College football changes fast. Power 4 teams keep swiping top talent through the transfer portal, so earning a spot on a preseason All-America team is a serious achievement.
The Athletic’s 2025 preseason All-America team highlights players who’ve not only stood out individually, but also made a big impact for their teams. This year, stars from Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, and Alabama fill the list, but you’ll also spot names from less-hyped programs. That’s the beauty of college football—talent pops up everywhere.
Quarterbacks Leading the Charge
Every great team needs a quarterback who can take over a game. This year, Cade Klubnik from Clemson leads the pack.
He’s shown huge growth over the past season, racking up 3,639 passing yards and 36 touchdowns. Klubnik can run, too—he added 463 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, making him a nightmare for defenses.
Running Backs Making Waves
The backfield brings some real excitement. Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame battled through a knee injury, yet still rushed for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns.
He tops Dane Brugler’s draft-eligible running back rankings. Nick Singleton from Penn State isn’t far behind, leading the Big Ten with 1,805 all-purpose yards. He and Kaytron Allen formed a duo that’s tough to match in college football.
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends: The Offensive Powerhouses
At wide receiver, Jeremiah Smith from Ohio State and Jordyn Tyson from Arizona State headline the group. Smith, the top name on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List, put up 76 catches, 1,315 yards, and 15 touchdowns as a freshman.
Tyson missed the postseason with an injury but still posted 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was a crucial part of the Big 12 champs’ offense.
Tight End Excellence
Eli Stowers at Vanderbilt switched from quarterback to tight end and didn’t miss a beat. He caught 49 passes for 638 yards and five touchdowns.
His efforts landed him first-team All-SEC honors and a spot on Feldman’s Freaks List. Not bad for a position switch.
Dominant Offensive Linemen
The offensive line gets its strength from players like Spencer Fano at Utah and Kadyn Proctor at Alabama. Fano, a top-10 NFL Draft prospect, started 12 games at right tackle and picked up second-team All-America honors.
Proctor started 11 games at left tackle and earned second-team All-SEC honors. Both guys kept their quarterbacks upright and their run games rolling.
Guard and Center Standouts
Ar’maj Reed-Adams from Texas A&M and Vega Ioane from Penn State anchor the guard spots. Reed-Adams helped power the SEC’s No. 2 rushing attack.
At center, Jake Slaughter from Florida played 800 of 828 offensive snaps last season. He earned first-team All-America honors for his steady play.
Defensive Powerhouses
On the defensive line, Mikail Kamara from Indiana and T.J. Parker from Clemson made their mark. Kamara rose from an unranked recruit to first-team All-Big Ten.
Parker set a school record with six forced fumbles and piled up 19.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. That’s the kind of production every coach dreams about.
Linebackers and Secondary Stars
Anthony Hill Jr. from Texas, Sonny Styles from Ohio State, and Whit Weeks from LSU lead at linebacker. Hill led the Longhorns with 113 tackles and 16.5 tackles for loss.
Styles added 100 tackles and six sacks. In the secondary, Leonard Moore from Notre Dame and D’Angelo Ponds from Indiana stood out. Moore played a big role for the national runner-up squad.
Special Teams and All-Purpose Players
The special teams really stand out this year. You’ve got Dominic Zvada from Michigan, almost perfect on field goals. Then there’s Palmer Williams from Baylor, who averaged a wild 49.4 yards per punt.
On the all-purpose side, Desmond Reid from Pitt showed off his skills all over the field. His stats in rushing, receiving, and punt returns? Pretty impressive, honestly.
If you want the full list of players who made The Athletic’s 2025 preseason All-America team, check out the article here.
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