SB Nation’s 2016 All-America Team

Quarterbacks & Running Backs

Lamar Jackson didn't finish the season as hot as he started it, but the full body of work stands up just fine. He's the first player in FBS history to throw for more than 3,300 yards and rush for more than 1,500 in the same season, he runs the country's No. 2 offense in yards per game, and among the nine QBs with 540 or more total passing and rushing plays, he leads in average yards per play (eight) by almost a full yard. His team lost two close games, one of them to Playoff-bound Clemson, and his offensive line disappeared against Houston. So repeat: 3,300 and 1,500.

D'Onta Foreman was by far 2016's most prolific running back, and he did that despite his team rarely having big leads that it needed to sit on.

Dalvin Cook was again one of the country's most explosive backs, ranking No. 4 in 10-yard runs, and he came up biggest in FSU's biggest (non-Louisville) games.

Quarterback Louisville
Lamar Jackson
No. 2 in total yardage (4,928), No. 2 in total touchdowns (51)
qb Voting
#1
Lamar Jackson, Louisville
#2
Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
#3
Jake Browning, Washington
#4
Deshaun Watson, Clemson
#5
Patrick Mahomes II, Texas Tech
#6
Jalen Hurts, Alabama
#7
Zach Terrell, Western Michigan
Running Back Texas
D'Onta Foreman
No. 1 in rushing yards per game by almost 30 yards (184.4)
Running Back Florida State
Dalvin Cook
No. 1 in rushing yards per game against winning teams (158.8), among players who've played 6 or more
rb Voting
#1
D'Onta Foreman, Texas
#2
Dalvin Cook, Florida State
#3
Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego State
#4
Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
#5
Jeremy McNichols, Boise State
#6
Saquon Barkley, Penn State

Wide Receivers & Tight Ends

This is an interesting year for receivers, with tons of good players but few clear standouts. The numbers produced by the top three are thus really hard to ignore, with two of these three teams earning New Year's Six bowl bids.

Evan Engram didn't make the cut as a finalist for the Mackey Award, the national tight end trophy, but that's fine. We'll take him.

Wide Receiver Oklahoma
Dede Westbrook
No. 1 in receiving yards per game against Power 5 teams (136.2), among players who've played at least 3
Wide Receiver Western Michigan
Corey Davis
No. 1 in receiving touchdowns (18)
Wide Receiver East Carolina
Zay Jones
Set new NCAA single-season receptions record (158)
wr Voting
#1
Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma
#2
Corey Davis, Western Michigan
#3
Zay Jones, East Carolina
#4
John Ross, Washington
#5
Mike Williams, Clemson
#6
Amba Etta-Tawo, Syracuse
#7
Austin Carr, Northwestern
#8
James Washington, Oklahoma State
#9
Richie James, Middle Tennessee
Tight End Ole Miss
Evan Engram
No. 1 among TEs in receiving yards per game (84.2) by more than 17 yards
te Voting
#1
Evan Engram, Ole Miss
#2
Jake Butt, Michigan
#3
Adam Breneman, UMass
#4
Jordan Leggett, Clemson
#5
Mike Gesicki, Penn State

Offensive Line

This startling lineup includes a former No. 1 lineman recruit who looked like a first-rounder when he was in high school (Cam Robinson) and three guys who've recently played other positions, including Brian O'Neill, who showed off his tight end skills by scoring two touchdowns this year. One of them is a Piesman Trophy finalist.

Offensive Tackle Alabama
Cam Robinson
The cornerstone of the Power 5's No. 3 rushing game in yards per play
Offensive Tackle Pitt
Brian O'Neill
Pitt led the Power 5 in preventing sacks (.75 per game). And he's a Piesman Trophy finalist!
ot Voting
#1
Cam Robinson, Alabama
#2
Brian O'Neill, Pitt
#3
Connor Williams, Texas
#4
Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky
#5
Storm Norton, Toledo
Offensive Guard Indiana
Dan Feeney
Played tackle as well and considered the best player on Indiana's first back-to-back bowl team since the 1990s
Offensive Guard Washington State
Cody O'Connell
Best lineman on country's No. 2 passing offense in yards per game and its dramatically improved run game
og Voting
#1
Dan Feeney, Indiana
#2
Cody O'Connell, Washington State
#3
Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
#4
Dorian Johnson, Pitt
#5
Braden Smith, Auburn
#6
Taylor Moton, Western Michigan
#7
Billy Price, Ohio State
#8
Damien Mama, USC
Center Ohio State
Pat Elflein
Converted from right guard and the senior leader of a Playoff offensive line
c Voting
#1
Pat Elflein, Ohio State
#2
Ethan Pocic, LSU
#3
Bradley Bozeman, Alabama
#4
Tyler Orlosky, West Virginia
#5
Jay Guillermo, Clemson
#6
Joe Spencer, Illinois

Defensive Line

This might be the nation's deepest position group, with several backups who'd make for totally satisfactory starters. Jonathan Allen has been arguably the country's best player, Ed Oliver is perhaps 2016's best freshman, Myles Garrett might be the No. 1 NFL Draft pick, and DeMarcus Walker ranks as the season's most productive pass rusher.

Defensive End Texas A&M
Myles Garrett
No. 1 in TFL/game against final AP-ranked teams, among players who faced at least 3 (2.33)
Defensive End Florida State
DeMarcus Walker
No. 1 in sacks per game against FBS teams (1.36)
de Voting
#1
Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
#2
DeMarcus Walker, Florida State
#3
Derek Barnett, Tennessee
#4
Hunter Dimick, Utah
#5
Ejuan Price, Pitt
#6
Harold Landry, Boston College
#7
Arden Key, LSU
#8
Taco Charlton, Michigan
#9
Takkarist McKinley, UCLA
#10
Joe Mathis, Washington
#11
Jordan Willis, Kansas State
Defensive Tackle Alabama
Jonathan Allen
56 TKL, 13 TFL, 8.5 sacks, 15 hurries, 2 PBUs, 1 blocked kick, 2 TDs
Defensive Tackle Houston
Ed Oliver
19 TFL, 5 coming in games against our top 2 All-America QBs
dt Voting
#1
Jonathan Allen, Alabama
#2
Ed Oliver, Houston
#3
Christian Wilkins, Clemson
#4
Davon Godchaux, LSU, LSU
#5
Elijah Qualls, Washington
#6
Tanzel Smart, Tulane

Linebackers

Two of these starters are pretty simple.

And then there's Jabrill Peppers, who played just about every position a 205-pound man possibly can. He's officially listed as a linebacker/defensive back, spending most of his time in a hybrid-type role.

Linebacker Alabama
Reuben Foster
Led No. 1 defense in tackles (94), including 12 for losses
Linebacker Michigan
Jabrill Peppers
71 TKL, 15 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 1 INT ... and 5 total scores on offense, defense, and special teams
Linebacker Vanderbilt
Zach Cunningham
11 tackles per game against winning teams, No. 1 among players who faced 8 or more such teams
lb Voting
#1
Reuben Foster, Alabama
#2
Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
#3
Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
#4
Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State
#5
T.J. Watt, Wisconsin
#6
Tim Williams, Alabama
#7
Tegray Scales, Indiana
#8
Jayon Brown, UCLA
#9
Kendell Beckwith, LSU
#10
Shaquem Griffin, UCF
#11
Micah Kiser, Virginia
#12
Josey Jewell, Iowa
#13
Azeem Victor, Washington
#14
Jahlani Tavai, Hawaii
#15
Ben Boulware, Clemson
#16
Jarrad Davis, Florida
#17
Ryan Anderson, Alabama
#18
Jimmie Gilbert, Colorado
#19
Travin Howard, TCU

Defensive Backs

Three Playoff teams represented among these four starters, with the other coming from the No. 6 team.

Corner Back Michigan
Jourdan Lewis
Led No. 1 passing defense in passes defensed per game (1.33, tie with Channing Stribling)
Corner Back Alabama
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Led No. 1 defense in INTs (5), with 2 pick-sixes
cb Voting
#1
Jourdan Lewis, Michigan
#2
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
#3
Adoree' Jackson, USC
#4
Desmond King, Iowa
#5
Rasul Douglas, West Virginia
#6
Jalen Tabor, Florida
#7
Cordrea Tankersley, Clemson
#8
Sidney Jones, Washington
#9
Tarvarus McFadden, Florida State
#10
Tre'Davious White, LSU
#11
Damontae Kazee, San Diego State
Safety Ohio State
Malik Hooker
No. 1 in pick-sixes (3) and No. 2 among safeties in INTs (6)
Safety Washington
Budda Baker
On Pac-12's No. 1 defense, led team in TFL (9) and No. 2 in TKL (65), with 2 INTs
s Voting
#1
Malik Hooker, Ohio State
#2
Budda Baker, Washington
#3
Jamal Adams, LSU
#4
Justin Evans, Texas A&M
#5
Devin Chappell, Oregon State
#6
Kamari Cotton-Moya, Iowa State

Specialists

Auburn fans have nicknamed Daniel Carlson "Legatron." He scored all of Auburn's points against both LSU (18) and Alabama (12).

For the third year in a row, an Australian Ute is the best punter.

Quadree Henderson might've been 2016's most explosive player, also leading the country in yards per rush with 10.28.

Kicker Auburn
Daniel Carlson
Tied for No. 1 in made field goals (26), 1 of 17 kickers to make 100% of 40+ PATs
k Voting
#1
Daniel Carlson, Auburn
#2
Zane Gonzalez, Arizona State
#3
Younghoe Koo, Georgia Southern
#4
Gary Wunderlich, Ole Miss
Punter Utah
Mitch Wishnowsky
No. 1 in average in games against winning teams (49 yards)
p Voting
#1
Mitch Wishnowsky, Utah
#2
Johnny Townsend, Florida
#3
Cameron Johnston, Ohio State
#4
JK Scott, Alabama
#5
Michael Dickson, Texas
Returner Pitt
Quadree Henderson
Only USC's Adoree' Jackson had as many return TDs (4), and Henderson's KR/PR averages are superior
ret Voting
#1
Quadree Henderson, Pitt
#2
Adoree' Jackson, USC
#3
Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
#4
Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
#5
Dante Pettis, Washington

Individual Awards

Coach of the Year
Mike MacIntyre, Colorado

Colorado was the Pac-12 media's preseason pick to finish last in the South Division. The Buffs won it, and made it to conference championship weekend with an outside shot at the Playoff, boasting a vastly improved defense and a solid passing game.

Offensive Coordinator of the Year
Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma

The Big 12 champs led the Power 5 in yards per play and ranked No. 1 in Offensive S&P+, an advanced stat that adjusts for opponent, tempo, and garbage time. There's a reason the 33-year-old former Mike Leach QB and assistant is already earning head coach buzz.

Defensive Coordinator of the Year
Jeremy Pruitt, Alabama

This might be Nick Saban's best defense. Bama's allowed fewer yards per play than any other Saban team, except for 2011's, and fewer rushing yards per play (2.03) than any team since 2008 TCU. Bama went all of November without giving up a TD and has scored 14 non-offensive TDs, by far the most in the country.

Game of the Year
Michigan vs. Ohio State

Two nemeses played a double-overtime game filled with memories (even the punts!) that ended up deciding a Playoff spot. Second in votes: Louisville-Clemson.

Play of the Year
Central Michigan's Hail Mary vs. Oklahoma State

This creative, clutch play ended up assuring CMU of bowl eligibility and at one point looked like it'd cost Oklahoma State a Playoff shot, but here's what makes it extremely college football: the MAC admitted its officials never should've let it happen. "An illegitimate miracle" kind of sums up this entire sport.

GIF of the Year
Jim Harbaugh's broken headset

Jim Harbaugh got so emotional during Michigan-Ohio State, he spiked his headset into tatters. Same.

Credits

Designer Tyson Whiting
Developer Graham MacAree
Voters Alex Kirshner, Alex Nicolas, Andy Mitts, Bill Connelly, Billy Gomila, Brandon Fitzsimons, Brent Taylor, Brian Towle, Bud Elliott, Cam Underwood, Chris Landon, Christian D'Andrea, Erik Evans, Jack Follman, Jake Kocorowski, James Gardner, Jamie Plunkett, Jason Kirk, Jeremy Mauss, Joey Weaver, John Cassillo, Jon Johnston, Jon Morse, JT VanGilder, Kaelen Jones, Kartik Rajendran, Kayla Chance, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Kyle Robbins, Luke Zimmermann, Matt Brown, Matthew Kenerly, Max Brekke, Melissa Triebwasser, Morgan Moriarty, Nick Nordi, Rush Roberts, Ryan Priest, Sydney Hunte, Thomas Kendziora, Trevor Vallese, Wescott Eberts