Way-Too-Early All-America team for 2024

• Chris Low, ESPN

  • Senior Citizen WriterJan 23, 2024, 07:00 AM ET Close College football press reporter
  • Joined ESPN.com in 2007
  • Graduate of the University of Tennessee

With ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 for the 2024 season unveiled following Michigan’s 34-13 defeat of Washington in the championship game previously this month, it’s time to move on to the Way-Too-Early All-America team.Some of the

names shouldn’t come as a surprise, such as Ollie Gordon II, Luther Concern III, Travis Hunter and Malaki Starks. However with these early All-America teams, it’s constantly rejuvenating to see some brand-new names– and a few players who have changed schools.Selecting our early

All-America team is always tough, particularly in the transfer portal age, but we spoke to NFL scouts, college coaches and other media members to select the players forecasted to be the best at their respective positions in 2024. We’ll need to wait to see if they head out and do it.Ohio State leads the way with 4 first-team choices.

Georgia and Michigan each have three. Illustration by ESPN Offense It was just 2 years ago that Stetson Bennett was a Heisman Trophy

finalist, something no one would have foreseen at the start of the season. Now it’s Beck’s turn. He has the size(6-foot-4 )and arm strength to carve apart defenses from the pocket and ended up last season with the fourth-highest quarterback grade by Pro Football Focus. If Beck enhances as much in 2024 as he did this past season, he’ll be best in the middle of the Heisman conversation.Second team: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon The Doak Walker Award winner last season as college football’s leading running back, Gordon is no longer an unidentified

amount. He went from having 308 rushing lawns as a freshman to an FBS-leading 1,732 backyards this past season and scored 22 goals. The 6-1, 211-pound Gordon integrates strength, power and acceleration. He led all players with 14 hurries of 30 yards or longer and connected for second with 1,056 backyards after contact.Second team: Omarion Hampton, North Carolina Henderson’s statement that he would be back in 2024 was great news for Ohio State’s offense, which will be directed by brand-new organizer Costs O’Brien. Henderson shared brings last season but still handled 926 yards and 11 goals. He’ll again share brings next season with former Ole Miss star Quinshon Judkins, who is transferring in to provide the Buckeyes what must be the best one-two punch in the country.Second team: Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State play 0:33 Luther Problem III makes excellent catch on 42-yard Missouri TD Brady Cook tosses a 42-yard touchdown pass to Luther Burden.Had he been eligible to come out for the NFL draft this year, Burden would have been among the top receivers picked. He’s electrical in the open field and ranked 3rd nationally this previous season with 725 yards after the catch. The 5-10,

208-pound Problem was second in the SEC with 86 receptions and has the whole package. He’s a deep threat, can increase and get 50-50 balls and is constantly an action or more away from scoring a touchdown.Second team: Tory Horton, Colorado State McMillan was among the nation’s top breakout players in 2023 in an Arizona passing game that ranked eighth nationally( 308.3 yards per game). Coach Jedd Fisch has actually proceeded to Washington, however McMillan will be back with the Wildcats and will again be capturing passes from Noah Fifita. The 6-5, 210-pound McMillan is a difficult match for anyone and produced great numbers as a true sophomore(90 catches, 1,402

yards and 10 touchdowns). Junior varsity: Tre Harris, Ole Miss The 6-foot-5 Loveland expanded to 245 pounds and emerged as a staple in the Wolverines ‘offense on their way to the championship game. He completed third on the team with 45 catches, averaging 14.4 lawns per catch, and hauled in 4 goal receptions while making first-team All-Big 10 honors. There will be numerous high-quality tight ends around the nation in 2024, but Loveland’s skills as both a receiver

and blocker pushed him to the top of the list.Second group: Brant Kuithe, Utah Campbell is a rarity in college football because he’s been a starter at left tackle considering that the first game of his freshman season. He was a Freshman All-American in 2022 and went from quiting five sacks his very first season to none as a sophomore in 491 pass-blocking scenarios, according to Pro Football Focus. The 6-5, 325-pound Campbell has the power and size to control his opponents.Second team: Earnest Greene, Georgia Ratledge missed the NFL draft to go back to Georgia for his senior season, and the Bulldogs must once again have one of the very best offending lines in the nation. The 6-6, 310-pound Ratledge has actually made 27 starts at ideal guard over the previous 2 seasons and was a second-team AP All-American in 2023, when he didn’t permit any sacks and let in just 2 QB hurries.Second group: Tyler Booker, Alabama Editor’s Picks

1 Related Brailsford was among the leading run-blocking centers in college football last season at Washington, and he’s following coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama. He had the nation’s 4th highest run-blocking grade by Pro

Football Focus as part of a group that won the Joe Moore Award as the leading offending line in the nation. He started 2 games at right guard and 13 at center and will be key addition in the middle of the Crimson Tide O-line. Second team: Cooper Mays, Tennessee

Jackson has actually started at left guard for the Buckeyes each of the previous two seasons and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2023. He thought about turning pro, however stated there is “still more to do” at Ohio State, which must be packed on the offending line next season. The 6-4, 320-pound Jackson has actually enabled just two sacks in two years as a starter and is a mauler in the running game.Second team: Dylan Fairchild, Georgia Banks was a marquee recruit when he showed up on school and has made great and after that some on that billing. The 6-4

, 324-pound rising junior has begun every game for the Longhorns considering that his freshman season in 2022, when he was a Freshman All-American. He earned first-team All-Big 12 honors this previous season as Texas ‘left take on and must have a long career ahead of him in the NFL.Second team: Ajani Cornelius, Oregon The decision by Jeanty, one of the most dynamic and entertaining players in the nation, to return for another season was

a real coup for Boise State. He was a first-team All-America choice on ESPN’s 2023 postseason team and the only FBS player to rush for more than 1,300 backyards(1,347)and have more than 500 receiving yards (569 ). Ashton had 58 plays of 10-plus lawns, leading all returning FBS players.Second group: Travis Hunter, Colorado Defense Pearce tied for the SEC sacks lead(10) last season with Dallas Turner and Nathaniel Watson and returns for his junior season as

among the top NFL draft potential customers in the league.

The 6-5, 242-pound Pearce has terrific burst off the edge and is a headache for any tackle to obstruct. He was connected for fifth nationally last season with 38 overall pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.Second team: Rueben Bain Jr., Miami After a 2023 season that saw Williams tie for the group lead with 10 deals with for loss, his announcement that he was returning for his senior season was huge news around the Ohio State football complex.

The 6-2, 290-pound Williams would have been among the leading 5 or 6 interior defensive line potential customers in this year’s NFL draft had he come out, now that he’s back, the Buckeyes head into 2024 with among the greatest protective lines in the country.Second team: Howard Cross III, Notre Dame Graham was an integral piece of a Michigan defense that was the foundation of the Wolverines ‘national championship group. He returns as one of the top interior protective linemen in college football after earning first-team All-Big Ten

honors. The 6-3, 318-pound Graham had fun with a damaged thumb through much of last season and was at his finest in the postseason.Second group: Deone Walker, Kentucky Gillotte had the type of season in 2023 that led many to believe he would jump to the NFL, but the Cardinals have their most impactful defender back in Year 2 under Jeff Brohm. Gillotte was the runner-up for ACC Defensive Gamer of the Year honors with 14.5 tackles for loss, consisting of 11 sacks, and required 3

fumbles. He was seventh nationally with 42 quarterback rushes, according to Pro Football Focus.Second group: Landon Jackson, Arkansas Perkins’numbers dipped some last season after LSU toyed with him in a various function, however the skill remains. And with new defensive planner Blake Baker taking over, he will see to it that Perkins reestablishes himself as the leading blitzing linebacker in the country. In his first 2 seasons, Perkins racked up 16 sacks.

His speed and dexterity are remarkable, and he

‘s the kind of impact defender opposing offenses have to represent on every play.Second group: Jay Higgins, Iowa Regardless of missing three games with an ankle injury last season, Lawson was among Alabama’s more efficient protectors from his middle linebacker position. He was second on the team with 67 total tackles, including 5.5 for loss. The 6-2, 230-pounder completed with the fourth greatest pass-rush grade among linebackers, according

to Pro Football Focus.Second team: Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma Although he was eclipsed by Jeremiah Trotter Jr. last season, Carter chose to return as the leader of Clemson’s defense and one of college football’s most versatile linebackers rather of going into the NFL draft. He has 9 sacks and 12 pass breakups over the past 2 seasons and is equally reliable on both running and passing downs.Second group: Abdul Carter, Penn State play 0:42 Travis Hunter comes away with his second INT of the game Colorado’s Travis Hunter comes up big with another interception off of UCLA’s Ethan Garbers.Colorado coach Deion Sanders called Hunter a” generational player”last year, and Sanders should understand. A two-way player for the Buffaloes, Hunter played more snaps from skirmish(566 on defense and 436 on offense)than anyone in college football. Despite missing out on three games with an injury, Hunter had three interceptions and has the abilities to lock down any receiver in the country.Second group: Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame In

2023, Johnson went from being one of the very best freshmen in the country to one of the very best cornerbacks in the nation. He’s poised to be even better next season after making consensus first-team All-Big 10 honors. Johnson( 6-2, 202)has excellent size for a cornerback and didn’t give up any goals in 321 coverage snaps. He was the protective MVP in the championship game game.Second group: Denzel Burke, Ohio State

Alabama’s loss was Ohio State’s gain. After a marvelous freshman season in Tuscaloosa

, Downs moved to Ohio State last week and right away enter the Buckeyes’secondary as one of

the most talented defenders in the nation. A starter since Week 1 last season, Downs led Alabama with 107 overall deals with and intercepted two passes. He’s a sure tackler, has excellent impulses and covers like a cornerback.Second group: Xavier Watts, Notre Dame There are a lot of essential pieces to Kirby Smart’s defense at Georgia, and Starks has been one of the foundations each of the previous 2 seasons.

A starter since he was a freshman, Starks was a

agreement first-team All-American last season. He was 4th on the Bulldogs with 52 overall takes on and also had three interceptions.Second team: Rod Moore, Michigan Special groups Last season, Nicholson became the first MAC player to win the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top place-kicker. He made 27 of his 28 basket attempts, striking 10 from 40-plus lawns. Nicholson, an increasing senior, is the supreme security blanket for the RedHawks offense. He’s

made 60 field goals throughout his career.Second team: Andres Borregales, Miami Mastromanno is back for his 5th season after finishing as among 3 finalists for the Ray Guy Award as the top punter in the nation. The Aussie balanced 45.5 yards per punt. Of his 67 punts, 37 were reasonable captured, ranking second among FBS punters because classification. He was third nationally with 30 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.Second team: James Burnip, Alabama Branch returns for his sophomore season as one of

the most talented players on USC’s roster and has

a possibility to be among the Trojans’ best players in 2024. As a real freshman, he returned both a kickoff and punt for touchdowns. He had 3 punt returns of 60 backyards or longer and must be a much larger part of USC’s death game after catching 31 passes a year ago.Second team: Barion Brown, Kentucky