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