Ohio State’s Dominant Performance Earns All-College Football Playoff Team
The Ohio State Buckeyes’ run to their first national championship in a decade has led the way for the Associated Press’ All-College Football Playoff team, with all but one player coming from one of the four teams that won playoff games this season.
The team features 43 outstanding players, with four on the offensive and defensive lines, and four linebackers. The selection process took into account different defensive schemes, including 4-3, 3-4, and nickel defenses.
Quarterback Will Howard from Ohio State topped the team, completing 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 after going 17 of 21 for 231 yards with two touchdowns and running for 57 yards on 16 carries.
Running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins from Ohio State, along with Cam Skattebo from Arizona State, and quarterback Matthew Golden from Texas, made the team. Skattebo, an AP All-America first-team running back, was a standout in the Peach Bowl, running for 143 yards and two touchdowns, catching eight passes for 99 yards, and even throwing a 42-yard touchdown pass.
Wide receivers Matthew Golden, Jaden Greathouse, and Jeremiah Smith from Ohio State, Tyler Warren from Pennsylvania State, and Mac Hardy from Texas, were also selected. Greathouse had a total of 359 yards receiving over 15 regular-season games before going over 100 yards in each of Notre Dame’s last two contests. Smith, an AP All-America second-team selection, had a sensational freshman season, catching 19 passes for 381 yards and five touchdowns in four playoff games.
The defensive line features Abdul Carter, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimoloau, and Nolan Rucci. Carter, an AP All-America first-team selection, had 4.5 sacks in three playoff games. Sawyer had a strip sack and return for a 83-yard touchdown against Texas, while Tuimoloau had 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in four playoff games.
Linebackers Drayk Bowen, Jack Kiser, Cody Simon, and Sonny Styles from Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Penn State, made the cut. Bowen had eight tackles in each of Notre Dame’s last two games, while Kiser had a team-high 10 tackles and a sack against Georgia. Simon had 38 tackles in four playoff games, and Styles had nine tackles, three for loss, plus a sack and a forced fumble against Texas.
Cornerbacks Jahdee Barron from Texas, Caleb Downs from Ohio State, Leonard Moore from Notre Dame, and Xavier Watts from Pennsylvania State, safeties Downs, Moore, and Zakee Wheatley from Pennsylvania State, and special teamer James Rendell and Jayden Harrison from Notre Dame round out the team.
