2024 Preseason All-Americans: Athlon releases team predictions

Athlon Sports released its 2024 preseason All-American teams ahead of the upcoming campaign.

All three teams in all three position groups were released by the magazine and it just goes to show how many great players roam the field. Will these be the final teams? No, but it’s a great look ahead to this coming season.

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Let’s dive into Athlon’s preseason All-American teams ahead of the 2024 campaign.

First Team Offense

Carson Beck is regarded as this year’s best quarterback and a Heisman favorite. The Georgia Bulldogs could very well win it all with him under center. Also, everyone knows how good Travis Hunter is and 2024 could be one for the ages.

QB – Carson Beck, Georgia
RB – Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
RB – TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
AP – Travis Hunter, Colorado
WR – Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
WR – Luther Burden III, Missouri
WR – Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
TE – Colston Loveland, Michigan
OL – Will Campbell, LSU
OL – Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
OL – Tate Ratledge, Georgia
OL – Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
OL – Tyler Booker, Alabama

First Team Defense

This defensive line group is loaded, particularly with James Pearce Jr. and Mason Graham leading the charge for their respective teams. Ohio State has a loaded secondary with Caleb Downs and Denzel Burke patrolling the backend.

DL – James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
DL – Mason Graham, Michigan
DL – Howard Cross III, Notre Dame
DL – JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
LB – Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
LB – Harold Perkins Jr., LSU
LB – Jay Higgins, Iowa
LB – Barrett Carter, Clemson
CB – Will Johnson, Michigan
CB – Denzel Burke, Ohio State
S – Caleb Downs, Ohio State
S – Malaki Starks, Georgia

First Team Specialists

Graham Nicholson is the preseason best kicker in America and he could certainly be a difference maker for the Crimson Tide. Zachariah Branch is as electric of a returner you’ll find at the college football level.

K – Graham Nicholson, Alabama
P – Alex Mastromanno, Florida State
KR – Jayden Harrison, Notre Dame
PR – Zachariah Branch, USC

Second Team Offense

Dillon Gabriel is at his third school, but it could be the best for last for the new Big Ten quarterback. Quinshon Judkins also finds a new home at Ohio State and gets to play in Chip Kelly’s offense and it could be electric for the running game, and his All-American hopes.

QB – Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
RB – Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
RB – Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
AP – Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
WR – Tre Harris, Ole Miss
WR – Tez Johnson, Oregon
WR – Evan Stewart, Oregon
TE – Brant Kuithe, Utah
OL – Luke Kandra, Cincinnati
OL – Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
OL – Clay Webb, Jacksonville State
OL – Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
OL – Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon

Second Team Defense

Travis Hunter is on the list again as a cornerback, which is likely to be his NFL position despite he and Deion Sanders’ insistence to play both ways in the pro. Right now, this ranking shows it’s his better position since he was placed “all purpose” on first-team All-American.

DL – Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
DL – Deone Walker, Kentucky
DL – Ashton Gillotte, Louisville
DL – Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
LB – Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
LB – Nickolas Martin, Oklahoma State
LB – Mykel Williams, Georgia
LB – Nick Jackson, Iowa
CB – Travis Hunter, Colorado
CB – Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
S – Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
S – Dillon Thieneman, Purdue

Second Team Specialists

Andres Borregales could have an argument for the best kicker in college football, and first-team All-American but he’s second best right now. James Burnip rounds out an elite special teams unit for Alabama.

K – Andres Borregales, Miami
P – James Burnip, Alabama
KR – Barion Brown, Kentucky
PR – Jacob De Jesus, UNLV

Third Team Offense

A lot of people talk about Will Campbell as the best offensive lineman, but his LSU teammate Emery Jones deserves his flowers. Donovan Edwards is now the lead back at Michigan with Blake Corum in the NFL.

QB – Jalen Milroe, Alabama
RB – Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech
RB – Donovan Edwards, Michigan
AP – Jaydn Ott, California
WR – Ricky White III, UNLV
WR – Tory Horton, Colorado State
WR – Xavier Restrepo, Miami
TE – Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame
OL – Earnest Greene, Georgia
OL – Jalen Rivers, Miami
OL – Emery Jones, LSU
OL – Darius Washington, Florida State
OL – Ajani Cornelius, Oregon

Third Team Defense

Walter Nolen could be a game wrecker for the Rebels this season, manning their defensive line. Jabbar Muhammad is one to watch when it comes to the top DBs in college football.

DL – Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
DL – Reuben Bain Jr., Miami
DL – Patrick Payton, Florida State
DL – Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
LB – Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina
LB – Jeffery Bassa, Oregon
LB – Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
LB – Francisco Mauigoa, Miami
CB – Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon
CB – Sebastian Castro, Iowa
S – Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma
S – Malachi Moore, Alabama

Third Team Specialists

Jonah Dalmas might not be as well known, but he went 24-of-27 on his field goal attempts last season and is 80-for-90 in his career. Look for these players to try and raise their stock throughout the season.

K – Jonah Dalmas, Boise State
P – Brett Thorson, Georgia
KR – Brashard Smith, SMU
PR – Tucker Holloway, Virginia Tech

Since these are preseason projections for these players, a lot can change over the course of the entire season. Get ready, we are just a few months away.