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Clemson QB Lawrence leads AP preseason All-America team

Posted August 20, 2019 7:00 am

By RALPH D. RUSSO

FILE - In this April 6, 2019, file photo, Clemson's Trevor Lawrence drops back to pass during Clemson's annual Orange and White NCAA college football spring scrimmage in Clemson, S.C. After leading Clemson to a national championship as a freshman, Lawrence was selected an AP preseason All-American by poll voters. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File) The Associated Press

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence headlines The Associated Press preseason All-America team, and he has two teammates from the top-ranked Tigers with him on the first team.

Lawrence, the first freshman to quarterback to lead a team to a national championship in more than 30 years, was joined on the first-team offense by Clemson running back Travis Etienne in the list released Tuesday and presented by Regions Bank . Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons was a first-team selection on defense. Clemson and No. 2 Alabama tied for the most first-team selections with three.

Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, an All-American last season, was selected to the preseason first team, along with defensive lineman Raekwon Davis and linebacker Dylan Moses.

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, was selected to the second team.

Led by Alabama, the Southeastern Conference placed eight players on the first team, one more than the Big Ten.

The AP All-America team is sponsored by Regions Bank this season, the first time the venerable player honor roll that dates to 1925 has ever had a presenting sponsor.

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback - Trevor Lawrence, sophomore, Clemson.

Running back - Jonathan Taylor, junior, Wisconsin; Travis Etienne, junior, Clemson.

Tackles - Andrew Thomas, junior, Georgia; Walker Little, junior, Stanford.

Guards - Shane Lemieux, senior, Oregon; Ben Bredeson, senior, Michigan.

Center - Tyler Biadasz, junior, Wisconsin.

Tight end - Albert Okwuegbunam, junior, Missouri.

Wide receivers - Jerry Jeudy, junior, Alabama; Tylan Wallace, junior, Oklahoma State.

All-purpose player - Rondale Moore, sophomore, Purdue.

Kicker - Andre Szmyt, sophomore, Syracuse.

DEFENSE

Ends - Chase Young, junior, Ohio State; A.J. Epenesa, junior, Iowa.

Tackles - Derrick Brown, senior, Auburn; Raekwon Davis, senior, Alabama.

Linebackers - Dylan Moses, junior, Alabama; Isaiah Simmons, junior, Clemson; Joe Bachie, senior, Michigan State.

Cornerbacks - Bryce Hall, senior, Virginia; Paulson Adebo, junior, Stanford.

Safeties - Grant Delpit, junior, LSU; Andre Cisco, sophomore, Syracuse.

Punter - Braden Mann, senior, Texas A&M.

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback - Tua Tagovailoa, junior, Alabama.

Running backs - D'Andre Swift, junior, Georgia; Eno Benjamin, junior, Arizona State.

Tackles - Trey Adams, senior, Washington; Calvin Throckmorton, senior, Oregon.

Guards - Tommy Kraemer, senior, Notre Dame; John Simpson, senior, Clemson.

Center - Nick Harris, senior, Washington.

Tight end - Jared Pinkney, senior, Vanderbilt.

Wide receivers - Laviska Shenault Jr., junior, Colorado; Justyn Ross, sophomore, Clemson.

All-purpose player - CeeDee Lamb, junior, Oklahoma.

Kicker - Rodrigo Blankenship, senior, Georgia.

DEFENSE

Ends - Kenny Willekes, senior, Michigan State; Julian Okwara, senior, Notre Dame.

Tackles - Leki Fotu, senior, Utah; Marvin Wilson, junior, Florida State.

Linebackers - Paddy Fisher, junior, Northwestern; Evan Weaver, senior, California; Shaquille Quarterman, senior, Miami.

Cornerbacks - Kristian Fulton, senior, LSU; CJ Henderson, junior, Florida.

Safeties - Alohi Gillman, junior, Notre Dame; Jordan Fuller, senior, Ohio State.

Punter - James Smith, junior, Cincinnati.

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Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at https://podcastone.com/AP-Top-25-College-Football-Podcast

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More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

FILE - In this Oct. 27, 2018, file photo, Oklahoma State wide receiver Tylan Wallace (2) jumps across the goal line while evading Texas defensive back Brandon Jones (19) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla. Wallace was selected an AP preseason All-American after being a second-team selection after last season. (AP Photo/Brody Schmidt, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (4) carries the ball after a reception over Mississippi State cornerback Cameron Dantzler (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Jeudy followed his All-America selection last season by being selected an AP preseason All-American by poll voters. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this April 6, 2019, file photo, Clemson's Travis Etienne (9) rushes out of the tackle attempt by Derion Kendrick during Clemson's annual Orange and White NCAA college football spring scrimmage in Clemson, S.C. Etienne is one of three Clemson Tigers selected an AP preseason All-American along with quarterback Trevor Lawrence and linebacker Isaiah Simmons. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2018, file photo, Ohio State defensive end Chase Young, right, sacks Tulane quarterback Jonathan Banks during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Columbus, Ohio. Young made 14.5 tackles for loss in 2018 to be selected an AP preseason All-American by poll voters. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2017, file photo, LSU safety Grant Delpit (9) prevents Auburn wide receiver Eli Stove (12) from scoring a touchdown in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La. Delpit was an AP All-American last season and starts this season as a preseason All-American selected by poll voters. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Sept. 9, 2017, file photo, Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant (2) is tackled by Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown (5) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, in Clemson, S.C. Brown bypassed a chance to go to the NFL after last season and is an AP preseason All-American as selected by poll voters. (AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Nebraska in Madison, Wis. Taylor was selected a preseason All-American by AP poll voters after running for more than 2,00 yards last season. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File) The Associated Press

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