With the 2024 college football regular season in the books, it's time to name our Bleacher Report All-Americans.
Colorado two-way superstar Travis Hunter and Boise State star running back Ashton Jeanty were arguably the two best players in the nation this year, and both found their way onto the All-American teams unanimously.
Who joined them?
The B/R college football writing team—David Kenyon, Adam Kramer, Morgan Moriarty, Joel Reuter and Brad Shepard—each had a chance to submit a ballot for their All-Americans in 2024.
The results are based on plurality voting.
Quarterback
QB: Cam Ward, Miami
Ward was the Heisman Trophy front-runner for much of the season, vaulting Miami to national relevance after transferring from Washington State during the offseason.
His stock faded as the Hurricanes dropped two of three down the stretch to fall out of the College Football Playoff picture, but he still threw for 4,123 yards while leading the nation with 36 passing touchdowns.
Running Backs
RB: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
A B/R All-American for the second year in a row, Jeanty piled up 2,497 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns in one of the greatest single-season performances in college football history by a running back. He had six 200-yard rushing performances and was the driving force behind the Broncos reaching the College Football Playoff.
RB: Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
Skattebo was the offensive focal point for a Sun Devils team that was picked to finish last in the Big 12 preseason poll and ended up winning a conference championship. He had 1,568 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns, while also finishing second on the team with 37 receptions, 506 receiving yards and three more scores. He tallied 208 total yards and three touchdowns in the Big 12 title game against Iowa State.
Wide Receivers and Tight End
WR: Travis Hunter, Colorado
On the offensive side of the ball, Hunter hauled in 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, leading the Big 12 in catches and receiving scores. He had seven 100-yards games and caught at least nine passes six different times, including 10 catches for 116 yards and three touchdowns in the regular-season finale against Oklahoma State.
WR: Nick Nash, San Jose State
Part of a quarterback platoon at San Jose State in 2021, Nash has since converted to wide receiver. After carving out a solid role in the passing game last season, he was the most productive receiver in the country this year. He led the nation in receptions (104), receiving yards (1,382) and receiving touchdowns (16).
WR: Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
Despite Arizona failing to live up to lofty preseason expectations in a 4-8 season, McMillan put together another fantastic season. After tallying 90 receptions for 1,402 yards last season, he hauled in another 84 catches for a Big 12-leading 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024.
TE: Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Only Nick Nash had more receptions and receiving yards among FBS pass-catchers than Fannin, who hauled in 100 catches for 1,342 yards and nine touchdowns while taking home MAC Player of the Year honors. Not bad for an unranked, zero-star recruit who was originally a linebacker.
Offensive Linemen
OT: Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
OT: Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
OG: Dylan Fairchild, Georgia
OG: Addison West, Western Michigan
C: Cooper Mays, Tennessee
Kelvin Banks Jr. and Wyatt Milum should be two of the first offensive tackles off the board in the 2025 draft, and both took home Offensive Lineman of the Year honors in their respective conferences this year.
Dylan Fairchild is a former top-100 recruit who made major strides in his second season as a starter along the Georgia offensive line, while Addison West is a finalist for the Outland Trophy and was graded by Pro Football Focus as the nation's top guard in both run blocking and pass blocking.
Cooper Mays is in his fifth season at Tennessee and fourth year as the team's starting center, and he was instrumental in anchoring one of the best running games in the country this year.
Defensive Linemen
DE: Abdul Carter, Penn State
With 20 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and three forced fumbles, Carter made a huge impact off the edge for a Penn State defense that was one of the best in the country. He is the favorite to be the first edge-rusher off the board in the 2025 draft and could be in the conversation to go No. 1 overall.
DE: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Ezeiruaku ranked second in the nation in both tackles for loss (21) and sacks (16.5) while also leading the Boston College defense with 80 total tackles. The former 3-star recruit also took home ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
DT: Mason Graham, Michigan
A 6'3", 320-pound presence in the middle of the Michigan defensive line, Graham logged 23 solo tackles, 45 total tackles, seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. The three-year starter was also 2022 Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year in the Big Ten and a 2023 Second Team All-American.
DT: Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
One of the top overall players in the transfer portal last offseason, Nolen left Texas A&M for Ole Miss and put together the best season of his career. The 6'3", 305-pound defensive tackle racked up 25 solo tackles, 48 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, three pass deflections and two fumble recoveries.
Linebackers
LB: Jay Higgins, Iowa
The Iowa defense led the nation with just three rushing touchdowns allowed this season, and Higgins was a big reason for their success. He finished second in the Big Ten with 118 tackles while also making an impact in coverage, tallying five pass deflections and four interceptions.
LB: Shaun Dolac, Buffalo
A former walk-on, Dolac led all FBS players with 159 total tackles while absolutely filling up the stat sheet with 76 solo tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, five interceptions and four pass deflections. He won MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors for his efforts.
LB: Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
Schwesinger led the nation with 90 solo tackles en route to finishing third in the nation with 136 total tackles, to go along with nine tackles for loss, four sacks, three pass deflections and two interceptions. He had just 19 tackles in his first two seasons at UCLA and was one of the biggest breakout performers of the year on the defensive side of the ball.
Defensive Backs
CB: Travis Hunter, Colorado
"According to PFF, he allowed just 205 passing yards, fourth fewest among FBS cornerbacks who played 700-plus defensive snaps," wrote The Athletic.
That's lockdown coverage from a guy who was also a unanimous selection at wide receiver on our All-American team. Hunter finished with 11 pass deflections, four interceptions and one forced fumble.
CB: Jahdae Barron, Texas
Barron had nine pass deflections, five interceptions and 32 solo tackles as the star of a Texas secondary that led the nation in passing yards allowed per attempt (5.1) and passing yards allowed per game (143.1).
NB: Malachi Moore, Alabama
The hybrid safety-linebacker in the Alabama defense known as the STAR has been Moore's role this season, and he has filled up the stat sheet. A contributor in all five of his seasons with the Crimson Tide, he tallied 40 solo tackles, 70 total tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, eight pass deflections, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
S: Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
A two-time B/R All-American pick, Watts picked off seven passes a year ago, and he was consistently around the ball once again this season with five interceptions and nine pass deflections. He also tallied 30 solo tackles, one tackle for loss and one forced fumble, and was the standout in one of the nation's best pass defenses.
S: Caleb Downs, Ohio State
A 5-star recruit who made a major impact as a true freshman at Alabama in 2023, Downs was one of the more surprising entrants into the transfer portal last offseason, landing at Ohio State. He had 62 total tackles, 34 solo tackles, seven tackles for loss, three pass deflections and one interception as the best player on the Buckeyes defense.
Specialists
K: Ben Sauls, Pittsburgh
Sauls went 18-for-21 on field goal attempts this season and hit five 50-yard bombs while also converting all 51 of his extra-point kicks. His 35-yarder with 17 seconds left gave Pitt a 28-27 victory over Cincinnati on Sept. 6 and capped off a 21-point comeback.
P: Brett Thorson, Georgia
Thorson was a weapon for the Bulldogs on special teams, averaging 47.6 yards per punt and ranking fourth among qualified FBS punters with a 44.1 yard net average. He has averaged 45.6 yards per punt in his three years on campus.
KR: Keelan Marion, BYU
One of only three FBS players with multiple kick-return touchdowns, Marion brought two to the house while averaging 26.2 yards on 18 returns. He also had 340 receiving yards, 95 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball, making an impact in a wide variety of ways for the Cougars.
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