2013 College Football Picks: Preseason First-Team All-American Offensive Players: The 2013 college football season is less than a month away, and aside from the preseason Heisman watch list, one of the best ways to know what players, and in some cases what teams, to keep an eye on when the season begins is to look at the preseason All-Americans. Granted, picking players for a preseason All-American team involves a little guesswork, but by looking at past production, situation and potential, you can get a pretty good idea of which players are primed for big years. With that in mind, here are my preseason First-Team All-American selections on the offensive side of the ball.
Quarterback: Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M Aggies
Considering he manage 47 total touchdowns and more than 5,100 yards of offense to go along with the Heisman Trophy as a redshirt freshman, Manziel was an easy pick. Despite his inability to handle the spotlight off the field with class, he is a one-man weapon when he is on the field.
Running Back: Ka’Deem Carey, Arizona Wildcats
His combination of power and speed is a perfect fit for Rich Rodriguez’s offense. Carey led the country with more than 1,900 rushing yards on 6.4 yards per carry and ranked fourth with 23 scores last year, and he should be in line for similar production in 2013.
Wide Receiver: Amari Cooper, Alabama Crimson Tide
He managed 11 touchdowns and more than 1,000 yards as a freshman last year despite playing in a run-heavy Alabama offense, and more importantly, Cooper was at his best against the best competition. Defenses can’t keep this guy in front of them, and his numbers will be as gaudy as Nick Saban allows them to be.
Wide Receiver: Marqise Lee, USC Trojans
Lee is without question the most explosive receiver in the country, and he has amassed 25 touchdowns and more than 2,800 receiving yards in two seasons to prove it. Whether he is torching corners on deep routes, turning a screen pass into a huge gain or taking a punt to the house, Lee can put six points on the board whenever he touches the ball.
Tight End: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington Huskies
In terms of size, speed and athleticism, there isn’t another tight end in the country that can rival Seferian-Jenkins. He managed 852 receiving yards and seven scores as a sophomore last season, and the sky is the limit for his production.
Center: Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma Sooners
Ikard has been keeping the statuesque Landry Jones upright the past couple of seasons, and this year, he will get to showcase his run-blocking skills as Blake Bell leads what should be a potent Oklahoma ground game. Ikard is as reliable as they come on the interior of the line.
Offensive Tackle: Jake Matthews, Texas A&M Aggies
It’s not often that a team can lose a left tackle like Luke Joeckel that went second overall in the NFL Draft and not take a step back. Matthews gives the Aggies that luxury, and there are many scouts that believe that he could be a better pro than his predecessor because of his incredible strength.
Offensive Tackle: Taylor Lewan, Michigan Wolverines
Lewan would have been a top-10 pick in last year’s NFL Draft, and while he was criticized for returning, the Wolverines won’t complain. With his 6’8” frame and long arms, he has the ideal body for the position. Throw in his strength and quickness and dedication to proper technique, and Lewan is the ultimate blindside protector.
Offensive Guard: Cyril Richardson, Baylor Bears
Richardson has been dominating opponents on the interior of the line for a couple of years now, but his efforts were largely overlooked as Baylor’s high-powered offense chose to throw the ball all over the field. With the emergence of running back Lache Seastrunk, Richardson has finally been getting a chance to maul over defensive linemen and show his full potential. Expect more of the same in 2013.
Offensive Guard: David Yankey, Stanford Cardinal
He was one of the better offensive tackles in the country last year, and Yankey was playing out of position. He will get to move back to the interior of the line this year, and the new techniques and footwork he learned at the tackle spot last year will make him that much better as his natural position.
Kicker: Cairo Santos, Tulane Green Wave
He finished last season a perfect 21-for-21 in field goal attempts, including 12 from beyond 40 yards. Santos has a real shot to become the first kicker since Sebastian Janikowski to claim the Loue Groza Award back-to-back years.
Special Teamer: De’Anthony Thomas, Oregon Ducks
Check out these numbers. Thomas has scored a combined 32 touchdowns in his first two seasons, averaging 9.9 yards every time he touches the ball. Throw in four total touchdowns in the return game, and he is the Swiss army knife of offensive weapons.
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