Alabama QB Bryce Young leads USA TODAY Sports 2021 All-America teams – USA TODAY
As the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy and the quarterback for the top-ranked team in the country heading into the College Football Playoff, Alabama sophomore Bryce Young was an easy pick to top USA TODAY Sports’ All-America teams for 2021.
Young is joined by two of the three other Heisman finalists in Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett. Pickett earned second-team honors ahead of Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, the fourth finalist for the award.
The All-America teams are heavy on players from the four playoff teams. That includes both cornerbacks from Cincinnati’s top-ranked pass defense, unstoppable Alabama linebacker Will Anderson and Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Davis.
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Offense
QB: Bryce Young, Alabama (So.)
Young has thrown 43 touchdowns against four interceptions and been the most consistent quarterback in the Football Bowl Subdivision. He had three Heisman moments in his last three games, throwing for more than 500 yards against Arkansas, keying the comeback against Auburn and then going for 421 yards against Georgia.
RB: Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State (Jr.)
RB: Breece Hall, Iowa State (Jr.)
Walker (1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns) was briefly the Heisman leader before trailing off as the Spartans lost twice in November. Hall (1,472 yards and 20 touchdowns) is one of the most prolific backs in recent FBS history.
WR: Jordan Addison, Pittsburgh (So.)
WR: Jameson Williams, Alabama (Jr.)
TE: Brock Bowers, Georgia (Fr.)
Addison (17 touchdowns) had an outstanding year as Pickett’s top target for the Panthers. After transferring in from Ohio State, Williams (21.3 yards per catch) quickly built a rapport with Young. Bowers led the Bulldogs in catches (47) and yards (791) and is the only freshman to earn All-America honors.
OL: Evan Neal, Alabama (Jr.)
OL: Zion Johnson, Boston College (Sr.)
OL: Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa (Jr.)
OL: Kenyon Green, Texas A&M (Jr.)
OL: Ikem Okwonu, North Carolina State (So.)
Neal was always reliable as Alabama’s line developed over the course of the regular season. Johnson has been a rock in the middle of the Eagles’ front for his entire career and had his best season as a senior. Linderbaum is the top interior lineman in the country and a bully in the Big Ten. Like Neal with the Tide, Green was the veteran of a rebuilt line and helped A&M overcome key injuries on offense. Okwonu might be the most unheralded player in the country regardless of position.
Defense
DL: Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan (Sr.)
DL: Jordan Davis, Georgia (Sr.)
DL: DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M (Jr.)
DL: Jermaine Johnson, Florida State (Sr.)
Hutchinson (14 sacks) had an all-time season for the Wolverines defined by the way he dominated Ohio State. Davis made an impact that went far beyond the numbers for a defense that looked impenetrable before meeting Alabama. Leal (12.5 tackles for loss) was the star of an A&M defense that ranked seventh in yards allowed per play. A transfer from Georgia, Johnson (11.5 sacks) nearly carried FSU to the postseason and made an impact that will outlast his senior year.
LB: Nakobe Dean, Georgia (Jr.)
LB: Devin Lloyd, Utah (Jr.)
LB: Will Anderson, Alabama (So.)
Dean (8.5 tackles for loss) was the conductor of the Bulldogs’ defense. Lloyd (22 tackles for loss) stuffed box scores as the most multiple linebacker in the country. Anderson (31.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks) is the most dominant player in college football and in line to be the best Alabama defender of the Nick Saban era.
CB: Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati (Jr.)
CB: Roger McCreary, Auburn (Sr.)
S: Verone McKinley III, Oregon (So.)
S: Jalen Pitre, Baylor (Sr.)
Quarterbacks simply didn’t test Gardner, and for good reason. McCreary (49 tackles) was a late-blooming prospect who worked his way to first-team all-conference honors and potentially a spot in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. McKinley led the nation in interceptions (six) and had one of the biggest plays of the year with his late pick to seal a win against Ohio State. Pitre (17.5 tackles for loss) was the defensive player of the year in the Big 12.
Specialists
K: Caleb Shudak, Iowa (Sr.)
P: Matt Araiza, San Diego State (Sr.)
RET: Marcus Jones, Houston (Sr.)
Shudak made 23 field goals, including 11 of 40 or more yards, and helped Iowa win seven games by 10 or fewer points. Araiza (51.4 yards per punt) has turned punting into must-see TV. Jones was a contender for All-America accolades as a cornerback but lands here for his impact in the return game (four combined touchdowns on punts and kickoffs).
Offense
QB: Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh (Sr.)
RB: Sincere McCormick, Texas-San Antonio (Jr.)
RB: Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State (So.)
WR: David Bell, Purdue (Jr.)
WR: Jerreth Sterns, Western Kentucky (Jr.)
TE: Michael Mayer, Notre Dame (So.)
OL: Darian Kinnard, Kentucky (Sr.)
OL: Connor Galvin, Baylor (Sr.)
OL: Alec Lindstrom, Boston College (Sr.)
OL: Max Mitchell, Louisiana-Lafayette (Jr.)
OL: Nicholas Petit-Frere, Ohio State (Jr.)
Defense
DL: Cameron Thomas, San Diego State (Jr.)
DL: George Karlaftis, Purdue (Jr.)
DL: Josh Paschal, Kentucky (Sr.)
DL: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon (Jr.)
LB: Malcolm Rodriguez, Oklahoma State (Sr.)
LB: Leo Chenal, Wisconsin (Jr.)
LB: Nik Bonitto, Oklahoma (Jr.)
CB: Coby Bryant, Cincinnati (Sr.)
CB: Riley Moss, Iowa (Sr.)
S: Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame (Jr.)
S: Jaquan Brisker, Penn State (Sr.)
Specialists
K: Jake Moody, Michigan (Sr.)
P: Jordan Stout, Penn State (Sr.)
RET: Britain Covey, Utah (Jr.)
