Missouri's Okwuegbunam selected to preseason AP All-America team

Albert Okwuegbunam warms up before Missouri's game last season against South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. Okwuegbunam was named to the Associated Press preseason All-America team Tuesday.
Albert Okwuegbunam warms up before Missouri's game last season against South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. Okwuegbunam was named to the Associated Press preseason All-America team Tuesday.

Missouri tight end Albert Okwuegbunam was named to the Associated Press preseason All-America team at tight end, it was announced Tuesday.

Okwuegbunam, a redshirt junior from Springfield, Ill., had career highs in catches (43) and yards (466) last season before being injured in Week 9 against Florida. He returned to Missouri's practice Tuesday after suffering a sprained right knee in practice two weeks ago.

Missouri will start the season Saturday, Aug. 31, at Wyoming.

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence headlines the team, and he has two teammates from the top-ranked Tigers with him on the first team.

Lawrence, the first freshman quarterback to lead a team to a national championship in more than 30 years, was joined on the first-team offense by Clemson running back Travis Etienne.

Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons was a first-team selection on defense. Clemson and No. 2 Alabama tied for the most first-team selections with three.

Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, an All-American last season, was selected to the preseason first team, along with defensive lineman Raekwon Davis and linebacker Dylan Moses.

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the Heisman Trophy runner-up last season, was selected to the second team Tuesday.

Led by Alabama, the Southeastern Conference placed eight players on the first team, one more than the Big Ten.

The AP All-America team is sponsored by Regions Bank this season, the first time the venerable player honor roll that dates to 1925 has ever had a presenting sponsor.

First Team

OFFENSE

Quarterback - Trevor Lawrence, sophomore, Clemson.

Running back - Jonathan Taylor, junior, Wisconsin; Travis Etienne, junior, Clemson.

Tackles - Andrew Thomas, junior, Georgia; Walker Little, junior, Stanford.

Guards - Shane Lemieux, senior, Oregon; Ben Bredeson, senior, Michigan.

Center - Tyler Biadasz, junior, Wisconsin.

Tight end - Albert Okwuegbunam, junior, Missouri.

Wide receivers - Jerry Jeudy, junior, Alabama; Tylan Wallace, junior, Oklahoma State.

All-purpose player - Rondale Moore, sophomore, Purdue.

Kicker - Andre Szmyt, sophomore, Syracuse.

DEFENSE

Ends - Chase Young, junior, Ohio State; A.J. Epenesa, junior, Iowa.

Tackles - Derrick Brown, senior, Auburn; Raekwon Davis, senior, Alabama.

Linebackers - Dylan Moses, junior, Alabama; Isaiah Simmons, junior, Clemson; Joe Bachie, senior, Michigan State.

Cornerbacks - Bryce Hall, senior, Virginia; Paulson Adebo, junior, Stanford.

Safeties - Grant Delpit, junior, LSU; Andre Cisco, sophomore, Syracuse.

Punter - Braden Mann, senior, Texas A&M.

Second Team

OFFENSE

Quarterback - Tua Tagovailoa, junior, Alabama.

Running backs - D'Andre Swift, junior, Georgia; Eno Benjamin, junior, Arizona State.

Tackles - Trey Adams, senior, Washington; Calvin Throckmorton, senior, Oregon.

Guards - Tommy Kraemer, senior, Notre Dame; John Simpson, senior, Clemson.

Center - Nick Harris, senior, Washington.

Tight end - Jared Pinkney, senior, Vanderbilt.

Wide receivers - Laviska Shenault Jr., junior, Colorado; Justyn Ross, sophomore, Clemson.

All-purpose player - CeeDee Lamb, junior, Oklahoma.

Kicker - Rodrigo Blankenship, senior, Georgia.

DEFENSE

Ends - Kenny Willekes, senior, Michigan State; Julian Okwara, senior, Notre Dame.

Tackles - Leki Fotu, senior, Utah; Marvin Wilson, junior, Florida State.

Linebackers - Paddy Fisher, junior, Northwestern; Evan Weaver, senior, California; Shaquille Quarterman, senior, Miami (Fla).

Cornerbacks - Kristian Fulton, senior, LSU; CJ Henderson, junior, Florida.

Safeties - Alohi Gillman, junior, Notre Dame; Jordan Fuller, senior, Ohio State.

Punter - James Smith, junior, Cincinnati.