Four Aggies named to preseason AP All-America team

Following a No. 4 finish last season when many thought the Aggies should have been included among the four playoff teams, Jimbo Fisher’s 2021 squad continues to garner plenty of preseason attention. Texas A&M is ranked sixth in both the Coaches Poll and the Associated Press Poll, and the individual accolades are rolling in as well.

On Monday four Aggies were named to the AP’s preseason All-America team. Offensive lineman Kenyon Green and defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal are first-team honorees while running back Isaiah Spiller and tight end Jalen Wydermyer are listed on the second team.

Green was a consensus All-American last season as a sophomore and anchored one of the best offensive lines in the country. Behind the Maroon Goons, the Aggie offense rushed for over 200 yards per game and surrendered only seven sacks in over 300 pass attempts.

Leal, expected to be a first-round NFL pick alongside Green, is a wrecking ball along the defensive front. A versatile player who can line up both inside and outside, Leal consistently dominates in the trenches despite drawing constant double-teams.

Spiller emerged as one of the nation’s elite backs in 2020, rushing for over 100 yards per game and earning All-SEC honors. The junior from Spring, Texas, has piled up almost 2,000 yards in his first two seasons and has scored 19 touchdowns.

After only two seasons, Wydermyer already has caught a dozen touchdown passes, more than any other tight end in Texas A&M history. A Mackey Award finalist last year, Wydermyer is on pace to grab the school record for receptions and receiving yards this season.

Associated Press All-America Team

First Team Offense

Quarterback: Spencer Rattler, sophomore, Oklahoma

Running backs: Breece Hall, junior, Iowa State; Bijan Robinson, sophomore, Texas

Tackles: Evan Neal, junior, Alabama; Kenyon Green, junior, Texas A&M

Guards: Cain Madden, senior, Notre Dame; Zion Johnson, senior, Boston College

Center: Tyler Linderbaum, junior, Iowa

Tight end: Charlie Kolar, senior, Iowa State

Wide receivers: Chris Olave, senior, Ohio State; Justyn Ross, junior, Clemson

All-purpose player: Kyren Williams, sophomore, Notre Dame

Kicker: Cade York, junior, LSU

First Team Defense

Ends: Kayvon Thibodeaux, junior, Oregon; DeMarvin Leal, junior, Texas A&M

Tackles: Haskell Garrett, super senior, Ohio State; Bryan Bresee, sophomore, Clemson

Linebackers: Will Anderson Jr., sophomore, Alabama; Nik Bonitto, junior, Oklahoma; Mike Rose, senior, Iowa State

Cornerbacks: Derek Stingley, Jr., junior, LSU; Ahmad Gardner, junior, Cincinnati

Safeties: Kyle Hamilton, junior, Notre Dame; Brandon Joseph, sophomore, Northwestern

Punter: Jake Camarda, senior, Georgia

Second Team Offense

Quarterback: Sam Howell, junior, North Carolina

Running backs: Mohamed Ibrahim, senior, Minnesota; Isaiah Spiller, junior, Texas A&M

Tackles: Thayer Munford, senior, Ohio State; Darian Kinnard, senior, Kentucky

Guards: Jamaree Salyer, senior, Georgia; Emil Ekiyor, junior, Alabama

Center: Jarrett Patterson, junior, Notre Dame

Tight end: Jalen Wydermyer, junior, Texas A&M

Wide receivers: Garrett Wilson, junior, Ohio State; John Metchie III, junior, Alabama

All-purpose player: Jerrion Ealy, junior, Mississippi

Kicker: Anders Carlson, senior, Auburn

Second Team Defense

Ends: Aidan Hutchinson, senior, Michigan; George Karlaftis, junior, Purdue

Tackles: Jordan Davis, senior, Georgia; Dante Still, senior, West Virginia

Linebackers: Devin Lloyd, super senior Utah; Christian Harris, junior, Alabama; Micah McFadden, senior, Indiana

Cornerbacks: Kaiir Elam, junior, Florida; Tiawan Mullen, junior, Indiana

Safeties: Jalen Catalon, redshirt sophomore, Arkansas; Jaquan Brisker, super senior, Penn State

Punter: Lou Hedley, senior, Miami