Washington linebacker Azeem Victor and Washington State offensive lineman Cody O’Connell have been named to The Associated Press preseason All-America football team.
Victor, a senior, is coming off a season-ending knee injury he suffered last November in a game against USC. He was leading the Huskies with 68 tackles at the time of his injury.
O’Connell, also a senior, is the only offensive player selected to the first team who was a 2016 All-American.
Washington’s Vita Vea, a junior defensive tackle, was named to the preseason second team.
The first-team offense is highlighted by Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold and Penn State running back Saquon Barkley. The two put on a show at the Rose Bowl last season and established themselves as two of the biggest stars in college football coming into 2017.
Darnold passed for 453 yards and five touchdowns in USC’s 52-49 victory over the Nittany Lions. The sophomore comes into this season leading No. 4 USC on a nine-game winning streak. Barkley ran for 194 yards and scored three touchdowns against USC.
The first-team defense is led by two players who were postseason All-Americans last season: Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who made the first team as a freshman, and Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick.
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Sam Darnold, sophomore, Southern California.
Running backs — Saquon Barkley, junior, Penn State; Derrius Guice, junior, LSU.
Tackles — Orlando Brown, junior, Oklahoma; Connor Williams, junior, Texas.
Guards — Quenton Nelson, senior, Notre Dame; Cody O’Connell, senior, Washington State.
Center — Billy Price, senior, Ohio State.
Tight end — Mike Gesicki, junior, Penn State.
Wide receivers — James Washington, senior, Oklahoma State; Christian Kirk, junior, Texas A&M.
All-purpose player — Quadree Henderson, junior, Pittsburgh.
Kicker — Daniel Carlson, senior, Auburn.
DEFENSE
Ends — Harold Landry, senior, Boston College; Bradley Chubb, senior, North Carolina State.
Tackles — Ed Oliver, sophomore, Houston; Dexter Lawrence, sophomore, Clemson.
Linebackers — Arden Key, junior, LSU; Josey Jewell, senior, Iowa; Azeem Victor, senior, Washington.
Cornerbacks — Tavarus McFadden, junior, Florida State; Jaire Alexander, junior, Louisville.
Safeties — Derwin James, junior, Florida State; Minkah Fitzpatrick, junior, Alabama.
Punter — Mitch Wishnowsky, junior, Utah.
———
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Lamar Jackson, junior, Louisville.
Running backs — Nick Chubb, senior, Georgia; Bo Scarbrough, junior, Alabama.
Tackles — Mike McGlinchey, senior, Notre Dame; Jonah Williams, sophomore, Alabama.
Guards — Will Hernandez, senior, UTEP; Braden Smith, senior, Auburn.
Center — Frank Ragnow, senior, Arkansas.
Tight end — Troy Fumagalli, senior, Wisconsin.
Wide receivers — Calvin Ridley, junior, Alabama; Courtland Sutton, junior, SMU.
All-purpose player — Jaylen Samuels, senior, North Carolina State.
Kicker — Eddy Pineiro, sophomore, Florida.
DEFENSE
Ends — Tyquan Lewis, senior, Ohio State; Rashan Gary, sophomore, Michigan.
Tackles — Christian Wilkins, junior, Clemson; Vita Vea, junior, Washington.
Linebackers — Micah Kiser, senior, Virginia; Tegray Scales, senior, Indiana; Cameron Smith, junior, Southern California.
Cornerbacks — Duke Dawson, senior, Florida; Iman Marshall, junior, Southern California.
Safeties — Quin Blanding, senior, Virginia; Godwin Igewbuike, senior, Northwestern.
Punter — JK Scott, senior, Alabama.
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