It’s looking more and more like we might not have a Big Ten football season in the fall, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some All-American types hanging around campus at Ohio State waiting for a spring season to materialize (we can only hope).
And speaking of All-Americans, USA TODAY has come out with its First and Second Teams for the 2020 season — and yeah — there are some guys wearing Scarlet and Gray included. Justin Fields is a given, but there are a couple of other players that would have most likely been putting together highlight-reel tapes throughout the fall.
So who else made the list? We bring you the Ohio State football players included in the hot-off-the-press release of the USA TODAY preseason 2020 All-American football team.
Next … A lockdown corner
Cornerback Shaun Wade, First Team
We’re just hoping we haven’t seen the last of Shaun Wade. His absence in the secondary was apparent when he left games last season, and he made the decision to come back for one more year as opposed to leave early for the 2020 NFL Draft.
His father has gone on record stating that he’d sit out a spring season, so hopefully there’s a change of heart if we see college football in Columbus once the calendar turns. Either way, he’s likely a first-round NFL draft pick in late spring.
Next … An anchor on the offensive line
Right guard Wyatt Davis, First Team
Davis probably doesn’t get enough credit for what he means to the Ohio State offensive line. Equally adept in the running and passing game, Davis is agile for his size but can dominate the man in front of him.
He’s so good in fact, that he made the Big Ten’s All-Decade Team despite still putting the finishing touches on his career with the Buckeyes. Like Wade, he’ll have a decision in the spring to make on his NFL future.
Next … QB1
Quarterback Justin Fields, Second Team
I’m still a bit amazed that so many national writers continue to put Trevor Lawrence ahead of Fields despite the OSU signal-caller completely outperforming him last season throughout the year. The margin is razor-thin I guess, but to do what he did in just his rookie season in Columbus doesn’t get enough credit.
With a veteran offensive line and numerous weapons on the outside to toy with, he was poised for a remarkable year. Here’s hoping we get to see Fields suit up for at least an abbreviated schedule in 2020.
Next … The complete USA TODAY First and Second Teams
USA TODAY Preseason All-Americans
First Team
Offense
QB: Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (Jr.)
RB: Travis Etienne, Clemson (Sr.)
RB: Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State (Jr.)
WR: Ja’Marr Chase, LSU (Jr.)
WR: DeVonta Smith, Alabama (Sr.)
TE: Charlie Kolar, Iowa State (Jr.)
OL: Penei Sewell, Oregon (Jr.)
OL: Wyatt Davis, Ohio State (Jr.)
OL: Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma (Jr.)
OL: Alex Leatherwood, Alabama (Sr.)
OL: Cole Van Lanen, Wisconsin (Sr.)
Defense
DL: Gregory Rousseau, Miami (Fla.) (So.)
DL: Marvin Wilson, Florida State (Sr.)
DL: Jaylen Twyman, Pittsburgh (Jr.)
DL: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon (So.)
LB: Micah Parsons, Penn State (Jr.)
LB: Hamilcar Rashed Jr., Oregon State (Sr.)
LB: Dylan Moses, Alabama, (Sr.)
CB: Derek Stingley Jr., LSU (So.)
CB: Shaun Wade, Ohio State (Jr.)
S: Trevon Moehrig, TCU (Jr.)
S: Richard LeCounte, Georgia (Sr.)
Special teams
K: Keith Duncan, Iowa (Sr.)
P: Max Duffy, Kentucky (Sr.)
RET: Jaylen Waddle, Alabama (Jr.)
ALL-PURPOSE: Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis (So.)
Second Team
Offense
QB: Justin Fields, Ohio State (Jr.)
RB: Najee Harris, Alabama (Sr.)
RB: Jaret Patterson, Buffalo (Jr.)
WR: Rashod Bateman, Minnesota (Jr.)
WR: Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State (Sr.)
TE: Pat Freiermuth, Penn State (Jr.)
OL: Samuel Cosmi, Texas (Jr.)
OL: Trey Smith, Tennessee (Sr.)
OL: Nolan Laufenberg, Air Force (Sr.)
OL: Darian Kinnard, Kentucky (Jr.)
OL: Walker Little, Stanford (Sr.)
Defense
DL: Levi Onwuzurike, Washington (Sr.)
DL: Quincy Roche, Miami (Fla.) (Sr.)
DL: Jay Tufele, Southern California (Jr.)
DL: Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest (Sr.)
LB: Carlton Martial, Troy (Jr.)
LB: Nick Bolton, Missouri (Jr.)
LB: Chazz Surratt, North Carolina (Sr.)
CB: Patrick Surtain II, Alabama (Jr.)
CB: Shaun Jolly, Appalachian State (Jr.)
S: Jevon Holland, Oregon (Jr.)
S: Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame (So.)
Special teams
K: Riley Patterson, Memphis (Sr.)
P: Blake Hayes, Illinois (Sr.)
RET: Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa (Sr.)
ALL-PURPOSE: Rondale Moore, Purdue (So.)
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