USA TODAY US Edition

Tis the football season

College bowl schedule

-

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Kyler Murray, Oklahoma

Murray draws the nod over Tagovailoa for his overall impact in Oklahoma’s push to the College Football Playoff and his play during the homestretc­h of the regular season, in the Big 12 Conference championsh­ip game in particular. RB: Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

RB: Darrell Henderson, Memphis

Taylor continues his assault on the Football Bowl Subdivisio­n record book as he nears a 2,000-yard season. Henderson had one of the most prolific per-carry seasons in recent history. WR: Marquise Brown, Oklahoma

WR: Andy Isabella, Massachuse­tts TE: T.J. Hockenson, Iowa

Brown was Murray’s favorite target and one of the most dangerous players in the country when in the open field. Isabella put up crooked numbers every week despite being the primary focus of attention from opposing defenses. Hockenson won the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end.

OL: Jonah Williams, Alabama

OL: Beau Benzschawe­l, Wisconsin OL: Garrett Bradbury, North Carolina State

OL: Ben Powers, Oklahoma

OL: Dalton Risner, Kansas State

Williams and Risner graded out as the nation’s top tackles. Benzschawe­l was the most impressive piece of what was another strong Wisconsin offensive front. Powers anchors an offensive line that paced Oklahoma’s offense to at least 40 touchdowns on the ground and through the air. Bradbury was outstandin­g from the middle of the N.C. State line.

DEFENSE

DL: Clelin Ferrell, Clemson

DL: Quinnen Williams, Alabama

DL: Christian Wilkins, Clemson

DL: Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois

Ferrell was ferocious as a pass rusher while Wilkins did a little of everything to key Clemson’s unstoppabl­e defensive line. Smith was again a menace coming out of the Mid-American Conference. Williams came out of relative nowhere to dominate the SEC.

LB: Josh Allen, Kentucky

LB: Devin Bush, Michigan

LB: Devin White, LSU

A star-studded crop of linebacker­s. Allen might have been the top defender in the country regardless of position. Bush was the leader of Michigan’s topnotch defense. White finished second in the SEC in tackles and was at his most productive in games against ranked competitio­n.

CB: Deandre Baker, Georgia

CB: Julian Love, Notre Dame

S: Deionte Thompson, Alabama

S: Taylor Rapp, Washington

Baker and Love shut down one side of the field for two of the best teams in college football. Thompson was another Alabama standout who stepped into the starting lineup and played at an obscenely high level for the top-ranked Crimson Tide. Rapp continues to make his case for being considered among the top defensive backs to come through Washington.

SPECIALIST­S

K: Andre Szmyt, Syracuse

P: Braden Mann, Texas A&M ALL-PURPOSE: Rondale Moore, Purdue

Szmyt led the nation with 28 made field goals out of 32 attempts. Mann currently holds the single-season NCAA record in yards per punt. As a freshman, Moore tore threw the Big Ten Conference, averaging 170.7 yards of total offense per game.

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

RB: Travis Etienne, Clemson

RB: Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky

WR: Jerry Jeudy, Alabama

WR: Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State TE: Jace Sternberge­r, Texas A&M OL: Andrew Thomas, Georgia

OL: Terronne Prescod, North Carolina State

OL: Dru Samia, Oklahoma

OL: Bunchy Stallings, Kentucky OL: Mitch Hyatt, Clemson

DEFENSE

DL: Ed Oliver, Houston

DL: Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame

DL: Gerald Willis, Miami (Fla.)

DL: Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech LB: Ben Burr-Kirven, Washington LB: Te’Von Coney, Notre Dame LB: Dylan Moses, Alabama

CB: Byron Murphy, Washington CB: Greedy Williams, LSU

S: Amani Hooker, Iowa

S: Grant Delpit, LSU

SPECIALIST­S

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States