Tag: AP All-America Team

Duke cornerback Chandler Rivers named Third-Team All-American by Associated Press

Duke cornerback Chandler Rivers was one of six players at his position named to the AP All-America team on Monday.

[autotag]Chandler Rivers[/autotag], the anchor of the 2024 Duke defense, earned some national recognition for his junior campaign on Monday.

The Associated Press released the AP All-America team to start the week, and Rivers joined Michigan Wolverines star Will Johnson on the Third-Team defensive squad.

Rivers intercepted three passes this season, including one he returned for a touchdown against the Florida State Seminoles, and he nabbed one from Heisman Trophy finalist Cam Ward two weeks later. He racked up 52 total tackles, including 7.5 for a loss, and he broke up nine other passes to finish tied for third among ACC defensive backs in passes defended.

The third-year corner was the only Blue Devil to make the All-ACC First Team from the conference, and the Associated Press placed him and offensive tackle Brian Parker II on its All-ACC First Team squad.

Duke basketball star Cooper Flagg named to AP preseason All-America team

Cooper Flagg was the only freshman named to the Associated Press preseason All-America team on Monday.

The Associated Press released its preseason All-America team on Monday, and Duke basketball star [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] continues to rack up accolades as he was the only freshman on the roster.

Flagg finished with 24 votes out of a possible 55, leaving him in a tie for fifth with former North Carolina Tar Heels star Caleb Love.

The top-ranked freshman already took home preseason ACC Rookie of the Year honors and made the All-ACC First Team in the preseason poll, and judging by his exhibition performance against Lincoln this past Saturday, the hype is justified. Flagg finished with 22 points, six assists, and four blocks in just 24 minutes, including a resounding block off the backboard in the opening minutes.

Even before this weekend, the 6-foot-9 forward carried the expectations of a generational prospect. He didn’t lose a game as a high-school senior and made the U.S. Select Team for Olympic training camp, scrimmaging against legends like LeBron James and Kevin Durant. ESPN thinks he’s more likely to be the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft than not.

Alabama Crimson Tide star Mark Sears, North Carolina’s RJ Davis, Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson, and Auburn Tigers forward Johni Broome rounded out the roster. Davis, Dickinson, and Broome all appear on the Duke schedule this season, including a November 26 against the Jayhawks in Las Vegas and a December 4 home game against Auburn.

Texas A&M Defensive end named to AP All-America second team

New Texas A&M DE Nic Scourton has been honored once again just a week before the the 2024 season opener

Texas A&M’s 2024 season opener vs. Notre Dame is just 12 days away, as the 7th-ranked Fighting Irish will visit College Station for the first time in 20-plus years. For the Aggies, this will pose as the inaugural opener for new head coach Mike Elko.

Looking to avoid the usual first-year slump, Elko inherited a talented veteran roster while adding nearly 30 players from the transfer portal this offseason, including former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton, who, after two productive seasons with the Boilermakers, has joined a stacked defensive line.

A Bryan, Texas native, Scourton’s journey back to College Station has NFL scouts excited to watch what he can do in the SEC after recording 72 tackles, 48 solo tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 3 passes defended during his last two seasons in Indiana.

After receiving plenty of well-deserved preseason hype, Scourton has been named to the 2024 AP All-America team as a second-team defensive end. Tennessee junior Edge James Pierece Jr. received a first-team designation.

Standing at 6-4 and 285 pounds, Scourton is built like an NFL Edge, coming off his Big Ten-leading 10 sacks during the 2023 season, as Elko and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman are expected to rely on the junior pass rusher to also stop the run at a high rate.

No. 20-ranked Texas A&M will host No. 7-ranked Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31 at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ABC.

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Spencer Rattler, Nik Bonitto named to AP preseason All-American Team

Spencer Rattler and Nik Bonitto Associated Press First-team preseason All-Americans.

The accolades keep rolling in for the two of the Oklahoma Sooners premiere players Spencer Rattler and Nik Bonitto. The two have been featured on every prominent watch list and preseason All-American team this summer. The Associated Press released their preseason All-American teams and Spencer Rattler and Nik Bonitto landed on the first-team.

Rattler had a great 2020. Though it may have started a bit rougher than many expected, he settled in after halftime of the Red River Shootout and led the Oklahoma Sooners to one of the best offenses in the country.

Similarly, the Sooners defense struggled during a three-game stretch that featured losses to Kansas State and Iowa State and a quadruple overtime win over the Texas Longhorns after letting the game slip away late in the fourth quarter.

The defense improved after the Sooners matchup in Dallas, allowing just 17 points per game down the stretch and Nik Bonitto’s pressure off the edge was a big reason for the turnaround.

For the Oklahoma Sooners to reach the College Football Playoff and contend for the school’s eighth national championship, both players will have to live up to the preseason expectations.

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Oklahoma LB Nik Bonitto, C Creed Humphrey named to AP All-America Teams

Oklahoma linebacker Nik Bonitto and center Creed Humphrey were selected to AP All-America teams on Monday.

More postseason honors for Oklahoma players has been handed out on Monday as two players were selected to the AP All-America teams.

Linebacker Nik Bonitto was placed on the second team and center Creed Humphrey picked up a third team selection.

Bonitto has been a big part of the Sooners defensive turnaround in 2020, as he is among the best in the country in terms of tackles for loss and sacks. Despite not being named to the All-Big 12 first or second team, he was selected as an All-American by Pro Football Focus and was placed on the AP All-Big 12 second team.

Humphrey has been the anchor of the Oklahoma offensive line for multiple years now and is a team captain. He was put on the AP All-Big 12 first team as well as the conference’s All-Big 12 first team.

These two guys will look to keep their successful seasons going in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl against Florida on Wednesday night in Arlington.

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