ESPN releases 2023 college football preseason All-American Team
In just a few weeks, college football will officially be roaring and underway. Fans are hyped, and so is ESPN’s Chris Low, who released ESPN’s 2023 College Football Preseason All-American Team on Monday.
This list is adorned with some of the biggest names in all of the sport, and that’s to be expected. Still, you’re going to learn a thing or two from Low’s selections, as for every Caleb Williams, there’s a Jer’Zahn Newton.
Many of these players will help shape the 2023 campaign, both for their teams and for the sport as a whole. Some will be battling for the Heisman, some for the College Football Playoff, and all of them for victories week-in and week-out.
Time will tell who stands above the rest, but here’s who Low believes does at the moment, in his full 2023 College Football Preseason All-American Team.
ESPN 2023 CFB Preseason All-American Team: Offense
QB Caleb Williams, USC Trojans
It could only be the reigning Heisman as the pick for the quarterback position. While stars like Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy will attempt to make it interesting, the USC signal caller is entering 2023 will unfathomable expectations.
While Williams is the odds-on favorite to repeat as the Heisman winner, the Trojans have bigger aspirations than that. For their last season in the PAC-12, and Williams’ likely last season in Los Angeles, the program will be hoping to get to the College Football Playoff in 2023.
RB Blake Corum, Michigan Wolverines
Speaking of the College Football Playoff, Corum is looking to bring Michigan back to the dance for the third straight season. Unfortunately, the running back’s season was cut short in 2022, a knee injury forcing him to miss last season’s iteration, and messing with a campaign to become a Heisman finalist.
After deciding to return to Ann Arbor, Corum has a ton of hype behind his return, and he’ll have running mate Donovan Edwards to take some of the load off as well. The consensus best running back in the nation is out for vengeance, deny him at your own will.
RB Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss Rebels
That trip to recruit Judkins to Oxford in the rain for Lane Kiffin was more than worth some wet clothes. The Ole Miss running back shocked the SEC in 2022, becoming a freshman sensation in short order.
After rushing for 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns to lead the SEC, Judkins is back for more as a sophomore. With another season in Kiffin’s explosive offense on the docket, who knows what the ceiling is for the ball carrier.
WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State Buckeyes
In the long line of Ohio State wide receivers, Marvin Harrison Jr. may be the most talented. When you look at some of the names, like Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, it doesn’t get more impressive than that.
A concussion in the College Football Playoff semifinal showdown with the Georgia Bulldogs has Harrison Jr. ready to prove what could’ve been if he didn’t get hurt. He’ll be a top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but until then he’ll carve up defenses for the Buckeyes.
WR Romeo Odunze, Washington Huskies
There’s plenty of offensive talent in the PAC-12, but Odunze may be the most exciting wide receiver. His size at 6-3, 210 pounds and innate speed is a heck of a combination, and it gave defenses fits all throughout 2022.
It led to Odunze becoming the first Washington player to amass four straight 100-yard receiving games, and more of that seems to be in his future. With Michael Penix Jr. throwing the rock around, the Huskies can make some serious noise.
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia Bulldogs
The California kid has become arguably the best player in the SEC over his time in Athens. Bowers is simply unstoppable when the rock finds his hands, and there may not be a tougher matchup to game-plan for than the Bulldogs tight end.
With 24 touchdowns over his first two seasons on the job, Bowers has proven without a shadow of a doubt to be one of the best players in the country. Expect more of the same from the Georgia star in 2023.
OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The son of Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Famer John Alt, it’s not rocket science to see why Joe Alt was selected to Low’s team. He’s the standard for a left tackle in college football, and will continue to be in 2023.
He didn’t allow a sack last season, even with some uneven quarterback play from the Fighting Irish. With Wake Forest transfer Sam Hartman coming to town, he’ll have more opportunities to shine this season.
OG Tyler Booker, Alabama Crimson Tide
Booker’s upside is immense, and that’s what Low loves about the Alabama offensive lineman. At 6-5, 335 pounds, Booker possesses an innate sense of size and speed, and will be blocking for a Crimson Tide offense that can surprise some people in 2023.
Suiting up next to veteran JC Latham on the right side of the line, the Crimson Tide are in good shape. Regardless of who their quarterback is, Booker is going to be their friend.
C Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia Bulldogs
You don’t win two national titles in a row without studs along your offense line, and Van Pran is the definition of that. He’s started every game over the last two seasons for Georgia, and they’re elated to have him back for another go-round.
While the quarterback he’ll be delivering the ball to is different in 2023, Van Pran returning steadies the entire offense. He should step up as a leader, and be high on NFL draft boards come next April.
OG Cooper Beebe, Kansas State Wildcats
As Low mentioned, Beebee hasn’t allowed a sack dating back to the 2020 season. That’s how you build an offense, as Kansas State has done over the past few seasons.
The Wildcats star can lineup at multiple positions along the line. Wherever he is, he’ll be a point of emphasis for their opponents all season long.
OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State Nittany Lions
Instead of becoming a likely first rounder in the 2023 NFL Draft, Fashanu decided to come back for another season in Happy Valley. That’s looking like a solid decision, as the Nittany Lions are primed to compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Low is a huge fan of his footwork, especially for a player his size. He’ll be a joy to watch once again in 2023 for Penn State.
All-Purpose: Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State Buckeyes
While Marvin Harrison Jr. gets much of the attention, Egbuka is as versatile as they come in the sport. It helped him become a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award last season, which is given to the most versatile player in all of college football.
Egbuka has been used at just about everywhere as a wide receiver, while also taking handoffs in the backfield, returning punts and kicks and everything in-between. He’s an easy choice for Low’s all-purpose selection, as his past has indicated.
ESPN 2023 CFB Preseason All-American Team: Defense
DE Jared Verse, Florida State Seminoles
There’s a ton of buzz around Florida State, and a lot of that can be traced back to Verse. He burst onto the scene last season, shocking many as a transfer from Albany who took the ACC by storm.
With Verse leading the defense and quarterback Jordan Travis leading the offense, the sky is the limit for Mike Norvell’s team. He had nine sacks a year ago, and could explode for many more than that in 2023.
DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois Fighting Illini
Of all the players on the list, Newton’s inclusion may be the most surprising, but Low doesn’t want you sleeping on Illinois‘ defense. With the star defender leading the charge, the Fighting Illini could make some more noise in 2023.
Low’s been more than impressed with Newton’s rise to prominence, and he believes it’ll continue this year. He’s an absolute menace, and possesses a bright future, with the NFL looming large for the Illinois star.
DE Mykel Williams, Georgia Bulldogs
While Low relents that Williams missing spring practice was less than ideal, he’s not worried about a slow start for the Georgia star. After tying Jalen Carter for the team lead in quarterback hurries in 2022, Williams is ready to take the next step.
The Bulldogs star even made Paris Johnson’s life difficult during the College Football Playoff, and the offensive lineman was just drafted as a prominent pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. A huge breakout could be coming.
LB/EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama Crimson Tide
How are the Crimson Tide going to replace Will Anderson? Enter Dallas Turner, who’s been readying for his chance to shine since stepping foot in Tuscaloosa.
Turner’s the guy on Alabama’s defense entering 2023, and Low is enamored with his speed especially. Opposing quarterbacks are going to have a tough time sleeping the night before taking on the Crimson Tide this year.
LB Harold Perkins Jr., LSU Tigers
Wherever Perkins lines up in 2023, Low believes he’ll excel. The LSU star can play linebacker, edge rusher and make your life difficult from wherever he is, he’s simply that talented.
After a true freshman season where he proved he could hack it against the best, Perkins is ready to take the next step. He’ll be a dominant force for Brian Kelly’s squad this season, as they look to return to the SEC Championship Game.
LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia seemingly has an endless supply of talented linebackers. The next in the long line of those is Dumas-Johnson.
He’s already arrived on the scene, a finalist for the Butkus Award last season. He could get over the hump and add some individual hardware to his collection of championship rings in 2023.
LB Barrett Carter, Clemson Tigers
Low believes Carter can simply do everything on the defensive side of the football. He’s not alone in that regard, as Tigers defensive coordinator Wesley Goodwin is also high on the Clemson linebacker, which prompted his inclusion on the list.
The Tigers have dealt with a bit of a hiccup over the last couple of years, but Clemson could return in full force in 2023. With a player the caliber of Carter leading the charge on defense, it’s easy to see why the hype is there.
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama Crimson Tide
After coming to Tuscaloosa with immense hype, McKinstry is making good on that. He’s not just a fan-favorite due to his nickname, but Kool-Aid’s play on the field has endeared him to Alabama faithful.
As Low mentions, many NFL mock drafts already have McKinstry as a top-ten pick in 2024. With another solid year for the Crimson Tide, he can make that a reality come next year.
CB Kalen King, Penn State Nittany Lions
The Penn State offense is getting a ton of hype, but their defense, led by King, should be getting more respect than it has. The Nittany Lions have an elite bunch, and their secondary could be their catalyst in a competitive Big Ten.
Having a player like King makes everything easier for James Franklin’s squad. In a year where the Nittany Lions want to take the next step, they’ll be relying on their star cornerback.
S Kamren Kinchens, Miami Hurricanes
Low believes Kinchens, paired with James Williams, gives Miami one of the more talented tandems in the entire nation, and it’s tough to argue with that sentiment. While it was a disappointing season for the Hurricanes in 2023, Kinchens proved his mettle, and he’ll look to lead Miami to a resurgence this season.
With six interceptions to his name in 2022, Kinchens instincts are second to none. He’ll look to beat that number and then some entering a pivotal season for Mario Cristobal’s bunch.
S Malaki Starks, Georgia Bulldogs
Starks came on to the scene as a true freshman in 2022, and only started every game for the Bulldogs. Now with the speed of the game firmly within his grasp, he should be even better this season.
Still, it’s tough not to be in awe of what he accomplish last season, playing 847 snaps and finishing third on a loaded defense in tackles. Georgia has a star in the making in Starks, and it could come to fruition in 2023.
ESPN 2023 CFB Preseason All-American Team: Special Teams
K Joshua Karty, Stanford Cardinal
P Kai Kroeger, South Carolina Gamecocks
Returner Lideatrick Griffin, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Without a doubt, there are plenty of talented players ready to take the field in 2023, and many aren’t even on this list. Still, Chris Low’s 2023 CFB Preseason All-American Team features some of the best of the best, and we’re exuberant at the prospect of seeing them take the field and get the ball rolling for another season.