Stars everywhere: The On3 preseason All-America offense
We’re a week away from the first Saturday of the 2021 college football season (granted there are only five games next weekend but, hey, it’s real football), so let’s unveil the On3 Preseason All-America team.
We’ll look at the offense today and the defense and special teams Sunday.
The backfield
QB Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma
The particulars: Junior, consensus five-star recruit in 2019 class, from Phoenix Pinnacle
The buzz: Rattler starred in the documentary series “QB1” while in high school, so he arrived at OU amid a ton of hype. He began living up to it last season, his first as the starter. While Rattler is not a true dual threat, he still has good mobility and rushed for six TDs. He threw for 3,031 yards and 28 TDs, overcoming a shaky start to the season. Five of his seven picks came in the first four games, when he trusted his arm a bit too much. Rattler (6 feet 1, 200 pounds) settled in after that and finished the season with four 300-yard games and five games with at least three TD passes. Expect both numbers to double this season. He heads into the season at the controls of what should be one of the nation’s most explosive offenses and atop most preseason Heisman lists.
RB Breece Hall, Iowa State
The particulars: Junior, consensus four-star recruit in 2019 class, from Wichita (Kan.) Northwest
The buzz: Hall (6-1, 220) led the nation in rushing yards (1,572) last season and was second with 21 rushing TDs. Yet he still seems to be undervalued. He will run behind one of the nation’s best lines this season and it wouldn’t be a big surprise if he again led the nation in rushing yards. Hall, who also had 23 receptions last season, and QB Brock Purdy make for one of the best QB-RB duos in the nation. As for Hall’s Heisman chances, Iowa State has a Week 2 showdown with archrival Iowa. A big game in that one would help his “candidacy” big-time. There also are November games against Texas and Oklahoma, and there’s nothing like recency bias when it comes to the Heisman.
RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
The particulars: Sophomore, consensus five-star recruit in 2020 class, from Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe Catholic
The buzz: Robinson received double-digit carries in just five of the nine games he played in 2020 and only twice had more than 12 (his high was 16). Trust us: He will get a lot more opportunities this season. Robinson (6-0, 214) had 86 carries last season, and cfbstats.com shows that 10 went for at least 20 yards and four went for at least 50 yards. In short, Robinson is ultra-explosive. He also is a great weapon for new coach Steve Sarkisian to build around this season. Expect Robinson to get more chances to show off his receiving skills, too. He is the next great Texas running back.
The receivers
WR Chris Olave, Ohio State
The particulars: Senior, consensus three-star recruit in 2018 class, from San Marcos (Calif.) Mission Hills
The buzz: Olave is the best receiver in the nation, and he will team with Garrett Wilson to give the Buckeyes the best receiving duo. He burst on the scene late in his freshman season, with a two-TD performance in the Buckeyes’ demolition of Michigan. Olave emerged from a crowded position group in 2019 with a 12-TD season, when he averaged 17.3 yards per reception. Last season, he had 50 catches and seven TDs in seven games. Given Ohio State’s incredible depth at the position, he isn’t going to put up eye-popping numbers. But Olave (6-1, 188) will school opposing cornerbacks weekly — and continue to impress pro scouts.
WR Justyn Ross, Clemson
The particulars: Fourth-year junior, consensus four-star recruit in 2018 class, from Phenix City (Ala.) Central
The buzz: Ross (6-4, 205) was a big-play machine as a true freshman; he had 46 receptions for exactly 1,000 yards (21.7 yards per catch) and nine TDs in 2018. He led the Tigers with 66 receptions in 2019, when he averaged 13.1 yards per catch and had eight TDs. Ross missed last season with a spinal issue that required surgery, but recently was cleared to play. Early plans seem to be to use him in the slot, and an acrobatic 6-4 slot guy should terrify opposing coordinators (and linebackers and safeties, too). A big key for Ross is whether Frank Ladson and Joseph Ngata (or someone else) emerges as a legit complementary threat; given Clemson’s depth at receiver, chances are someone will step up, which should make things a bit easier for Ross.
TE Cole Turner, Nevada
The particulars: Senior, consensus three-star recruit in 2018 class, from Clackamas (Ore.) High
The buzz: Nevada is going to have one of the best passing attacks in the nation. Carson Strong is a big-timer at quarterback and Romeo Doubs and Elijah Cooks are a sterling duo at receiver. That brings us to Turner (6-6, 240), who is one of the best receiving tight ends in the nation. Turner had nine TD catches (third-most nationally among tight ends) in nine games last season. He also averaged 12.4 yards on his 49 receptions (second-most among tight ends). Turner caught six passes in his first two seasons with the Wolf Pack before blossoming last season. Expect further blossoming this season for an extremely potent offense.
The line
T Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
The particulars: Junior, consensus five-star recruit in 2019 class, from Humble (Texas) Atascocita
The buzz: Green (6-4, 325) started at guard in his first two seasons as an Aggie and is moving outside, so listing him as a preseason All-America tackle is at least a small leap of faith. But he was a consensus national top-20 recruit as a tackle out of high school, so it’s not as if the position is new to him. Green, who has started for A&M since he set foot on campus, was an All-American last season. There are zero concerns about his run blocking, but his pass protection could be an issue this season. Then again, he has an elite skill set and chances are he has zero problem playing tackle. Worth noting: He is the only returning starter up front, and his position change means all five starters will have changed from last season.
T Evan Neal, Alabama
The particulars: Junior, consensus five-star recruit in 2019 class, from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
The buzz: Neal, a native of Okeechobee, Fla., in the same general area as football hotbeds Belle Glade and Pahokee, has started all 26 games in his Tide career. He was the consensus top tackle in his recruiting class and has lived up to his recruiting billing. Neal started at left guard as a true freshman, moved to right tackle last season and will be the left tackle this fall. He is a mountain of a man (6-7, 350), yet is supremely athletic and incredibly nimble (take a gander at this; it is mind-blowing when you consider the guy doing it is 6-7 and 350 pounds). Neal can overpower defenders in the running game, and his size and mobility means he can engulf pass rushers. All in all, he is the nation’s best offensive lineman.
G Marquis Hayes, Oklahoma
The particulars: Fifth-year senior, consensus four-star recruit in 2017 class, from Maryland Heights (Mo.) Pattonville
The buzz: Hayes (6-5, 324) is heading into his third season as a starter for the Sooners, who annually have one of the best lines in the nation under line coach Bill Bedenbaugh. He played in three games in his first two seasons on campus, then earned himself a starting role in 2019 and kept it last season. OU gets notice for its passing attack, but its running game always is one of the most productive in the nation. That means Hayes has showed off a skill set that includes an almost equal dose of run blocking and pass protection. He is a mauler in the running game, where he puts his size to good use. But he also has the quick feet needed to be an effective pass protector.
G Zion Johnson, Boston College
The particulars: Fifth-year senior, unranked recruit in 2017 class, from Upper Marlboro (Md.) Riverdale Baptist
The buzz: He toyed with the idea of turning pro, then decided to return to play one more college season. Johnson (6-3, 315) has played guard and tackle for BC, but seems set to go at guard this season; that would be his best position at the next level. Johnson signed with FCS member Davidson out of high school; he was a two-year starter at tackle for the Wildcats before transferring to BC. He started at left guard in 2019, then moved to left tackle last season and was the Eagles’ top lineman. BC will have one of the best lines in the ACC, and Johnson and center Alec Lindstrom are big-time road-graders. Johnson has a degree in computer science and is working on a master’s with what his BC bio called “a focus on cybersecurity policy and governance.
C Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
The particulars: Fourth-year junior, consensus three-star recruit in 2018 class, from Solon (Iowa) High
The buzz: Linderbaum (6-3, 290) was a high school defensive tackle, but moved to the other side of the ball in 2019; he has developed into the nation’s best center in Iowa’s zone-blocking scheme. He has tremendous first-step quickness and understands leverage (he was a highly successful high school wrestler), and once he gets locked on to an opponent, it’s over. Pro scouts rave about how Linderbaum plays with great balance, and he is the key reason Iowa is expected to be highly proficient on the ground this fall.