CBS Sports reveals 2025 Preseason College Football All-American Team

The 2025 season is almost here and the final recognitions from various publications are trickling in. The latest? The preseason All-American team from the fine folks at CBS Sports.

CBS Sports had some of its top college football writers come together to vote on the All-American team. There’s a healthy representation of players from across the country.

The lone unanimous selection on the list was Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith. But what about the others? Let’s dive into the complete list of preseason All-Americans from CBS Sports below.

Quarterback

Cade Klubnik, Clemson

The now-veteran quarterback really came into his own last season, a year removed from question marks about whether he could actually handle the position at a program as big as Clemson. Safe to say the answer to that question is a resounding ‘yes’ at this point.

Klubnik threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns last year, to only six interceptions. He also ran for 463 yards and seven scores. The best part? He seems to be as confident now as he’s ever been.

Running Back

Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame; Nicholas Singleton, Penn State

Two of the best running backs in the country, so their inclusion should come as little surprise. Love will be counted on to help ease the transition of a new starting quarterback, while Singleton has the luxury of an excellent returning starter at the position.

Can both post bigger numbers than a year ago? It’ll be tough. Love finished 2024 with 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns rushing, while Singleton scored 12 times en route to 1,099 yards on the ground.

Wide Receiver

Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State; Ryan Williams, Alabama

As noted above, Smith was the only unanimous selection on the preseason All-American teams for CBS Sports. And with good reason; he’s one of the best all-around players the game has seen in quite some time.

Williams, at times last year, held his own to Smith. He was an electric playmaker. Both should be phenomenal as sophomores, though both with be catching passes from a new quarterback this fall.

Tight End

Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt

Diego Pavia‘s top weapon in a suddenly resurgent Vanderbilt offense, Stowers proved he had a remarkable connection with his quarterback. He’s also just flat out talented.

Stowers caught 49 passes for 638 yards and five touchdowns a year ago. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him add another 20 catches and 200-300 yards to those totals this fall.

Offensive Line

OT Spencer Fano, Utah; OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami; OG Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M; OG Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State; C Jake Slaughter, Florida

There’s no shortage of talent along the offensive line on college football this season. These five are among the best, and, as preseason All-Americans, will certainly be on the radar of NFL teams when next April rolls around.

They all have first round potential, but first they’ll be tasked with keeping their quarterbacks upright in the college game. If they can help their offenses perform to the best of their abilities, these teams will be able to compete at a high level once again.

Defensive Line

DE Colin Simmons, Texas; DE Dylan Stewart, South Carolina; DT Peter Woods, Clemson; DT Zane Durant, Penn State

The defensive line list is a who’s who of high school stars from a few years back. Simmons emerged in a major way during Texas’ run to the College Football Playoff semifinals last year, and he’s capable of single-handedly wrecking games.

Meanwhile, Stewart has the same capability at South Carolina as an edge rusher. As far as interior guys go, it doesn’t get much better than Woods and Durant, two tough, dependable plugs in the middle.

Linebacker

Anthony Hill, Texas; Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh; CJ Allen, Georgia

Anthony Hill Jr. has been the star of Texas’ defense, and that’s not expected to change in 2025. Kyle Louis will be looking to challenge him for the crown of being the top linebacker in all of college football, hoping to follow up his 101-total-tackle season in 2024 by beating that number.

CJ Allen really turned it on as a sophomore last season. And while the numbers don’t necessarily jump off the page — 76 tackles, 3.0 tackles for a loss, an interception and four passes defended — that could certainly change this year.

Secondary

CB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame; CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee; S Caleb Downs, Ohio State; S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

The secondary is filled with former transfers, with only Moore being a fully homegrown talent. That said, he was an absolute stud as a freshman in 2024, recording 38 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups.

The other three on the list are all former transfers. Downs and McCoy have a year in at their stops already, while Thieneman is expected to bolster the Ducks secondary after transferring within the conference.

Specialists

AP Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh; RET Barion Brown, LSU; K Dominic Zvada, Michigan; P Brett Thorson, Georgia

Reid can simply do it all. He scores in a myriad of different ways, from rushing to receiving and even a bit of returning. He’ll be expected to do it all again this season as a preseason All-American. Brown also offers lightning speed as a return man.

Zvada gives Michigan a leg up, literally and figuratively. He was 7-for-7 on 50-yard attempts in 2024, and he’ll continue to be a major weapon for the Wolverines. Georgia is hoping not to have to punt too often, but they have one of the best in the country at it in Thorson when the time comes.

Second Team

QB: Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
RB: Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma; Isaac Brown, Louisville
WR: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State; Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
TE: Max Klare, Ohio State
OL: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama; OT Isaiah World, Oregon; OG Cayden Green, Missouri; OG Jaeden Roberts, Alabama; C Nick Dawkins, Penn State
DL: DE TJ Parker, Clemson; DE Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon; DT Christen Miller, Georgia; DT Mikail Kamara, Indiana
LB: Gabe Jacas, Illinois; Whit Weeks, LSU; Sonny Styles, Ohio State
CB: Chandler Rivers, Duke; Aveion Terrell, Clemson
S: Koi Perich, Minnesota; KJ Bolden, Georgia
ST: AP Zachariah Branch, Georgia; RET Keelan Marion, BYU; K Peyton Woodring, Georgia; P Palmer Williams, Baylor

On3’s Steven Samra also contributed to this report.