Just some extra days earlier than we’ve got honest-to-goodness school soccer video games and the 2022 season is right here.
ESPN’s preseason All-America crew contains some acquainted names and a few new ones. Included are 4 gamers who made ESPN’s 2021 postseason All-America crew — Alabama quarterback Bryce Younger, Georgia tight finish Brock Bowers, USC receiver Jordan Addison and Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. In fact, the caveat with Addison is that he has modified addresses from Pittsburgh to USC through the switch portal.
Alabama leads the best way with 4 gamers on the crew, whereas Clemson and Ohio State every have three. For what it is value, these three groups have mixed for 17 Faculty Soccer Playoff appearances.
Offense
QB: Bryce Younger, Alabama Crimson Tide
The primary Alabama quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy, Younger returns for his junior season after passing for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns as a sophomore, each single-season data at Alabama. Younger is terrific below duress, eliminates the ball shortly and is adept at making performs down the sector even when he seems to be in bother. He’ll have a brand new group of receivers to throw to this season.
RB: Bijan Robinson, Texas Longhorns
After dislocating his elbow on the finish of final season, Robinson says he could not really feel higher heading into the 2022 season. He is up 12 kilos to 222 and simply as explosive. He completed with 1,422 yards from scrimmage a yr in the past and is a gifted receiver out of the backfield. Robinson is shortly operating his approach into Texas operating again royalty.
RB: TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State Buckeyes
As a real freshman a yr in the past, Henderson got here in because the No. 1 operating again prospect within the nation and did not disappoint. He rushed for 1,248 yards and tied for the lead nationally with 4 rushes of not less than 50 yards. The Buckeyes’ offense ought to be one thing to see with C.J. Stroud returning at quarterback and Jaxon Smith-Njigba at receiver.
WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State’s vast receiver room the previous couple of years has been overflowing with expertise, and Smith-Njigba is as gifted as any of the pass-catchers to come back out of Columbus just lately. He set college data final season with 95 receptions and 1,606 receiving yards on a crew that featured first-round NFL draft picks Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. When final seen, Smith-Njigba was compiling a Rose Bowl-record 347 receiving yards.
WR: Jordan Addison, USC Trojans
He is traded his Pittsburgh gear for USC gear, and Caleb Williams will probably be throwing to him this season as a substitute of Kenny Pickett. What hasn’t modified is that Addison continues to be one of many extra dynamic playmakers in school soccer. He gained the Biletnikoff Award final season because the nation’s most excellent receiver. In two seasons at Pitt, Addison caught 160 passes, together with 21 touchdowns.
TE: Brock Bowers, Georgia Bulldogs
There is no scarcity of gifted tight ends this season, however the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Bowers will get the nod right here. He catches the whole lot thrown his approach (to the tune of 13 touchdowns) and is an effective runner after the catch. He was among the best true freshmen within the nation final yr at any place and ought to be even higher as a sophomore. He additionally has two ultra-talented teammates at tight finish in Arik Gilbert and Darnell Washington.
OT: Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State Buckeyes
Good luck to find a greater deal with tandem within the nation than the one Ohio State will placed on the sector this season. The 6-6, 310-pound Johnson spent final season at proper guard, however he strikes to left deal with in 2022 to guard C.J. Stroud’s blind facet. The Buckeyes are equally gifted on the opposite facet with Dawand Jones again for a second season because the beginning proper deal with.
OG: Layden Robinson, Texas A&M Aggies
Jimbo Fisher has strengthened each traces of scrimmage at Texas A&M in recent times, and the 6-4, 330-pound Robinson is poised for a breakout season from his proper guard place. That is his fourth yr in this system, and he made his first profession begin a yr in the past. He has the whole lot it takes to blossom into the highest inside offensive lineman in school soccer this season.
C: John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota Golden Gophers
There’s nothing like expertise on the offensive line, and the 6-4, 320-pound Schmitz has that after which some. He is again for his sixth season at Minnesota after making 23 begins throughout his profession. Professional Soccer Focus has Schmitz rated because the highest-graded returning heart, and he’ll once more clear the best way for star operating again Mohamed Ibrahim.
OG: Andrew Vorhees, USC Trojans
One of many extra versatile offensive linemen within the nation, Vorhees is penciled in at left guard for the Trojans this season. The 6-6, 325-pound redshirt senior has appeared in 44 video games throughout his profession. He is made 25 begins at proper guard, eight begins at left guard and 4 begins at left deal with. He is a power wherever he traces up for the Males of Troy.
OT: Peter Skoronski, Northwestern Wildcats
The Wildcats are cranking up their very own offensive line pipeline. Rashawn Slater was one of many NFL’s prime rookies a yr in the past, and Skoronski is on observe to observe him into the NFL with one other large yr. The 6-4, 315-pound junior has been Northwestern’s starter at left deal with since his first season on campus in 2020 after Slater opted out to arrange for the draft.
AP: Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State Wildcats
Vaughn is as thrilling as he’s productive, and regardless of his 5-6, 176-pound body, he’s a lot bodily too. Vaughn was the one FBS participant final season with greater than 1,400 speeding yards (1,404) and greater than 400 receiving yards (468). He additionally completed with 22 touchdowns. There’s not a greater all-purpose risk in school soccer.
Protection
DE: Andre Carter II, Military Black Knights
There will probably be edge rushers this season with larger names, however few with larger video games than the 6-7, 260-pound Carter, whose quickness and pace are spectacular. He completed with 15.5 sacks in 13 video games final season (main all FBS gamers in sacks per recreation) and compelled 4 fumbles. Carter had began solely two video games previous to final season, however has performed his approach into being a possible first-round NFL draft decide.
DT: Bryan Bresee, Clemson Tigers
When wholesome, Bresee is nearly as good as any defensive lineman within the nation. He tore his ACL in Week 4 a yr in the past and missed spring apply after present process surgical procedure on his shoulder. However the feeling on Clemson’s employees heading into the 2022 season is that the 6-5, 305-pound redshirt sophomore is again to his dominant type and able to collapse his share of opposing pockets.
DT: Jalen Carter, Georgia Bulldogs
It would not do justice to Georgia’s protection a yr in the past to say that it was one of the crucial gifted ones in many years. Three of the Dawgs’ defensive linemen went within the first 28 picks of the NFL draft, and that merely would not occur. All it’s worthwhile to know concerning the 6-3, 300-pound Carter is that he might need been essentially the most gifted of the bunch, and he is again for his junior season.
DE: Myles Murphy, Clemson Tigers
Sure, Clemson’s line of defense will probably be loaded this season — the entire entrance seven, for that matter. The 6-5, 275-pound Murphy combines the sort of explosiveness, energy and dimension that the good edge rushers possess. He has led the Tigers in tackles for loss every of the final two seasons, together with seven sacks a yr in the past, and has compelled 5 fumbles his first two years on campus.
LB: Will Anderson Jr., Alabama Crimson Tide
Not solely is Anderson the very best defender within the nation, however he is the very best participant in school soccer and prone to be the No. 1 general decide within the 2023 NFL draft. Nick Saban has already mentioned that the 6-4, 243-pound Anderson has an opportunity to be the very best defensive participant he has ever coached. Anderson does the whole lot nicely. He performs with smarts, toughness and is just about unblockable.
LB: Trenton Simpson, Clemson Tigers
New Clemson defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin desires Simpson nearer to the road of scrimmage due to his athleticism and penchant for making large performs, which is why the 6-3, 240-pound junior is shifting from the nickel/strongside linebacker place to weakside linebacker. Simpson can do all of it — blitz, drop into protection and deal with — regardless of the place he’s on the sector.
LB: Dallas Turner, Alabama Crimson Tide
Having to dam one disruptor the caliber of Will Anderson Jr. is daunting sufficient for an opposing offense, however Alabama has two. Turner, a real sophomore, is following Anderson’s identical path and will probably be an every-down starter in 2022. Turner began simply three video games a yr in the past and nonetheless racked up 10 tackles for loss, together with 8.5 sacks.
CB: Riley Moss, Iowa Hawkeyes
One of many large recruiting coups for the Hawkeyes this offseason was getting Moss again for an additional season, particularly after he initially accepted an invite to play within the Senior Bowl. Moss was the Massive Ten’s defensive again of the yr final season and completed with 4 interceptions regardless of lacking three video games with a knee harm.
CB: Cam Smith, South Carolina Gamecocks
Do not point out to Smith that he is one of many nation’s finest cornerbacks heading into the 2022 season. He is intent on being the finest nook and has the abilities to again up that declare. The 6-foot, 188-pound redshirt junior allowed a number of catches in simply two of 11 video games performed final season. He performed nickel this spring for the Gamecocks and takes away a whole lot of what offenses are attempting to do within the passing recreation.
S: Jordan Battle, Alabama Crimson Tide
The veteran of the Alabama secondary, Battle elected to return for his senior season. The 6-1, 210-pound Battle was considered one of Mel Kiper’s prime 10 security prospects a yr in the past, so getting a participant again along with his expertise and expertise is big for a Crimson Tide protection that should not have many weaknesses. Battle had 85 tackles and three interceptions final season.
S: Jalen Catalon, Arkansas Razorbacks
After an enormous redshirt freshman season, Catalon missed the second half of final season with a shoulder harm. He’d already been enjoying with a damaged hand. The Hogs’ protection suffered as soon as he exited the lineup. Catalon is a positive tackler who’s at all times across the soccer. He is additionally a type of gamers who cleans up errors within the secondary.
Particular groups
PK: Harrison Mevis, Missouri Tigers
There is no safety in a good recreation like having a place-kicker who’s automated from nearly any distance, and all Mevis has achieved in his final two seasons is make 88.6% of his area purpose makes an attempt. He was 23-of-25 a yr in the past and made all three of his makes an attempt from 50-plus yards, together with one from 56. Mevis has by no means missed an additional level try.
P: Kyle Ostendorp, Arizona Wildcats
As a sophomore, Ostendorp led the Pac-12 and set a college file in yards per punt (49.2), whereas 28 of his 58 punts traveled 50-plus yards. It was an enormous bounce-back season for Ostendorp, who missed the shortened 2020 season after injuring his ankle. Not solely is he in a position to flip the sector along with his booming punts, however he had 17 punts downed contained in the 20 a yr in the past.
KR: Brian Battie, South Florida Bulls
What a sophomore season Battie had as USF’s do-it-all man. The 5-8, 165-pound operating again grew to become the second participant in NCAA historical past with two kickoff returns for a landing in the identical recreation when he did it towards Houston. Battie had a 3rd 100-yard kickoff return for a landing towards Tulsa. He led the Bulls with 1,035 all-purpose yards a yr in the past.
