Ohio State continued to accumulate preseason honors before its season opener on Sept. 2, as five Buckeyes were selected to the Associated Press’ Preseason All-American teams Monday afternoon.
Headlining the list are receivers Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr., as well as linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, who all earned first-team All-American selections. The two Buckeye wideouts are coming off successful sophomore campaigns, with Egbuka registering 74 catches for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Harrison leading Ohio State with 77 receptions for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns. The two juniors were also featured on the Biletnikoff and Maxwell Award Watch Lists, which honors the nation’s top wide receiver and best player. Eichenberg, who was named a team captain for the second-straight season on Saturday, is coming off a strong 2022 campaign of his own in which he led Ohio State with 120 tackles and 12 tackles for loss.
Offensive lineman Donovan Jackson and defensive lineman J.T. Tuimoloau were also tabbed with preseason second-team All-American honors. Jackson will anchor the Buckeyes on the offensive line this fall after starting all 13 games at left guard and leading the team with 827 plays from scrimmage in his sophomore campaign. Tuimoloau also appeared in each game for Ohio State last season, garnering first-team All-Big Ten honors after amassing 28 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
The Buckeyes five preseason AP All-American selections were tied with Georgia for the most representation out of all schools. Michigan, Penn State and Iowa each joined Ohio State as the only Big Ten teams with multiple first-team preseason All-American honors. Running back Blake Corum and guard Zak Zinter earned nods for the Wolverines, tackle Olu Fashanu and cornerback Kalen King represented the Nittany Lions and defensive back Cooper DeJean and punter Tory Taylor earned nods for the Hawkeyes. The Big Ten led all conferences with 12 selections, with Illinois interior defensive lineman Jer’Zhan Newton rounding out the last of the conference’s All-American representatives.
