Midseason All-America group: College football’s finest players up until now

• Chris Low, ESPN Senior WriterOct 17, 2023, 07:00 AM ET Close College football press reporter Joined ESPN.com in 2007
• Graduate of the University of Tennessee

The 2023 college football season was constantly going to be remarkable on a number of fronts.It’s the last year of the Pac-12 as we know it, with Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington jet-setting to the Big Ten next season. Oklahoma and Texas are making one last tour through the Big 12 before bolting to the SEC. The Huge 12 handled a revamped look with four brand-new teams, and this is the last year of the four-team playoff, with the format relocating to 12 groups in 2024.

In Addition, Coach Prime has actually made a couple of waves in what is Colorado’s last season in the Pac-12.

With the second half of the season still to play, we reveal ESPN’s midseason All-America group. Only six players on the preseason group made it this time around.

OFFENSE Penix is currently the favorite to win the Heisman Prize and has already had his big-stage minute in rallying Washington to a thrilling 36-33 win over Oregon on Saturday. Penix, one of the many skilled transfer quarterbacks around the country, is No. 1 nationally by a large margin with 383.5 passing lawns per game and has actually thrown 20 touchdown passes and just 3 interceptions.Honorable mention: Jayden

Daniels, LSU The Longhorns just keep churning out gifted running backs, and Brooks is next in line. The 6-foot, 207-pound sophomore leads all Power 5 players with 121 hurrying lawns per game and has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of his past four games. He’s getting 6.72 backyards per carry and is tied for fifth nationally with five runs of 30 lawns or longer and ranks in the leading 3 among Power 5 backs in backyards after contact( 463). Respectable mention: Ray Davis, Kentucky Michael Reaves/Getty Images Even though he’s a larger back (227 pounds), Estime is tied for 6th amongst Power 5 players with 8 runs of 20 backyards or longer. He has actually rushed for more than 80 lawns in six of his 8 games, gaining 6.2 backyards per rush and scoring nine touchdowns. And when the Irish need the difficult yards, Estime has actually provided. He leads all Power 5 backs with 532 backyards after contact.Honorable reference: Jaylen Wright, Tennessee Nabers and teammate Brian Thomas Jr. have been lighting it up and benefiting from the best season

of quarterback Jayden Daniels’profession. Nabers leads the country with 122.9 getting yards per game and is 3rd among Power 5 players with 52 catches. The 6-foot, 200-pound junior leads all FBS players with 19 catches of 20 backyards or longer.Honorable mention: Rome Odunze, Washington Keeping Burden in your home was a coup for the Tigers, and he has actually been everything he was supposed to be coming out of high school and after that some. The sensational sophomore leads all Power 5 players with 56 catches and is as electrical after the catch as he is making plays down the field. He leads Power 5 receivers with 489 yards after the catch and all FBS players in yards per route run, according to Pro Football Focus.Honorable reference: Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State The news that Bowers might be out four to six weeks with an ankle injury was gut-wrenching for Georgia fans. Bowers is one

of the very best players in college football– duration. And he can do a bit of everything any place he lines up. He leads Georgia with 41 catches for 567 lawns and has five touchdowns(four receptions, one rush). Respectable reference: Dallin Holker, Colorado State The 6-6, 317-pound senior has been a rock at his left take on position for the Nittany Lions. He hasn’t permitted a sack or pressure in pass protection and has actually been similarly dominant as a run-blocker. Penn State was thrilled to get Fashanu back for another season, and he has been an important part of an offense that is connected for 5th nationally in scoring (44.3 points per game )and has at least 30 points in all six games.Honorable reference: Patrick Paul, Houston Editor’s Picks 2 Related Beebe has been one of the best and most consistent offending linemen in college football for the past two seasons

. He has actually made 41

career starts(38 in a row )and is again the body and soul of the Kansas State offense from his left guard position. The 6-4, 335-pound senior hasn’t given up a sack because the 2020 season and is the highest-graded Power 5 guard, according to Pro Football Focus.Honorable reference: Tanner Miller, Oregon State What a luxury for Georgia to bring back the center who began every game during its two national championship seasons. Van Pran, a 6-4, 310-pound redshirt junior, is as soon as again the centerpiece of an offensive line that has paved the way for the Dawgs to rank ninth nationally in scoring (40.1 points per game). Van Pran has played 446 snaps this season and has the second-highest grade among centers, according to Pro Football Focus.Honorable reference: Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon Michigan is seeking to win its 3rd straight Joe Moore Award as the best offensive line in the nation. The interior of that line is headlined by Zinter, a 6-6, 322-pound senior in his 3rd season as the full-time starter at best guard. He has made 36 career starts for the Wolverines. In 360 snaps this season, Zinter has enabled no sacks and just one rush, according to Pro Football Focus.Honorable reference: Christian Haynes, UConn The ideal side of the Oregon State offensive line has actually been dominant this season. The 6-6, 334-pound Fuaga is amongst the best run-blocking takes on in college football, and he

teams up with guard Tanner Miller on the right side to develop a wall for the 6-1 Beavers. In his second season as a full-time starter, Fuaga has changed from a second-team All-Pac-12 choice a year ago to among the most imposing offensive linemen in the country.Honorable reference: Joe Alt, Notre Dame Despite The Fact That Boise State has actually had a hard time, Jeanty has actually been among the

most electrifying players in the country. The sophomore running back leads the country with 1,264 yards from skirmish(868 rushing and 396 getting)and has actually scored an FBS-best

15 goals. Get Jeanty the ball, and he makes things take place. He leads all FBS running backs with 598 backyards after contact and is 4th in the nation with 430 lawns after the catch.Honorable reference: Travis Hunter, Colorado DEFENSE

AP Photo/Vasha Hunt With Will Anderson Jr. off to the NFL, Turner has actually stepped

up as Alabama

‘s top defender and is playing at an elite level. He has actually corresponded and efficient in key scenarios. The 6-4, 242-pound junior is the group leader in sacks(seven ), tackles for loss( 9.5), quarterback hurries( 10) and required fumbles (2)on a defense ranked in the leading 15 nationally in scoring and overall defense.Honorable reference: Jonah Elliss, Utah

When he appeared on Ohio State’s school, Williams weighed more than 350 pounds. He’s now in the best shape of his profession and playing his best football. The 6-2, 290-pound junior is 5th on the Buckeyes in total deals with (27) and leads the team in tackles for loss (6), while ranking second in pass separations (four). Simply put, he’s a threat in the middle of an Ohio State defense that has quit just seven touchdowns in six games.Honorable mention: Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois

Cross is making the most of his very first complete season as a starter. He leads Notre Dame in total tackles (42) and deals with for loss (five), and has forced 2 fumbles. His 26 pressures rank 2nd among all interior protectors, while his 21 run stops on defense are tied for second, according to Pro Football Focus. Cross had a career-high 13 tackles in the Irish’s win over Duke.Honorable reference: T’Vondre Sweat, Texas It’s difficult to believe Latu had to clinically retire from football after missing the 2020 and 2021 seasons with a neck injury while at Washington. But getting clearance from physicians to play once again has actually paid dividends for both him and UCLA. In his 2nd season with the Bruins, Latu is once again one of the more disruptive defenders in the country with nine tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and 2 required fumbles.Honorable reference: James Pearce Jr., Tennessee Allstate Playoff Predictor How will Saturday’s leading games affect the College Football Playoff go after? What are the existing odds for the leading four? The Allstate Playoff Predictor has the responses. Check back each week as the chances are updated following that week’s games. It hasn’t been a fantastic season for the Wolfpack, however Wilson has actually been a taking on machine. He ranks second amongst Power 5 defenders with 81 overall takes on. The sixth-year senior is a sure tackler in area from his outside linebacker area, and he has fantastic instincts. One of those guys who just seems to find the football, Wilson has 4 sacks to support an interception and 2 fumble recoveries.Honorable reference: Jason Henderson, Old Dominion The 6-3, 230-pound Cooper remains in his 4th year in the program and was having a breakout season until he was injured last week in the first half versus Tennessee and was not able to return. Couple of inside linebackers have been better, as Cooper leads all FBS players with 13.5 deals with for loss. He has the ideal blend of size and speed to make life miserable for both quarterbacks and running backs.Honorable reference: Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State A year earlier, Stutsman led the Huge 12 in total takes on, and he has actually taken his game to another level this season on an Oklahoma defense that has actually quit more than 20 points just once. Stutsman leads the

Sooners with 10.5 tackles for loss. Most significantly, he has actually grown more comfy in pass protection and took an interception back 30 yards for a touchdown previously this season.Honorable reference: Cedric Gray, North Carolina Considering that the start of last season,

DeJean has 7 interceptions, consisting of 2 this season. Nobody else in the FBS has more during that span. The 6-1, 207-pound junior is likewise strong against the run and ranks 4th on

the team with 33 overall deals with. DeJean has actually played 309 snaps this season in protection without quiting a touchdown, and he returned a punt for a goal against Michigan State.Honorable mention: Mike Sainristil, Michigan Entering the season, Kool-Aid McKinstry was the Alabama cornerback getting the majority of the promotion

, but Arnold has become one of the Tide’s best and most versatile defenders. He moved over to the hybrid”star”position recently against Arkansas with Malachi Moore out with an injury. A basketball star in high school, Arnold leads Alabama with four pass breaks up and has four tackles for loss.Honorable mention: Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri Starks was one of the best true freshmen in college football last season and has actually just improved as a sophomore. He’s 3rd on the team with 25 total deals with to go along

with 2 interceptions and four pass breaks up. The 6-1

, 205-pound Starks is the only safety in the country to rank in the leading 15 for both protection grade and run defense grade, according to Pro Football Focus.Honorable reference: Cole Bishop, Utah Previously a cornerback, Simpson has actually progressed as a security in Ron Roberts ‘defense. The 6-1, 178-pound senior is 2nd nationally among safeties with four interceptions and is fifth on Auburn with 20 overall takes on. Simpson’s 90.3 coverage grade leads all safeties, according to Pro Football Focus, and he hasn’t enabled a touchdown in 160 coverage snaps.Honorable mention: Caleb Downs, Alabama SPECIAL TEAMS The SEC’s all-time leader for profession points with 486, Reichard is best on kicks this season

. He has made all

13 of his field goal efforts, consisting of 6 from 40-plus backyards (with a long of 51 backyards ), and has likewise made all 21 of his extra-point efforts. Nick Saban said Reichard has actually probably been as excellent a player at his position as any person Saban has coached at Alabama.Honorable mention: Graham Nicholson, Miami(Ohio) The Hawkeyes are sitting atop the Big Ten West standings, and Taylor may be the MVP on a group that has actually struggled offensively. The 26-year-old Aussie is connected for the FBS lead with 45

punts. Only one of those has actually gone for a touchback, and he’s fourth nationally with a 48.3-yard average, with 17 punts downed inside the 20. He punted 10 times in the Hawkeyes ’15-6 win over Wisconsin and kept the Badgers in bad field position all game.Honorable reference: Matthew Hayball, Vanderbilt After missing out on 2 games with an injury, Branch returned to the lineup for

USC’s 48-20 loss at Notre Dame. In his first 4

games, the true freshman returned both a kickoff and a punt for goals. He’s averaging more than 24 backyards a return on both punts and kickoffs. Branch, who also has two getting touchdowns this season, didn’t rating against Notre Dame however did have a 60-yard punt return.Honorable mention: Matthew Golden, Houston