Marcus Mariota headlines SI.com's 2014 Midseason All-America Team
August was a very a long time ago. Seven weeks after SI.com presented its 2014 Preseason All-America Team, key games and results have revealed some necessary changes. So, here is the Midseason All-America Team.
Among the more notable tweaks is the absence of a Seminoles quarterback, who couldn't make the cut given the play of Oregon's Marcus Mariota and Mississippi State's Dak Prescott. After freshmen stole the spotlight in the past two seasons, upperclassmen now have superiority, with all but five of the 26 first-team spots.
The SEC leads all conferences with 10 first-team selections -- eight from SEC West teams -- while the Big 12 was second with six. Alabama topped all teams with three first-team honorees, while Florida State and Ole Miss each landed two.
For more midseason coverage, be sure to check out our Crystal Ball and playoff predictions, as well as Andy Staples' thoughts on what we learned and what we still don't know after the season's first half.
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First Team
. QB - Marcus Mariota
Oregon, Junior
Stunningly accurate, Oregon’s passer has yet to throw an interception this year and has 22 total touchdowns.
. RB - Melvin Gordon
Wisconsin, Junior
Badgers back averages 36.5 yards per carry on his first touch of the second half. He averages 7.9 on all carries.
. RB - Todd Gurley
Georgia, Junior
Only a suspension could stop the Bulldogs’ bulldozer. He averages 194.6 all-purpose yards per game.
. WR - Amari Cooper
Alabama, Junior
A threat to score at any time, the speedster has scored three touchdowns from 22-plus yards.
. WR - Kevin White
West Virginia, Senior
White caught 10 passes for 101 yards against Towson -- and that was the senior’s worst game this season.
. TE - Ben Koyack
Notre Dame, Senior
The senior has one touchdown this season. It was a big one: the game-winner against Stanford.
. OT - Cedric Ogbuehi
Texas A&M, Senior
Ogbuehi is set to continue the Aggies’ trend of having an offensive lineman drafted in the first round of the NFL draft.
. OG - Josue Matias
Florida State, Senior
The 6-foot-6, 325-pound senior is versatile and helped contain Vic Beasley in an overtime win over Clemson.
. C - Reese Dismukes
Auburn, Senior
Auburn has allowed just six sacks this season and is gaining 5.6 yards per carry. Dismukes is a reason why.
. OG - A.J. Cann
South Carolina, Senior
The 6-4, 311-pound senior has been bright spot in an otherwise forgettable Gamecocks' season.
. OT - Spencer Drango
Baylor, Junior
DEFENSE
. DL - Robert Nkemdiche
Ole Miss, Sophomore
The sophomore’s stats are misleading (one sack, one TFL). Just watch this play to see his dominance.
. DL - Malcom Brown
Texas, Junior
The defensive tackle is incredibly disruptive and clogged lanes for four tackles against Oklahoma.
. DL - Leonard Williams
USC, Junior
The Trojans’ star forced a red-zone fumble and stopped an attempted game-tying two-point try against Arizona.
. LB - Shaq Thompson
Washington, Junior
The linebacker has four defensive touchdowns, nearly matching Wake Forest’s team points production.
. LB - Benardrick McKinney
Mississippi State, Junior
The 6-5, 249-pound junior fills up the stat sheet and is a key reason the Bulldogs are No. 1 in the AP Poll.
. LB - Eric Striker
Oklahoma, Junior
Despite constant double-teams, the Sooners’ junior still has 8.5 tackles for loss, including 4.5 sacks, this season.
. LB - Scooby Wright III
Arizona, Sophomore
The sophomore made the key strip to seal the win over Oregon and has 70 tackles and 11 TFLs already.
. CB - Trae Waynes
Michigan State, Junior
The 6-1, 182-pounder made the key fourth-quarter interception to clinch a win over Nebraska.
. S - Landon Collins
Alabama, Junior
Collins’ instincts and athleticism are sensational, as his interception against Arkansas showed.
. S - Cody Prewitt
Ole Miss, Senior
Prewitt can cover, hit and make plays on the ball, like he did with his 75-yard pick-six against Texas A&M.
. CB - Kendall Fuller
Virginia Tech, Sophomore
. K - Roberto Aguayo
Florida State, Sophomore
The sophomore has been automatic, making all 13 of his field goal attempts, including five of 40-plus yards.
. P - JK Scott
Alabama, Freshman
The freshman has shined, and he downed seven of eight punts inside the 20-yard line in a win over Arkansas.
. R - Tyreek Hill
Oklahoma State, Junior
The junior became the first Cowboys player to return a kickoff for a touchdown in back-to-back games.
. AP - Tyler Lockett
Kansas State, Senior
