A different and landscape-changing college football season is followed by bowl games and the College Football Playoff. With the regular season in the rearview mirror, here’s Sports Illustrated’s 2024 College Football All-American Team.
QB: Dillon Gabriel, redshirt senior, Oregon Ducks
At his third college, Gabriel stepped into where Bo Nix led the way and took the passing offense to another level at the University of Oregon, where the Ducks won 13-0, won the Big Ten, and advanced to the College Football Playoff. obtained the top seed. Gabriel completed 73.2 percent of his passes for 3,558 yards, 28 touchdowns and just six interceptions, earning him a ticket to the Heisman final.
RB: Ashton Giunty, Jr., Boise State Broncos
Aptly expresses how special 2024 Ashton Giunty was for the Broncos, who won the Mountain West Conference and earned a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff after a 12-1 season. There aren’t enough words to say it. Giunty rushed for 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns for the Mountain West, winning his second consecutive Offensive Player of the Year award and becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist. He is 131 yards shy of Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record.
RB: Cam Skatebo, Sr., Arizona State Sun Devils
While Giunty stole the show, Arizona State’s Cam Skatebo has been key to the Sun Devils’ Big 12 title and College Football Playoff berth. Skatebo rushed for 1,568 yards and 19 touchdowns and added catches for 506 yards and three touchdowns. He’s been one of the best backs in the sport this season.
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WR: Travis Hunter, Jr., Colorado Buffaloes
Is there anything Travis Hunter can’t do? There’s a reason he plays two different positions on the U.S. national team. Hunter has proven to be one of the best players in college football at two different positions and appears poised to win the Heisman Trophy on December 14th. As a receiver, Hunter caught 92 passes for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Buffaloes.
WR: Xavier Restrepo, redshirt senior, Miami Hurricanes
Restrepo made the jump from good receiver to great receiver in his final year of college eligibility, as the Hurricanes promoted him to quarterback with Cam Ward. Restrepo was a major beneficiary of a much-improved Miami offense. This season, he caught 69 passes for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns.
TE: Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green Falcons junior
Harold Fannin Jr. put up video game numbers in the MAC for Bowling Green, which spent most of the season in contention for a conference championship, and claimed to be the best tight end in college football. The Falcons relied heavily on the junior tight end, who caught 100 passes for 1,342 yards and nine scores.
OT: Kelvin Banks Jr., Jr., Texas Longhorns
You need look no further than the SEC Championship to see the impact Kelvin Banks Jr. will have on the Texas offensive line. Banks missed the game with an ankle injury, but the Longhorns struggled hard on the perimeter to stop Georgia’s defensive line, which boasts several NFL candidates. Banks’ health will be key for the Longhorns as they aim to win a national title. He is the best tackle in the sport when healthy and will be a top draft pick next April.
OT: Wyatt Milam, Sr., West Virginia Mountaineers
When West Virginia University’s offense was at its best, it was running right behind Wyatt Milam. Milam anchored the offensive line and helped the Mountaineers finish the season 27th in the nation with 192.7 rushing yards per game.
OG: Bill Katsigianis, Army Black Knights Sr.
Army was one of the best Group 5 FBS teams this season, leading the nation with 314.4 rushing yards per game. Senior guard Bill Katsigianis was the best player on the offensive line, as evidenced by his selection to the All-AAC first team.
OG: Donovan Jackson, Ohio State Buckeyes senior
Jackson was a first-team All-Big Ten selection on a prolific Ohio State offensive line and one of the nation’s best guards in 2024.
C: Cooper Mays, Sr., Tennessee Volunteers.
The University of Tennessee had the best rushing attack in the nation thanks to standout running back Dylan Sampson. The experienced offensive line was led by senior center Cooper Mays, a first-team All-SEC selection in 2024.
QB: Cam Ward, Sr., Miami Hurricanes
RB: Dylan Sampson, Jr., Tennessee Volunteers
RB: Caleb Johnson, Jr., Iowa Hawkeyes
WR: Nick Nash, redshirt senior, San Jose State Spartans
WR: Tetairoa McMillan, Jr., Arizona Wildcats
TE: Orlando Gadsden II, redshirt junior, Syracuse Orange.
OT: Will Campbell, Jr., LSU Tigers.
OT: Ailonte Arcelly, redshirt senior, Minnesota Golden Gophers
OG: Luke Kandra, Sr., Cincinnati Bearcats
OG: Dylan Fairchild, redshirt junior, Georgia Bulldogs
C: Seth McLaughlin, redshirt senior, Ohio State Buckeyes.
QB: Bryson Daly, Sr., Army Black Knights
RB: Jordan James, Jr., Oregon Ducks
RB: Omarion Hampton, Jr., North Carolina Tar Heels
WR: Jeremiah Smith, freshman, Ohio State Buckeyes
WR: Tre Harris, Sr., Ole Miss Rebels
TE: Holden Willis, Sr., Middle Tennessee State.
OT: Josh Connally Jr., Jr., Oregon Ducks
OT: Cage Casey, redshirt sophomore, Boise State Broncos.
OG: Tyler Booker, Jr., Alabama Crimson Tide
OG: Willie Lumpkin, Sr., North Carolina Tar Heels
C: Parker Brailsford, sophomore, Alabama Crimson Tide
DE: Abdul Carter, Jr., Penn State Nittany Lions
The 2024 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, he led the Nittany Lions’ stout defense with 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss, leading the program to a national title. This is the key to seizing opportunities.
DE: Kyle Kennard, redshirt senior, South Carolina Gamecocks
The Nagurski Award winner, given to the nation’s best defensive player, will be a force to be reckoned with in 2024. Kennard’s 11.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss were key to South Carolina’s resurgent program, which is in contention for a championship late in the season. College Football Playoff.
DT: Mason Graham, Jr., Michigan Wolverines
Graham was a force on the Wolverines’ inside defensive line, racking up 3.5 sacks and showing elite run-stopping ability. He has declared for the NFL Draft and is expected to be a first-round pick.
DT: Walter Nolen, Jr., Ole Miss Rebels
Nolen is one of the best defensive linemen in the country and picked up right where he left off at Ole Miss after transferring from Texas A&M. Nolen recorded 6.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss and was named first team All-SEC.
LB: Anthony Hill Jr., Sophomore, Texas Longhorns
Hill was left off the All-SEC first team after an impressive sophomore year at the University of Texas. He totaled 90 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, one interception, and four forced fumbles. He is scheduled to return in 2025 as one of the nation’s top linebackers.
LB: Jay Higgins, redshirt senior, Iowa Hawkeyes.
As usual, the 2024 Iowa State defense was solid, with linebacker Jay Higgins being the best player on it. Higgins was in the middle of one of the nation’s best defenses, totaling 118 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, four interceptions, and two forced fumbles.
LB: Jaylon Walker, Jr., Georgia Bulldogs
Walker won the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker, but like Anthony Hill Jr., he was not named to the All-SEC first team. Georgia’s defense had some ups and downs compared to its history under Kirby Smart, but it still ranked 23rd nationally in scoring defense, allowing 20.38 points per game. Walker had 11 tackles and 6.5 sacks for the Bulldogs this season.
CB: Travis Hunter, Jr., Colorado Buffaloes
As mentioned above, Hunter is not only a first-team selection as a wide receiver, but he is also a first-team selection as a cornerback. He had four interceptions, recorded 11 passes defensed, forced a fumble and added 32 combined tackles. The opposing quarterback knew it wasn’t a good idea to throw in Hunter’s direction.
CB: Nolle Williams, redshirt senior, Cal Golden Bears.
Williams was the best cornerback in the ACC this season, Cal’s first year in the league. The redshirt senior corner led the FBS with seven interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.
S: Caleb Downs, sophomore, Ohio State Buckeyes.
Downs emerged as one of the nation’s best safeties at Alabama as a true freshman last season, picking up where he left off after transferring to Ohio State following Nick Saban’s retirement. With 62 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, three passes defensed and one interception, he was once again one of the best players in the country in the back end of the secondary.
S: Xavier Watts, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Sr.
Notre Dame has the best overall defense in at least the past 20 years, and Watts is a key part of the unit. Watts is back with the team after winning the Nagurski Trophy and being named to the All-American first team last season. He is one of the top guards in the country.
DE: Nick Skorton, Jr., Texas A&M Aggies
DE: Donovan Ezeilak, Sr., Boston College Eagles
DT: Derrick Harmon, Jr., Oregon Ducks
DT: Alfred Collins, Sr., Texas Longhorns
LB: Aiden Fisher, Jr., Indiana Hoosiers
LB: Sean Dolac, redshirt senior, Buffalo Bulls.
LB: Danny Stutzman, Sr., Oklahoma Sooners
CB: Jermod McCoy, sophomore, Tennessee Volunteers.
CB: Jade Barron, redshirt senior, Texas Longhorns
S: Malachi Starks, Jr., Georgia Bulldogs
S: Nick Emanwori, Jr., South Carolina Gamecocks
DE: Antoine Powell Ryland, redshirt senior, Virginia Tech.
DE: Mikail Kamara, redshirt junior, Indiana Hoosiers
DT: Riley Mills, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Sr.
DT: Ty Robinson, Sr., Nebraska Cornhuskers
LB: Barrett Carter, Sr., Clemson Tigers
LB: Whit Weeks, sophomore, LSU Tigers
LB: Isaiah Glasker, redshirt sophomore, BYU Cougars.
CB: D’Angelo Pons, sophomore, Indiana Hoosiers
CB: Jamari Harris, redshirt senior, Iowa Hawkeyes
S: Lathan Ransom, Ohio State Buckeyes senior
S: Jalen Catalon, Sr., UNLV Rebels
K: Colin Rogers, Jr., SMU Mustangs
SMU was 11-2, runner-up in the ACC, and had one of the nation’s best kickers in Rodgers, who was a perfect 51-of-51 on extra points and 23-of-31 from the field.
P: Brett Thorson, Jr., Georgia Bulldogs
Thorson missed the SEC Championship Game with a long-term injury to his foot and is certain to miss the Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff. Thorson made a big impact in several games this year, including both games against Texas, with his ability to turn the field. He averaged 47.6 yards per punt this season.
AP: Tyler Warren, Sr., Penn State Nittany Lions
In a year where two tight ends overshadowed all the rest, it was nearly impossible to choose between Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin Jr. and Penn State’s Tyler Warren. Both were extremely important to their respective offenses and demanded high goal shares in games. passing game. As a result, Warren caught 88 passes for 1,062 yards and six touchdowns, making him a versatile first-team player for SI. He was also a dangerous Wildcat quarterback in the red zone, adding 191 yards rushing and four TDs on the ground, completing 3 of 5 passes for 35 yards and 1 TD. Warren may have scored the coolest touchdown of the season in a play against USC when he snapped the ball as an eligible receiver and then went downfield to make a contested catch in the end zone. One last thing: He also punted against Minnesota.
K: Ben Soles, Sr., Pittsburgh Panthers
P: Eddie Czaplicki, Sr., USC Trojans.
AP: Ricky White III, Sr., UNLV Rebels.
K: Dominic Zvada, Jr., Michigan Wolverines
P: Kai Krueger, redshirt senior, South Carolina Gamecocks
AP: Winston Wright Jr., Sr., East Carolina Pirates
