Tag: All-American

Clemson linebacker named second-team AP All-American

Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. has been honored as an AP All-American.

Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. has been named a second-team AP All-American.

It’s the second straight season Trotter has earned AP All-American honors, with the Butkus Award finalist being one of the top defenders in the country. It’s an honor well deserved for the Tigers’ top defensive player.

This season, Trotter had a team-high 88 tackles, a team-leading 15.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions over 676 snaps over 12 games. He took one of his interceptions to the house.

Below is a look at the full AP All-American teams.

FIRST TEAM (offense)

Quarterback — Jayden Daniels, fifth-year, LSU.

Running backs — Ollie Gordon II, second-year, Oklahoma State; Cody Schrader, sixth-year, Missouri.

Tackles — Joe Alt, third-year, Notre Dame; Olu Fashanu, fourth-year, Penn State.

Guards — Cooper Beebe, fifth-year, Kansas State; Zak Zinter, fourth-year, Michigan.

Center — Jackson Powers-Johnson, third-year, Oregon.

Tight end — Brock Bowers, third-year, Georgia.

Wide receivers — Malik Nabers, third-year, LSU; Marvin Harrison Jr., third-year, Ohio State; Rome Odunze, fourth-year, Washington.

All-purpose player — Travis Hunter, second-year, Colorado.

Kicker — Graham Nicholson, third-year, Miami (Ohio).

FIRST TEAM (defense)

Edge rushers — Laiatu Latu, fifth-year, UCLA; Jalen Green, fifth-year, James Madison.

Interior linemen — T’Vondre Sweat, fifth-year, Texas; Jer’Zahn Newton, fourth-year, Illinois.

Linebackers — Payton Wilson, sixth-year, North Carolina State; Edgerrin Cooper, fourth-year, Texas A&M; Dallas Turner, third-year, Alabama.

Cornerbacks — Cooper DeJean, third-year, Iowa; Kool-Aid McKinstry, third-year, Alabama.

Safeties — Malaki Starks, second-year, Georgia; Xavier Watts, fourth-year, Notre Dame.

Defensive back — Terrion Arnold, third-year, Alabama.

Punter — Tory Taylor, fourth-year, Iowa.

SECOND TEAM (offense)

Quarterback — Michael Penix Jr., sixth-year, Washington.

Running backs — Audric Estime, third-year, Notre Dame; Omarion Hampton, second-year, North Carolina.

Tackles — Taliese Fuaga, fourth-year, Oregon State; JC Latham, third-year, Alabama.

Guards — Tate Ratledge, fourth-year, Georgia; Clay Webb, fifth-year, Jacksonville State.

Center — Sedrick Van Pran, fourth-year, Georgia.

Tight ends — Dallin Holker, fifth-year, Colorado State.

Wide receivers — Troy Franklin, third-year, Oregon; Malik Washington, fifth-year, Virginia; Luther Burden III, second-year, Missouri.

All-purpose player — Ashton Jeanty, second-year, Boise State.

Kicker — Jose Pizano, third-year, UNLV.

SECOND TEAM (defense)

Edge rushers — Jonah Elliss, third-year, Utah; Jared Verse, fourth-year, Florida State.

Interior linemen — Byron Murphy II, third-year, Texas; Howard Cross III, fifth-year, Notre Dame.

Linebackers — Jeremiah Trotter Jr., third-year, Clemson; Jason Henderson, third-year, Old Dominion; Jay Higgins, fourth-year, Iowa.

Cornerbacks — Quinyon Mitchell, fourth-year, Toledo; Beanie Bishop Jr., sixth-year, West Virginia.

Safeties — Tyler Nubin, fifth-year, Minnesota; Caleb Downs, first-year, Alabama.

Defensive back — Kris Abrams-Draine, fourth-year, Missouri.

Punter — Matthew Hayball, sixth-year, Vanderbilt.

THIRD TEAM (offense)

Quarterbacks — Bo Nix, fifth-year, Oregon.

Running backs — Blake Corum, fourth-year, Michigan; Kimani Vidal, fourth-year, Troy.

Tackles — Javon Foster, sixth-year, Missouri; Troy Fautanu, fifth-year, Washington.

Guards — Christian Haynes, sixth-year, UConn; Luke Kandra, fourth-year, Cincinnati.

Center — Zach Frazier, fourth-year, West Virginia.

Tight end — Ben Sinnott, fourth-year, Kansas State.

Wide receivers — Ricky White, fourth-year, UNLV; Brian Thomas Jr., third-year, LSU; Tetairoa McMillan, second-year, Arizona.

All-purpose player — Xavier Worthy, third-year, Texas.

Kicker — Will Reichard, fifth-year, Alabama.

THIRD TEAM (defense)

Edge rushers —Chop Robinson, third-year, Penn State; Bralen Trice, fifth-year, Washington.

Interior linemen — Kris Jenkins, fourth-year, Michigan; Braden Fiske, sixth-year, Florida State.

Linebackers — Nathaniel Watson, sixth-year, Mississippi State; Edefuan Ulofoshio, sixth-year, Washington; Danny Stutsman, third-year, Oklahoma.

Cornerbacks — Ricardo Hallman, third-year, Wisconsin; T.J. Tampa, fourth-year, Iowa State.

Safeties — Trey Taylor, fifth-year, Air Force; Dillon Thieneman, first-year, Purdue.

Defensive back — Sebastian Castro, fifth-year, Iowa.

Punter — James Ferguson-Reynolds, second-year, Boise State.

Clemson’s Ousmane Sylla named United Soccer Coaches All-American

Sylla has been recognized for his phenomenal season.

Clemson, S.C. – For the first time in his career, Ousmane Sylla earned All-America honors, it was announced today by the United Soccer Coaches organization. The Dakar, Senegal, native earned a spot on the First Team, as voted on by the organization.

Sylla is the 37th Tiger in program history (44th total) to earn All-America honors and first since 2021.

The senior adds to his many recognitions this season, already having been named an All-ACC First Team performer, the ACC Tournament MVP and First Team All-South Region. Earlier this week, he was named First-Team All-South Region and a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist.

Sylla has led the Tigers offensively this season, with 12 goals and 10 assists on the year. He ranks in the top 50 in Division I in eight categories, including being ranked fifth in the country in total points (34).

To view the full All-American list, click here. This year’s All-Americans will be recognized for their accomplishments at the United Soccer Coaches All-America Ceremony & Reception on Saturday, January, 13, 2024 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches Convention.

–Via Clemson Athletic Communications 

Walter Camp Player of the Year and All-American team announced

The Walter Camp Football Foundation revealed the names for its prestigious All-American team and Player of the Year award on Friday night.

The Walter Camp Football Foundation revealed its Player of the Year award-winner as well as the members of its prestigious All-American team on Friday night.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, the fifth quarterback in SEC history to be responsible for 50 touchdowns in a single season, was named the Walter Camp Player of the Year. He led the FBS in QBR (95.7), passing touchdowns (40), yards per pass attempt (11.7), yards per carry (8.4), and total offense (412.2 yards/game).

Despite the Player of the Year nomination, Daniels was not the quarterback on the foundation’s All-American team. See who was nominated at each position below.

Walter Camp All-American Team

QB: Michael Penix Jr. (Washington)

RB: Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State), Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)

WR: Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State), Malik Nabers (LSU)

TE: Brock Bowers (Georgia)

OT: Joe Alt (Notre Dame), Olumuyiwa Fashanu (Penn State)

OG: Cooper Beebe (Kansas State), Zak Zinter (Michigan)

C: Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon)

DL: T’Vondre Sweat (Texas), Jonah Elliss (Utah), Jalen Green (James Madison), Laiatu Latu (UCLA)

LB: Jason Henderson (Old Dominion), Payton Wilson (NC State), Edgerrin Cooper (Texas A&M)

CB: Cooper DeJean (Iowa), Beanie Bishop Jr. (West Virginia)

S: Xavier Watts (Notre Dame), Malaki Starks (Georgia)

K: Graham Nicholson (Miami-Ohio)

P: Tory Taylor (Iowa)

KR: Jayden Harrison (Marshall)

Dallas Turner named a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award: the nation’s top defender

Dallas Turner being recognized as one of the top defensive players in college football

Despite being a high-end recruit and a very talented player himself, the first two years of [autotag]Dallas Turner’s[/autotag] collegiate career were spent in Will Anderson’s shadow. Turner was sensational his first two years as he combined for 67 tackles and 12.5 sacks, but Anderson was the star of the defense during that span with 152 total tackles and an insane 27.5 sacks. With insane numbers like that Anderson was viewed as a generational prospect and declared for the 2023 NFL Draft after just his junior year where he was selected third overall by the Houston Texans.

Now, with Anderson out of the picture, Turner has became the superstar of the Alabama defense. Through 12 games this season, Turner is already at 46 tackles, eight sacks and two forced fumbles as he is able to just pin his ears back and go get after the passer. It feels like every time that there is a crucial third down, 15 is somewhere around the ball.

Turner will more than likely be a First-Team All-American and Firs-Team All-SEC, but it sounds like he will also be in contention for the Chuck Bednarik Award which is handed out annually to the nation’s top defensive player. Turner would be the 4th player under Coach Saban at Alabama to win the award alongside Jonathan Allen 2016, Minkah Fitzpatrick 2017 and Will Anderson in 2022.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Notre Dame legend Muffet McGraw to have statue outside Joyce Center

Congrats, Coach!

[autotag]Muffet McGraw[/autotag] coached herself to two national championships with Notre Dame and the Basketball Hall of Fame. Now, her likeness will live forever outside the Joyce Center. Joining the many Notre Dame coaching legends with statues on the school’s athletic complex, McGraw will have her own statue unveiled before the Irish’s Dec. 17 game against Purdue.

McGraw earned 848 of her 936 career victories at Notre Dame, where she coached the women’s basketball program from 1987 to 2020, finish below .500 only twice during that time. Only six coaches are ahead of her on the all-time Division I wins list. She was named the consensus national coach of the year three times.

McGraw coached 20 WNBA players, five Olympians and 22 All-Americans. Among her most notable players at Notre Dame were [autotag]Ruth Riley[/autotag], [autotag]Skylar Diggins[/autotag], [autotag]Brianna Turner[/autotag], [autotag]Jewell Loyd[/autotag], [autotag]Kayla McBride[/autotag] and [autotag]Arike Ogunbowale[/autotag].

Join us in congratulating this Irish coaching legend. May she serve as an inspiration for Notre Dame women’s basketball players and coaches in the generations to come.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Two LSU players named to midseason All-America teams by AP

Malik Nabers and Jayden Daniels have been an unstoppable duo this season for LSU.

LSU’s offense has been one of the best in the entire country as we’ve reached the midway point in the season, and so it should come as no surprise that a pair of Tigers were named to the midseason All-America team by the Associated Press.

[autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag], who leads the nation in receiving yards with 860 to go with seven touchdowns, is listed on the First Team. He’s currently on pace to record his second 1,000-yard campaign, which would make him the second Tiger after [autotag]Josh Reed[/autotag] to do so.

[autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], meanwhile, has been named to the Second Team. A legitimate Heisman contender, Daniels is averaging more than 400 total yards per game, which leads the nation. He ranks second nationally (and leads the SEC) in touchdown passes, and he’s scored 26 total TDs on the year.

Both players have been a key part of LSU’s success this season, and they’ve led a special offense that will go down with the 2019 unit as among the best in program history.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

Oregon Ducks RT Ajani Cornelius named to midseason Senior Bowl team

Oregon Ducks RT Ajani Cornelius named to midseason Senior Bowl team

Each year in February, the top football players from colleges across the country are invited to Mobile, Alabama, to compete in the Senior Bowl. Similar to the NFL’s Pro Bowl, the Senior Bowl is an exhibition game featuring two All-Star teams of the nation’s best draft-eligible college football players. Historically, the players selected for the Senior Bowl have had a high rate of success on NFL draft day and gone on to have fruitful careers.

While we’re still in October and a ways away from the 2024 Senior Bowl, predictions for this season’s class are beginning to unfold. Today, the Reese’s Senior Bowl tweeted the “Senior Bowl Midseason All-American Team.” The only Oregon Duck to make the team: Ajani Cornelius

Cornelius is a 2022 transfer from Rhode Island. After Bruce Feldman wrote a feature story on Cornelius for the Athletic, his story became known nationwide. One of the things that made Cornelius’ story resonate with people was his journey from being a no-star high school recruit to one of the most sought-after transfer targets last offseason.

There was a massive rush of schools trying to bring Cornelius in after last season, but on early signing day last December, he chose Oregon. So far, it seems the Ducks couldn’t be luckier to have to him.

Through five games as the team’s starting right tackle, Cornelius has played 304 snaps (the third most on the team). But what’s most impressive about the way Cornelius has played, is that he has yet to give up a QB pressure this season, despite facing 182 pressure opportunities.

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When blocking for the run, Cornelius has been just as dominant. No matter who he faces off against, Cornelius has been able to consistently set the edge for the Oregon RBs — who love to bounce it outside.

Despite being selected to the midseason Senior Bowl All-America team, Cornelius still feels like one of the unsung heroes of the Oregon offense. When asked about Cornelius on Monday night, Head Coach Dan Lanning had this to say.

“I wish everyone could see where he started when he first got here this spring and what he’s been able to do throughout the spring and his development and all the way into the fall. He’s proven to be one of the best tackles in the league. I think he’s really playing at a really high level, but I know he has a high bar for himself and he wants to get even better and I think he will.”

Cornelius and the Oregon Ducks still have a long way to go in order to end this season atop the mountain. Their matchup this weekend against the Washington Huskies will be their most important game of the regular season, and Cornelius will have a key role to play as he faces off against one of the nation’s premier pass rushers, Bralen Trice.

In terms of Cornelius’ individual path, a midseason Senior Bowl selection is certainly not his long-term goal, but it’s a large step in the right direction. Like I said earlier, a trip to the Senior Bowl says a lot about one’s chances in the NFL draft. For Cornelius, a chance in the NFL has to be his objective, and for a player who received zero FBS offers out of high school, it doesn’t seem too far from his reach.

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Danny Stutsman among 247Sports breakout stars in 2023

Danny Stutsman continues to put together a great season and his work isn’t going unnoticed.

The Oklahoma Sooners defense has been the talk of the town in the 2023 season. The defense currently ranks No. 2 in the nation in scoring and has allowed its fewest total points in three decades.

The head of that has been linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag]. Stutsman ranks 11th in the nation in total tackles and 5th in tackles for loss.

There’s no question he’s playing at an [autotag]All-American[/autotag] and [autotag]Butkus Award[/autotag] type of level. The season he’s put in so far isn’t going unnoticed nationally, either.

Stutsman’s season has earned him a spot on 247Sports’ list of breakout stars.

Last season, Oklahoma ranked 94th nationally last season in rushing yards allowed per play. This year, the Sooners are allowing 2.69 yards per attempt, which ranks 15th nationally. There are a lot of people you could credit with that jump, but the spark has been Danny Stutsman. The MIKE linebacker has totaled 43 tackles, 8 TFLs, 2 sacks and an interception in just four games. His PFF run grade ranks fourth nationally among all linebackers, and his 20 “stops” rank among the top 10. Stutsman had great numbers last season – a Big 12-best 125 tackles – but he, like the rest of the Sooners defense, struggled with missed tackles and had issues against the run. That’s completely turned around in 2023. Stutsman is better against the pass, too. Right now, Stutsman is the centerpiece of one of the best defensive turnarounds in college football and is the best ‘backer Oklahoma’s had in several years. – Chris Hummer 247Sports

It’s still early in the season, so we’ll see if he and the defense can continue to play at this high of a level. But if Stutsman continues to play the way he’s been, he’s definitely going to be a household name nationally by the end of the year.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

What the experts are predicting: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State

Who do you have in this game?

Notre Dame is hosting Ohio State on Saturday. Does anything else need to be said? No? OK, let’s just see who the experts think will win:

Former Alabama All-American OT Andre Smith to join HS coaching staff in Alabama

Former Alabama offensive tackle and two-time All-SEC selection Andre Smith will serve as an offensive assistant at Moody High School.

Former Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith was hired as an offensive assistant at Moody High School on Thursday.

Smith was a member of Alabama’s offensive line unit from 2006-2008. During that time, he was a two-time All-SEC selection, a unanimous All-American and was the recipient of the Outland Trophy.

Following his junior season, Smith would enter the 2009 NFL draft. He was selected No. 6 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals. Smith went on to spend seven seasons in the Bengals organization.

After that, Smith played for four different teams in six years. Smith spent time with the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, and two separate stints with the Bengals. Smith last played in the NFL in 2021. Although he did not officially retire, it is unlikely that he will return to playing football in the future.

Smith will be returning to the field in Alabama this season. The only difference is that he will be on the sidelines in a coaching role instead of being suited up as a player.

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