Deshaun Watson, Jabrill Peppers lead SI.com's 2016 Preseason All-America Team

SI.com unveils its Preseason All-America Team for the 2016 college football season, including five players from Alabama, three from Florida State and three from Michigan.

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Aug 1, 2016

It's a rare gift to have this much talent returning to college football from last season. Five of the top seven in the Heisman Trophy voting are back as are several players outside of the skill positions who could easily go No. 1 overall in next year's NFL draft. In short, there's an abundance of talent that should make the 2016 season a treat for college football fans.

Of course, that also makes the task of selecting the best of the best especially arduous. With two quarterbacks who finished in the top four of last year's Heisman voting returning along with three running backs who could reasonably claim to be the top player in country, not to mention a bevy of proven playmakers at linebacker, Sports Illustrated's staff of college football experts faced some difficult choices to settle on the honorees for the 2016 Preseason All-America Team.

Only three players earned unanimous selection: Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett and Michigan linebacker Jabrill Peppers. Alabama led the field with five players selected to the first team, while Florida State and Michigan both earned three nods. Including the first and second teams, the Crimson Tide put a whopping eight players on the list followed by last year's runner-up Clemson with four.

Overall, the Big Ten and SEC tied for the most selections to the first team by conference with eight each. The SEC dominated the overall list with 18 players on the first or second teams, eight more than the Big Ten and nine more than the ACC and Pac-12. The Big 12 failed to get a single player on the first team but earned two spots on the second team. Three Group of Five programs placed players onto the second team.

Find the complete first and second teams below, and for more coverage to get you ready for the 2016 season, check out Andy Staples's pivot-point games of the season, the five biggest wild-card teams and SI.com's ranking of the top 100 players.

*Indicates a unanimous selection

. QB - Deshaun Watson*

Clemson, Junior

After coming up just short of a Heisman Trophy and a national championship in 2015, Watson is back to claim both this fall.

. RB - Leonard Fournette

LSU, Junior

Fournette was sensational last season as he rushed for 1,953 yards and 22 TDs, but he'll need to succeed vs. Alabama to vie for the Heisman.

. RB - Dalvin Cook

Florida State, Junior

Cook flew under the radar as the 'Noles fell from contention last year, but the agile RB topped Fournette and Christian McCaffrey in yards per carry.

. WR - JuJu Smith-Schuster

USC, Junior

The 6'2", 220-pound wideout knows how to use his size to his advantage and led all Power 5 receivers last year with 1,454 yards.

. WR - Calvin Ridley

Alabama, Sophomore

Ridley shined when it counted last season, racking up 240 yards in Alabama's victories in the SEC title game and the Cotton Bowl.

. te - Jake Butt

Michigan, Senior

It's no secret Jim Harbaugh loves to use his tight ends, so expect whoever wins Michigan's starting QB job to turn to the reliable Butt often.

. T - Roderick Johnson

Florida State, Junior

Johnson won the ACC's award for the top blocker last year and is a consistent pass protector in addition to creating holes for Cook.

. G - Dan Feeney

Indiana, Senior

Entering his fourth year as a starter, Feeney holds the remarkable distinction of having allowed just one sack in 2,719 career snaps.

. C - Pat Elflein

Ohio State, Senior

A member of last year's preseason All-America Team at guard, Elflein's shift to center in no way reduces his prowess.

. G - Quenton Nelson

Notre Dame, Sophomore

After redshirting in 2014, Nelson quickly established himself as one of the premier guards in the country last season.

. T - Cam Robinson

Alabama, Junior

The nation's top O-lineman this season, Robinson was a first-team All-SEC pick last year and could easily go No. 1 in next spring's NFL draft.

. DL - Myles Garrett*

Texas A&M, Junior

Garrett had 22.5 sacks and 30.5 tackles for loss in his first two seasons. He’s a prime contender to be the first overall pick in next year’s NFL draft.