Sporting News tabs three Notre Dame players first-team preseason All-Americans

The second of five NCAA-recognized All-American selectors released its preseason team Friday. Notre Dame might not find itself featured on one more prominently or frequently all summer.

Sporting News’ named four Irish players preseason All-Americans – three first-team picks and one second-teamer.

Tight end Michael Mayer, center Jarrett Patterson and defensive end Isaiah Foskey were first-team selections. Safety Brandon Joseph was a second-team pick. Only Alabama had more first-team honorees (five) than Notre Dame. The Irish’s four selections across the two teams are third most of any FBS program, behind Alabama (six) and Ohio State (five).

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Most preseason All-America teams have given the first-team tight end spot to Georgia’s Brock Bowers over Mayer, including Athlon Sports and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. The latter was the first NCAA-recognized outlet to release its preseason All-America team. Bowers led all Power Five tight ends in yards (882) and touchdowns (13), averaging 15.75 yards per catch.

“Mayer and…Bowers are the top returning tight ends, but we’re giving the slight edge to the Notre Dame leader who put up 71 catches for 840 yards and seven TDs last season,” Sporting News’ Bill Bender wrote. “Mayer was especially dominant in the Irish’s last four games last year, with 26 catches on 32 targets for 347 yards and four TDs.”

Patterson has started 34 games at center over the last three seasons. Guard might be his new home this fall, but wherever he plays, he is one of the country’s most accomplished and consistent returning interior linemen.

“Patterson is arguably the most-reliable offensive lineman in the FBS,” Bender wrote. “He logged 918 snaps at center for the Irish, and the three-year starter has not allowed a sack for his career.”

Foskey’s 11 sacks last season are more than all but four returning FBS defensive players. He tied for the national lead in forced fumbles.

“Foskey bypassed the NFL Draft for one more season with the Irish, and that’s a problem for opposing offensive lines,” Bender wrote. “Foskey, at 6-4 and 257 pounds, has a massive frame and used that to compile [11] sacks and six forced fumbles in 2021. That disruption will continue with new coach Marcus Freeman and defensive coordinator Al Golden.”

Joseph transferred to Notre Dame from Northwestern, where he was a consensus All-American in 2020. He made 52 tackles and intercepted three passes for the Wildcats in 2021 and entered the transfer portal after the season.

Sporting News preseason All-America teams

First-team offense

QB: Bryce Young, Alabama
RB: Bijan Robinson, Texas
RB: TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
WR: Jordan Addison, USC
WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
TE: Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
T: Andrew Vorhees, USC
G: Caleb Chandler, Louisville
C: Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame
G: Emil Ekiyor, Alabama
T: Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
ATH: Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama

First-team defense

DL: Bryan Bresee, Clemson
DL: Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame
DL: Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
DL: Jalen Carter, Georgia
LB: Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
LB: Noah Sewell, Oregon
LB: Jack Campbell, Iowa
CB: Riley Moss, Iowa
CB: Kelee Ringo, Georgia
S: Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
S: Jordan Battle, Alabama

First-team specialists

K: Jake Moody, Michigan
P: Adam Korsak, Rutgers
RET: Brian Battie, South Florida

Second-team offense

QB: C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
RB: Sean Tucker, Syracuse
RB: Lew Nichols, Central Michigan
WR: Xavier Worthy, Texas
WR: Josh Downs, North Carolina
TE: Brock Bowers, Georgia
T: Paris Johnson, Ohio State
G: O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida
C: Olesegun Oluwatimi, Michigan
G: Layden Robinson, Texas A&M
T: Clark Barrington, BYU
ATH: Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State

Second-team defense

DL: Myles Murphy, Clemson
DL: Calijah Kancey, Pitt
DL: Gervon Dexter, Florida
DL: BJ Ojulari, LSU
LB: Andre Carter, Army
LB: Trenton Simpson, Clemson
LB: Edefuan Olofoshio, Washington
CB: Eli Ricks, Alabama
CB: Cam Smith, South Carolina
S: Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame
S: Jalen Catalon, Arkansas

Second-team specialists

K: Noah Ruggles, Ohio State
P: Kyle Ostendorp, Arizona
RET: Malik Knowles, Kansas State