The college football season is nearly here and our Pro Football Network preseason All-Americans are as well. Debuting a season ago, the PFN All-American Team showcases just how stacked the 2022 college football season should be with talent. The college football and NFL draft analysts at PFN all got together to narrow the list of thousands of athletes to three teams on offense, three on defense, and deserving honorable mentions.
PFN’s 2022 College Football All-Americans
Headlining the PFN Preseason All-American Team on the offensive side of the ball is a duo of Ohio State Buckeyes. C.J. Stroud is our early favorite as the top quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft and our pick for preseason Heisman Trophy winner. He’s afforded the luxury of throwing to the top target in all of America in Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the duo could make college football history in 2022.
On the defensive side of the ball, some top performers have already shined bright at the national level. However, the lesser-known Darren Anders gets his time to shine as the Bowling Green linebacker does it all — literally.
The Miami Hurricanes also have a star-in-the-making with James Williams expected to see an expanded role closer to the line of scrimmage in 2022. Could we witness the coming of the next Derwin James, except bigger, stronger, and faster?
We don’t forget about the specialists here at Pro Football Network as the third aspect of the game gets its time to shine. Harrison Mevis is a scary placekicker because of his ability to drill kicks from anywhere on the field accurately. Brian Battie returned three kickoffs for touchdowns last year, and Matt Hembrough earns the nod as the nation’s top long snapper returning to college football for the first time in PFN’s history.
Offense | First team
QB: C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
RB: Bijan Robinson, Texas
RB: Sean Tucker, Syracuse
WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
WR: Jordan Addison, USC
WR: Kayshon Boutte, LSU
TE: Brock Bowers, Georgia
FLEX: Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State
OT: Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
G: O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida
C: John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota
G: Andrew Vorhees, USC
OT: Blake Freeland, BYU
Defense | First team
EDGE: Myles Murphy, Clemson
DT: Jalen Carter, Georgia
DT: Siaki Ika, Baylor
EDGE: Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
LB: Noah Sewell, Oregon
LB: Jack Campbell, Iowa
LB: Darren Anders, Bowling Green
CB: Clark Phillips III, Utah
CB: Kelee Ringo, Georgia
CB: Denzel Burke, Ohio State
S: Jordan Battle, Alabama
S: James Williams, Miami (FL)
FLEX: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
Specialists | First team
PK: Harrison Mevis, Missouri
P: Kyle Ostendorp, Arizona
KR: Brian Battie, South Florida
PR: Jayden Reed, Michigan State
LS: Matt Hembrough, Oklahoma State
Ohio State isn’t quite finished either. They’re represented heavily on the second team of our college football All-Americans. Record-breaking RB TreVeyon Henderson is a game-changer and challenged Deuce Vaughn for the first-team spot as well.
There’s a ton of talent returning to the defensive side. Most importantly, some top-tier defensive backs are returning this fall to help combat the elite crop of quarterbacks. During his debut performance against Oklahoma and Spencer Rattler last year, Tulane’s Jadon Canady thwarted everything thrown his way.
Offense | Second team
QB: Bryce Young, Alabama
RB: Lew Nichols III, Central Michigan
RB: Rasheen Ali, Marshall
WR: A.T. Perry, Wake Forest
WR: Mitchell Tinsley, Penn State
WR: Josh Downs, North Carolina
TE: Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
FLEX: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
OT: Connor Galvin, Baylor
G: Brandon Kipper, Oregon State
C: Joe Tippman, Wisconsin
G: Layden Robinson, Texas A&M
OT: Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
Defense | Second team
EDGE: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
DT: Bryan Bresee, Clemson
DT: Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
EDGE: Andre Carter II, Army
LB: Carlton Martial, Troy
LB: Dax Hollifield, Virginia Tech
LB: Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama
CB: Jadon Canady, Tulane
CB: Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama
CB: Cam Smith, South Carolina
S: Jalen Catalon, Arkansas
S: Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame
FLEX: Steven Jones Jr., CB, Appalachian State
Specialists | Second team
PK: Zack Long, Tulsa
P: Adam Korsak, Rutgers
KR: Malik Knowles, Kansas State
PR: Jaylin Lane, Middle Tennessee
LS: Rex Goossen, UNLV
The PFN pick for the top Group of Five quarterback lands on our third-team All-American list as Clayton Tune has wowed at every turn. Old Dominion spots two on the third team as well as Ali Jennings III and Zack Kuntz may prove to be one of the top WR-TE combinations in college football this fall.
Dom Peterson headlines the defensive line group as the Nevada DT is nearly impossible to stop with just one blocker. Expect a big season from Missouri safety Jaylon Carlies as he anchors a talented Tiger secondary.
Offense | Third team
QB: Clayton Tune, Houston
RB: DeWayne McBride, UAB
RB: Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
WR: Ali Jennings III, Old Dominion
WR: Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia
WR: Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
TE: Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion
FLEX: Nathaniel “Tank” Dell, WR, Houston
OT: Darnell Wright, Tennessee
G: Marco Brewer, Oregon State
C: Jacob Gall, Baylor
G: Sataoa Laumea, Utah
OT: Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
Defense | Third team
EDGE: Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
DT: Dom Peterson, Nevada
DT: Gervon Dexter, Florida
EDGE: Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame
LB: Drake Thomas, NC State
LB: Bumper Pool, Arkansas
LB: James Patterson, Buffalo
CB: Riley Moss, Iowa
CB: Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
CB: Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford
S: Jaylon Carlies, Missouri
S: Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
FLEX: Jalen Graham, LB/S, Purdue
Specialists | Third team
PK: Noah Ruggles, Ohio State
P: Michael Turk, Oklahoma
KR: Bryan Massey, SMU
PR: Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
LS: Evan Deckers, Duke
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention all the other players who received votes from our team of analysts. As such, PFN’s Honorable Mention College Football All-Americans are extensive. They’re a group forged on hard work and tenacity. A group that features multiple elite players across the board.
Offense | Honorable mention
QB: Devin Leary, NC State
QB: Malik Cunningham, Louisville
QB: Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
RB: Brad Roberts, Air Force
RB: Tavion Thomas, Utah
RB: Zach Charbonnet, UCLA
RB: Keaton Mitchell, East Carolina
RB: Blake Watson, Old Dominion
RB: Xazavian Valladay, Arizona State
WR: Kris Thornton, James Madison
WR: Jayden Reed, Michigan State
WR: Jacob Cowing, Arizona
WR: Zay Flowers, Boston College
WR: Xavier Worthy, Texas
WR: Zakhari Franklin, UTSA
WR: Xavier Hutchinson, Iowa State
WR: Tyrese Chambers, Florida International
WR: Dante Cephas, Kent State
TE: Brant Kuithe, Utah
TE: Sam LaPorta, Iowa
TE: Will Mallory, Miami (FL)
FLEX: Jalen Cropper, WR, Fresno State
FLEX: Dante Wright, WR, Colorado State
FLEX: Sean Tyler, RB, Western Michigan
OT: Dawand Jones, Ohio State
OT: Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse
OT: Ilm Manning, Hawaii
G: Clark Barrington, BYU
G: Nick Broeker, Ole Miss
G: Trevor Downing, Iowa State
C: Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia
C: Steve Avila, TCU
C: Sincere Haynesworth, Tulane
G: Dylan Deatherage, Western Michigan
G: Willie Lampkin, Coastal Carolina
G: Kenneth Horsey, Kentucky
OT: Walter Rouse, Stanford
OT: Zion Nelson, Miami (FL)
OT: Dontae Bull, Fresno State
Defense | Honorable mention
EDGE: BJ Ojulari, LSU
EDGE: Derick Hall, Auburn
EDGE: Viliami Fehoko, San Jose State
DT: Jayson Ademilola, Notre Dame
DT: Dante Stills, West Virginia
DT: Tyler Davis, Clemson
DT: Zacch Pickens, South Carolina
DT: Jonah Tavai, San Diego State
DT: Akheem Mesidor, Miami (FL)
EDGE: Habakkuk Baldonado, Pittsburgh
EDGE: Praise Amaewhule, UTEP
EDGE: Josaiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina
LB: Mikel Jones, Syracuse
LB: KD Davis, North Texas
LB: Easton Gibbs, Wyoming
LB: Cam’Ron Carter, Colorado State
LB: Anfernee Orji, Vanderbilt
LB: Alan Tisdale, Virginia Tech
LB: Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati
LB: Merlin Robertson, Arizona State
LB: SirVocea Dennis, Pittsburgh
CB: Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
CB: Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
CB: Cameron Lockridge, Fresno State
CB: Eric Garror, Louisiana
CB: Davon Ferguson, Bowling Green
CB: D’Jordan Strong, Coastal Carolina
CB: Eli Ricks, Alabama
CB: Malachi Moore, Alabama
CB: Arquon Bush, Cincinnati
S: BeeJay Williamson, Louisiana Tech
S: Rashad Wisdom, UTSA
S: Jammie Robinson, Florida State
S: Rodney Owens, Memphis
S: JL Skinner, Boise State
S: Patrick McMorris, San Diego State
FLEX: Javon Solomon, EDGE, Troy
FLEX: Jamal Hines, LB/S, Toledo
FLEX: DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas
Specialists | Honorable mention
PK: Jake Moody, Michigan
PK: Jonah Dalmas, Boise State
PK: Daniel Gutierrez, UNLV
P: Bryce Baringer, Michigan State
P: Brad Robbins, Michigan
P: Lachlan Wilson, Tulsa
KR: Brian Brewton, UConn
KR: LaMareon James, Old Dominion
KR: Jaylen Stinson, Duke
PR: Demario Douglas, Liberty
PR: Tarheeb Still, Maryland
PR: Ryan Montgomery, Cincinnati
LS: Alex Ward, UCF
LS: Michael Vinson, Notre Dame