Four Ohio State players headline preseason All-America team

No. 2 Ohio State had four players selected to the Associated Press college football preseason All-America team on Monday, including safety Caleb Downs, a transfer from Alabama. Defending champion Michigan and top-ranked Georgia -- including quarterback Carson Beck -- placed three players each. Downs was second-team All-America for the Crimson Tide in 2023. He's joined on the first team by fellow Buckeyes guard Donovan Jackson, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and cornerback Denzel Burke. Downs led Alabama with 107 tackles in 2023, adding two interceptions and punt return for a touchdown. He transferred to Ohio State in the wake of Nick Saban's retirement and the hiring of Kalen DeBoer. Tight end Colston Loveland, defensive tackle Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson represent No. 9 Michigan. In addition to Beck, the Bulldogs placed guard Tate Ratledge and defensive back Malaki Starks, a first-team All-America selection last year, on the team. First Team Quarterback -- Carson Beck, senior, Georgia Running back -- Ollie Gordon II, junior, Oklahoma State Running back -- Omarion Hampton, junior, North Carolina Tackle -- Will Campbell, junior, LSU Tackle -- Kelvin Banks Jr., junior, Texas Guard -- Donovan Jackson, senior, Ohio State Guard -- Tate Ratledge, senior, Georgia Center -- Parker Brailsford, junior, Alabama Tight end -- Colston Loveland, junior, Michigan Wide receiver -- Luther Burden III, junior, Missouri Wide receiver -- Tetairoa McMillan, junior, Arizona Wide receiver -- Emeka Egbuka, senior, Ohio State All-purpose player -- Travis Hunter, junior, Colorado Kicker -- Graham Nicholson, senior, Alabama Defense Edge rusher -- James Pearce Jr., junior, Tennessee Edge rusher -- Ashton Gillotte, senior, Louisville Interior lineman -- Mason Graham, junior, Michigan Interior lineman -- Howard Cross III, senior, Notre Dame Linebacker -- Harold Perkins Jr., junior, LSU Linebacker -- Jay Higgins, senior, Iowa Linebacker -- Barrett Carter, senior, Clemson Cornerback -- Will Johnson, junior, Michigan Cornerback -- Denzel Burke, senior, Ohio State Safety -- Malaki Starks, junior, Georgia Safety -- Caleb Downs, sophomore, Ohio State Defensive back -- Xavier Watts, senior, Notre Dame Punter -- Alex Mastromanno, senior, Florida State Second team Quarterback -- Dillon Gabriel, senior, Oregon Running back -- TreVeyon Henderson, senior, Ohio State Running back -- Ashton Jeanty, junior, Boise State Tackle -- Ajani Cornelius, senior, Oregon Tackle -- Aireontae Ersery, senior, Minnesota Guard -- Tyler Booker, junior, Alabama Guard -- Dylan Fairchild, senior, Georgia Center -- Cooper Mays, senior, Tennessee Tight end -- Mitchell Evans, senior, Notre Dame Wide receiver -- Tez Johnson, senior, Oregon Wide receiver -- Tre Harris, senior, Mississippi Wide receiver -- Ricky White III, senior, UNLV All-purpose player -- Zachariah Branch, sophomore, Southern California Kicker -- Andres Borregales, senior, Miami Defense Edge rusher -- Nic Scourton, junior, Texas A&M Edge rusher -- Abdul Carter, junior, Penn State Interior lineman -- Tyleik Williams, senior, Ohio State Interior lineman -- Deone Walker, junior, Kentucky Linebacker -- Danny Stutsman, senior, Oklahoma Linebacker -- Jason Henderson, senior, Old Dominion Linebacker -- Nick Martin, senior, Oklahoma State Cornerback -- Benjamin Morrison, junior, Notre Dame Cornerback -- Sebastian Castro, senior, Iowa Safety -- Dillon Thieneman, sophomore, Purdue Safety -- Billy Bowman, senior, Oklahoma Defensive back -- Ricardo Hallman, senior, Wisconsin Punter -- James Ferguson-Reynolds, junior, Boise State --Field Level Media