Believe it or not, we’ll have some real, live, college football at the end of this week. Yes, you can rejoice and come out of hibernation because the best time of the year is back.
But before we get to the pigskin flying on your television set, the Associated Press released its preseason All-American teams on Monday, and as you would expect, there’s a little scarlet and gray flair to it. In fact, five Ohio State players made either the first or second-team, which ties Georgia across both teams.
You can probably guess one or two of the Buckeyes that made the AP’s list, but maybe you’ll be surprised by one or two. Either way, here’s the five representatives for Ohio State on the preseason AP All-American teams for 2023.
First Up … AP first-team preseason All-Americans
Marvin Harrison Jr., Wide Receiver
Reason for the selection
At this point, is there a preseason awards list that Harrison Jr. is eligible for that he’s not on? You could make the argument that he’s the best player in college football, and that he would have been a very high first-round NFL draft pick last season. Rumors on the street say that he’s increased his speed and agility numbers, so watch for some highlight worthy plays again in 2023.
Emeka Egbuka, Wide Receiver
Reason for the selection
Though Harrison Jr. is a freak of an athlete and most talented receiver in the country, don’t be surprised if Emeka Egbuka has bigger numbers because of all of the attention opposing defenses will throw at Harrison Jr. Heck, the two were awfully close as it is in 2022. Egbuka isn’t Robin in this duo, but rather can also bring the hammer down like Thor in an Avengers-type receiving corps.
Tommy Eichenberg, Linebacker
What to expect
We saw Eichenberg break-out in 2022 in the Jim Knowles scheme. He dissects plays quickly, plugs running lanes and has a real nose for the ball. He’s also fast enough to run sideline to sideline and track down ball carriers and cover in space. He’s on the shortlist of best linebackers in the country and should have one whale of a year in 2023.
NEXT … Second-team preseason AP All-American
Donovan Jackson, Offensive Guard
What to expect
Donovan Jackson should be one of the anchors and potentially the best offensive lineman for Ohio State this fall. He was a 5-star prospect coming out of high school, and with three high-level starters departing, it’s not his time to take that next step and dominate the one of the guard spots.
NEXT … The complete AP All-American teams
J.T. Tuimoloa, Edge Rusher
What to expect
Every Ohio State fan remembers the game J.T. Tuimoloau had against Penn State last season. It showed his potential and the expectation is that he shows up more consistently in 2023. He can be a real problem off the edge with his power and quickness, and if Ohio State has designs of plugging the dam on explosive plays for opposing offenses this fall, it will need JTT to show up in crucial moments off the edge.
First-Team Offense
The Honorees
Quarterback | Caleb Williams, third-year, Southern California
Running backs | Blake Corum, fourth-year, Michigan; Quinshon Judkins, second-year, Mississippi
Tackles | Joe Alt, third-year, Notre Dame; Olu Fashanu, fourth-year, Penn State
Guards | Cooper Beebe, fifth-year, Kansas State; Zak Zinter, fourth-year, Michigan
Center | Sedrick Van Pran, fourth-year, Georgia
Tight end | Brock Bowers, third-year, Georgia.
Wide receivers | Marvin Harrison Jr., third-year, Ohio State; Rome Odunze, fourth-year. Washington; Emeka Egbuka, third-year, Ohio State
All-purpose player | Travis Hunter, second-year, Colorado
Kicker | Joshua Karty, fourth-year, Stanford
First-Team Defense
The Honorees
Edge rushers | Jared Verse, fourth-year, Florida State; Bralen Trice, fifth-year, Washington
Interior linemen | Jer’Zhan Newton, fifth-year, Illinois; Dontay Corleone, third-year, Cincinnati
Linebackers | Harold Perkins, second-year, LSU; Jamon Dumas-Johnson, third-year, Georgia; Tommy Eichenberg, fourth-year, Ohio State
Cornerbacks | Kool-aid McKinstry, third-year, Alabama; Kalen King, third-year, Penn State
Safeties | Kam Kinchens, third-year, Miami; Malaki Starks, second-year, Georgia
Defensive back | Cooper DeJean, third-year, Iowa
Punter | Tory Taylor, fourth-year, Iowa
Second-Team Offense
The Honorees
Quarterback | Drake Maye, third-year, North Carolina
Running backs | Raheim Sanders, third-year, Arkansas; Braelon Allen, third-year, Wisconsin.
Tackles | JC Latham, third-year, Alabama; Kelvin Banks Jr., second-year, Texas
Guards | Donovan Jackson, third-year, Ohio State; Christian Mahogany, fifth-year, Boston College
Center | Zach Frazier, fourth-year, West Virginia
Tight end | Oronde Gadsden, third-year, Syracuse
Wide receivers | Xavier Worthy, third-year, Texas; Malik Nabers, third-year, LSU; Jacob Cowing, fifth-year, Arizona
All-purpose player | Will Shipley, third-year, Clemson
Kicker | John Hoyland, third-year, Wyoming
Second-Team Defense
The Honorees
Edge rushers | J.T. Tuimoloau, third-year, Ohio State; Dallas Turner, third-year, Alabama
Interior linemen | Tyler Davis, fifth-year, Clemson; Mekhi Wingo, third-year, LSU
Linebackers | Jeremiah Trotter Jr., third-year, Clemson; Barrett Carter, third-year, Clemson; Cedric Gray, fourth-year, North Carolina
Cornerbacks | Josh Newton, sixth-year, TCU; Ben Morrison, second-year, Notre Dame
Safeties | Calen Bullock, third-year, Southern California; Javon Bullard, third-year, Georgia
Defensive back | Will Johnson, second-year, Michigan
Punter | Kai Kroeger, fourth-year, South Carolina
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