDS while playing in only seven games because of injury. He became the seventh Power Five player since 2000 to compile 450 rushing yards, 300 receiving yards and 200 kickoff return yards in a team’s first eight games of a season.
OT Abraham Lucas, Washington State
Lucas excelled in Mike Leach’s “Air Raid” system and was expected to declare for the NFL draft after the Cougars played only four games (1-3) last season in Nick Rolovich’s run-and-shoot offense. The 6-foot-7, 319-pounder said he didn’t think he was quite ready to go pro. Already one of the best pass protectors in the country, Lucas will add to his game with another year in an offense featuring more runs and tighter line splits.
LB Carlton Martial, Troy
Martial is the preseason defensive player of the year in the Sun Belt Conference after making a nation-leading 113 tackles. He showed up as a walk-on and has made a rapid ascent. He made 21 tackles and a late interception in a narrow loss to conference champion Coastal Carolina, and he enters the season as Pro Football Focus’ No. 3 college linebacker.
S, Jalen Pitre, Baylor
Pitre led the Bears with 60 tackles and 13 for loss during a 2-7 season. He also ran back both of his interceptions for touchdowns, including a 30-yarder in a closer-than-expected loss at Iowa State. Pro scouts love his high motor and football IQ.