AP All-Americans: Georgia leads the way with four first teamers

The Associated Press released its list of All-Americans on Monday, and Georgia leads the way with four first-team selections. Tight end Brock Bowers, center Sedrick Van Pran, linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson and safety Malaki Starks are headliners for the No. 1 team in the nation while safety Javon Bullard is on the second-team.

Bowers returns to Athens having led the team in receiving the last two seasons. Totaling nearly 2,000 (1,824 receiving yards, 165 rushing) and 24 total touchdowns in his career, Bowers took home the Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end last season. Should he win it again, he’d be the first in award history.

Van Pran, like Bowers, has been a crucial part of Georgia’s back to back championship runs. He has started all 30 games for the Bulldogs since the start of the 2021 season. Helping lead the way for two offensive line units that finished runner up for the Joe Moore Award, Van Pran decided to return for a fourth season in Athens.

Switching over to the defensive side of the ball, Dumas-Johnson finished second on the team in tackles last season – his first as a starter. Taking over for a trio of linebackers that headed to the NFL, the sophomore led Georgia in tackles for loss with nine. He was a finalist for the Butkus Award last season and will look to be the Bulldogs’ third winner in seven seasons this year.

As for the two defensive backs, Starks and Bullard are expected to hold down the back end of Georgia’s defense at safety. Starks was third on the team in tackles and and second in interceptions. He had two in his first three games at the collegiate level last season against Oregon and South Carolina. Meanwhile, Bullard had two in the final game of the season – earning Defensive MVP honors of both the National Championship and Peach Bowl. Bullard makes the move from STAR to safety this year in an effort to replace All-American Christopher Smith.

Georgia opens its season at home on September 2nd against UT-Martin.

All-American Selections

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback — Caleb Williams, third-year, Southern California.
Running backs — Blake Corum, fourth-year, Michigan; Quinshon Judkins, second-year, Mississippi.
Tackles — Joe Alt, third-year, Notre Dame; Olu Fashanu, fourth-year, Penn State.
Guards — Cooper Beebe, fifth-year, Kansas State; Zak Zinter, fourth-year, Michigan.
Center — Sedrick Van Pran, fourth-year, Georgia.
Tight end — Brock Bowers, third-year, Georgia.
Wide receivers — Marvin Harrison Jr., third-year, Ohio State; Rome Odunze, fourth-year. Washington; Emeka Egbuka, third-year, Ohio State.
All-purpose player — Travis Hunter, second-year, Colorado.
Kicker — Joshua Karty, fourth-year, Stanford.

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Edge rushers — Jared Verse, fourth-year, Florida State; Bralen Trice, fifth-year, Washington.Interior linemen — Jer’Zhan Newton, fifth-year, Illinois; Dontay Corleone, third-year, Cincinnati.
Linebackers — Harold Perkins, second-year, LSU; Jamon Dumas-Johnson, third-year, Georgia; Tommy Eichenberg, fourth-year, Ohio State.
Cornerbacks — Kool-aid McKinstry, third-year, Alabama; Kalen King, third-year, Penn State.
Safeties — Kam Kinchens, third-year, Miami; Malaki Starks, second-year, Georgia.
Defensive back — Cooper DeJean, third-year, Iowa.
Punter — Tory Taylor, fourth-year, Iowa.

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback — Drake Maye, third-year, North Carolina.
Running backs — Raheim Sanders, third-year, Arkansas; Braelon Allen, third-year, Wisconsin.
Tackles — JC Latham, third-year, Alabama; Kelvin Banks Jr., second-year, Texas.
Guards — Donovan Jackson, third-year, Ohio State; Christian Mahogany, fifth-year, Boston College.
Center — Zach Frazier, fourth-year, West Virginia.
Tight end — Oronde Gadsden, third-year, Syracuse.
Wide receivers — Xavier Worthy, third-year, Texas; Malik Nabers, third-year, LSU; Jacob Cowing, fifth-year, Arizona.
All-purpose player — Will Shipley, third-year, Clemson.
Kicker — John Hoyland, third-year, Wyoming.

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Edge rushers — J.T. Tuimoloau, third-year, Ohio State; Dallas Turner, third-year, Alabama.
Interior linemen — Tyler Davis, fifth-year, Clemson; Mekhi Wingo, third-year, LSU.
Linebackers — Jeremiah Trotter Jr., third-year, Clemson; Barrett Carter, third-year, Clemson; Cedric Gray, fourth-year, North Carolina.
Cornerbacks — Josh Newton, sixth-year, TCU; Ben Morrison, second-year, Notre Dame.
Safeties — Calen Bullock, third-year, Southern California; Javon Bullard, third-year, Georgia.
Defensive back — Will Johnson, second-year, Michigan.
Punter — Kai Kroeger, fourth-year, South Carolina.