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. Without being on at least one of those five, the player is not eligible for the Hall of Fame.
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. On Friday, it was the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)’s All-American team to be revealed. The Associated Press released its All-American selections on Monday.
21 From the Big Ten Earn AP All-American Honors
First-Team
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 three First-Team All-American honors for the 2024 season now, earning him the moniker of “consensus All-American.”
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 AP All-American honor is his third First-Team selection this year, joining the Walter Camp and AFCA lists.
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 three First-Team honors with the AP, AFCA, and Walter Camp.
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.
Schwesinger was a Second-Team All-American from the AFCA and his is his first First-Team selection.
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 Graham, Carter, and Higgins with his third First-Team All-American honor of the year.
Second-Team
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 and Second-Team by the AFCA.
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 third Second-Team All-American honor this year.
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 third All-American selection as he was also a First-Team Walter Camp and AFCA All-American.
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.
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 AP joined Walter Camp and the AFCA in selecting Warren as a Second-Team player.
Dominic Zvada, K, Michigan
Dominic Zvada transferred to Michigan after an incredible two-year career with Arkansas State. This year, Zvada converted in 25-of-26 extra points and made 17 of his 18 field goal attempts. The most impressive part of his season was that he was perfect from beyond 50 yards, making all seven attempts. He was honored by the Big Ten with the Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year Award.
Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
After three seasons at Michigan State, Derrick Harmon flew west to join the Oregon Ducks. As a result, he was a dominant force on the interior defensive line. He heads into the CFP with 42 tackles, eight-and-a-half tackles for loss, five sacks, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Third-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 third selection, joining his Second-Team All-American selections from the Walter Camp and AFCA.
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.
Felton was also a Second-Team AFCA All-American selection.
Josh Conerly, Jr., OT, Oregon
One of the reasons the Ducks were able to run through the Big Ten in their first season was thanks to the offensive line. After holding down the fort as a sophomore in 2023, Josh Conerly improved in 2024. This year, he allowed no sacks and just six pressures off 439 pass-blocking snaps.
Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
Airoentae Ersery was a force on the Minnesota offensive line. He helped the Golden Gophers with a strong season as a run blocker. According to Pro Football Focus, he earned a 79.9 grade as a run blocker. As a pass protector, he allowed just 13 pressures and one sack on the year. He won the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year in the Big Ten.
Mikail Kamara, EDGE, Indiana
After breaking out with James Madison last year, Mikail Kamara followed his coach and kept up his high-level play with Indiana. This year, he logged 44 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, a pass breakup, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in 12 games.
Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
One of the dynamic duo on the Michigan interior defensive line, Kenneth Grant is destined to hear his name called early in the 2025 NFL Draft. He finished his 2024 season with 32 tackles, six-and-a-half tackles for loss, three sacks, five pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries.
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 and AFCA Second-Team selection.
Lathan Ransom, SAF, Ohio State
No Ohio State player made nearly as much of an improvement to his game as Lathan Ransom did this year. After missing time last year, he returned to lead the Buckeye defense. Random heads into the CFP with 57 tackles, six tackles for loss, a pass breakup, an interception, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
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 and the AFCA tabbed Czaplicki as a Second-Team All-American.
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