It is officially time for All-American teams to be unveiled. Just about every entity on the internet and in the media has its own All-American team. However, there are only five that are held with such regard that making one of the teams helps out an eventual College Football Hall of Fame case. The Walter Camp, AFCA, FWAA, AP, and The Sporting News All-American teams carry significantly more weight than those from other outlets.
Any player who lands on at least three of the five recognized lists is considered a “consensus All-American.” On Thursday, the Walter Camp All-American team was revealed. Then, on Friday, it was the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)’s All-American team to be revealed.
16 From the Big Ten Earn AFCA All-American Honors
First-Team
Seth McLaughlin, C, Ohio State
Two of Ohio State’s three Alabama transfers made an immediate, significant impact. After starting 24 games with the Crimson Tide, Seth McLaughlin took over the Buckeyes’ center job. Unfortunately, after 10 games, McLaughlin suffered a torn Achilles in the practice week leading up to the matchup with Indiana, thus ending his season. Despite a truncated season, McLaughlin racked in honors. In addition to winning the Rimington Trophy, he was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy and earned a First-Team All-Big Ten selection. Ohio State grades its players on a week-by-week basis and McLaughlin graded out as a “champion” in all 10 games.
This is McLaughlin’s second All-American selection as he was also a First-Team Walter Camp All-American.
Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Last year, Mason Graham earned second-team All-American from the Sporting News. This year, he was even better. Through 12 games, Graham had 45 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three-and-a-half sacks, a pass breakup, and a blocked field goal. According to Pro Football Focus, Graham has been credited with the second-most pressures (ie, sacks, hits, and hurries) with 32 among all interior defensive linemen at the FBS level. Additionally, he is rated the second-highest run defender among all interior defensive linemen by PFF (91.9).
Graham has been among the elites in college football over the last two seasons. He was a finalist for both the Outland Trophy and the Nagusrki Award. He has two First-Team All-American honors for the 2024 season now.
Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
It’s obvious that the move from linebacker to edge rusher has paid dividends for Abdul Carter and the Penn State defense. Carter was a superstar for the Nittany Lions last year but he’s kicked it up another notch for the likely College Football Playoff-bound Penn State team.
Through 13 games, Carter has terrorized offenses left and right. In total, he has amassed 60 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. He leads the Big Ten in tackles for loss and is third in the country. His eight sacks are tied for fourth in the conference. In eight of his 13 games, Carter amassed multiple tackles for loss.
The AFCA All-American honor is his second First-Team selection this year, joining the Walter Camp list.
Jay Higgins, LB, Iowa
After leading the Big Ten in assisted tackles last year, Jay Higgins did it again this year. He finished the regular season with 69 assisted tackles, 118 total tackles, two-and-a-half tackles for loss, one sack, four interceptions, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
This is Higgins’ second AFCA All-American selection as he was a Second-Team honoree last year. He now has two First-Team honors with the AFCA and Walter Camp.
Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
One of the more dynamic defenders in college football, Caleb Downs transferred in from Alabama and made an immediate impact on the Buckeyes’ defense. Coming down from his safety spot, Downs recorded 62 tackles, six-and-a-half tackles for loss, half of a sack, three pass breakups, and an interception. He added a punt return touchdown in the win over Indiana.
Downs was also a finalist for the Thorpe Award and Bednarik Award. He joins McLaughlin, Graham, Carter, and Higgins with his second First-Team All-American honor.
Luke Elkin, LS, Iowa
Luke Elkin has been the Hawkeyes’ long snapper for the past four seasons and was a Second-Team All-Big Ten selection.
He was a consensus All-American last year.
Second-Team
Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
Few quarterbacks, if any, have been as efficient and dominant as Gabriel this year. He led the top-ranked Ducks to a 13-0 mark, a Big Ten Championship in the program’s first season, and a top overall seed in the College Football Playoff. Gabriel led the Big Ten with 3,558 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 297 completions while completing 73.2 percent of his passes. Only one player had a better completion percentage (Shedeur Sanders). This year also marked the third time in his six-year career that he led his conference in passing.
This is Gabriel’s second Second-Team All-American selection, joining the Walter Wamp honor.
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
It was a special season for Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson. The NFL-bound back was the first Iowa Hawkeye to win the Ameche-Dyche Running Back of the Year award in the Big Ten. Then, he became a finalist for the Doak Walker Award. He put together a season where he rushed for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns (both Big Ten bests) off 240 rushes. Johnson put together the program’s third-best season in terms of rushing yards and owns the record for touchdowns.
He was a First-Team All-American by Walter Camp.
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
The first Ohio State freshman receiver to earn any All-American honors, Jeremiah Smith has shown that the future isn’t just bright, it’s blinding. In his first season of college football, Smith hauled in 57 passes for 934 and a Big Ten-best 10 touchdowns. The Big Ten awarded him with First-Team All-Big Ten honors to go with the Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year and Thompson-Randle-El Freshman of the Year awards.
This is Smith’s second Second-Team All-American honor this year.
Tai Felton, WR, Maryland
The Big Ten has always been home to top-tier wide receiver talent. 2024 was an impressive breakout season for Tai Felton. He led the Big Ten with 1,124 yards and 96 receptions and was second with nine touchdowns.
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
A First-Team All-Big Ten selection and Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year, Warren was widely considered to be the top tight end in the conference. Now with the Mackey Award, he’s the top tight end in the country.
The redshirt senior recorded an incredible 1,062 yards and six touchdowns off 88 receptions. Heading into this season, Warren had amassed just 606 yards and 11 touchdowns off 49 receptions in four years.
The AFCA joined Walter Camp in selecting Warren as a Second-Team player.
Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State
The former five-star recruit, Donovan Jackson has done everything for the Buckeyes this year. After starting the season at left guard, he had to kick outside to left tackle with the injury to Josh Simmons. According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson allowed two sacks on 296 pass-blocking snaps.
Ajani Cornelius, OL, Oregon
After earning Second-Team (Media)/Third-Team (Coaches) All-Big Ten honors, Ajani Cornelius was selected to the AFCA Second-Team All-American list. He was one of the country’s top tackles in the nation. PFF assigned him a 73.9 overall grade and attributed two sacks to him off 469 pass-blocking snaps.
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
The season ended prematurely for Will Johnson. The talented junior suffered an injury and then opted to just prepare for the NFL Draft. Even then, in six games, he recorded 14 tackles, a tackle for loss, and two pick-sixes.
He was also a Walter Camp Second-Team selection.
Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
After leading the Big Ten in solo tackles and earning First-Team All-Big Ten honors, Carson Schwesinger was a Butkus Award finalist. He led the Bruins with 136 tackles, eight-and-a-half tackles for loss, four sacks, three pass breakups, a forced fumble, and two interceptions.
Eddie Czaplicki, P, USC
2024 was a great year for Eddie Czaaplicki. In total, he launched 40 punts for an average of 48.5 yards, raising his career average to 45.3 yards. That per punt average this year led the Big Ten and netted him the Big Ten Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year award with First-Team All-Big Ten honors. Of those 40 punts, 21 went at least 50 yards and 24 were downed inside the 20. In terms of Trojan history, Czaplicki had the best yards per punt average in program history and was a solid 1.8 yards ahead of the next.
He won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter this year. Walter Camp also tabbed Czaplicki as a Second-Team All-American.
The post 16 From the Big Ten Earn AFCA All-American Honors appeared first on Last Word on College Football.