College Football 2016 All-America Team
The 2016 college football season is just around the corner, and it’s time to honor the best of the best for the upcoming year. The 2016 season features plenty of big names returning to the gridiron, including a standout group of players on offense. Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, LSU running back Leonard Fournette, Florida State running back Dalvin Cook and Stanford running back/all-purpose threat Christian McCaffrey are just a few of the big names returning on offense for 2016. Leading the way on defense is Texas A&M end Myles Garrett and Iowa cornerback Desmond King.
Athlon Sports released its 2016 all-conference teams earlier this offseason, and now the focus shifts to the All-America team. Whether it’s quarterback, defensive end or a spot on the special teams, picking the best of the best is no easy task.
An important note on the All-America teams: These are based on how players will perform in 2016. Career statistics and previous awards matter in player evaluation, but choosing players for the 2016 All-America team and all-conference teams are largely based on predicting and projecting the upcoming year.
2016 Athlon Sports All-Conference Teams
Power 5: ACC | Big 12 | Big Ten | Pac-12 | SEC
Group of 5: American | C-USA | MAC | M. West | Sun Belt
Athlon Sports 2016 All-America Team
| First-Team Offense | Second-Team Offense | Third-Team Offense | Fourth-Team Offense |
QB | Deshaun Watson Clemson | Baker Mayfield Oklahoma | J.T. Barrett Ohio State | Greg Ward Houston |
RB | Dalvin Cook Florida State | Royce Freeman Oregon | Elijah Hood UNC | Jalen Hurd Tennessee |
RB | Leonard Fournette LSU | Samaje Perine Oklahoma | Wayne Gallman Clemson | Myles Gaskin Washington |
AP | Christian McCaffrey Stanford | Artavis Scott Clemson | Charles Nelson Oregon | Nick Chubb (RB) Georgia |
WR | Calvin Ridley Alabama | Isaiah Ford Va. Tech | Gabe Marks Wazzu | Corey Davis WMU |
WR | JuJu Smith-Schuster USC | Christian Kirk TAMU | KD Cannon Baylor | James Washington Okla. State |
TE | Jordan Leggett Clemson | Jake Butt Michigan | Evan Engram Ole Miss | OJ Howard Alabama |
C | Pat Elflein Ohio State | Ethan Pocic LSU | Tyler Orlosky WVU | Jay Guillermo Clemson |
OL | Zach Banner USC | Adam Bisnowaty Pitt | Brian Allen Mich. State | Dorian Johnson Pitt |
OL | Dan Feeney Indiana | Mitch Hyatt Clemson | Mason Cole Michigan | Billy Price Ohio State |
OL | Roderick Johnson Florida State | Conor McDermott UCLA | Dan Skipper Arkansas | J.J. Dielman Utah |
OL | Cam Robinson Alabama | Sean Welsh Iowa | Quenton Nelson Notre Dame | Mike McGlinchey Notre Dame |
| First-Team Defense | Second-Team Defense | Third-Team Defense | Fourth-Team Defense |
DL | Jonathan Allen Alabama | Charles Harris Missouri | Lowell Lotulelei Utah | Carlos Watkins Clemson |
DL | Derek Barnett Tennessee | Arden Key LSU | Ejuan Price Pitt | Sam Hubbard Ohio State |
DL | Myles Garrett TAMU | Charles Walker Oklahoma | Eddie Vanderdoes UCLA | Tyquan Lewis Ohio State |
DL | Malik McDowell Mich. State | DeMarcus Walker Florida State | Chris Wormley Michigan | Jarrad Davis (LB) Florida |
LB | Devonte Fields Louisville | Zach Cunningham Vanderbilt | Josey Jewell Iowa | Kendell Beckwith LSU |
LB | Raekwon McMillan Ohio State | Reuben Foster Alabama | Keith Kelsey Louisville | Riley Bullough Mich. State |
LB | Anthony Walker Northwestern | Jabrill Peppers Michigan | Jalen Reeves-Maybin Tennessee | Tim Williams Alabama |
CB | Desmond King Iowa | Adoree' Jackson USC | Cordrea Tankersley Clemson | Sidney Jones Washington |
CB | Jourdan Lewis Michigan | Jalen Tabor Florida | Tre'Davious White LSU | Jordan Thomas Oklahoma |
S | Jamal Adams LSU | Budda Baker Washington | Marcus Maye Florida | Quin Blanding Virginia |
S | Derwin James Florida State | Eddie Jackson Alabama | Jordan Whitehead Pitt | Tony Conner Ole Miss |
| First-Team Specialists | Second-Team Specialists | Third-Team | Fourth-Team Specialists |
K | Daniel Carlson Auburn | Andy Phillips Utah | Jake Elliott Memphis | Griffin Oakes Indiana |
P | JK Scott Alabama | Cameron Johnston Ohio State | Hayden Hunt Colorado State | Michael Carrizosa SJSU |
KR | Evan Berry Tennessee | Rashaad Penny SDSU | Christian McCaffrey Stanford | DeVon Edwards Duke |
PR | Cameron Sutton Tennessee | William Likely Maryland | Antonio Callaway Florida | Ryan Switzer UNC |
Conference Breakdown of All-America Selections
| First | Second | Third | Fourth | Overall |
ACC | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 23 |
Big 12 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
Big Ten | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 22 |
Pac-12 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 16 |
SEC | 11 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 32 |
Independents | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
American | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Conference USA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MAC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Mountain West | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Sun Belt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Team Breakdown of All-America Selections
Team | Number of Selections |
Clemson | 8 |
Alabama | 8 |
Ohio State | 7 |
LSU | 6 |
Michigan | 5 |
Tennessee | 5 |
Florida State | 4 |
Pitt | 4 |
Oklahoma | 4 |
Florida | 4 |
Iowa | 3 |
Michigan State | 3 |
USC | 3 |
Utah | 3 |
Washington | 3 |
Louisville | 2 |
North Carolina | 2 |
Indiana | 2 |
Oregon | 2 |
Stanford | 2 |
UCLA | 2 |
Ole Miss | 2 |
Texas A&M | 2 |
Notre Dame | 2 |
Duke | 1 |
Virginia | 1 |
Virginia Tech | 1 |
Baylor | 1 |
West Virginia | 1 |
Oklahoma State | 1 |
Maryland | 1 |
Northwestern | 1 |
1 | |
Arkansas | 1 |
Auburn | 1 |
Georgia | 1 |
Missouri | 1 |
Vanderbilt | 1 |
Western Michigan | 1 |
Colorado State | 1 |
San Jose State | 1 |
San Diego State | 1 |
Houston | 1 |
Memphis | 1 |
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