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Sam Darnold, Ben Boulware, Reuben Foster lead SI.com's 2016–17 All-Bowl Team
Sam Darnold, Ben Boulware, Reuben Foster lead SI.com's 2016–17 All-Bowl Team
QB: Sam Darnold, USC
The redshirt freshman completed 33 of his 53 pass attempts for 453 yards with five touchdowns against just one interception to lead the Trojans to a three-point win over Penn State in an epic Rose Bowl.
RB: Bo Scarbrough, Alabama
A broken right leg forced the sophomore to spend part of the second half of Alabama’s title game loss to Clemson off the field, but he was the Crimson Tide’s best offensive weapon before suffering the injury, racking up 273 yards and four touchdowns combined against the Tigers and playoff semifinal opponent Washington.
RB: Saquon Barkley, Penn State
The shifty tailback capped an excellent sophomore campaign by rushing for 194 yards and two touchdowns on 7.8 yards per carry and catching five passes for 55 yards and another score in a thrilling 52-49 loss to USC in the Rose Bowl.
WR: KD Cannon, Baylor
Boise State’s defense simply could not cover the junior, as he recorded a Cactus Bowl-record 226 receiving yards on 14 receptions with two touchdowns.
WR: Chris Godwin, Penn State
The play-making wideout went off for 187 receiving yards and two touchdowns in Penn State’s three-point loss to USC in an exciting Rose Bowl.
TE: Jaylen Samuels, NC State
The reliable pass-catcher delivered in a big way during a 41–17 win over Vanderbilt in the Independence Bowl, racking up 104 receiving yards and three touchdowns on six receptions.
OT: Scott Frantz, Kansas State
The redshirt freshman helped form a wall of resistance against Texas A&M’s imposing defensive front and neutralized the talented Myles Garrett in Kansas State’s 33–28 Texas Bowl win.
OG: Ben Powers, Oklahoma
The sophomore helped pave the way for running backs Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine in the Sooners’ 35-19 win over Auburn in the Sugar Bowl.
C: Jay Guillermo, Clemson
The anchor of Clemson’s offensive line helped clear running room for the Tigers’ ground game in wins over Ohio State and Alabama.
OG: Marcus Keyes, Oklahoma State
The redshirt freshman helped keep quarterback Mason Rudolph upright in the Cowboys’ 38–8 drubbing of Colorado in the Alamo Bowl.
OT: Zach Banner, USC
The massive tackle helped keep the pocket clean as Darnold picked apart Penn State’s defense in USC’s nail-biting, three-point win over Penn State in the Rose Bowl.
DE: Jonathan Allen, Alabama
Over two playoff games, Allen logged 13 tackles, three for loss and two sacks. The most disruptive force on Alabama’s dominant defense, Allen hounded Washington throughout the Peach Bowl and reminded the nation why he’ll be a first-round pick in April.
DT: Trenton Thompson, Georgia
The Georgia sophomore set a Liberty Bowl record with three sacks in the Bulldogs’ win over TCU.
DE: Solomon Thomas, Stanford
Thomas looked like one of the nation’s most dominant defensive linemen in the Sun Bowl, finishing with seven tackles and a sack. His manhandling of the North Carolina offensive line on the Tar Heels’ final attempt to tie the game was one of bowl season’s best highlights.
LB: Reuben Foster, Alabama
Alabama’s top linebacker was everywhere in both playoff games, logging a combined 21 tackles and one sack.
LB: Matthew Thomas, Florida State
Florida State’s defense harassed Michigan for the first three quarters of the Orange Bowl, and Thomas was the finest of all the defenders. He finished with 15 tackles and 3.5 for loss.
LB: Ben Boulware, Clemson
The national title game’s defensive MVP and Jack Lambert Award winner logged 11 tackles and a pass breakup during Clemson’s two wins in the College Football Playoff.
LB: Tashawn Bower, LSU
Bower sacked Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson three times in LSU’s 29–9 throttling of Louisville in the Citrus Bowl.
CB: Cordrea Tankersley, Clemson
The Tigers' top corner, Tankersley helped limit both Ohio State and Alabama’s passing attacks, which combined for a paltry 258 yards and no touchdowns.
S: Leon McQuay, USC
McQuay logged seven tackles during USC’s 52–49 win over Penn State, and his interception of Trace McSorley late in the fourth quarter set up kicker Matt Boermeester’s game-winning field goal.
S: Dallas Lloyd, Stanford
Playing his final game as a fifth-year senior, Lloyd picked off two passes (he returned one for a touchdown) and forced a fumble in Stanford’s Sun Bowl win over North Carolina.
CB: Chauncey Gardner, Florida
Gardner intercepted two passes and returned one for a 58-yard touchdown in Florida’s 30–3 rout of Iowa.
K: Matt Boermeester, USC
The Trojans kicker hit a 46-yard last-second field goal to win the Rose Bowl. That’s no chip shot, and it’s a memory that he’ll hold forever.
P: Kenny Allen, Michigan
Allen had a busy first half, and he ended the game averaging over 47 yards per punt and landing four of his eight attempts inside the Florida State 20-yard line.
R: Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State
The true freshman’s 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the third quarter proved pivotal in Appalachian State’s 31–28 win over Toledo in the Camellia Bowl.
AP: Joe Mixon, Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s star tailback dominated Auburn’s defense on the ground (91 yards, 2 TDs) and as a pass-catcher (5 receptions 89 yards) in the Sooners’ 35-19 victory in the Sugar Bowl.
