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. With Tuesday came the Football Writers Association of America’s (FWAA) list.
14 From the Big Ten Earn AP All-American Honors
First-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 fourth selection but his first First-Team honor. the FWAA joins his Second-Team All-American selections from the Walter Camp and AFCA and Third-Team selection from the Associated Press.
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 and AP.
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, Walter Camp, and AFCA selected Warren as a Second-Team player. Oddly enough, another tight end earned First-Team honors by the FWAA but was listed as a wide receiver (Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin, Jr.).
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 fourth All-American selection as he was also a First-Team Walter Camp and AFCA All-American while the AP listed him as a Second-Teamer.
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 four 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 FWAA All-American honor is his fourth First-Team selection this year, joining the Walter Camp, AFCA, and AP lists.
Aiden Fisher, LB, Indiana
Another James Madison-to-Indiana defection, Aiden Fisher did not miss a beat when following his head coach to Bloomington. He finished with the third-most tackles in the Big Ten with 108 and added four tackles for loss, one-and-a-half-sacks, and four pass breakups. Fisher tallied double-digit tackles four times this year.
This is his first All-American honor of any kind for the 2024 season.
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.
He now has four First-Team honors with the AP, AFCA, and Walter Camp joining the FWAA.
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 fourth First-Team All-American honor of the year.
Kaden Wetjen, PR, Iowa
As a wide receiver, Kaden Wetjen did not make much of an impact with just one catch. As a returner, however, he was dynamic. He led the way in the Big Ten with 23 kick returns for 576 yards and 25 punt returns for 312 yards. In the win over Northwestern, he returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown.
Second-Team
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
The only capable receiver on the defending champions’ team, Colston Loveland entered the season with lofty expectations. Despite missing two games, Loveland led the Wolverines with 56 receptions for 582 yards and five touchdowns. He has chosen to forgo his senior season and opted out of the ReliaQuest Bowl to prepare for the NFL.
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.
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.
D’Angelo Ponds, DB, Indiana
Just like Fisher and Kamara, D’Angelo Ponds made an immediate impact after transferring from James Madison. The sophomore was a star last year as a freshman with the Dukes and had an even better year with the Hoosiers. In his 12 games, Ponds recorded 53 tackles, four-and-a-half tackles for loss, nine pass breakups, and two interceptions. Both interceptions came in the win over Washington and one was a 67-yard pick-six.
The post 14 From the Big Ten Earn FWAA All-American Honors appeared first on Last Word on College Football.