ESPN releases 2021 college football All-American team

ESPN released its 2021 college football All-American team Wednesday, honoring the top players over the past seasons.

With only a first-team list, only college football’s best were able to crack ESPN’s starting lineup in the 2021 college football All-American team. Heisman favorite Bryce Young leads the offensive selections at quarterback with another Heisman finalist, Aidan Hutchinson, leading the defensive side.

In addition to the Heisman frontrunners, ESPN makes one interesting note, calling Alabama linebacker Will Anderson, “the Crimson Tide’s best player – and probably the best in the FBS.” Other notable inclusions include internet sensation punter Matt Araiza and the Group of Five defensive back known as “Sauce.”

Alabama leads all schools with four selections, followed by Georgia with three. 21 different schools are represented on the list, including three Group of Five conference players who stood out this season. Of the 26 players selected, only seven received preseason All-American honors from ESPN. The SEC leads the ways with 10 selections and the Big Ten has five. The ACC has four selections this season, the Big 12 has two and the Pac-12 has two.

2021 ESPN All-American team

Offense

QB – Bryce Young (Alabama)

RB – Kenneth Walker III (Michigan State)

RB – Sean Tucker (Syracuse)

WR – Jordan Addison (Pittsburgh)

WR – David Bell (Purdue)

TE – Brock Bowers (Georgia)

OT – Evan Neal (Alabama)

OG – Zion Johnson (Boston College)

C – Tyler Linderbaum (Iowa)

OG – Kenyon Green (Texas A&M)

OT – Charles Cross (Mississippi State)

AP – Jameson Williams (Alabama)

Defense

DE – Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan)

DT – Jordan Davis (Georgia)

DE – Jermaine Johnson II (Florida State)

LB – Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama)

LB – Nakobe Dean (Georgia)

LB – Devin Lloyd (Utah)

LB – Malcolm Rodriguez (Oklahoma State)

CB – Ahmad Gardner (Cincinnati)

CB – Roger McCreary (Auburn)

S – Verone McKinley III (Oregon)

S – Jalen Pitre (Baylor)

Special Teams

P – Matt Araiza (San Diego State)

K – Noah Ruggles (Ohio State)

KR – Marcus Jones (Houston)