The Sporting News 2022 preseason All-American team is loaded with players from the usual suspects.
Alabama, led by returning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and linebacker Will Anderson, are among the six Crimson Tide players spread across our first- and second-teams. Ohio State, led by first-team selections TreVeyon Henderson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, has five players across our All-American teams.
Notre Dame had four selections, and Clemson and Georgia had three apiece.
MORE: Ranking CFB's top 25 quarterbacks for 2022
The SEC led all conferences with 16 players on this list. The Big Ten had 11 players, and the ACC was third with seven players.
Sporting News is one of five outlets used to determine consensus All-American status at the end of the season. A look at this year's Preseason All-American team:
First team offense
QB: Bryce Young, Alabama
Young is the returning SN Player of the Year, but there was strong consideration for Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud to be put in this spot. Expect that head-to-head competition to continue all the way through the 2022 NFL Draft. Young's brilliant 2021 season included a 421-yard, three-TD masterpiece against Georgia in the SEC championship game. Young finished with 4,872 yards, 47 TDs and seven interceptions.
RB: Bijan Robinson, Texas
Robinson was a SN Preseason All-American last year, too, and he did not disappoint with 1,422 yards from scrimmage and 15 total TDs. He's averaged 6.5 yards per carry the last two seasons, and he averages 12 yards per catch with six TDs as a pass-catcher in that stretch. The possibility of being paired with quarterback Quinn Ewers should lead to even more production for the talented junior.
RB: TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
Henderson's 270-yard outburst against Tulsa in Week 3 was an earlier-than-expected arrival last season. Henderson totaled 1,248 rushing yards, 312 receiving yards and 19 TDs, all while averaging 7.4 yards per offensive touch. That's yet another key part of Ohio State's high-scoring offense, which will put up prolific numbers yet again in the Big Ten.
WR: Jordan Addison, USC
Addison won the Biletnikoff Award last season, and he surprised by transferring to USC before the deadline in the spring. Addison racked up 100 catches for 1,593 yards and 17 TDs and is a surefire first-round pick in waiting if that continues. He joins coach Lincoln Riley at USC, and the connection with Caleb Williams at quarterback should lead to another fantastic season.
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WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Smith-Njigba is a 6-foot, 197-pound unicorn at the receiver position, one that will follow in the footsteps of Ohio State first-round picks Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. Smith-Njigba was unguardable in the Rose Bowl; a game in which he compiled 347 yards and three TDs. He had 95 catches on 112 targets; an absurd 84.8% catch percentage that could lead to Heisman Trophy-level stats in 2022 with Stroud.
TE: Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
Mayer and Georgia tight end Brock Bowers are the top returning tight ends, but we're giving the slight edge to the Notre Dame leader who put up 71 catches for 840 yards and seven TDs last season. Mayer was especially dominant in the Irish's last four games last year, with 26 catches on 32 targets for 347 yards and four TDs.
T: Andrew Vorhees, USC
Vorhees scored higher than 90 percent on both pass and run blocking according to Pro Football Focus last season. He's a redshirt senior who played guard and tackle last season for the Trojans, and his 6-6, 325-pound frame is getting first-round attention at the next level. He'll be the key protector for new USC quarterback Caleb Williams.
G: Caleb Chandler, Louisville
Chander (6-4, 300) didn't allow a sack last season. In fact, he allowed just one hit on the quarterback. He's a physical interior lineman who is one of the most-efficient run-blockers at the position. That will keep the Cardinals' offense moving with veteran quarterback Malik Cunningham this season.
C: Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame
Patterson is arguably the most-reliable offensive lineman in the FBS. He logged 918 snaps at center for the Irish, and the three-year starter has not allowed a sack for his career. That makes him a viable candidate for the Rimington Trophy this season and the leader of a Notre Dame offense that takes flight with offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.
G: Emil Ekiyor, Alabama
The Crimson Tide typically put at least one offensive lineman on this list, and it is Ekiyor's turn. The 6-3, 307-pound senior has 29 starts the last two years and is part of the Crimson Tide's offensive machine. He logged 1,035 snaps and had 17 knockdowns in 2021.
T: Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
Skoronski (6-4, 294) is a two-year starter for the Wildcats who allowed just two sacks and six quarterback hits in 2021. He built on a fantastic freshman season with almost no dropoff and will be a valuable leader up front for the Wildcats in 2022.
ATH: Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
The secret is out on Gibbs, who was third in the nation with 150.4 all–purpose yards per game with Georgia Tech last season. Gibbs transferred to Alabama, where he should emerge as the lead back for the Crimson Tide. Teamed with Young, that gives Alabama a home-run hitting element out of the backfield. Gibbs offered a taste of that with a 75-yard touchdown run in the spring game.
First-team defense
DL: Byran Bresee, Clemson
Bresee has 5.5 sacks in 15 career games from the interior, and he has shown flashes of dominance the last two seasons for the Tigers. Bresee's season was cut short by a torn ACL last season, but he's a back and a huge reason why Clemson is in line for a payback season in the ACC. Bresee should realize that All-American potential as a result.
DL: Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame
Foskey bypassed the NFL Draft for one more season with the Irish, and that's a problem for opposing offensive lines. Foskey, at 6-4 and 257 pounds, has a massive frame and used that to compile 10 sacks and six forced fumbles in 2021. That disruption will continue wtih new coach Marcus Freeman and defensive coordinator Al Golden.
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DL: Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
McDonald remains a consistent edge rusher for the Cyclones. He's hit double-digit sacks and tackles for loss each of the last two seasons. He has five games with at least two sacks in that stretch, including a dominant six-tackle, 2.5-sack performance against Texas in 2021.
DL: Jalen Carter, Georgia
Georgia lost several key pieces to the NFL, but Carter returns as the 6-3, 310-pound anchor in the middle that will ease the loss of Jordan Davis. Carter finished with 37 tackles and three sacks, but he had 33 quarterback pressures. That kind of presence in the interior is invaluable for Georgia, and Carter should be even better in his second year as a starter.
LB: Will Anderson, Alabama
Anderson is the only player on this list who was made SN's preseason and final All-American teams last season. He's a game-wrecker worth the hype. He put up a ridiculous line of 101 tackles, 17.5 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss. He also had 45 quarterback hurries. Anderson is a game-changer on the defensive side that alters the game plan more than any other player in the FBS.
LB: Noah Sewell, Oregon
Sewell is a versatile linebacker whose strength is in the box. He compiled 114 tackles and four sacks last season. Sewell had four games with at least 10 tackles. Now, Sewell gets to work with new coach Dan Lanning, who was Georgia's defensive coordinator. That's only going to enhance Sewell's game.
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LB: Jack Campbell, Iowa
Campbell was a tackling machine for the Hawkeyes. He had 140 total stops, including 14 total tackles in the Citrus Bowl. He also had two interceptions, two forced fumbles and six pass breakups. Campbell missed spring practice with a knee injury, but is healthy and ready for a fifth season.
CB: Riley Moss, Iowa
Moss is a fifth-year player who took advantage of his opportunities in the Hawkeyes' secondary last season. He had four interceptions and a pair of pick sixes. Moss missed three games with a left knee injury. Moss didn't allow a TD in coverage in 2021 and can build on that on an experienced defense.
CB: Kelee Ringo, Georgia
Ringo sealed his place in Georgia lore with the pick six that sealed the CFP championship game victory against Alabama last season, and now he's in a full-time role at cornerback for the Bulldogs. The speedy cornerback had two interceptions and limited receivers to a 36.1% catch percentage on 36 targets. He's Georgia's next lock-down cornerback.
S: Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
Johnson made the most of his first season as a starter with the Aggies. He finished with 79 tackles, one interception and five pass breakups. Johnson guarded the slot out of the nickel cornerback position for the Aggies last season, and he excelled in that position as a dependable playmaker, and new defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin could add a few new wrinkles to his game.
S: Jordan Battle, Alabama
Battle, a senior safety, is the last Alabama first-teamer on this list. He had 85 tackles for the Crimson Tide, and returned two of his three interceptions for touchdowns last season. He was targeted just 26 times last season and opposing receivers had a 53.8% catch percentage.
First-team specialists
K: Jake Moody, Michigan
Moody was a second-team SN All-American last season. He hit 92% of his field goals and was perfect inside 40 yards and on extra points for the Wolverines. Moody hasn't missed an extra point in four seasons and is a reliable fifth-year option for Michigan.
P: Adam Korsak, Rutgers
Korsak continues to reset the record books at Rutgers as a special-teams weapon for the Scarlet Knights. He ranked 15th in the FBS with 45.8 yards on 72 total punts, but it's more than that average. A total of 65 of those punts resulted in zero or negative yardage on the return. He put 52.8% of those punts inside the 20 and he takes a streak of 129 straight punts without a touchback into the 2022 season.
RET: Brian Battie, South Florida
Battie earned SN second-team honors as a freshman last season, and that was after a breakout performance against Houston when he had two 100-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns. That gave him three 100-yard TDs for the season, and that explosive kickoff return ability resulted in 32.5 yards per return.
Second-team offense
QB: C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
RB: Sean Tucker, Syracuse
RB: Lew Nichols, Central Michigan
WR: Xavier Worthy, Texas
WR: Josh Downs, North Carolina
TE: Brock Bowers, Georgia
T: Paris Johnson, Ohio State
G: O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
C: Olesegun Oluwatimi, Michigan
G: Layden Robinson, Texas A&M
T: Clark Barrington, BYU
ATH: Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State
Second-team defense
DL: Myles Murphy, Clemson
DL: Calijah Kancey, Pitt
DL: Gervon Dexter, Florida
DL: BJ Ojulari, LSU
LB: Andre Carter, Army
LB: Trenton Simpson, Clemson
LB: Edefuan Olofoshio, Washington
CB: Eli Ricks, Alabama
CB: Cam Smith, South Carolina
S: Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame
S: Jalen Catalon, Arkansas
Second-team specialists
K: Noah Ruggles, Ohio State
P: Kyle Ostendorp, Arizona
RET: Malik Knowles, Kansas State
