[h=1]Steele's All-American picks: Watson, Fournette, Garrett, lots of Bama[/h]Phil Steele
ESPN Staff Writer
ESPN INSIDER
Editor's note: This article was adapted from Phil Steele's college football preview magazine, which is available here.
Putting together a preseason All-America team is never easy. I talk to NFL personnel people and get their input on which players they project as the top NFL prospects for next year. You must also consider the guys who are just great college football players. Maybe they don't have the size and speed to be first-round draft picks, but they are highly productive college football players who play in the right system.
Here's my team -- starting with my five toughest choices when choosing my 2016 first-team preseason All-America team.
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[h=2]Running back: Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette, Royce Freeman or Christian McCaffrey?[/h]
For years, my buddy Gil Brandt has told me that not many running backs get drafted in the first round anymore, and he has been right on the money. Last year just one running back was taken in the first round. This year I am projecting three, as it is a deep crop of running backs. I'm going with Fournette and McCaffrey as my first team All-Americans -- both have a chance at 2,000 rushing yards this season.
Florida State's Cook rushed for 1,691 yards and 7.4 yards per carry despite being banged up at times in 2015. He has a veteran offensive line in front of him and is one of the hardest-working players on the team. Oregon's Freeman rushed for 1,836 yards (6.5) in 2015 and could easily top that 2,000-yard barrier.
[h=2]Tight end: Jake Butt or O.J. Howard?[/h]I could make a great case for Butt being the first-team All-America tight end, as he is 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, and can do it all. He had a torn ACL in 2013 and missed the start of the 2014 season. Last year he started 11 games and was the team's No. 3 receiver with 654 yards. He should have an even bigger 2016.
The NFL guys are split, but I'm going with Howard, who is 6-foot-6, 251 pounds, with all the NFL measurables. While he had just two touchdowns in three years heading into the postseason last year, he had two scores in the title game. The knock on him was that he had failed to live up to his potential, but I expect him to do that this year.
[h=2]Defensive tackle: Carlos Watkins, Lowell Lotulelei or Eddie Vanderdoes?[/h]Clemson's Watkins is my choice for first-team All-America. Defensive tackles don't rack up a large number of sacks, but the really good ones will occupy multiple blockers and make the rest of the defense more effective. The best ones are also quick enough to penetrate. My top four defensive tackles all have those qualities.
I could easily have picked Utah's Lotulelei or UCLA's Vanderdoes. Lotulelei has the potential to be as good as his brother, Star, who was a first- round pick and has started 43 games with the Carolina Panthers. UCLA's defense struggled last year after Vanderdoes got hurt, and he should be 100 percent this year; the Bruins will have a much-improved defense.
[h=2]Free safety: Marcus Maye or Budda Baker?[/h]Maye is 6-foot, 207 pounds, and he turned down the NFL this spring. He was Florida's second-leading tackler last year and part of a great secondary. He is at the top of my NFL list at this spot for next year, but it is close. Baker has sub-4.4 speed and played more snaps (1,019) than any other player on the Huskies' excellent defense. During the six months of putting together my preview magazine, he was at the top for about three of the months, and it was a tough choice.
[h=2]Punter: JK Scott or Johnny Townsend?[/h]I'm siding with Scott over Townsend. Townsend is an NFL-caliber punter who missed 2014 with injury. Last year, Townsend was the superior punter, as he averaged 45.4 yards per punt with an outstanding net of 42.1. Scott looked like an all-world punter in 2014 as he averaged an amazing 48 yards per punt with a net of 44.7. Last year he got off to a slow start and averaged only 44.2 with a net of 37.0. While Townsend had the better numbers in 2015, I think Scott will revert to his 2014 form, and that is why I picked him first-team All-America.
[h=3]First team offense[/h]QB: Deshaun Watson, Clemson Tigers
RB: Leonard Fournette, LSU Tigers
RB: Christian McCaffrey, Stanford Cardinal
WR: JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC Trojans
WR: Mike Williams, Clemson Tigers
WR: Calvin Ridley, Alabama Crimson Tide
TE: OJ Howard, Alabama Crimson Tide
C: Pat Elflein, Ohio State Buckeyes
G: Dan Voltz, Wisconsin Badgers
G: Dan Feeney, Indiana Hoosiers
T: Roderick Johnson, Florida State Seminoles
T: Cam Robinson, Alabama Crimson Tide
[h=3]First team defense[/h]DE: Myles Garrett, Texas A&M Aggies
DE: Jonathan Allen, Alabama Crimson Tide
DT: Malik McDowell, Michigan State Spartans
DT: Carlos Watkins, Clemson Tigers
LB: Tim Williams, Alabama Crimson Tide
LB: Jarrad Davis, Florida Gators
LB: Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State Buckeyes
LB: Jabrill Peppers, Michigan Wolverines
CB: Jalen Tabor, Florida Gators
CB: Desmond King, Iowa Hawkeyes
SS: Jamal Adams, LSU Tigers
FS: Marcus Maye, Florida Gators
[h=3]Special teams[/h]K: Andy Phillips, Utah Utes
P: JK Scott, Alabama Crimson Tide
KR: Evan Berry, Tennessee Volunteers
PR: Jabrill Peppers, Michigan Wolverines
LS: Cole Mazza, Alabama Crimson Tide
[h=3]Second team offense[/h]<article class="ad-300" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; overflow: hidden; position: relative; z-index: 1000026; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
</article>QB: Chad Kelly, Ole Miss Rebels
RB: Dalvin Cook, Florida State Seminoles
RB: Samaje Perine, Oklahoma Sooners
WR: Jehu Chesson, Michigan Wolverines
WR: Christian Kirk, Texas A&M Aggies
WR: Malachi Dupre, LSU Tigers
TE: Jake Butt, Michigan Wolverines
C: Tyler Orlosky, West Virginia Mountaineers
G: Dorian Johnson, Pittsburgh Panthers
G: Nico Siragusa, San Diego State Aztecs
T: Zach Banner, USC Trojans
T: Conor McDermott, UCLA Bruins
[h=3]Second team defense[/h]DE: Carl Lawson, Auburn Tigers
DE: Derek Barnett, Tennessee Volunteers
DT: Lowell Lotulelei, Utah Utes
DT: Eddie Vanderdoes, UCLA Bruins
LB: Devonte Fields, Louisville Cardinals
LB: Vince Biegel, Wisconsin Badgers
LB: Reuben Foster, Alabama Crimson Tide
LB: Kendell Beckwith, LSU Tigers
CB: Tre'Davious White, LSU Tigers
CB: Adoree' Jackson, USC Trojans
SS: Eddie Jackson, Alabama Crimson Tide
FS: Budda Baker, Washington Huskies
[h=3]Second team special teams[/h]K: Jake Elliott, Memphis Tigers
P: Johnny Townsend, Florida Gators
KR: DeVon Edwards, Duke Blue Devils
PR: Adoree' Jackson, USC Trojans
LS: Zach Smith, USC Trojans
ESPN Staff Writer
ESPN INSIDER
Editor's note: This article was adapted from Phil Steele's college football preview magazine, which is available here.
Putting together a preseason All-America team is never easy. I talk to NFL personnel people and get their input on which players they project as the top NFL prospects for next year. You must also consider the guys who are just great college football players. Maybe they don't have the size and speed to be first-round draft picks, but they are highly productive college football players who play in the right system.
Here's my team -- starting with my five toughest choices when choosing my 2016 first-team preseason All-America team.
<offer style="box-sizing: border-box;"></offer>
[h=2]Running back: Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette, Royce Freeman or Christian McCaffrey?[/h]
For years, my buddy Gil Brandt has told me that not many running backs get drafted in the first round anymore, and he has been right on the money. Last year just one running back was taken in the first round. This year I am projecting three, as it is a deep crop of running backs. I'm going with Fournette and McCaffrey as my first team All-Americans -- both have a chance at 2,000 rushing yards this season.
Florida State's Cook rushed for 1,691 yards and 7.4 yards per carry despite being banged up at times in 2015. He has a veteran offensive line in front of him and is one of the hardest-working players on the team. Oregon's Freeman rushed for 1,836 yards (6.5) in 2015 and could easily top that 2,000-yard barrier.
[h=2]Tight end: Jake Butt or O.J. Howard?[/h]I could make a great case for Butt being the first-team All-America tight end, as he is 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, and can do it all. He had a torn ACL in 2013 and missed the start of the 2014 season. Last year he started 11 games and was the team's No. 3 receiver with 654 yards. He should have an even bigger 2016.
The NFL guys are split, but I'm going with Howard, who is 6-foot-6, 251 pounds, with all the NFL measurables. While he had just two touchdowns in three years heading into the postseason last year, he had two scores in the title game. The knock on him was that he had failed to live up to his potential, but I expect him to do that this year.
[h=2]Defensive tackle: Carlos Watkins, Lowell Lotulelei or Eddie Vanderdoes?[/h]Clemson's Watkins is my choice for first-team All-America. Defensive tackles don't rack up a large number of sacks, but the really good ones will occupy multiple blockers and make the rest of the defense more effective. The best ones are also quick enough to penetrate. My top four defensive tackles all have those qualities.
I could easily have picked Utah's Lotulelei or UCLA's Vanderdoes. Lotulelei has the potential to be as good as his brother, Star, who was a first- round pick and has started 43 games with the Carolina Panthers. UCLA's defense struggled last year after Vanderdoes got hurt, and he should be 100 percent this year; the Bruins will have a much-improved defense.
[h=2]Free safety: Marcus Maye or Budda Baker?[/h]Maye is 6-foot, 207 pounds, and he turned down the NFL this spring. He was Florida's second-leading tackler last year and part of a great secondary. He is at the top of my NFL list at this spot for next year, but it is close. Baker has sub-4.4 speed and played more snaps (1,019) than any other player on the Huskies' excellent defense. During the six months of putting together my preview magazine, he was at the top for about three of the months, and it was a tough choice.
[h=2]Punter: JK Scott or Johnny Townsend?[/h]I'm siding with Scott over Townsend. Townsend is an NFL-caliber punter who missed 2014 with injury. Last year, Townsend was the superior punter, as he averaged 45.4 yards per punt with an outstanding net of 42.1. Scott looked like an all-world punter in 2014 as he averaged an amazing 48 yards per punt with a net of 44.7. Last year he got off to a slow start and averaged only 44.2 with a net of 37.0. While Townsend had the better numbers in 2015, I think Scott will revert to his 2014 form, and that is why I picked him first-team All-America.
[h=3]First team offense[/h]QB: Deshaun Watson, Clemson Tigers
RB: Leonard Fournette, LSU Tigers
RB: Christian McCaffrey, Stanford Cardinal
WR: JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC Trojans
WR: Mike Williams, Clemson Tigers
WR: Calvin Ridley, Alabama Crimson Tide
TE: OJ Howard, Alabama Crimson Tide
C: Pat Elflein, Ohio State Buckeyes
G: Dan Voltz, Wisconsin Badgers
G: Dan Feeney, Indiana Hoosiers
T: Roderick Johnson, Florida State Seminoles
T: Cam Robinson, Alabama Crimson Tide
[h=3]First team defense[/h]DE: Myles Garrett, Texas A&M Aggies
DE: Jonathan Allen, Alabama Crimson Tide
DT: Malik McDowell, Michigan State Spartans
DT: Carlos Watkins, Clemson Tigers
LB: Tim Williams, Alabama Crimson Tide
LB: Jarrad Davis, Florida Gators
LB: Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State Buckeyes
LB: Jabrill Peppers, Michigan Wolverines
CB: Jalen Tabor, Florida Gators
CB: Desmond King, Iowa Hawkeyes
SS: Jamal Adams, LSU Tigers
FS: Marcus Maye, Florida Gators
[h=3]Special teams[/h]K: Andy Phillips, Utah Utes
P: JK Scott, Alabama Crimson Tide
KR: Evan Berry, Tennessee Volunteers
PR: Jabrill Peppers, Michigan Wolverines
LS: Cole Mazza, Alabama Crimson Tide
[h=3]Second team offense[/h]<article class="ad-300" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; overflow: hidden; position: relative; z-index: 1000026; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
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</article>QB: Chad Kelly, Ole Miss Rebels
RB: Dalvin Cook, Florida State Seminoles
RB: Samaje Perine, Oklahoma Sooners
WR: Jehu Chesson, Michigan Wolverines
WR: Christian Kirk, Texas A&M Aggies
WR: Malachi Dupre, LSU Tigers
TE: Jake Butt, Michigan Wolverines
C: Tyler Orlosky, West Virginia Mountaineers
G: Dorian Johnson, Pittsburgh Panthers
G: Nico Siragusa, San Diego State Aztecs
T: Zach Banner, USC Trojans
T: Conor McDermott, UCLA Bruins
[h=3]Second team defense[/h]DE: Carl Lawson, Auburn Tigers
DE: Derek Barnett, Tennessee Volunteers
DT: Lowell Lotulelei, Utah Utes
DT: Eddie Vanderdoes, UCLA Bruins
LB: Devonte Fields, Louisville Cardinals
LB: Vince Biegel, Wisconsin Badgers
LB: Reuben Foster, Alabama Crimson Tide
LB: Kendell Beckwith, LSU Tigers
CB: Tre'Davious White, LSU Tigers
CB: Adoree' Jackson, USC Trojans
SS: Eddie Jackson, Alabama Crimson Tide
FS: Budda Baker, Washington Huskies
[h=3]Second team special teams[/h]K: Jake Elliott, Memphis Tigers
P: Johnny Townsend, Florida Gators
KR: DeVon Edwards, Duke Blue Devils
PR: Adoree' Jackson, USC Trojans
LS: Zach Smith, USC Trojans
