Faculty soccer All-America groups 2024: Who joins Travis Hunter, Ashton Jeanty?

The primary 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff bracket has been chosen, and now awards season is upon us earlier than the video games kick off.

Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, Miami’s Cam Ward and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel have been named Heisman Trophy finalists forward of Saturday night time’s ceremony, and all 4 are represented among the many 50 gamers on The Athletic’s two All-America groups. Who joins them? Thirty-five faculties have a minimum of one choice, led by three every from Texas and Oregon and two every from Miami, Boise State, Penn State, Ohio State, South Carolina, Michigan, Iowa, Tennessee, Alabama, Indiana and Pitt.

QB Cam Ward, Miami: The Hurricanes simply missed the Playoff, however the Washington State switch was by far the largest motive they have been within the hunt all 12 months. He’s handed for 4,123 yards in 12 video games, averaging 343.6 yards per recreation and 9.5 yards per try whereas throwing a national-high 36 landing passes to seven interceptions. Ward repeatedly delivered in large moments because the Hurricanes stayed undefeated into November, and even within the two November losses he totaled 697 yards, 5 TDs and nil picks. He’s set to be Miami’s first top-five Heisman Trophy finisher since 2002.

RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State: Jeanty has had one of the prolific seasons in school soccer historical past, chasing Barry Sanders’ outstanding 1988 season with 344 carries for two,497 yards and 29 touchdowns. He averages 7.3 yards per rush, with 12 rushes of 50-plus yards — eight greater than every other FBS participant and essentially the most since Bryce Love had 13 in 2017. Jeanty was the driving drive behind Boise State’s run to the Mountain West title and a Playoff bid, and he’s heading to New York as a deserving Heisman Trophy finalist.

RB Cam Skattebo, Arizona State: After three years at Sacramento State within the FCS, Skattebo was stable in coach Kenny Dillingham’s first season at Arizona State, speeding for 783 yards and 9 TDs for a staff that went 3-9 in 2023. This 12 months? Skattebo helped propel a breakthrough during which the Solar Devils gained their closing six video games, captured the Massive 12 title and earned a shock Playoff bid. Skattebo rushed for 170 yards, had 38 receiving yards and completed with three whole TDs within the Massive 12 championship blowout of Iowa State, giving him 2,074 yards from scrimmage (1,568 speeding and 506 receiving) for the season.

WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona: The Wildcats could not have met hovering preseason expectations, however McMillan posted his second consecutive large season to ship on the preseason hype after he elected to remain at Arizona following the departure of coach Jedd Fisch to Washington. As a junior, he caught 84 passes for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns, together with 304 yards within the opener towards New Mexico and 202 yards towards West Virginia. He continues to point out a knack for highlight-reel catches.

WR Xavier Restrepo, Miami: Ward will get essentially the most credit score for Miami main the nation in scoring and yards per play, however don’t low cost Restrepo’s contributions because the QB’s favourite goal. Restrepo has 69 catches for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns, with 100-plus yards in six of 12 video games, to provide him 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. In response to TruMedia, he’s dropped simply two passes, and he has 20 catches of a minimum of 20 yards.

Miami is scoring 44.2 PPG behind Xavier Restrepo and Cam Ward. (Carmen Mandato / Getty Photos)

TE Tyler Warren, Penn State: Warren is the versatile go-to weapon in an offense that has jumped from seventy fifth to sixth in yards per play regardless of having an absence of go-to playmakers at wideout. Warren is considered one of two 1,000-yard receivers within the Massive Ten, catching 88 passes for 1,062 yards and 6 touchdowns — together with a staggering 17 catches for 224 yards and a TD in a comeback win at USC. He’s additionally accomplished three passes for 35 yards and a TD and rushed 23 instances for 191 yards and 4 TDs, lining up as a standard tight finish, out broad, at quarterback and within the backfield.

OL Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas: Banks has made 39 begins in three years after signing with Texas as a five-star recruit. A stalwart at left deal with, he’s allowed a complete of 4 sacks in his profession, per PFF, together with only one sack and 6 pressures this 12 months. He’s projected to be an early first-round draft decide.

OL Will Campbell, LSU: It’s prone to be Banks or Campbell as the primary offensive deal with off the board within the NFL Draft. And like Banks, Campbell was one of many high deal with prospects within the 2022 class, immediately incomes a beginning function upon arrival in school. He’s made 38 profession begins and, in line with PFF, has allowed one sack this season and 4 in three years.

OL Wyatt Milum, West Virginia: The Massive 12’s offensive lineman of the 12 months has been a four-year starter at deal with for the Mountaineers. Per PFF, he’s given up zero sacks and simply eight pressures this season — the truth is, he hasn’t given up a sack since he was a freshman.

OL Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon: Conerly emerged as a standout deal with for the Geese final 12 months and blossomed right into a first-team All-Massive Ten decide as a junior in Oregon’s first 12 months within the convention. In response to PFF, he’s allowed one sack and simply six pressures — tied with Banks for the fewest amongst Energy 4 tackles with a minimum of 300 pass-blocking snaps.

C Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State: Can a participant validate his All-America standing by not enjoying? The Alabama switch overcame the snapping issues of final 12 months to be a midseason All-America decide by The Athletic in October, and his standout play continued till he was injured earlier than the ultimate two video games. In response to TruMedia, Ohio State averaged 2.79 yards earlier than contact per rush in its first 10 video games, with McLaughlin within the lineup, which ranked fifth within the FBS. With out McLaughlin? It averaged 0.21 towards Indiana and 0.54 within the loss to Michigan. He was a first-team All-Massive Ten decide by convention coaches regardless of the late harm.

DE Abdul Carter, Penn State: The junior moved from exterior linebacker to defensive finish and thrived because the season progressed. Regardless of some early inconsistency, he developed into one of the disruptive gamers within the nation, showcasing his velocity and athleticism in racking up 60 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, three go breakups and two pressured fumbles.

DE Kyle Kennard, South Carolina: The Gamecocks are tied for third nationally with 40 sacks, with a ferocious defensive entrance serving to to steer their surge into the highest 20 within the polls. Although five-star freshman Dylan Stewart has had an enormous season as properly, Kennard has stolen the present with 15.5 tackles for loss, together with 11.5 sacks, and three pressured fumbles after transferring from Georgia Tech.

DT Mason Graham, Michigan: The Wolverines protection wasn’t as dominant as of their nationwide title season, however Graham erased any doubt about his All-America standing with an individually dominant efficiency within the upset of Ohio State. The 320-pound junior has 45 tackles, together with seven TFLs. He’s robust, bodily and disruptive and seems destined for the highest 10 within the NFL Draft.

DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss: Nolen signed with Texas A&M because the No. 2 recruit within the Class of 2022, and after a stellar two seasons, he transferred to Ole Miss and blossomed into an All-American. The Rebels personal one of many nation’s most disruptive defenses, rating No. 1 in tackles for loss and No. 5 in yards per play allowed, and the 305-pound Nolen has been a key drive at deal with. He shares the staff lead with 14 tackles for loss and has 6.5 sacks and three go breakups.

Walter Nolen leads Ole Miss’ fourth-ranked scoring protection. (Jonathan Bachman / Getty Photos)

LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas: He’s the perfect participant on one of many nation’s finest defenses. Texas leads the FBS in yards per play allowed, and the sophomore has been the centerpiece as a disruptive and versatile linebacker. He has 90 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, seven sacks and an interception, taking a step up from a Freshman All-America season in 2023.

LB Jay Higgins, Iowa: One other stout Iowa protection has allowed simply three speeding touchdowns all season, with Higgins the spine of the unit. He’s second within the Massive Ten with 118 tackles and has pressured two fumbles, and he has additionally shined in protection, racking up 4 interceptions and 5 go breakups.

LB Shaun Dolac, Buffalo. It’s arduous to stuff the stat sheet as a lot as Dolac has. A former walk-on, Dolac had his 2023 season lower quick after 4 video games by an harm. He returned this season to steer the nation with 153 tackles whereas additionally ending with 16.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks — plus 5 interceptions, together with a decide six.

CB Jahdae Barron, Texas: Barron has shifted from primarily a slot nook to enjoying exterior this season as a fifth-year senior. In response to PFF, he hasn’t allowed a landing whereas intercepting 5 passes and breaking apart 9 extra for a Texas protection that has allowed the fewest passing yards per try (5.1) and per recreation (143.1) within the FBS.

CB Nohl Williams, Cal: A fifth-year senior who began his profession at UNLV, Williams leads the nation with seven interceptions, together with a decide six towards Miami, and has additionally damaged up 9 passes, pressured a fumble and returned a kick for a landing.

S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame: Watts has earned All-America recognition for the second 12 months in a row as a ball-hawking weapon within the secondary for the nation’s high go effectivity protection. He has 49 tackles, 9 go breakups, a pressured fumble and 5 interceptions, together with a 100-yard decide six to interrupt open the Irish’s win over USC.

S Caleb Downs, Ohio State: A former five-star recruit, Downs shined as a freshman at Alabama final 12 months, then carried over that success as a switch to Ohio State. He has 62 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one interception and three go breakups, showcasing a well-rounded ability set as the perfect participant on a loaded protection that ranks No. 2 in yards per play and No. 1 in factors allowed.

Ok Dominic Zvada, Michigan: An Arkansas State switch, Zvada has gone 7-for-7 on subject objectives of 50-plus yards this season, together with a 54-yarder within the 13-10 upset of Ohio State. He’s 17-for-18 on subject objectives, his solely miss being a kick blocked by Illinois.

P Eddie Czaplicki, USC: Czaplicki leads the nation in internet punting common at 45.45, per TruMedia. 9 of his 40 punts (22.5 %) have been downed contained in the 10-yard line, and he has only one touchback.

GO DEEPER

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AP Travis Hunter, Colorado: Few gamers could make a case for “all-purpose” All-American with out gaudy particular groups stats, however Hunter is unlikely anybody else. He performs full-time on offense, the place he had an All-America season at broad receiver. He performs full-time on protection, the place he additionally had an All-America season. He might be a top-10 decide at both place. He’s caught 92 passes for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, and he has 4 interceptions and 11 go breakups. In response to PFF, he allowed simply 205 passing yards, fourth fewest amongst FBS cornerbacks who performed 700-plus defensive snaps.

GO DEEPER

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(High illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photographs of Anthony Hill, Travis Hunter and Tyler Warren: Tim Warner, Ed Zurga, Scott Taetsch / Getty Photos)