Paste BN Sports college football midseason All-American team
The biggest stars from some of the nation’s best teams lead the Paste BN Sports midseason All-America team as the regular season hits the halfway point, including Penn State’s Saquon Barkley, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield and Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Barkley and Stanford’s Bryce Love are the running backs, edging out San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny and Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor. At quarterback, Mayfield got the nod over Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph, Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett and Louisville’s Lamar Jackson.
The offense is dominated by Oklahoma, with Mayfield joined by tight end Mark Andrews and offensive tackle Orlando Brown. OU’s Ogbonnia Okoronkwo was one of three linebackers on defense.
Alabama had two selections, Fitzpatrick and offensive tackle Jonah Williams.
Clemson had no players on offense or defense, though several came under consideration. Defensive end Austin Bryant, defensive tackles Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins, and linebacker Dorian O'Daniel just missed the cut and would have earned second-team honors.
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
There is no shortage of options at quarterback, but Mayfield gets the nod for his 17 touchdowns against just one interception and his FBS-best marks in completion percentage, yards per attempt and efficiency rating.
RB: Saquon Barkley, Penn State
Even if the numbers are topped by a few running backs — he’s at 649 yards rushing with 395 yards receiving — Barkley’s impact for the No. 2 team in the Amway Coaches Poll makes him the most valuable single player in the country.
RB: Bryce Love, Stanford
The nation’s leading rusher with 1,387 yards, Love is averaging 10.3 yards per carry on 135 attempts.
WR: James Washington, Oklahoma State
With 34 receptions for an FBS-best 882 yards and 25.9 yards per catch, Washington embodies the explosiveness and big-play potential of Oklahoma State’s potent passing game.
WR: David Sills, West Virginia
The converted quarterback has blossomed into one of college football’s top receiving threats and an absolute terror near the goal line, with eight of his FBS-leading 12 touchdown grabs coming in the red zone.
TE: Mark Andrews, Oklahoma
More of a traditional tight end and less of a hybrid threat than North Carolina State’s Jaylen Samuels, Andrews leads OU in receptions (23) and receiving yards (459) while delivering key plays, such as his touchdown grab in Saturday’s rivalry win against Texas.
OL: Orlando Brown, Oklahoma
Brown has lived up the hype in keeping Mayfield clean and upright in pass protection and keying a running a ground attack that ranks third in the Big 12 in total yards and second in yards per carry and touchdowns.
OL: Cody O’Connell, Washington State
It’s just more of the same from O’Connell, who continues to stand alone as the best interior offensive lineman in the country.
OL: Billy Price, Ohio State
While there are more than a few options at center — including Alabama’s Bradley Bozeman — Price earns the honor for his steadiness and reliability in the middle of Ohio State’s new-look offense.
OL: Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
Nelson’s ability and production was never in doubt, but his performance at the midway point speaks to Notre Dame’s renewed commitment to an effective and powerful running game.
OL: Jonah Williams, Alabama
Alabama coaches believe Williams anchors the blind side with a level of technique and precision unmatched in recent program history – quite a statement given the Crimson Tide’s quality of play at the position and Williams’ standing as a true sophomore.
DEFENSE
DL: Bradley Chubb, North Carolina State
He leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in sacks and has been every bit as disruptive as expected, meaning that offseason decision to return for his senior year has paid off for both the Wolfpack and Chubb’s draft stock.
DL: Hercules Mata'afa, Washington State
If significantly smaller and lighter than most interior defensive lineman, Mata'afa leads the Pac-12 in tackles for loss and is tied for first in sacks thanks to a first step that sets would-be blockers on their heels.
DL: Maurice Hurst, Michigan
While his lack of sacks keeps Hurst under the radar, his burst off the ball and ability to create pressure behind the line of scrimmage is a primary reason why Michigan’s rebuilt defense ranks first in the FBS in yards allowed per game and second in yards allowed per play.
DL: Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois
Smith leads the country in sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (16.0) while starring for a top-10 defense nationally, and before questioning the quality of competition keep in mind that Smith had a combined 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks in games against Boston College, Nebraska and San Diego State.
LB: Josey Jewell, Iowa
Far too underrated given his production — Jewell has 16 more tackles than his next-closest competitor in the Big Ten — the Hawkeyes’ senior fills running lanes and the box score for what is annually one of the league’s top defenses.
LB: Roquan Smith, Georgia
In a surprising development, the top inside linebacker in the Southeastern Conference isn’t from Alabama — it’s Georgia’s Smith, a junior who leads the Bulldogs in tackles and has set the tone for a team soaring into the College Football Playoff mix.
LB: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma
No pass rusher is as consistent as Okoronkwo, who has notched at least a half-sack in each of the Sooners’ six games and is the reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for his work in the win against Texas.
CB: Grant Haley, Penn State
Haley is a good a representative as any on Penn State’s enormously improved defense, as the Nittany Lions rank second in the FBS in yards allowed per attempt and have allowed just three passing touchdowns against nine picks.
CB: Carlton Davis, Auburn
Davis has regained his freshman form in serving as the stopper on the outside for Auburn’s stingy pass defense.
S: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
Whether lined up at cornerback or safety, attacking the ball in the air or stepping up to stop the run, Fitzpatrick has been the best defender in the country and one of the very elite players in all of college football.
S: Lukas Denis, Boston College
Denis is tied for the FBS lead with five interceptions and tied for second with 11 pass breakups, leading the way for a pass defense that ranks in the top 15 nationally in completion percentage, interceptions and efficiency rating – all while facing a schedule that includes Notre Dame, Clemson, Virginia Tech and Louisville.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Daniel Carlson, Auburn
With 14 made field goals, including three of 50 or more yards, Carlson continues to make his case for being one of the top kickers in SEC history.
P: Mitch Wishnowsky, Utah
Wishnowsky ranks ninth nationally at 46.2 yards per punt, but his real impact comes in an ability to place and locate his kicks to prevent any semblance of a return game – only one of his 22 punts has been returned, while nine have been downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
RET: Dante Pettis, Washington
Pettis has scored three touchdowns on punt returns, giving him eight for his career, while also leading the Huskies in receptions (44), receiving yards (472) and touchdowns (six).