Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels of LSU was one of seven players in their fifth or sixth season of college football who were named to the Associated Press’ All-America team on Monday.
Daniels, a fifth-year quarterback, won the Heisman and AP Most Valuable Player awards last week after scoring 50 touchdowns and nearly 5,000 yards of offense this season.
He is joined in the backfield by Missouri State’s Cody Schrader, a sixth-year running back and former Division II player who leads the nation with 124.9 yards rushing per game.
The other sixth-year player on the AP first team was NC State linebacker Payton Wilson, who won the Chuck Bednarek Award as national defensive player of the year.
Kansas State guard Cooper Bibby, edge rushers Laiatu Latu of UCLA and Jalen Green of James Madison, and Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat were the other fifth-year players to make the first team.
College players who were in school during the 2020 pandemic season were granted an extra year of eligibility, and are still making their presence felt across the country.
Eleven other fifth-year players made the second and third teams, and eight sixth-year players were selected to those teams, including Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the Heisman runner-up. Pennix and the second-seeded Huskies face No. 3 Texans in the College Football Playoff’s Sugar Bowl semifinals on Jan. 1.
Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt and Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. were named first-team All-Americans for the second straight year. Bibby and Georgia tight end Brock Powers went from second team last season to first team this year.
No. 5 Alabama led all teams with three first-team All-Americans, all on the defensive end: cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Tyrion Arnold and linebacker Dallas Turner.
The Crimson Tide, the fourth seed in the College Football Playoff, faces No. 1 Michigan in the Rose Bowl CFP semifinals on Jan. 1.
The SEC has the most first-team selections with nine, followed by the Big Ten (6), Pac-12 (4), Big 12 (3), Independents (2) and the ACC, MAC and Sun Belt with one each.
The AP All-America Team was selected by a panel of 18 voters from the top 25 voters in the poll.
First Team (Attack)
Quarterback: Jayden Daniels, fifth year, LSU.
Back running: Ollie Gordon II, sophomore, Oklahoma State; Cody Schrader, sixth year, Missouri.
Interventions: Joe Alt, third year, Notre Dame; Olu Fashanu, fourth year, Penn State.
guards: Cooper Beebe, fifth year, Kansas State; Zach Zinter, fourth year, Michigan.
center: Jackson Powers-Johnson, third year, Oregon.
tight end: Brooke Powers, third year, Georgia.
Wide receivers: Malek Nebres, third year, LSU; Marvin Harrison Jr., third year, Ohio State; Roma Udonzi, fourth year, Washington.
Multipurpose player: Travis Hunter, sophomore, Colorado.
Kicker: Graham Nicholson, third year, Miami (Ohio).
First Team (Defense)
Edge lunges: Velato Latu, fifth year, UCLA; Jalen Green, fifth year, James Madison.
Internal lines: Founder Sweet, 5th year, Texas; Jerjan Newton, fourth year, Illinois.
Linebacker: Payton Wilson, sixth year, North Carolina State; Edgren Cooper, fourth year, Texas A&M; Dallas Turner, third year, Alabama.
Back corner: Cooper Degen, third year, Iowa; Kool-Aid McKinstry, third year, Alabama.
safety: Malky Starks, sophomore, Georgia; Xavier Watts, fourth year, Notre Dame.
Defensive back: Tyrion Arnold, third year, Alabama.
Gambler: Tori Taylor, fourth year, Iowa.
Second team (attack)
Quarterback: Michael Penix Jr., sixth year, Washington.
Back running: Audric Estime, third year, Notre Dame; Omarion Hampton, sophomore, North Carolina State.
Interventions: Talise Fawaja, fourth year, Oregon State; J.C. Latham, third year, Alabama.
guards: Tate Rutledge, fourth year, Georgia; Clay Webb, fifth year, Jacksonville State.
center: Cedric Van Pran, fourth year, Georgia.
Tight ends: Dallin Holker, fifth year, Colorado State.
Wide receivers: Troy Franklin, third year, Oregon State; Malik Washington, fifth year, Virginia; Luther Bearden III, sophomore, Missouri.
Multipurpose player: Ashton Genty, sophomore, Boise State.
Kicker: Jose Pizano, third year, UNLV.
Second team (defense)
Edge lunges: Jonah Ellis, third year, UT; Jared Fierce, fourth year, Florida State.
Internal lines: Byron Murphy II, third year, Texas; Howard Cross III, fifth year, Notre Dame.
Linebacker: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., third year, Clemson; Jason Henderson, third year, Old Dominion; Jay Higgins, fourth year, Iowa.
Back corner: Quinnyon Mitchell, fourth year, Toledo; Benny Bishop Jr., sixth year, West Virginia.
safety: Tyler Nobin, fifth year, Minnesota; Caleb Downs, first year, Alabama.
Defensive back: Chris Abrams-Drain, fourth year, Missouri.
Gambler: Matthew Haibal, sixth year, Vanderbilt.
Third team (attack)
Quarterback: Bo Nix, fifth year, Oregon State.
Back running: Blake Corum, fourth year, Michigan; Kimani Vidal, fourth year, Troy.
Interventions: Javon Foster, sixth year, Missouri; Troy Votano, fifth year, Washington.
guards: Christian Hines, sixth year, UCLA; Luke Kandra, fourth year, Cincinnati.
center: Zach Frazier, fourth year, West Virginia.
tight end: Ben Sinnott, fourth year, Kansas State.
Wide receivers: Ricky White, fourth year, UNLV; Brian Thomas Jr., third year, LSU; Titiroa McMillan, sophomore, Arizona.
Multipurpose player: Xavier Worthy, third year, Texas.
Kicker: Will Richard, fifth year, Alabama.
Third Team (Defense)
Edge lunges: Chubb Robinson, third year, Penn State; Praline Trace, fifth year, Washington.
Internal lines: Chris Jenkins, fourth year, Michigan; Braden Fisk, sixth year, Florida State.
Linebacker: Nathaniel Watson, sixth year, Mississippi State; Edivan Olufushio, sixth year, Washington; Danny Stutzman, third year, Oklahoma.
Back corner: Ricardo Holman, third year, Wisconsin; TJ Tampa, fourth year, Iowa State.
safety: Trey Taylor, fifth year, Air Force; Dillon Thienemann, first year, Purdue.
Defensive back: Sebastian Castro, fifth year, Iowa.
Gambler: James Ferguson Reynolds, sophomore, Boise State.
LSU’s Jayden Daniels has solidified himself as a standout player in college football, leading the AP All-America Team as a veteran. Known for his exceptional skills and leadership on the field, Daniels has consistently shown his ability to dominate the game and lead his team to victory. With his impressive track record and undeniable talent, it comes as no surprise that he has earned this prestigious honor. As a key player for LSU, Daniels has proven himself as a force to be reckoned with, and his leadership and skillset continue to impress fans and critics alike.