ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!!!!

It is that time of the year again, time for the start of college football.  Yes, I know that some games started a couple of weeks ago, and we had a few more last week, but this is the start of most of the conferences that are playing this fall (SEC starts September 26).  And, we have lots and lots of conferences NOT playing.  Since this is what I will consider the start of the college football season, what would the start of college football be without a preseason All-American list? Once again, I am here to give you my preseason All-Americans.  If a conference (or school) is not playing in the fall, or if a player has opted-out, then those players are ineligible to be All-Americans.  And no less than 12 to 15 people are missing from this team because of that.  As usual, there will be more than 11 on each side, to account for the different types of formations (spread, three receiver set, 4-3, 3-4, etc). I explain some of my picks, while others I do not. Why? Because I can.  (Starters in capitals).

Offense

QB - TREVOR LAWRENCE, Clemson; Sam Ehlinger, Texas; D'Eriq King, Miami - Lawrence is a no-brainer, and Ehling has more touchdowns and yards passing than any other current quarterback.  King is the wildcard, but he has amassed a streak of 16 consecutive games with a passing and rushing touchdown, which is an NCAA recod.  How the Houston transfer performs could have a big impact on the ACC this year.

RB - TRAVIS ETIENNE, Clemson; CHUBBA HUBBARD, Oklahoma State; Najee Harris, Alabama; Kenny Gainwell, Memphis - This might be the least heralded running back group in All-American history.  Etienne is dynamic, and Hubbard was the leading rusher in the NCAA last year.  Harris should be ready to jump into the spotlight and Memphis has quietly been churning out skill position players.

WR - DEVONTA SMITH, Alabama; TYLAN WALLACE, Oklahoma State, Tutu Atwell, Louisville - Wallace is a returning member from last year's All-American team.  Smith is absolutely dynamic!

TE - BREVIN JORDAN, Miami; Charlie Kolar, Iowa State - Brevin Jordan is easily the most athletic tight end in the country. 

OL - ALEX LEATHERWOOD, Alabama (T); TREY SMITH, Tennessee (G); CREED HUMPHREY, Oklahoma (C);  DEONTE BROWN, Alabama (G); SAMUEL COSMI, Texas (T); Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame (T); Aaron Banks, Notre Dame (G): Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame (C) - This unit is decimated by the teams and individuals that opted-out due to Covid, with Oregon's tackle Penei Sewell possibly going as high as number 2 in the draft.  But, we still have lots of talent on this roster, and Notre Dame's offensive line could be something absolutely special this year.

Defense

DE - CHRIS RUMPH II, Duke; QUINCY ROCHE, Miami; Carlons Basham, Jr., Wake Forest - It's am all-ACC position group.  Roche has the most career sacks of any player in college football this season, and the Temple transfer is hoping to do it at a Power 5 school in Miami (and had 1 sack in Miami's first game Thursday night).

DT - MARVIN WILSON, FSU; DARIUS STILLS, West Virginia; Tyler Davis, Clemson, Jaylen Twyman, Pittsburgh - Wilson, along with Lawrence, Etienne and Hubbard (and a couple more to come) was one of the easiest choices for this whole team.  An easy first rounder probably should have left for the NFL after last season.  Stills is the rare defender from a Big 12 school.  Davis had 10 1/2 tackles for losses last season.

LB - DYLAN MOSES (ILB), Alabama; CHAZZ SURRATT (ILB), North Carolina; JEREMIAH OWUSU-KORAMOAH, (OLB), Notre Dame; JABRIL COX (OLB); LSU, Nick Bolton, Missouri - Dylan Moses was in this exact same spot last year, before a torn ACL took him out for the season.  Surratt is a former quarterback that made the transition to linebacker flawlessly.  Cox is a three time national champion at North Dakota State and might be the best athlete on LSU, which is saying something.

CB - PATRICK SURTAIN, II, Alabama; DEREK STINGLEY, JR., LSU; Asante Samuel, Jr., FSU - Player for player, this might be the best position on the team.  Stingley continues LSU's run as DBU.

S - RICHARD LECOUNTE, III, Georgia; ANDRE CISCO; Syracuse; Trevon Moehrig, TCU - Cisco, who bounces back-and-forth between corner and safety, and can make plays all over the field.

Special Teams

K - GABE BRKIC, Oklahoma - Brkic did not miss a kick last year, going 52-52 on exta points, and 17-17 on field goals, including the game-winner in the last regular season game against Baylor, and 3 in the Big XII championship game.

P - MAX DUFFY, Kentucky - The returning Ray Guy winner as the best collegiate punter, his stats last season were astounding; 48.1 yard average; 24 downed inside the 20 yard line; only 11 punts retuned (95 yards - but 42 of those came on one return on a punt fielded by UT-Martin at the 3 yard line.

RETURNER - JAYLEN WADDLE, Alabama; Joshua Youngblood, Kansas State - Waddle had 3 return touchdowns last year, but specializes in punt returns.  Youngblood returned 3 kicks for touchdowns last year - out of 13 returns.

Are You Ready for Some Football?!!

It is that time of the year again, time for the start of college football.  We have technically already started the season with a handful of games played last weekend, but this weekend marks the de facto start of the season - especially with Florida playing Michigan in Dallas and Florida State playing Alabama in Atlanta.  What would the start of college football be without a preseason All-American list? Once again, I am here to give you my preseason All-Americans. As usual, there will be more than 11 on each side, to account for the different types of formations (spread, three receiver set, 4-3, 3-4, etc). I explain some of my picks, while others I do not. Why? Because I can.  (Starters in capitals).

Offense

QB - LAMAR JACKSON, Louisville; Sam Darnold, USC; Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma - Darnold is everybody's pre-season All-American and potential first pick in next year's NFL Draft, but how can I not have Lamar Jackson - reigning Heisman Trophy winner as my first string QB?  He may not win the Heisman again, but he single-handedly keeps Louisville in the NCAA title chase.  Baker Mayfield earns the third slot over the two Joshes (Rosen at UCLA and Allen at Wyoming).

RB - DERRIUS GUICE, LSU; SAQUON BARKLEY, Penn State; Royce Freeman, Oregon; Justice Hill, Oklahoma State; Mark Walton, Miami - Can Derrius Guice replace Leonard Fournette?  We already know the answer to that question, as he already did last year when Fournette was out.  If Barkley has the same amount of yards as he did last year, he will be the all-time leading rusher in Penn State history. Let that sink in for a moment.  Crazily, this might be the weakest unit on the team.

WR - JAMES WASHINGTON, Oklahoma State; CHRISTIAN KIRK, Texas A &M; Calvin Ridley, Alabama; Ahmmon Richards, Miami; Courtland Sutton, SMU - Kirk and Ridley return from last year's pre-season All American team, and Kirk might be the most exciting player in college football.  Richards from Miami is a big-play threat every single time he touches the ball and Sutton is "that guy from that one school" that always catches a ton of balls.  That being said, Washington might be the best of this lot.

TE - MIKE CESICKI, Penn State; Troy Fumagalli, Wisconsin - The end of year All-American Tight End almost definitely comes from the Big 10.

OL - ORLANDO BROWN, Oklahoma (T); CONNOR WILLIAMS, Texas (T); FRANK RAGNOW, Arkansas (C); CODY O'CONNELL, Washington State (G);  QUENTON NELSON, Notre Dame (G); Billy Price, OHIO STATE; Jonah Williams, Arkansas; Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame - Brown and Williams are studs, Arkansas has had one of the best offensive lines for a number of years now, and Nelson returns from last year's squad.  Price might end up being the best lineman of the bunch, but he is moving to center from guard.

Defense

DE - HAROLD LANDRY, Boston College; BRADLEY CHUBB, North Carolina State; Rashan Gary, Michigan; Joe Jackosn, Miami - Landry had 16 1/2 sacks last year, whereas Chubb had 10 1/2 sacks and another 11 1/2 tackles for loss.  Gary is a Harbaugh type of athlete on the defensive line.  For Jackson, just go back and watch Miami's bowl game victory over West Virginia.

DT - ED OLIVER, Houston; CHRISTIAN WILKINS, Clemson; Dexter Lawrence, Clemson - Ed Oliver is one of those players who exceeded his five-star expectations that came with him staying at home to lead Houston to victory.  Wilkins and Lawrence will likely anchor the stoutest interior line in the country.  Lawrence had more sacks, but Wilkins added 9 1/2 tackles for loss and 10 pass deflections as well.

LB - ARDEN KEY, LSU; JOSEY JEWELL, Iowa; AZEEM VICTOR, Washington; Cameron Smith, USC; Tegray Scales, Indiana - Not the known names of previous All-American linebackers (and no Alabama players), but these linebackers can fly to the football and hit.  Scales led the Big 10 in tackles last year, and Indiana played a lot of bigger names really, really close last year.

CB - TARVARUS MCFADDEN, Florida State; JAIRE ALEXANDER, Louisville; Jordan Thomas, Oklahoma - McFadden and Alexander are almost everybody's picks as All-Americans to start this season.  McFadden last year had 8 interceptions and 14 pass breakups.  Alexander intercepted DeShaun Watson twice.

S - DERWIN JAMES, Florida State; MINKAH FITZPATRICK, Alabama;  Quin Blanding, Virginia, Godwin Igwebuike, Northwestern - If I have to explain the James and Fitzpatrick picks to you, you do not watch college football.  Blanding and Igwebuicke are a really talented duo.

Special Teams

K - EDDY PINEIRO, Florida - The conventional wisdom is saying Daniel Carlson from Auburn, but nobody has Pineiro's leg.

P - MITCH WISHNOWSKY, Utah- He averaged 47.7 yards last year (second in the nation), but also led the country in punts inside the 10.  How is that for field position?

KR/PR - QUADREE HENDERSON, Pittsburgh - On most teams, Christian Kirk will be returning kicks, but Henderson ran back four kicks (3 kickoffs, 1 punt) for touchdowns last year.

Waiting for College Football

As we approach the commencement of college football season, I feel that this is the appropriate time to unveil my preseason All-American team. At the urging of Jorge O., it is time to have a beer in hand, breakfast on the stove, and college football on the television. A few rules, although there are more than 11 offenseive and defensive players listed, the team is selected to account for the various offenses and defenses used around the country (trip receivers, spread, 3-4, 4-3, etc.). I chose to explain my picks in some instances, and not in others. Why? Because I can. Now here are the Pepster Preseason All-Americans.

Offense

QB - Kellen Moore, Boise State; Case Keenum, Houston - I had Moore as my second team NCAA All-American QB last season, and he returns. Keenum will put up tons and tons of stats. Moore may finish undefeated and gain a birth in the BCS Championship game. If I had to pick a surprise third QB, it would be Christian Ponder of FSU.

RB - Mark Ingram, Alabama; Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech; Jazquizz Rodgers, Oregon State; Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh; John Clay, Wisconsin - Ingram and Williams are returning from my post-season All-American list last season, even though Ingram may not be the best running back on his team (see Richardson, Trent). Williams is my preseason player of the year. Lewis and Clay will both post lots and lots of yards, and are likely conference player of the year candidates, especially Clay behind that big Wisconsin line.

WR - A.J. Green, Georgia; Michael Floyd, Notre Dame; Julio Jones, Alabama; Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma - I having been touting Green for a couple of years, and Floyd was likely Notre Dame's best receiver last year. It is now time for Jones to show the fruits of all of that talent of his. Broyles could catch 90 balls.

TE - D.J Williams, Arkansas; Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame - Ryan Mallet could make a real star out of Williams.

T - Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin; Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh - Look for both offensives to strive this year.

G - Rodney Hudson, Florida State; John Moffitt, Wisconsin - Hudson was a Pepster All-American last year, and Moffitt will lead the interior of a great running game at Wisconsin.

C - Mike Pouncey, Florida - Only because his brother Maurkice is gone.

Defense

DE - Adrian Clayborn, Iowa; Cameron Heyward, Ohio State - Both very experienced, and both will wreak havoc on opposing offenses. Heyward is the son of former NFLer Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, so he must be tough.

DT - Jared Crick, Nebraska; Stephen Paea, Oregon State - Crick learned by playing next to the best, Ndamukong Suh, last season, and more than holding his own. Paea is a small mountain.

LB - Von Miller, Texas A & M; Greg Jones, Michigan State; Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina; Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State; Dont'a Hightower, Alabama; Sean Spence, Miami - All athletic beasts that will make a ton of tackles. OK, maybe Spence was a bit of a homer pic.

CB - Patrick Peterson, LSU; Brandon Harris, Miami; Janoris Jenkins, Florida - Harris among the leaders is passes defensed last year. Jenkins will make sure that Gators fans do not miss Joe Haden too much.

S - Rahim Moore, UCLA; DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson - The easiest position to select on the team, as both were high talents last year among the NCAA interception leaders

Special Teams

K - Matt Bosher, Miami - A little homerism, but, he is just the kicker.

P - Drew Butler, Georgia - Again, he is just the punter.

R - LaVon Brazill, Ohio University - A great returner, and he is from nearby my hometown.

Forgive me for any typographical errors, I didn't feel like proofreading this. I simply want to start college football season. Stay tuned for my weekly college football updates.

And So It Begins

As we are solidly in the middle of the first weekend of college football, I figure that there is no better time to unveil my pre-season All-American team. Although there are more than 11 offenseive and defensive players listed, the team is selected to account for the various offenses and defenses used around the country (trip receivers, spread, 3-4, 4-3, etc.). I chose to explain my picks in some instances, and not in others. Why? Because I am busy watching football. Now here are the Pepster Preseason All-Americans.

Offense

QB - Colt McCoy, Texas - Led his team in passing and rushing last year, and his completion percentage is off the charts.

RB - Jahvid Best, California; Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech; Jazquizz Rodgers, Oregon State - Best might be the best player in the country, averaging over 8 yards per carry last year.

WR - Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State; Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati; A.J. Green, Georgia - Gilyard is probably the best player nobody has ever heard of, and A.J. Green is the best sophomore receiver in the SEC, not Julio Jones.

TE - Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma; Aaron Hernandez, Florida - Gresham came back instead of being a sure-fire first round draft pick last year and Florida's offensive hopes depend a lot more on Hernandez than people realize.

T - Trent Williams, Oklahoma; Ciron Black, LSU - Both big and strong, and keys to their respective offenses. Black is a fourth year starter. Williams is the only returning starter on the line for Oklahoma.

G - Sergio Render, Virginia Tech; Rodney Hudson, Florida State- Render is a mountain. Tech will need him to jump start their running game.

C - Maurkice Pouncey, Florida - Florida deserves multiple offensive All-Americans, especially since I did not select Jesus at the quarterback position. And frankly, I can't tell the Pouncey brothers apart.

Defense

DE - George Selvie, South Florida; Jan Jorgensen, Brigham Young - Just watch Selvie play and you will see why. Jorgensen is the conference career sack leader, in a conference that does a lot of passing. My apologies to Greg Hardy and Sergio Kindle.

DT - Terrence Cody, Alabama; Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma - Not only are they immovable objects in the middle of the line, they make plays as well behind it.

OLB - Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri; Eric Norwood, South Carolina - Norwood is a beast, while Weatherspoon just makes tackles.

ILB - Brandon Spikes, Florida; Joe Pawelek, Baylor - You know I watch too much football when I place a Baylor player on my preseason All-American team. I think Spikes is the best player on the Gators, but somehow this will be misinterpreted as a dig at Tebow.

Keep an eye on Sean Spence, Miami.

CB - Trevard Lindley, Kentucky; Janoris Jenkins, Florida - Jenkins is a phenomenal athlete, and Lindley has garnered votes for All-American each of the past two years.

S - Taylor Mays, USC; Eric Berry, Tennessee - The easiest position to select on the team.

Special Teams

K - Shane Popham, Wake Forest - Not that I think is particularly that good, just wanted to see if anybody actually paid attention to whom I selected at kicker, and he seems to have kicked 1,000 field goals against FSU.

P - Zoltan Mesko, Michigan - Simply because of his name.

R - Brandon James, Florida - If he sees a hole, he's thinking touchdown.

Forgive me for any typographical errors, I didn't feel like proofreading with games on the television. Stay tuned for my weekly college football updates.