EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:
Four players from Ohio State are among 10 first-team picks from the Big Ten on The Associated Press All-America team released Monday, a group headed by repeat selection Caleb Downs of the Buckeyes and AP Player of the Year Fernando Mendoza of Indiana.
The AP has named an All-America team every year since 1925, and Notre Dame’s two first-team picks this season increased its all-time lead to 87.
Downs, the Big Ten defensive player of the year, has made the first team each of his two seasons at Ohio State after landing on the second team as a freshman at Alabama in 2023. He is one of 12 players on the 27-man first team who did not start their careers at their current school. Downs is joined on the first team by fellow Buckeyes Jeremiah Smith, Kayden McDonald and Arvell Reese.
Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy over the weekend, led the top-ranked Hoosiers to a 13-0 record and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff after transferring from California. He has thrown a nation-leading 33 touchdown passes and is the catalyst of one of the most productive offenses in the country.
A total of 18 schools are represented on the first team, including seven of the 12 in the CFP.
Iowa has had at least one first-team player seven straight years and in 10 of the last 12. This is the fourth year in a row Miami, Notre Dame and Ohio State have had at least one.
Punter Cole Maynard gave Western Kentucky its first-ever first-team pick. Defensive lineman Landon Robinson is Navy’s first since 1975 and kicker Kansei Matsuzawa is Hawaii’s first since 1986.
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READ AP'S STORY
Big Ten puts 10 on AP All-America first team, led by 4 from Ohio State and Hoosier star Mendoza
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FIND YOUR STATE: FIND YOUR STATE: ALL-AMERICAN PLAYERS BY HOME STATE AND HOMETOWN
Included at the end of this list are players with ties to American Samoa, Australia and Japan.
The AP All-America team was selected by a panel of 52 college Top 25 poll voters.
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ALABAMA
Jakari Foster, first team, defensive back, Louisiana Tech, senior, 6-0, 211, Piedmont, Alabama.
Kadyn Proctor, second team, tackle, Alabama, junior, 6-7, 366, Des Moines, Iowa.
Peter Woods, second team, interior lineman, Clemson, junior, 6-3, 310, Alabaster, Alabama.
Cam Cook, third team, running back, Jacksonville State, junior, 5-11, 200, Round Rock, Texas.
Lee Hunter, third team, interior lineman, Texas Tech, senior, 6-4, 330, Mobile, Alabama.
Bray Hubbard, third team, defensive back, Alabama, junior, 6-2, 213, Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
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ARIZONA
Jordyn Tyson, third team, wide receiver, Arizona State, junior, 6-2, 200, Allen, Texas.
Treydan Stukes, third team, cornerback, Arizona, senior, 6-2, 200, Litchfield Park, Arizona.
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CALIFORNIA
Makai Lemon, first team, wide receiver, Southern California, junior, 5-11, 195, Los Angeles, California.
David Bailey, first team, edge rusher, Texas Tech, senior, 6-3, 250, Irvine, California.
Danny Scudero, second team, wide receiver, San Jose State, sophomore, 5-9, 174, San Jose, California.
Chris Johnson, second team, cornerback, San Diego State, senior, 6-0, 195, Eastvale, California.
Hezekiah Masses, second team, defensive back, California, senior, 6-1, 185, Deerfield Beach, Florida.
Julian Sayin, third team, quarterback, Ohio State, redshirt freshman, 6-1, 208, Carlsbad, California.
Owen Long, third team, linebacker, Colorado State, sophomore, 6-2, 230, Whittier, California.
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COLORADO
Emmanuel Pregnon, first team, guard, Oregon, senior, 6-5, 318, Denver, Colorado.
Owen Long, third team, linebacker, Colorado State, sophomore, 6-2, 230, Whittier, California.
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CONNECTICUT
Skyler Bell, first team, wide receiver, UConn, senior, 6-0, 185, New York, New York.
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DELAWARE
Wayne Knight, second team, all-purpose, James Madison, junior, 5-7, 190, Smyrna, Delaware.
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FLORIDA
Jeremiah Smith, first team, wide receiver, Ohio State, sophomore, 6-3, 223, Miami Gardens, Florida.
Francis Mauigoa, first team, tackle, Miami, junior, 6-6, 335, Iliʻili, American Samoa.
Fernando Mendoza, first team, quarterback, Indiana, junior, 6-5, 225, Miami, Florida.
Malachi Toney, second team, wide receiver, Miami, freshman, 5-11, 188, Liberty City, Florida.
Jake Slaughter, second team, center, Florida, senior, 6-4, 303, Sparr, Florida.
Rueben Bain Jr., second team, edge rusher, Miami, junior, 6-3, 270, Miami, Florida.
D’Angelo Ponds, second team, cornerback, Indiana, junior, 5-9, 173, Miami, Florida.
Hezekiah Masses, second team, defensive back, California, senior, 6-1, 185, Deerfield Beach, Florida.
Michael Trigg, third team, tight end, Baylor, senior, 6-4, 240, Tampa, Florida.
Caden Fordham, third team, linebacker, North Carolina State, graduate, 6-1, 230, Ponte Vedra, Florida.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, third team, safety, Toledo, senior, 6-2, 202, Tampa, Florida.
Ryan Eckley, third team, punter, Michigan State, junior, 6-2, 207, Lithia, Florida.
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GEORGIA
Kayden McDonald, first team, interior lineman, Ohio State, junior, 6-3, 326, Suwanee, Georgia.
CJ Allen, first team, linebacker, Georgia, junior, 6-1, 235, Barnesville, Georgia.
Caleb Downs, first team, safety, Ohio State, junior, 6-0, 205, Hoschton, Georgia.
Brett Thorson, second team, punter, Georgia, senior, 6-2, 235, Melbourne, Australia.
Keylan Rutledge, third team, guard, Georgia Tech, senior, 6-4, 330, Royston, Georgia.
Aidan Birr, third team, kicker, Georgia Tech, junior, 6-1, 205, Kennedale, Texas.
Avieon Terrell, third team, cornerback, Clemson, junior, 5-11, 180, Atlanta.
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HAWAII
Kansei Matsuzawa, first team, kicker, Hawaii, senior, 6-2, 200, Tokyo.
Iapani Laloulu, third team, center, Oregon, junior, 6-2, 329, Honolulu, Hawaii.
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IDAHO
Kenyon Sadiq, second team, tight end, Oregon, junior, 6-3, 245, Idaho Falls, Idaho.
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ILLINOIS
Carnell Tate, second team, wide receiver, Ohio State, junior, 6-3, 195, Chicago, Illinois.
Keagen Trost, third team, tackle, Missouri, graduate, 6-4, 316, Kankakee, Illinois.
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INDIANA
Fernando Mendoza, first team, quarterback, Indiana, junior, 6-5, 225, Miami, Florida.
Jeremiyah Love, first team, running back, Notre Dame, junior, 6-0, 214, St. Louis, Missouri.
Leonard Moore, first team, cornerback, Notre Dame, sophomore, 6-2, 195, Round Rock, Texas.
Carter Smith, second team, tackle, Indiana, junior, 6-5, 313, Powell, Ohio.
D’Angelo Ponds, second team, cornerback, Indiana, junior, 5-9, 173, Miami.
Dillon Thieneman, second team, safety, Oregon, junior, 6-0, 205, Westfield, Indiana.
Louis Moore, second team, safety, Indiana, senior, 5-11, 200, Mesquite, Texas.
Jadarian Price, third team, all-purpose, Notre Dame, junior, 5-11, 210, Denison, Texas.
Caden Curry, third team, edge rusher, Ohio State, senior, 6-3, 260, Greenwood, Indiana.
Tyrique Tucker, third team, interior lineman, Indiana, junior, 6-0, 302, Norfolk, Virginia.
Aiden Fisher, third team, linebacker, Indiana, senior, 6-1, 231, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
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IOWA
Beau Stephens, first team, guard, Iowa, senior, 6-5, 315, Blue Springs, Missouri.
Logan Jones, first team, center, Iowa, graduate, 6-3, 202, Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Kadyn Proctor, second team, tackle, Alabama, junior, 6-7, 366, Des Moines, Iowa.
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KENTUCKY
Cole Maynard, first team, punter, Western Kentucky, senior, 6-1, 180, Mooresville, North Carolina.
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LOUISIANA
Mansoor Delane, first team, cornerback, LSU, senior, 6-0, 190, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Jakari Foster, first team, defensive back, Louisiana Tech, senior, 6-0, 211, Piedmont, Alabama.
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MARYLAND
Landon Robinson, first team, interior lineman, Navy, senior, 6-0, 287, Fairlawn, Ohio.
Mansoor Delane, first team, cornerback, LSU, senior, 6-0, 190, Silver Spring, Maryland.
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MICHIGAN
Nadame Tucker, third team, edge rusher, Western Michigan, senior, 6-3, 250, New York.
Ryan Eckley, third team, punter, Michigan State, junior, 6-2, 207, Lithia, Florida.
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MINNESOTA
Emmett Johnson, second team, running back, Nebraska, junior, 5-11, 200, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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MISSISSIPPI
Ahmad Hardy, first team, running back, Missouri, sophomore, 5-10, 210, Oma, Mississippi.
Kewan Lacy, second team, running back, Mississippi, sophomore, 5-11, 210, Dallas, Texas.
Bray Hubbard, third team, defensive back, Alabama, junior, 6-2, 213, Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
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MISSOURI
Beau Stephens, first team, guard, Iowa, senior, 6-5, 315, Blue Springs, Missouri.
Jeremiyah Love, first team, running back, Notre Dame, junior, 6-0, 214, St. Louis, Missouri.
Ahmad Hardy, first team, running back, Missouri, sophomore, 5-10, 210, Oma, Mississippi.
Cashius Howell, first team, edge rusher, Texas A&M, senior, 6-2, 248, Kansas City, Missouri.
Keagen Trost, third team, tackle, Missouri, graduate, 6-4, 316, Kankakee, Illinois.
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NEBRASKA
Emmett Johnson, second team, running back, Nebraska, junior, 5-11, 200, Minneapolis.
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NEW MEXICO
Diego Pavia, second team, quarterback, Vanderbilt, graduate, 6-0, 207, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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NEW YORK
Skyler Bell, first team, wide receiver, UConn, senior, 6-0, 185, New York, New York.
Red Murdock, second team, linebacker, Buffalo, graduate, 6-1, 240, Petersburg, Virginia.
Nadame Tucker, third team, edge rusher, Western Michigan, senior, 6-3, 250, New York, New York.
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NORTH CAROLINA
KC Concepcion, first team, all-purpose, Texas A&M, junior, 5-11, 190, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Cole Maynard, first team, punter, Western Kentucky, senior, 6-1, 180, Mooresville, North Carolina.
Brian Parker II, third team, tackle, Duke, junior, 6-5, 305, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Caden Fordham, third team, linebacker, North Carolina State, graduate, 6-1, 230, Ponte Vedra, Florida.
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OHIO
Jeremiah Smith, first team, wide receiver, Ohio State, sophomore, 6-3, 223, Miami Gardens, Florida.
Kayden McDonald, first team, interior lineman, Ohio State, junior, 6-3, 326, Suwanee, Georgia.
Landon Robinson, first team, interior lineman, Navy, senior, 6-0, 287, Fairlawn, Ohio.
Arvell Reese, first team, linebacker, Ohio State, junior, 6-4, 243, Cleveland, Ohio.
Caleb Downs, first team, safety, Ohio State, junior, 6-0, 205, Hoschton, Georgia.
Carnell Tate, second team, wide receiver, Ohio State, junior, 6-3, 195, Chicago, Illinois.
Carter Smith, second team, tackle, Indiana, junior, 6-5, 313, Powell, Ohio.
Sonny Syles, second team, linebacker, Ohio State, senior, 6-5, 243, Pickerington, Ohio.
Brian Parker II, third team, tackle, Duke, junior, 6-5, 305, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Evan Tengesdahl, third team, guard, Cincinnati, sophomore, 6-3, 320, Dayton, Ohio.
Julian Sayin, third team, quarterback, Ohio State, redshirt freshman, 6-1, 208, Carlsbad, California.
Caden Curry, third team, edge rusher, Ohio State, senior, 6-3, 260, Greenwood, Indiana.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, third team, safety, Toledo, senior, 6-2, 202, Tampa, Florida.
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OKLAHOMA
Tate Sandell, second team, kicker, Oklahoma, junior, 5-9, 182, Port Neches, Texas.
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OREGON
Emmanuel Pregnon, first team, guard, Oregon, senior, 6-5, 318, Denver.
Kenyon Sadiq, second team, tight end, Oregon, junior, 6-3, 245, Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Dillon Thieneman, second team, safety, Oregon, junior, 6-0, 205, Westfield, Indiana.
Iapani Laloulu, third team, center, Oregon, junior, 6-2, 329, Honolulu, Hawaii.
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PENNSYLVANIA
Olaivavega Ioane, second team, guard, Penn State, junior, 6-4, 323, Graham, Washington.
Kaytron Allen, third team, running back, Penn State, senior, 5-11, 219, Norfolk, Virginia.
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SOUTH CAROLINA
Peter Woods, second team, interior lineman, Clemson, junior, 6-3, 310, Alabaster, Alabama.
Avieon Terrell, third team, cornerback, Clemson, junior, 5-11, 180, Atlanta.
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TENNESSEE
Eli Stowers, first team, tight end, Vanderbilt, graduate, 6-4, 235, Denton, Texas.
Diego Pavia, second team, quarterback, Vanderbilt, graduate, 6-0, 207, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Chris Brazzell II, third team, wide receiver, Tennessee, junior, 6-5, 200, Midland, Texas.
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TEXAS
Eli Stowers, first team, tight end, Vanderbilt, graduate, 6-4, 235, Denton, Texas.
David Bailey, first team, edge rusher, Texas Tech, senior, 6-3, 250, Irvine, California.
KC Concepcion, first team, all-purpose, Texas A&M, junior, 5-11, 190, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Cashius Howell, first team, edge rusher, Texas A&M, senior, 6-2, 248, Kansas City, Missouri.
Jacob Rodriguez, first team, linebacker, Texas Tech, senior, 6-1, 235, Wichita Falls, Texas.
Leonard Moore, first team, cornerback, Notre Dame, sophomore, 6-2, 195, Round Rock, Texas.
Ar’maj Reed-Adams, second team, guard, Texas A&M, graduate, 6-5, 325, Dallas, Texas.
Kewan Lacy, second team, running back, Mississippi, sophomore, 5-11, 210, Dallas, Texas.
Tate Sandell, second team, kicker, Oklahoma, junior, 5-9, 182, Port Neches, Texas.
A.J. Holmes Jr., second team, interior lineman, Texas Tech, junior, 6-3, 300, Houston, Texas.
Anthony Hill Jr., second team, linebacker, Texas, junior, 6-3, 238, Denton, Texas.
Louis Moore, second team, safety, Indiana, senior, 5-11, 200, Mesquite, Texas.
Eric McAlister, third team, wide receiver, TCU, senior, 6-3, 205, Azle, Texas.
Chris Brazzell II, third team, wide receiver, Tennessee, junior, 6-5, 200, Midland, Texas.
Jordyn Tyson, third team, wide receiver, Arizona State, junior, 6-2, 200, Allen, Texas.
Michael Trigg, third team, tight end, Baylor, senior, 6-4, 240, Tampa, Florida.
Cam Cook, third team, running back, Jacksonville State, junior, 5-11, 200, Round Rock, Texas.
Aidan Birr, third team, kicker, Georgia Tech, junior, 6-1, 205, Kennedale, Texas.
Jadarian Price, third team, all-purpose, Notre Dame, junior, 5-11, 210, Denison, Texas.
Lee Hunter, third team, interior lineman, Texas Tech, senior, 6-4, 330, Mobile, Alabama.
Michael Taaffe, third team, safety, Texas, senior, 6-0, 189, Austin, Texas.
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UTAH
Spencer Fano, first team, tackle, Utah, junior, 6-6, 308, Spanish Fork, Utah.
John Henry Daley, second team, edge rusher, Utah, sophomore, 6-4, 255, Alpine, Utah.
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VIRGINIA
Bishop Fitzgerald, first team, safety, Southern California, senior, 5-11, 205, Woodbridge, Virginia.
Wayne Knight, second team, all-purpose, James Madison, junior, 5-7, 190, Smyrna, Delaware.
Red Murdock, second team, linebacker, Buffalo, graduate, 6-1, 240, Petersburg, Virginia.
Kaytron Allen, third team, running back, Penn State, senior, 5-11, 219, Norfolk, Virginia.
Tyrique Tucker, third team, interior lineman, Indiana, junior, 6-0, 302, Norfolk, Virginia.
Aiden Fisher, third team, linebacker, Indiana, senior, 6-1, 231, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
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WASHINGTON
Olaivavega Ioane, second team, guard, Penn State, junior, 6-4, 323, Graham, Washington.
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AMERICAN SAMOA
Francis Mauigoa, first team, tackle, Miami, junior, 6-6, 335, Iliʻili, American Samoa.
AUSTRALIA
Brett Thorson, second team, punter, Georgia, senior, 6-2, 235, Melbourne, Australia.
JAPAN
Kansei Matsuzawa, first team, kicker, Hawaii, senior, 6-2, 200, Tokyo.
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