Announcing the SI All-American Second Team Defense
SI All-American began to look back at the class of 2020 with the release of the inaugural SI All-American team. The first-team offense and defense featured prospects who have the chance to make an immediate impact at the collegiate level.
As we shift toward the second-team, it's more of the same. The format remains with four defensive linemen, three linebackers, four defensive backs and one all-purpose player.
All but one of the selections already has his college football destination set in an SEC-heavy group featuring four seniors headed to play for Nick Saban and Alabama. The state of Florida leads the way among defenders selected with four picks, including at least one at each level of the defensive unit.
Defensive Line: Mckinnley Jackson (Lucedale, Miss./George County), Will Anderson (Hampton, Ga./Dutchtown), Jalen Carter (Apopka, Fla.), Tim Smith (Sebastian River, Fla.)
Jackson, the lone undeclared defender making the cut, put together a remarkable career on the defensive interior. The 320-pounder registered double-digit sacks as a defensive tackle in each of the last three seasons. Jackson is considering Alabama, Texas A&M, LSU and Auburn among others.
Anderson has been one of the most productive edge prospects in Georgia over his career but took it to another level as a senior. The Alabama signee has a great first step and plenty of power to counter, as evidenced by a 22-sack, 25-tackle for loss 2019 season.
Carter, headed to Georgia, is still navigating the defensive tackle position with relative inexperience up front on the interior. The power lifter was a tight end and offensive prospect for the bulk of his prep career but flashed pure dominance on defense as a senior and maintained as much during the all-star circuit with how often he collapsed the pocket.
Smith had as much of an increase in profile as any prospect in the country. The Alabama signee had double-digit sacks and a staggering 32 tackles for loss all on a more active and trim frame. Smith has great quickness relative to his size with a pass-rushing prowess built for today's college game.
Linebacker: Noah Sewell (Orem, Utah), Derek Wingo (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas), Chris Braswell (Baltimore, Md./St. Frances)
Sewell is a rare blend of size and athleticism at the position. The Oregon signee is listed at 270 pounds or so, creating plenty of questions about his future position until he competed against fellow elites last offseason and through the all-star circuit. On Friday nights, Sewell registered back to back 100-tackle seasons while doubling as an agile and faster-than-you'd-think running back with 29 rushing scores to his name .
Wingo patrolled arguably the top defense in America at the prep level in St. Thomas Aquinas. He did so from the traditional linebacker spot, inside and out, as well as on the front line as a pass rusher in putting together 14 sacks as a senior. Regardless of role, Wingo's athleticism shines through and it is likely to get him on the field early on at Florida.
Braswell, another Alabama signee, may have the best first step among edge prospects in the class of 2020. One fellow Under Armour All-America selection told SI All-American he was the most impressive athlete on the field through the practice week. Braswell has the ability to play in space as a true 'backer, but his forte is on the edge getting after the passer, where he compiled 25 sacks over the last two seasons.
Defensive Back: Andre Seldon (Belleville, Mich.), Demorie Tate (Orlando, Fla./Freedom), Jaylon Jones (Cibolo, Tex./Steele), Jordan Toles (Baltimore, Md./St. Frances)
Seldon's size, listed at 5-foot-8, 154 pounds by Michigan, has created quite the chip on his shoulder. But his production as a three-year starter and state semifinalist speaks for itself. Seldon is a technician with pesky physicality and great leaping ability despite his frame. Whether at the nickel or outside, he is quick and fluid enough to hold his own at the Power 5 level.
Tate was an all-purpose player in high school, with a lot of run at quarterback, but he flashed dominance when it came to working in the secondary at major events. Long, athletic and great when the football is in the air, the Florida State signee could line up as a bigger corner or patrol the safety position with early success in Tallahassee thanks to a strong build and 10.8-second 100-meter speed.
Texas A&M kept Jones in state and that early pickup matured into one of the most important of the cycle based on the combination of the prospect's athleticism and versatility. Few enter the SEC as a legit cornerback candidate at 6-foot-1, 200-plus pounds, but Jones has the rare athleticism to do so. Not only was he productive with four interceptions as a senior, but Jones has great length, a vertical leap approaching 40 inches and a 4.5-second 40-yard dash speed already to his name.
Toles looks like a pure safety and shined despite playing at one of the most prospect-laden programs at St. Frances Academy. The LSU signee could line up at a number of positions within a defense like the defending national champs' and he has has the frame to carry more weight and play in the box down the line. Toles averaged double-digits throughout his varsity basketball career, too.
All-Purpose: Drew Sanders (Denton, Texas/Ryan)
There's not many weaknesses in the Alabama signee's game. He was pledged to Oklahoma as a tight end to provide a sample of his frame and athleticism, with production as a wildcat quarterback, defensive end and linebacker at one of Texas' storied prep programs. Sanders is sub 11 seconds in the 100-meter dash at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds or so, with even better production on Friday nights, including 32 offensive touchdowns and 11 sacks on defense.
SI All-American Second Team Offense
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