Athlon picks the best CFB players for 2019
The 2019 college football season is just around the corner, and it’s time to honor the best of the best for the upcoming year. The SEC leads the way on the 2019 Athlon Sports' All-America Team with 26 overall selections, followed by the Big Ten with 21. Alabama has the most overall players selected (nine), with Clemson coming in second with eight players picked.
Athlon Sports released its 2019 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 2019. Career statistics and previous awards matter in player evaluation, but choosing players for the 2019 All-America team and all-conference teams is largely based on predicting and projecting the upcoming year.
2019 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 2019 All-America Team
|
First-Team Offense |
Second-Team Offense |
Third-Team Offense |
Fourth-Team Offense |
|
| QB |
Tua Tagovailoa Alabama |
Trevor Lawrence Clemson |
Sam Ehlinger Texas |
Jake Fromm Georgia |
| RB |
Jonathan Taylor Wisconsin |
Najee Harris Alabama |
Eno Benjamin Arizona State |
J.K. Dobbins Ohio State |
| RB |
Travis Etienne Clemson |
D'Andre Swift Georgia |
AJ Dillon Boston College |
Kennedy Brooks Oklahoma |
| AP |
Rondale Moore Purdue |
Ke'Shawn Vaughn Vanderbilt |
J.J. Taylor Arizona |
Jalen Reagor TCU |
| WR |
Jerry Jeudy Alabama |
Tee Higgins Clemson |
Laviska Shenault Colorado |
Collin Johnson Texas |
| WR |
Tylan Wallace Oklahoma State |
Justyn Ross Clemson |
CeeDee Lamb Oklahoma |
Tyler Johnson Minnesota |
| TE |
Albert Okwuegbunam Missouri |
Hunter Bryant Washington |
Grant Calcaterra Oklahoma |
Colby Parkinson Stanford |
| C |
Tyler Biadasz Wisconsin |
Zach Shackelford Texas |
Creed Humphrey Oklahoma |
Tristan Wirfs (OL) Iowa |
| OL |
Walker Little Stanford |
Trey Adams Washington |
Ezra Cleveland Boise State |
Mekhi Becton Louisville |
| OL |
Andrew Thomas Georgia |
Ben Bredeson Michigan |
Nick Harris Washington |
Penei Sewell Oregon |
| OL |
Calvin Throckmorton Oregon |
Alaric Jackson Iowa |
Tre'Vour Wallace-Simms Missouri |
Alex Leatherwood Alabama |
| OL |
Jedrick Wills Jr. Alabama |
John Simpson Clemson |
Prince Tega Wanogho Auburn |
Lucas Niang TCU |
|
First-Team Defense |
Second-Team Defense |
Third-Team Defense |
Fourth-Team Defense |
|
| DL |
Derrick Brown Auburn |
Bradlee Anae Utah |
Carter Coughlin Minnesota |
Curtis Weaver Boise State |
| DL |
A.J. Epenesa Iowa |
Raekwon Davis Alabama |
Jonathan Garvin Miami |
Leki Fotu Utah |
| DL |
Kenny Willekes Mich. St. |
Yetur Gross-Matos Penn State |
Julian Okwara Notre Dame |
Justin Madubuike Texas A&M |
| DL |
Chase Young Ohio State |
Xavier Thomas Clemson |
Marvin Wilson Florida State |
Cale Garrett (LB) Missouri
|
| LB |
Joe Bachie Mich. St. |
Isaiah Simmons Clemson |
Markus Bailey Purdue |
Micah Parsons Penn State |
| LB |
Dylan Moses Alabama |
Paddy Fisher Northwestern |
David Woodward Utah State |
Jeff Gladney (CB) TCU |
| LB |
Evan Weaver California |
Troy Dye Oregon |
Shaquille Quarterman Miami |
Cameron Dantzler (CB) Miss. State |
| CB |
Paulson Adebo Stanford |
Kristian Fulton LSU |
Trajan Bandy Miami |
Jaylon Johnson Utah |
| CB |
Bryce Hall Virginia |
Lavert Hill Michigan |
CJ Henderson Florida |
A.J. Terrell Clemson |
| S |
Grant Delpit LSU |
Xavier McKinney Alabama |
Andre Cisco Syracuse |
Richie Grant UCF |
| S |
Alohi Gilman Notre Dame |
J.R. Reed Georgia |
Jordan Fuller Ohio State |
Caden Sterns Texas |
|
First-Team Specialists |
Second-Team Specialists |
Third-Team Specialists |
Fourth-Team Specialists |
|
| K |
Andre Szmyt Syracuse |
Rodrigo Blankenship Georgia |
Cooper Rothe Wyoming |
Dominik Eberle Utah State |
| P |
Braden Mann Texas A&M |
James Smith Cincinnati |
Drue Chrisman Ohio State |
Ryan Stonehouse Colorado State |
| KR |
Ihmir Smith-Marsette Iowa |
Savon Scarver Utah State |
Jason Huntley N.M. State |
Joe Reed Virginia |
| PR |
Isaiah Wright Temple |
Jaylen Waddle Alabama |
Pop Williams Memphis |
Britain Covey Utah |
Conference Breakdown of All-America Selections
| First | Second | Third | Fourth | Overall | |
| ACC | 3 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 18 |
| American | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Big 12 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 12 |
| Big Ten | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 21 |
| Conference USA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| MAC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mountain West | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| Pac-12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 17 |
| SEC | 9 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 26 |
| Sun Belt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Team Breakdown of All-America Selections
| Team | Selections |
| Alabama | 9 |
| Clemson | 8 |
| Georgia | 5 |
| Iowa | 4 |
| Ohio State | 4 |
| Texas | 4 |
| Oklahoma | 4 |
| Utah | 4 |
| Missouri | 3 |
| Miami | 3 |
| TCU | 3 |
| Stanford | 3 |
| Oregon | 3 |
| Washington | 3 |
| Utah State | 3 |
| Penn State | 2 |
| Wisconsin | 2 |
| Purdue | 2 |
| Michigan | 2 |
| Minnesota | 2 |
| Michigan State | 2 |
| Auburn | 2 |
| LSU | 2 |
| Texas A&M | 2 |
| Virginia | 2 |
| Syracuse | 2 |
| Boise State | 2 |
| Notre Dame | 2 |
| Northwestern | 1 |
| Vanderbilt | 1 |
| Florida | 1 |
| Mississippi State | 1 |
| Boston College | 1 |
| Louisville | 1 |
| Florida State | 1 |
| Oklahoma State | 1 |
| Arizona State | 1 |
| Arizona | 1 |
| Colorado | 1 |
| California | 1 |
| Colorado State | 1 |
| Wyoming | 1 |
| New Mexico State | 1 |
| UCF | 1 |
| Temple | 1 |
| Memphis | 1 |
| Cincinnati | 1 |
