Ohio State Dominates AP All-College Football Playoff Team
The Associated Press has released its All-College Football Playoff team, and Ohio State dominates the list with 11 players selected. The Buckeyes’ run to their first national championship in a decade earned them a majority of the spots on the team.
The team features four players from each of the four teams that won playoff games this season: Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas, and Penn State. The AP covered all defensive schemes by having a defense with four linemen, four linebackers, and five defensive backs.
The quarterback position is led by Ohio State’s Will Howard, who completed over 75% of his passes for 1,150 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions in four playoff games. He was named the offensive most valuable player of the championship game.
Running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins from Ohio State, and Quinshon Judkins from Ohio State, were selected to the team. Judkins forced his way onto the team with his outstanding performance against Notre Dame, running for 100 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries while also catching two passes for 21 yards and a touchdown.
Wide receivers Matthew Golden from Texas, Jaden Greathouse from Notre Dame, and Jeremiah Smith from Ohio State were selected to the team. Golden made a 28-yard touchdown catch on a fourth-and-13 overtime play in a 39-31 Peach Bowl quarterfinal victory over Arizona State. Greathouse totaled just 359 yards receiving over Notre Dame’s first 14 games before going over the 100-yard mark in each of the Fighting Irish’s last two contests. Smith caught 19 passes for 381 yards and five touchdowns in four playoff games.
Tight end Tyler Warren from Penn State was selected to the team, scoring two touchdowns in Penn State’s 31-14 Fiesta Bowl victory over Boise State. All-purpose player Cam Skattebo from Arizona State was also selected, sparking Arizona State’s Peach Bowl comeback by rushing for 143 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries, catching eight passes for 99 yards, and even throwing a 42-yard touchdown pass.
The offensive line features Kelvin Banks from Texas, Carson Hinzman from Ohio State, Donovan Jackson from Ohio State, Nolan Rucci from Penn State, and Aamil Wagner from Notre Dame. The defensive line features Abdul Carter from Penn State, Dani Dennis-Sutton from Penn State, Jack Sawyer from Ohio State, and JT Tuimoloau from Ohio State.
Linebackers Drayk Bowen from Notre Dame, Jack Kiser from Notre Dame, Cody Simon from Ohio State, and Sonny Styles from Ohio State were selected to the team. Defensive backs Jahdae Barron from Texas, Caleb Downs from Ohio State, Leonard Moore from Notre Dame, Xavier Watts from Notre Dame, and Zakee Wheatley from Penn State were also selected.
Special teams players Mitch Jeter from Notre Dame, James Rendell from Notre Dame, and Jayden Harrison from Notre Dame round out the team.