Overview of the College Football AP All-America Team

Roll Tide! In a not-so-shocking turn of events, an absurd SIX Alabama players were named AP first-team All-America: QB Mac Jones, RB Najee Harris, WR DeVonta Smith, T Alex Leatherwood, C Landon Dickerson, and CB Patrick Surtain II. It is the first time since 1980, when the AP All-America team began featuring two wide receivers and two running backs, that a team has placed a first-team QB, RB, and WR. A historic mark for a historic season in Tuscaloosa.

You can take a look at the full selections here. The rest of the quarterbacks were no surprise as well: Florida’s Kyle Trask named to the second team and Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence to the third team (the first time that Lawrence has been named an All-America selection). If I were to guess, that would be how the Heisman voting shakes out plus DeVonta Smith in the No. 2 spot.

It’s incredible how much the SEC has changed in the last decade. While the defensive talent is still there, the offensive skill talent has lapped it and it shows in the All-American team. Joining DeVonta Smith as a first-team receiver is Ole Miss wideout Elijah Moore, who flourished in Lane Kiffen’s first season in Oxford. Florida’s Kyle Pitts was a slam-dunk pick at TE.

Travis Etienne claimed Clemson’s only spot on the first team, nabbing his third All-America selection in his storied career and his first time as a first-teamer.

A few of my other favorite players to make a AA team: 

Kadarius Toney

Florida’s Kadarius Toney made the second team as an all-purpose player, a perfect spot for him. He was electric with the ball in his hands on both short and deep passes, creating a ton of missed tackles. He’s going to be fun to watch in the NFL, he’s already opted out of Florida’s Cotton Bowl game against Oklahoma.

Javonte Williams and Michael Carter

UNC’s Javonte Williams and Michael Carter were one of the best RB duos we’ve seen in a while. Williams landed on the second team while Carter made it on the third team. These stats are just bonkers for two guys who split carries: 

Williams: 157 attempts 1140 yards (7.3 YPC) 19 TD, 25 rec 305 3 TD

Carter: 157 attempts 1245 yards (8.0 YPC) 9 TD, 25 rec 267 2 TD

Both of them were named first-team All-America by PFF, and I can’t disagree with them, there’s a case for both of them. The efficiency is off the charts and will make an NFL team quite happy.

Ty Fryfogle

Indiana’s Ty Fryfogle was a part of Indiana’s 2020 resurgence into one of college football’s best teams and rightfully landed himself as a third-team All-American. The injury to Michael Penix Jr hurt Fryfogle’s production in the final two games, but his performance against No. 3 Ohio State on the road, 7 catches 218 yards and three touchdowns, capping off a three-game stretch of nearly 600 yards and six touchdowns. 

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-By: TJ Mathewson