T'Vondre Sweat, Xavier Worthy named FWAA All-Americans

T’Vondre Sweat and Xavier Worthy were named All-Americans by the Football Writers Association of America on Monday. Sweat, the 2023 Outland Trophy winner, was named a first-team defensive tackle while Worthy was bestowed with second-team honors as a punt returner.

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The nod from the FWAA is Sweat’s first step toward consensus and potentially unanimous All-American status. In addition to the FWAA, the NCAA recognizes four other selectors when determining consensus status: Walter Camp Football Foundation, the Associated Press, the Sporting News, and the American Football Coaches Association.

A senior from Huntsville, Sweat recorded 42 tackles including 8.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. He had four passes defended and blocked an extra point versus Iowa State. Sweat even got involved in the Longhorn offense, catching a touchdown from a goal line set in the Big 12 Championship versus Oklahoma State.

Sweat earned some of the best grades of any player in college football from Pro Football Focus. He was the highest-graded interior defender with a season-long grade of 91.8. That stood a full point higher than teammate Byron Murphy, who was second among interior defenders with a 90.8 grade.

Worthy, a junior from Fresno, Calif., was often electric on the Longhorns’ punt return team. He brought back 20 kicks for 358 yards, averaging 17.9 per return. He even brought back a punt for a touchdown against BYU. In addition to his exploits on special teams, Worthy has caught 73 passes for 969 yards and five scores.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

QB Jayden Daniels, LSU, 6-4, 210, Sr., San Bernardino, Calif.
RB Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State, 6-1, 211, So., Fort Worth, Texas
WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State, 6-4, 205, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa.
WR Malik Nabers, LSU, 6-0, 200, Jr., Youngsville, La.
WR Rome Odunze, Washington, 6-3, 215, Jr., Las Vegas, Nev.
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia, 6-4, 240, Jr., Napa, Calif.
OL Joe Alt, Notre Dame, 6-8, 322, Jr., North Oaks, Minn.
OL Cooper Beebe, Kansas State, 6-4, 335, Sr., Kansas City, Kan.
OL Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State, 6-6, 334, Jr., Tacoma, Wash.
OL Zak Zinter, Michigan, 6-6, 322, Sr., North Andover, Mass.
C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon, 6-3, 320, Jr., Draper, Utah

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DE Jonah Elliss, Utah, 6-2, 246, Jr., Moscow, Idaho
DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA, 6-5, 265, Sr., Sacramento, Calif.
DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois, 6-2, 295, Jr., St. Petersburg, Fla.
DT T’Vondre Sweat, Texas, 6-4, 362, Sr., Huntsville, Texas
LB Jay Higgins, Iowa, 6-2, 233, Sr., Indianapolis, Ind.
LB Dallas Turner, Alabama, 6-4, 252, Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
LB Payton Wilson, N.C. State, 6-4, 238, Gr., Hillsborough, N.C. 
DB Beanie Bishop Jr., West Virginia, 5-10, 181, Sr., Louisville, Ky.
DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa, 6-1, 207, Jr., Odebolt, Iowa
DB Malaki Starks, Georgia, 6-1, 205, So., Jefferson, Ga.
DB Xavier Watts, Notre Dame, 5-11, 204, Sr., Omaha, Neb.

FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS

K Jose Pizano, UNLV, 5-9, 220, Sr., Lehi, Utah
P Tory Taylor, Iowa, 6-4, 232, Sr., Melbourne, Australia
KR Jayden Harrison, Marshall, 5-11, 195, Jr., Antioch, Tenn.
PR LaJohntay Wester, Florida Atlantic, 5-11, 167, Jr., Palmetto, Fla.
AP Travis Hunter, Colorado, 6-1, 185, So., Suwanee, Ga.

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SECOND TEAM OFFENSE: QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington; RB Blake Corum, Michigan; RB Cody Schrader, Missouri; WR Troy Franklin, Oregon; WR Malik Washington, Virginia; TE Dallin Holker, Colorado State; OL Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State; OL Troy Fautanu, Washington; OL Javon Foster, Missouri; OL JC Latham, Alabama; C Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia. SECOND TEAM DEFENSE: DE Jalen Green, James Madison; DE Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State; DT Howard Cross III, Notre Dame; DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan; LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M; LB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State; LB Jason Henderson, Old Dominion; DB Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri; DB Brylan Green, Liberty; DB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo; DB Tyler Nubin, Minnesota. SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS: K Graham Nicholson, Miami (Ohio); P Matthew Hayball, Vanderbilt; KR Zachariah Branch, USC; PR Xavier Worthy, Texas; AP Ismail Mahdi, Texas State.