An FBS-leading four Buckeyes were named to the AP preseason All-American first-team on Monday, with cornerback Denzel Burke, safety Caleb Downs, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and offensive lineman Donovan Jackson all earning the nods. Running back TreVeyon Henderson and defensive tackle Tyleik Williams were also selected to the second team, giving Ohio State a total of six players featured, also the most of any team.
Ohio State’s star defenders headline this list, starting with Burke, who is looking to cement himself as one of the best cornerbacks in program history after recording a team-high nine pass breakups and in interception in his junior season.
Downs, meanwhile, is entering his first season with the Buckeyes after a sensational freshman campaign at Alabama in which he totaled an impressive 107 tackles — the most by an Alabama freshman since at least 1970 — along with five pass deflections, 3 ½ tackles for loss, two interceptions, a forced fumble a fumble recovery and a punt return touchdown.
Burke and Downs have received a lot of preseason recognition this offseason, as they are each named to the preseason watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Award, Jim Thorpe Award, Lott Impact Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award.
Egbuka, who is also featured on numerous preseason watch lists (Biletnikoff, Paul Hornung and Maxwell Awards), is expected to be quarterback Will Howard’s top wide receiver target and one of the Big Ten’s best all-around offensive playmakers, making his first-team preseason All-American honor of little surprise to anyone.
The senior struggled through injury last season on his way to an underwhelming statistical year, but he is fully healthy going into the season and should look more like his sophomore year form, where he caught 74 receptions for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Jackson earns the preseason honor in large part due to his status as one of the Big Ten’s most consistent and reliable offensive linemen. The senior, who is also featured on the preseason watch lists for the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award, has served as Ohio State’s starting left tackle for the last two seasons, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors in each of those years.
Ohio State’s four first-team All-American nods are ahead of Georgia and Michigan, who each have three players featured. Georgia, the top-ranked team in the preseason AP and Coaches Poll, is represented by quarterback Carson Beck, offensive lineman Tate Rutledge and safety Malaki Starks, while the ninth-ranked Wolverines are represented by tight end Colston Loveland, defensive tackle Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson.
The full preseason AP All-American list can be viewed here.
