Summer is coming to an end, and with the college football season is right around the corner, it is the perfect time to announce the 2017 CBS Sports Preseason All-America Team as voted on by our panel of college football analysts and insiders.
There were six unanimous selections -- one on offense and five on defense -- with a whopping 21 different programs represented among the 27 first-team selections. Clemson, Florida State, LSU, Penn State, Pitt and USC were the only schools to have two first-teamers.
Among conferences, the ACC was on top with seven first-team picks, followed by the SEC (six), Pac-12 (four), Big Ten and Big 12 (three each). There were two Group of Five selections and a pick from Notre Dame. Wideout Quadree Henderson of Pittsburgh made the first team as a kick returner and all-purpose player, while Texas A&M wide receiver and return specialist Christian Kirk also makes multiple appearances.
Nine members of the 2016 CBS Sports All-America teams are among our preseason picks.
2017 CBS Sports Preseason All-America First Team
* indicates a unanimous first-team selection
| Offense | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
QB | USC | Redshirt sophomore | |
RB | Penn State | Junior | |
RB | Junior | ||
WR | Senior | ||
WR | Redshirt junior | ||
TE | Penn State | Senior | |
C | Senior | ||
OL | Redshirt junior | ||
OL | Junior | ||
OL | Notre Dame | Graduate | |
OL | Cody O'Connell | Redshirt senior | |
| Defense | | | |
DL | Ed Oliver* | Sophomore | |
DL | Clemson | Junior | |
DL | Clemson | Sophomore | |
DL | Senior | ||
LB | Arden Key* | LSU | Junior |
LB | USC | Junior | |
LB | Redshirt senior | ||
CB | Tarvarus McFadden* | Florida State | Junior |
CB | Junior | ||
S | Derwin James* | Florida State | Redshirt sophomore |
S | Minkah Fitzpatrick* | Junior | |
| Special teams | | | |
K | Redshirt senior | ||
P | Sophomore | ||
KR | Quadree Henderson | Pittsburgh | Junior |
PR | Christian Kirk | Texas A&M | Junior |
AP | Quadree Henderson | Pittsburgh | Junior |
2017 CBS Sports Preseason All-America Second Team
| Offense | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
QB | Louisville | Junior | |
RB | Senior | ||
RB | Senior | ||
WR | Christian Kirk | Texas A&M | Junior |
WR | Alabama | Junior | |
TE | Redshirt senior | ||
C | Senior | ||
OL | Notre Dame | Senior | |
OL | Alabama | Sophomore | |
OL | Junior | ||
OL | Auburn | Senior | |
| Defense | | | |
DL | Senior | ||
DL | Ohio State | Senior | |
DL | Alabama | Junior | |
DL | Redshirt junior | ||
LB | Washington | Redshirt senior | |
LB | Senior | ||
LB | Junior | ||
CB | Florida | Senior | |
CB | Oklahoma | Senior | |
S | Quin Blanding | Senior | |
S | Northwestern | Redshirt senior | |
| Special teams | | | |
K | Florida | Redshirt sophomore | |
P | Alabama | Senior | |
KR | Rashaad Penny | Senior | |
PR | Washington | Senior | |
AP | Christian Kirk | Texas A&M | Junior |
