B1G stars highlight USA Today All-America teams
It was only fair.
In a year in which the B1G had dominant defensive efforts lead the way — just look at the B1G Championship — the conference earned more USA Today first-team All-America defenders than any other conference.
At the cornerback position alone, the B1G earned both first-team spots thanks to the dominant years of Desmond King and Jourdan Lewis. In all, five defenders earned All-American honors, including former walk-ons Carl Nassib and Joe Schobert.
Perhaps the only surprise was that Michigan State’s Shilique Calhoun and Northwestern’s Anthony Walker didn’t make the cut.
Still, a total of 10 B1G players cracked the list from seven different teams in the conference.
Here’s how the publication’s teams came out:
First Team
OFFENSE
QB: Deshaun Watson, Clemson
RB: Derrick Henry, Alabama
RB: Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
WR: Corey Coleman, Baylor
WR: Josh Doctson, TCU
TE: Hunter Henry, Arkansas
OL: Jack Conklin, Michigan State
OL: Joshua Garnett, Stanford
OL: Ryan Kelly, Alabama
OL: Spencer Drango, Baylor
OL: Joe Thuney, North Carolina State
DEFENSE
DL: Joey Bosa, Ohio State
DL: Sheldon Day, Notre Dame
DL: DeForest Buckner, Oregon
DL: Shaq Lawson, Clemson
LB: Tyler Matakevich, Temple
LB: Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame
LB: Reggie Ragland, Alabama
CB: Jourdan Lewis, Michigan
CB: Desmond King, Iowa
S: Jeremy Cash, Duke
S: Marcus Maye, Florida
SPECIALISTS
K: Jake Elliott, Memphis
P: Tom Hackett, Utah
RET: Morgan Burns, Kansas State
Second Team
OFFENSE
QB: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
RB: Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
RB: Leonard Fournette, LSU
WR: Will Fuller, Notre Dame
WR: Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma
TE: David Morgan, UTSA
OL: Roderick Johnson, Florida State
OL: Jack Allen, Michigan State
OL: Matt Skura, Duke
OL: Taylor Decker, Ohio State
OL: Joe Dahl, Washington State
DEFENSE
DL: Carl Nassib, Penn State
DL: A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama
DL: Andrew Billings, Baylor
DL: Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State
LB: Kentrell Brothers, Missouri
LB: Blake Martinez, Stanford
LB: Joe Schobert, Wisconsin
CB: Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma
CB: Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
S: Damontae Kazee, San Diego State
S: Quin Blanding, Virginia
SPECIALISTS
K: Roberto Aguayo, Florida State
P: Hayden Hunt, Colorado State
RET: Will Likely, Maryland