College football’s Way-Too-Early 2023 All-America team

Talk of Georgia three-peating as national champion has actually become the topic du jour in college football.Seems like simply the other day the Dawgs had gone four years without a national title. Now they have actually won two in a row, and it’s never ever prematurely to look ahead in a sport that never sleeps.We have actually currently unveiled our Way-Too-Early Top 25, and up next is our Way-Too-Early All-America group. There are some identifiable names, as in USC Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams, and then there are some names that might not be as recognizable– yet. Not that anyone needs to be shocked, but Georgia leads the way with 4 selections. Six of these players will hold true sophomores in 2023. OFFENSE

QB: Caleb Williams, USC

As disappointing as the end to the 2022 season was for USC, it does not reduce the greatness of Williams. He represented 52 touchdowns (42 death and 10 rushing) and was 3rd nationally in overall backyards (4,919) to end up being the 8th player in USC history to win the Heisman Prize. The Trojans still lost their last 2 games, to Utah in the Pac-12 national championship and to Tulane in the Cotton Bowl, implying the pressure to make the playoff will just ratchet up in Year 2 under Lincoln Riley. Having the very best quarterback in the nation returning helps fight that pressure.

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports The only thing that thwarted Corum this past season was a torn meniscus and sprained MCL in his left knee, an injury he suffered against Illinois in the next-to-last regular-season game. Corum was right in the middle of the Heisman Trophy race when he was hurt. His decision to return for the 2023 season was a big coup for Michigan, which will once again lean on Corum offensively. He rushed for 1,463 yards and 18 goals in

12 games and averaged 5.9 backyards per carry. How great was Judkins a year ago? The only player in SEC history to rush for more yards as a freshman was Herschel Walker. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Judkins led the SEC with 1,567 rushing lawns and 16 touchdowns. He had 8 100-yard rushing games, consisting of a pair of 200-yard efficiencies, and swindled 19 runs of 20 yards or longer in 2022. Lane Kiffin always has a potent running game, which suggests Judkins might be looking at 3,000 hurrying backyards prior to he reaches his junior season.

A finalist for the Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver in college football last season, Harrison is what everyone is looking for at that position. He’s 6-4 and 205 pounds with the speed and ability to go up and get any pass in his area. Harrison caught 77 passes last season, including 20 catches of 20 backyards or longer. He’s hauled in 17 goal passes in his previous 14 games, going back to the last game of his freshman season, when he tied a Rose Bowl record with three goal catches.

play 0:34 Michael Penix Jr. throws 48-yard goal pass to

Rome Odunze Michael Penix Jr. tosses 48-yard touchdown pass to Rome Odunze The bright side just keeps rolling in for the Huskies. Not just is quarterback Michael Penix Jr. back after leading the nation in passing yards per game (357 ), but his top receiving target is likewise back after putting off the NFL for another year. The 6-3, 200-pound Odunze progressed into among the Pac-12’s premier receivers and has the size and speed to be a nightmare for any protective back. And with Jalen McMillan likewise returning at receiver, Odunze is going to have plenty of chances to construct on his 75-catch, 1,145-yard breakout junior season.

Bowers was the very best(and most flexible )tight end in college football each of the previous two seasons. Why not a 3rd? He catches whatever, can line up almost anywhere on the field and gains backyards after the catch like a running back. Go view him block, too. He’s relentless and can block inside or on the edge to spring a huge play. The 6-4, 230-pound Bowers has a long career ahead of him in the NFL, and he has one more year of college ball staying after scoring a total of 24 goals (20 receiving and four hurrying )his very first two

seasons. Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire As a sophomore, Alt was one of the most dominant and constant tackles in the nation. According to Pro Football Focus, he didn’t enable any sacks and permitted just five pressures all season. The 6-8, 317-pound Alt is exceptionally nimble after playing tight end in high school and is following in the footsteps of his father, John Alt, who earned several Pro Bowl choices in the NFL. Alt will likewise have a new quarterback to secure from his left deal with position in 2023 with Sam Hartman moving in from Wake Forest.

Michigan’s offensive line has made Joe Moore Award honors each of the previous 2 years as the leading offending line in the country, and the 6-6, 315-pound Zinter has actually been a crucial cog in those units. He announced last week that he’s returning for his senior season at his best guard spot, where he earned All-Big 10 honors as both a sophomore and junior. Zinter was rated among the top 3 guards in the NFL draft had he come out. His return indicates the Wolverines will have three of their five beginning offensive linemen back in 2023.

After starting his West Virginia profession at guard and making freshman All-America honors, the 6-3, 306-pound Frazier has actually transitioned into among the top centers in the country. He enters the 2023 season with 34 career starts, consisting of 25 consecutive starts at center. Pro Football Focus ranked Frazier as the sixth-best center in the nation last season, and 4 of the five centers with greater grades have declared for the NFL draft. Frazier was a four-year all-state wrestler in high school and plays center with that very same intensity.

Currently among the leading interior offensive linemen in college football, the 6-4, 322-pound Beebe is coming back for his 4th season as a starter for the defending Huge 12 champ Wildcats. This will be Beebe’s fifth year on campus after redshirting his very first season, and he’s shown he can be a difference-maker anywhere he lines up. He was a best tackle his first season, then started 13 games at left deal with as a sophomore and relocated to left guard last season on his way to earning Big 12 Offending Lineman of the Year honors.

Penn State has a talented nucleus of returnees on offense, and the 6-6, 308-pound Fashanu will be back for his redshirt junior season at left take on. He remained in his very first full season as a starter a year ago and blossomed as both a pass protector and as a run-blocker. There was some thought that Fashanu may turn pro, but he stated he had incomplete organization with the Nittany Lions. He offers quarterback Drew Allar much-needed convenience on his blind side as Allar takes over the starting quarterback duties.

Hunter was the country’s No. 1 recruit coming out of high school and could have gone anywhere, but he followed Deion Sanders to Jackson State a year ago. He’s now following Sanders to Colorado with visions of being a rare two-way player in FBS football. Hunter has showed the abilities to be a lockdown cornerback (similar to his head coach) however is similarly skilled when it pertains to capturing passes. Don’t be surprised if he ratings on offense and defense in 2023.

DEFENSE One of Mike Norvell’s most important employees this offseason was Verse choosing to return to Florida State for another season regardless of being predicted as an NFL first-round choice. This will be Verse’s 2nd season in FSU’s program after beginning his career at Albany and playing 2 seasons there. The 6-4, 248-pound Verse had 16.5 deals with for loss, including 9 sacks, last season for the Seminoles and need to be even much better in 2023 after being slowed by injuries in a few games last year.

Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire Illinois led the country last season in scoring defense (12.8 points per game ), and a huge factor was the 6-2, 295-pound Newton and his disruptive presence in the middle of that defense. His decision to return for a fourth season in addition to fellow All-Big Ten protective lineman Keith Randolph– “The Law office,” as coach Bret Bielema calls them– was huge news for the Illini, who won 8 games in 2022. Newton was 2nd nationally among interior linemen in pressures (55) and likewise had 14 takes on for loss.

From the time Williams set foot on school, Georgia coach Kirby Smart was raving about his work principles. And, yes, his skill. Williams didn’t disappoint as a true freshman and is next in line to be the vibrant front-seven protector everybody is speaking about at Georgia. The 6-5, 265-pound Williams was a freshman All-America choice and led the Dawgs with 4.5 sacks. He connected with Jalen Carter for the team lead in quarterback rushes (31) and will be terrifying opposing SEC offenses for two more seasons.

As one of the nation’s leading freshman protectors a year earlier, the 6-2, 220-pound Perkins will be an even better version of himself in 2023. He can make plays sideline to sideline, and with a year’s worth of experience in the SEC and an entire year in the offseason strength and conditioning program, he’s braced to turn into one of the most feared pass-rushers in college football. Perkins led LSU in deals with for loss (13 ), sacks (7.5 ), quarterback rushes (14) and forced fumbles (4 ).

They have excellent linebackers at Georgia, and Dumas-Johnson is the next one. He’s a 6-1, 245-pound run-stuffer and can also fly around and pressure the passer. As a true sophomore last season, Dumas-Johnson led the Dawgs’national championship defense with nine deals with for loss. He was 2nd in general tackles (70) and third in quarterback rushes (24 ). Some have compared him to former Georgia excellent Nakobe Dean, who won the Butkus Award as the country’s best linebacker in 2021.

Carter moved from the strongside linebacker area to weakside linebacker late in the season and was a natural with his ability to do a little bit of whatever. He’s versatile enough that he could most likely play security. The 6-1, 225-pound Carter returns for his junior season after playing a team-high 832 snaps a year ago and ending up with 10.5 tackles for loss, 8 pass separations, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He’s the ultimate big-play person on defense and will team with Jeremiah Trotter Jr. to provide Clemson two of its best linebackers in the Dabo Swinney period.

Playing opposite Will Anderson Jr. a year back, Turner was primed for a huge year. His numbers weren’t what he or any person at Alabama expected, however there’s no rejecting his game-changing ability. The 6-4, 240-pound Turner has 18 tackles for loss in his first 2 seasons and is versatile enough to move and create chaos no matter where he lines up. Entering his second season as a full-time starter, Turner has the kind of flexibility Nick Saban enjoys in his outdoors linebackers.

From his first career start in the second game he ever played at Alabama, McKinstry has just gotten better and more experienced, and now enters his junior season as one of college football’s finest cornerbacks. The 6-1, 188-pound McKinstry had a team-high 15 pass breakups last season and offers the sort of skill and experience that Saban has actually had at cornerback on some of his more dominant defenses. McKinstry is likewise one of the more accomplished punt-return experts in the nation.

Morrison is fresh off a superb freshman season. His six interceptions were the most for a Notre Dame player because Manti Te’o chose off seven passes throughout the 2012 season. The 6-foot, 180-pound Morrison started nine games a year earlier, and all six of his interceptions came in the last 5 games. His 96-yard interception return for a goal in the 35-14 win over Clemson was one of the plays of the year for the Irish. Morrison kipped down a three-interception game versus the Boston College Eagles and picked off his final pass in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl win over the South Carolina Gamecocks.

It was a rough very first season for Mario Cristobal at The U. The Hurricanes finished 5-7 and didn’t make a bowl game. However Kinchens was one of the intense areas. He tied for first among Power 5 players with 6 interceptions, returning among those 99 backyards for a goal against Georgia Tech. His size (205 pounds) and instincts make him among the country’s more total defensive backs returning in 2023. Kinchens likewise led Miami with 59 tackles last season.

play 0:40 Georgia catches Rattler’s throw for an INT Malaki Starks makes a fantastic play on the ball and returns the interception 42 backyards for Georgia.The young skill on Georgia’s 2022 national championship group was impossible to miss out on. The 6-1, 205-pound Starks played well beyond his years as a freshman. He led all Georgia defenders with 847 snaps played and ended up third on the team with 68 total takes on while beginning in all 15 games. His capability to do so many things on defense makes him an ideal suitable for Smart’s system. He can play the deep safety position, show up and cover inside receivers/tight ends and can also blitz.

SPECIAL GROUPS Karty will remain in his 3rd season as the Cardinal’s starter and was best a year ago in being called a finalist for the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s leading placekicker. He was 18-of-18 on basket efforts, and not just is he precise, but he also has a big leg. His 61-yarder versus Cal was the second-longest basket in Pac-12 history. He had field goals of 45, 43 and 43 yards in the 16-14 win over Notre Dame and a career-high 5 field goals in the 15-14 win over Arizona State. First-year coach Troy Taylor knows he has Mr. Automatic whenever he needs 3 points.

One of the big secrets last season was how Kroeger wasn’t even a finalist for the Ray Man Award as the leading punter in the nation. Some in and around South Carolina’s program thought he was a strong prospect for team MVP. Kroeger averaged 46.1 yards per punt and had 29 punts downed inside the 20-yard line (4 inside the 10 in a 31-30 win over Clemson). He’s also a danger to toss the ball and was 4-for-4, including 2 touchdowns, as a trick-play passer.

A knee injury slowed Gould towards completion of last season, but he was a huge play waiting to occur in the very first 10 games. Gould led the nation in punt return average (18.6 yards) and is the only FBS player returning who had two punt returns for goals. His function is most likely to grow for the Beavers in 2023 as they attempt to build on their 10-3 season. This will be Gould’s 5th season on campus. In addition to his punt return tasks, he was third on the team with 27 catches, including three goals.