Three Longhorns named to ESPN's 2024 college football All-America first team

With the 2024 college football season nearly wrapped up as the nation waits for either Notre Dame or Ohio State to be crowned a champion, ESPN has released its own version of an All-America team.

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Featuring 52 players between two All-America teams, the Longhorns were well-anointed on both sides of the ball. Texas featured three players on the first team, with offensive tackle Kelvin Banks, linebacker Anthony Hill and cornerback Jahdae Barron topping their respective positions throughout the 2024 season. Safety Michael Taaffe was also selected for the second team behind two national championship contending safeties, Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts and Ohio State’s Caleb Downs.

Banks has been the anchor of Texas’ offense since he stepped onto the field as a true freshman starter in 2022. The tackle gave up just 10 pressures while playing in 15 of the team’s 16 g names as a starting left tackle, allowing just a singular sack as quarterback Quinn Ewers‘ blindside blocker.

Said ESPN: “Banks was the centerpiece of a Texas offensive line that paved the way for one of the most balanced offenses in the country. The Longhorns were one of six FBS teams to average more than 275 passing yards and 160 rushing yards per game. The 6-4, 320-pound junior won the Lombardi Award this season as the nation’s best collegiate lineman and has been a starter at left tackle since his true freshman season.”

Hill and Barron were each key parts of one of the nation’s top defenses in 2024, with Hill moving into a pure Mike linebacker role in his sophomore season after playing all around the front seen in his true freshman year. Hill led the Longhorns with 113 tackles, 17 for loss, alongside six sacks, an interception and four forced fumbles.

Said ESPN: “The epitome of a do-it-all linebacker, Hill went from being one of the best true freshmen in 2023 to one of the best defenders in the country this season. And, yes, he has another season remaining at Texas. The 6-3, 235-pound sophomore led the Longhorns with 113 total tackles and tied for fourth among FBS linebackers with 16.5 tackles for loss. He also had four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception.”

Barron’s decision to return to the Longhorns after a strong 2023 was the correct one, as the cornerback earned the Jim Thorpe award in 2024, given to the best defensive back in the nation. Barron had a signature performance against Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith in the semifinal, and his five interceptions and 279 yards allowed on 67 total targets were each some of the best marks in the nation.

Said ESPN: “Barron was already widely viewed as one of the top cornerbacks in college football, then only raised his stock in helping limit Ohio State star receiver Jeremiah Smith to one catch for 3 yards in the Longhorns’ playoff semifinal loss at the Cotton Bowl. Barron, a 5-11, 200-pound redshirt senior, was the Thorpe Award winner as the best defensive back in college football and tied for the team lead in a talented secondary with five interceptions.”

Taaffe has also been a key defensive contributor for Texas, notching 78 tackles, two picks and 10 passes defended in the center field role for Texas. While the offense likely had no other players with chances to make the All-America team, one could argue that any of safety Andrew Mukuba, edge rusher Colin Simmons or defensive tackles Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton could’ve made a second-team appearance.

Despite falling short of a national championship berth, Texas joined Ohio State as the only team with three players on ESPN’s list, with true freshman WR Jeremiah Smith and guard Donovan Jackson joining Downs.

The full list:

Offense

QB: Cam Ward, Miami

2nd: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon

RB: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State; Cam Skattebo, Arizona State

2nd: Dylan Sampson, Tennessee; Kaleb Johnson, Iowa

WR: Jeremiah Smith Ohio State, Nick Nash San Jose State

2nd: Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona; Xavier Restrepo, Miami

TE: Tyler Warren, Penn State

2nd: Harold Fannin, Bowling Green

OT: Kelvin Banks, Texas; Will Campbell, LSU

2nd: Wyatt Milum, West Virginia; Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon

OG: Donovan Jackson, Ohio State; Tyler Booker, Alabama

2nd: Willie Lampkin, North Carolina; Bill Katsigiannis, Army

C: Jake Slaughter, Florida

2nd: Cooper Mays, Tennessee

ALL-Purpose: Travis Hunter, Colorado

2nd: Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh

Defense

DE: Abdul Carter, Penn State; Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College

2nd: Kyle Kennard, South Carolina; Jack Sawyer, Ohio State

DT: Mason Graha, Michigan; Walter Nolen, Ole Miss

2nd: Rylie Mills, Notre Dame; Derrick Harmon, Oregon

LB: Jalon Walker, Georgia; Shaun Dolac, Buffalo ;Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

2nd: Jihaad Campbell, Alabama; Jay Higgins, Iowa; Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma

CB: Jahdae Barron, Texas; Nohl Williams, California

2nd: Jermod McCoy, Tennessee; D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana

S: Xavier Watts, Notre Dame; Caleb Downs, Ohio State

2nd: Malaki Starks, Georgia; Michael Taaffe, Texas

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Special Teams

K: Dominic Zvada, Michigan

2nd: Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana

P: Eddie Czaplicki, USC

2nd: Alex Mastromanno, Florida State

Returner: Kam Shanks, UAB

2nd: Rayshawn Pleasant, Tulane