Tua Tagovailoa, several Alabama teammates and an overall SEC flavor lead the way for USA TODAY Sports midseason All-America teams.
Tagovailoa, a sophomore, is one of four Alabama standouts to earn first-team honors. He’s joined by offensive tackle Jonah Williams, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and safety Deionte Thompson. Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy earned second-team honors.
Another six teams from the SEC had at least one player earn midseason All-America honors. Just behind the SEC was the Big Ten, which placed five players on the first team and another two on the second team.
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The toughest decision came at quarterback. While Tagovailoa was an easy first-team pick, there were a number of contenders for second-team honors. Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray got the nod over Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins and West Virginia’s Will Grier, among others.
First team
OFFENSE
QB: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
There are a number of ways to quantify Tagovailoa’s brilliant play as a first-year starter, starting with how he has more touchdown passes on second and third down (15) than incompletions (14).
RB: Darrell Henderson, Memphis and Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
Henderson paces the Football Bowl Subdivision with 1,133 rushing yards on a whopping 10.3 yards per carry. Taylor has yet to be held under 100 yards in a single game and has three games with multiple rushing touchdowns.
WR: Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado and Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
Colorado’s Shenault is making a run at the Heisman Trophy and proving to be the most unstoppable receiver in the country. Brown ranks fourth nationally in receiving yards per game and is averaging 20.5 yards per catch.
TE: T.J. Hockenson, Iowa
OL: Jonah Williams, Alabama, Beau Benzschawel, Wisconsin, Garrett Bradbury, North Carolina State, Shane Lemieux, Oregon and Dalton Risner, Kansas State
Williams has yet to meet his match from his position on Alabama’s left side. Bradbury might be the most unheralded interior lineman in the country. Risner has been a rock in pass protection for a Kansas State team fresh off its best performance of the season.
DEFENSE
DL: Ed Oliver, Houston, Quinnen Williams, Alabama, Gerald Willis III, Miami (Fla.) and Chase Winovich, Michigan
Oliver has been just about as good as advertised, which says something about his level of play in 2018. Williams has burst onto the scene as the Tide’s latest game-changer along the interior. Willis III is tied for third nationally in tackles for loss.
LB: Devin Bush, Michigan, LB: Ben Burr-Kirven, Washington and Josh Allen, Kentucky
Bush is the team leader in tackles for what is again one of the nation’s most intimidating defenses. Allen has been the SEC’s most disruptive defender coming off the edge.
CB: Greedy Williams, LSU and Deandre Baker, Georgia
S: Taylor Rapp, Washington and Deionte Thompson, Alabama
The SEC makes its presence felt in the secondary with three selections, including both cornerbacks. Williams and Baker effectively shut down their halves off the field. Rapp continues to play at a high level as the leader of the Huskies’ secondary.
SPECIALISTS
K: Dominik Eberle, Utah State
P: Braden Mann, Texas A&M
RET: Maurice Ffrench, Pittsburgh
Mann is on pace to set a new FBS record for yards per punt; he’s currently averaging 54.5 yards per kick. Eberle tied a pair of NCAA records in Utah State’s win against New Mexico State: for total points (24) and with three field goals of 50 or more yards.
Second team
OFFENSE
QB: Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
RB: Travis Etienne, Clemson
RB: Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky
WR: Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
WR: John Ursua, Hawaii
TE: Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M
OL: Mitch Hyatt, Clemson
OL: Ben Powers, Oklahoma
OL: James O’Hagan, Buffalo
OL: Greg Little, Mississippi
OL: Andrew Thomas, Georgia
DEFENSE
DL: Chase Young, Ohio State
DL: Christian Wilkins, Clemson
DL: Dre’Mont Jones, Ohio State
DL: Zach Allen, Boston College
LB: Devin White, LSU
LB: Te’von Coney, Notre Dame
LB: Nate Landman, Colorado
CB: Julian Love, Notre Dame
CB: Hamp Cheevers, Boston College
S: Brad Stewart Jr., Florida
S: Grant Delpit, LSU
SPECIALISTS
K: Andre Szmyt, Syracuse
P: Sterling Hofrichter, Syracuse
RET: Clifton Duck, Appalachian State
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