Athlon picks the best players for 2018
The 2018 college football season is just around the corner, and it’s time to honor the best of the best for the upcoming year. The Big Ten and SEC are considered by most to be the top conferences for 2018, so it should be no surprise these two leagues lead the way in selections on Athlon’s All-America Team. The Big Ten has 22 selections, with the SEC checking in with 21. The ACC is third among Power 5 leagues with 19 picks, followed by the Pac-12 at 18. The MAC leads all Group of 5 conferences with four selections.
Athlon Sports released its 2018 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 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 2018. Career statistics and previous awards matter in player evaluation, but choosing players for the 2018 All-America team and all-conference teams is largely based on predicting and projecting the upcoming year.
2018 Athlon Sports All-Conference Teams
Power 5: ACC | Big 12 | Big Ten | Pac-12 | SEC
Group of 5: American | C-USA | MAC | MW | Sun Belt
Athlon Sports 2018 All-America Team
|
First-Team Offense |
Second-Team Offense |
Third-Team Offense |
Fourth-Team Offense |
|
| QB |
Will Grier West Virginia |
Tua Tagovailoa Alabama |
Khalil Tate Arizona |
Trace McSorley Penn State |
| RB |
Jonathan Taylor Wisconsin |
AJ Dillon Boston College |
J.K. Dobbins Ohio State |
Rodney Anderson Oklahoma |
| RB |
Bryce Love Stanford |
Devin Singletary FAU |
Damien Harris Alabama |
David Montgomery Iowa State |
| AP |
Myles Gaskin (RB) Washington |
D'Andre Swift Georgia |
Justice Hill (RB) Oklahoma State |
Cam Akers (RB) Florida State |
| WR |
A.J. Brown Ole Miss |
N'Keal Harry Arizona State |
Penny Hart Georgia State |
Stanley Morgan Jr. Nebraska |
| WR |
David Sills West Virginia |
Deebo Samuel South Carolina |
Anthony Johnson Buffalo |
Kelvin Harmon NC State |
| TE |
Noah Fant Iowa |
Albert Okwuegbunam Missouri |
Kaden Smith Stanford |
Caleb Wilson UCLA |
| C |
Ross Pierschbacher Alabama |
Toa Lobendahn USC |
Jake Hanson Oregon |
Sam Mustipher Notre Dame |
| OL |
David Edwards Wisconsin |
Trey Adams Washington |
Michael Deiter Wisconsin |
Max Scharping NIU |
| OL |
Mitch Hyatt Clemson |
Nate Herbig Stanford |
Bobby Evans Oklahoma |
Chris Lindstrom Boston College |
| OL |
Dalton Risner Kansas State |
Greg Little Ole Miss |
Trey Smith Tennessee |
Yodny Cajuste West Virginia |
| OL |
Jonah Williams Alabama |
Beau Benzschawel Wisconsin |
Andrew Thomas Georgia |
Michael Jordan Ohio State |
|
First-Team Defense |
Second-Team Defense |
Third-Team Defense |
Fourth-Team Defense |
|
| DL |
Christian Wilkins Clemson |
Rashan Gary Michigan |
Raekwon Davis Alabama |
Terry Beckner Missouri |
| DL |
Nick Bosa Ohio State |
Jeffery Simmons Miss. State |
Dexter Lawrence Clemson |
Austin Bryant Clemson |
| DL |
Clelin Ferrell Clemson |
Chase Winovich Michigan |
Montez Sweat Miss. State |
Jerry Tillery Notre Dame |
| DL |
Ed Oliver Houston |
Sutton Smith NIU |
Ricky Walker Va. Tech |
Zach Allen Boston College |
| LB |
Cameron Smith USC |
Devin Bush Michigan |
Joe Bachie Michigan State |
Dre'Mont Jones (DL) Ohio State |
| LB |
Troy Dye Oregon |
T.J. Edwards Wisconsin |
Khaleke Hudson Michigan |
Khalil Hodge Buffalo |
| LB |
Devin White LSU |
Joe Giles-Harris Duke |
Shaq Quarterman Miami |
Dakota Allen Texas Tech |
| CB |
Byron Murphy Washington |
Deandre Baker Georgia |
Julian Love Notre Dame |
Te'von Coney (LB) Notre Dame |
| CB |
Greedy Williams LSU |
Mark Gilbert Duke |
Brian Peavy Iowa State |
Lavert Hill Michigan |
| S |
Jaquan Johnson Miami |
D'Cota Dixon Wisconsin |
Lukas Denis Boston College |
Levonta Taylor (CB) Florida State |
| S |
Taylor Rapp Washington |
Andrew Wingard Wyoming |
Jordan Fuller Ohio State |
Marvell Tell USC |
|
First-Team Specialists |
Second-Team Specialists |
Third-Team Specialists |
Fourth-Team Specialists |
|
| K |
Matt Gay Utah |
Dominik Eberle Utah State |
Rodrigo Blankenship Georgia |
Rafael Gaglianone Wisconsin |
| P |
Mitch Wishnowsky Utah |
Jake Bailey Stanford |
Corliss Waitman South Alabama |
Drue Chrisman Ohio State |
| KR |
Tony Pollard Memphis |
Deebo Samuel South Carolina |
Marcus Green ULM |
Anthony Ratliff-Williams North Carolina |
| PR |
KaVontae Turpin TCU 
|
Mecole Hardman Georgia |
Avery Williams Boise State |
Michael Walker Boston College |
Conference Breakdown of All-America Selections
| First | Second | Third | Fourth | Overall | |
| ACC | 4 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 19 |
| American | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Big 12 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 11 |
| Big Ten | 4 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 22 |
| Conference USA | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| MAC | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Mountain West | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Pac-12 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 18 |
| SEC | 5 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 21 |
| Sun Belt | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Team Breakdown of All-America Selections
| Team | Number of Selections |
| Wisconsin | 7 |
| Ohio State | 6 |
| Boston College | 5 |
| Clemson | 5 |
| Georgia | 5 |
| Alabama | 5 |
| Michigan | 5 |
| Notre Dame | 4 |
| Stanford | 4 |
| Washington | 4 |
| West Virginia | 3 |
| USC | 3 |
| Duke | 2 |
| Miami | 2 |
| Florida State | 2 |
| Northern Illinois | 2 |
| Buffalo | 2 |
| Iowa State | 2 |
| Oklahoma | 2 |
| Oregon | 2 |
| Utah | 2 |
| South Carolina | 2 |
| Ole Miss | 2 |
| Missouri | 2 |
| Mississippi State | 2 |
| LSU | 2 |
| North Carolina | 1 |
| NC State | 1 |
| Virginia Tech | 1 |
| South Alabama | 1 |
| ULM | 1 |
| Wyoming | 1 |
| Utah State | 1 |
| Boise State | 1 |
| Memphis | 1 |
| Houston | 1 |
| Georgia State | 1 |
| FAU | 1 |
| Kansas State | 1 |
| Oklahoma State | 1 |
| TCU | 1 |
| Texas Tech | 1 |
| Arizona | 1 |
| Arizona State | 1 |
| UCLA | 1 |
| Tennessee | 1 |
| Penn State | 1 |
| Nebraska | 1 |
| Michigan State | 1 |
| Iowa | 1 |
