No. 2 Ohio State had four players selected to the Associated Press college football preseason All-America team on Monday, including safety Caleb Downs, a transfer from Alabama.
Defending champion Michigan and top-ranked Georgia — including quarterback Carson Beck — placed three players each.
Downs was second-team All-America for the Crimson Tide in 2023. He’s joined on the first team by fellow Buckeyes guard Donovan Jackson, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and cornerback Denzel Burke.
Downs led Alabama with 107 tackles in 2023, adding two interceptions and punt return for a touchdown. He transferred to Ohio State in the wake of Nick Saban’s retirement and the hiring of Kalen DeBoer.
Tight end Colston Loveland, defensive tackle Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson represent No. 9 Michigan.
In addition to Beck, the Bulldogs placed guard Tate Ratledge and defensive back Malaki Starks, a first-team All-America selection last year, on the team.
First Team
Quarterback — Carson Beck, senior, Georgia
Running back — Ollie Gordon II, junior, Oklahoma State
Running back — Omarion Hampton, junior, North Carolina
Tackle — Will Campbell, junior, LSU
Tackle — Kelvin Banks Jr., junior, Texas
Guard — Donovan Jackson, senior, Ohio State
Guard — Tate Ratledge, senior, Georgia
Center — Parker Brailsford, junior, Alabama
Tight end — Colston Loveland, junior, Michigan
Wide receiver — Luther Burden III, junior, Missouri
Wide receiver — Tetairoa McMillan, junior, Arizona
Wide receiver — Emeka Egbuka, senior, Ohio State
All-purpose player — Travis Hunter, junior, Colorado
Kicker — Graham Nicholson, senior, Alabama
Defense
Edge rusher — James Pearce Jr., junior, Tennessee
Edge rusher — Ashton Gillotte, senior, Louisville
Interior lineman — Mason Graham, junior, Michigan
Interior lineman — Howard Cross III, senior, Notre Dame
Linebacker — Harold Perkins Jr., junior, LSU
Linebacker — Jay Higgins, senior, Iowa
Linebacker — Barrett Carter, senior, Clemson
Cornerback — Will Johnson, junior, Michigan
Cornerback — Denzel Burke, senior, Ohio State
Safety — Malaki Starks, junior, Georgia
Safety — Caleb Downs, sophomore, Ohio State
Defensive back — Xavier Watts, senior, Notre Dame
Punter — Alex Mastromanno, senior, Florida State
Second team
Quarterback — Dillon Gabriel, senior, Oregon
Running back — TreVeyon Henderson, senior, Ohio State
Running back — Ashton Jeanty, junior, Boise State
Tackle — Ajani Cornelius, senior, Oregon
Tackle — Aireontae Ersery, senior, Minnesota
Guard — Tyler Booker, junior, Alabama
Guard — Dylan Fairchild, senior, Georgia
Center — Cooper Mays, senior, Tennessee
Tight end — Mitchell Evans, senior, Notre Dame
Wide receiver — Tez Johnson, senior, Oregon
Wide receiver — Tre Harris, senior, Mississippi
Wide receiver — Ricky White III, senior, UNLV
All-purpose player — Zachariah Branch, sophomore, Southern California
Kicker — Andres Borregales, senior, Miami
Defense
Edge rusher — Nic Scourton, junior, Texas A&M
Edge rusher — Abdul Carter, junior, Penn State
Interior lineman — Tyleik Williams, senior, Ohio State
Interior lineman — Deone Walker, junior, Kentucky
Linebacker — Danny Stutsman, senior, Oklahoma
Linebacker — Jason Henderson, senior, Old Dominion
Linebacker — Nick Martin, senior, Oklahoma State
Cornerback — Benjamin Morrison, junior, Notre Dame
Cornerback — Sebastian Castro, senior, Iowa
Safety — Dillon Thieneman, sophomore, Purdue
Safety — Billy Bowman, senior, Oklahoma
Defensive back — Ricardo Hallman, senior, Wisconsin
Punter — James Ferguson-Reynolds, junior, Boise State
–Field Level Media
