BY: Steven Eastridge (@SGEasty)
Disclaimer: These are unofficial teams created by me and me alone, they are not a reflection of league awards or honors. Teams were determined by statistical analysis, and a loose definition of the “eye test.”
The CFSL has reached the halfway point of its regular season, with some teams hitting their stride and others struggling to right the ship. With big matchups still to come, there is plenty to play for, as teams fight for a chance at the Playoff, others strive for the PIT, and several try to end on a high note before heading into the offseason.
In the process of doing research for this article, I wanted to ask some former All-Americans what the honor meant to them and how it affects them today.
When asked if being an All-American was a goal at player creation throughout his career, Oregon linebacker Brock Hoskins said, “The goal was always to make the best player possible. So All-American was definitely one of those things I wanted to achieve.” Florida State quarterback Jim Carr expressed a similar sentiment: “When building [Carr], I wanted to leave no doubt in anybody’s minds who the goat is!!!” (Exclamation points are Carr’s, he was very adamant about being the greatest ever.)
“If I go out and don’t perform, it does feel like I failed my team,” West Virginia halfback Jerry Filbin said when asked about the pressures he faces on living up to the All-American status he earned in Season 14. “I feel like I’m counted on to get my yards and get my touchdowns. And the pressure builds if we aren’t winning games.”
Boise State free safety TJ Weinrich explained that there was the pressure that he faced, but it wasn’t so focused on his on-field performance. “In the grand scheme of things, you don’t really have control.” You can upgrade your character as much as you want, “but smart ADs pay attention, you don’t test the [All-American] … so normally your production goes down even though you are a factor. … I think as a former [All-American] you should be a leader in your [locker room] especially for the new folks who get down after a loss or have a bad season. That’s where I think my pressure was applied.”
Each of these individuals expressed the joy, pride, and honor that came with being named to the All-American team. Florida State wide receiver Vernon Mills perhaps said it the best, “it was the greatest feeling, knowing that your peers acknowledge you for having a great season.” Most, like Mills, were quick to thank their teammates, coaches, and ADs for helping them earn the All-American title. Despite the fanfare, some expressed that they would give up the award and recognition for a National Championship. We’ll see how these players answer that question themselves.
Without further ado, this is one man’s unofficial Mid-Season First-Team All-America, Second-Team All-America, and Freshman All-American Team. In addition, since there are now four conferences, I have named All-Conference Teams as well.
First-Team Mid-Season All-Americans
QB – Scott Pinesaw – Sr. – Kentucky
HB – Duane Sammons – Sr. – Notre Dame
HB – James Ware – Sr. – Alabama
WR – Matthew McCray – Sr. – Boise State
WR – Derrick Pendleton – Sr. – Michigan
WR – Tucker Quirk – Jr. – Kentucky
WR – Pablo Thompson – So. – Oregon
TE – Cadbury Wellington – Fr. – North Carolina
RET – Vinny Mixon – Sr. – Oklahoma
K – DJ Marley – Sr. – Wisconsin
DL – Scott Frank – Sr. – Oklahoma
DL – Jay Gates – Fr. – Miami
DL – Jeff Knight – Fr. – Clemson
LB – Sage Collins – So. – Boise State
LB – Brock Hoskins – Sr. – Oregon
LB – Daryl Jefferson – Sr. – Clemson
LB – Matt Walker – Sr. – Oregon
CB – Herschel Duke – Fr. – Florida
CB – Riley Feagle – Sr. – Wisconsin
CB – Charlie Pickett – Jr. – Michigan
S – Gavin Beavers – So. – Florida
S – Maverick LeBlanc – So. – LSU
S – TJ Weinrich – Jr. – Boise State
Second-Team Mid-Season All-Americans
QB – Kai Kohko – Sr. – Texas
HB – Killian Dunn – So. – Texas
HB – Joey Zaza – Sr. – Oklahoma
WR – Aaron Ike – Sr. – Florida State
WR – Titus Price – Fr. – Alabama
WR – Jalen Thomas – So. – Ohio State
WR – Jrue Ward Johnson – Fr. – Clemson
TE – Conner Stephens – So. – Illinois
RET – Tavian Tyree – Jr. – Iowa
K – Greg Owens – Jr. – Ohio State
DL – Owen Britt – Sr. – Alabama
DL – Les McAdoo – Jr. – Oklahoma State
DL – George Yost – Fr. – Alabama
LB – Zackary Babineau – So. – Michigan
LB – Devin Rudisell – Fr. – Pitt
LB – Ryan Schultz – Fr. – Iowa
LB – JJ Smith – Jr. – Florida
CB – Paul Hayes II – Sr. – Ohio State
CB – Jaye Johnson – Fr. – Georgia
CB – Terry Walther – Sr. – Tennessee
S – Rick Davis – So. – Florida State
S – Brian Mount – Jr. – Michigan
S – Deuce Palmer – Fr. – Alabama
Freshman Mid-Season All-Americans
QB – Dylan Shumate – Illinois
HB – Clay Allen – North Carolina
HB – William Tree – Florida
WR – JT Cass Jr. – Oklahoma State
WR – Thane Lewis – Auburn
WR – Titus Price – Alabama
WR – Jrue Ward Johnson – Clemson
TE – Cadbury Wellington – North Carolina
RET – Ricky Hammer – Florida
K – Max Boom – Alabama
DL – Jay Gates – Miami
DL – Jeff Knight – Clemson
DL – George Yost – Alabama
LB – Ja Avery II – Texas A&M
LB – Wes Finy – Missouri
LB – Devin Rudisell – Pitt
LB – Ryan Schultz – Iowa
CB – Shawn Adams – Georgia
CB – Herschel Duke – Florida
CB – Jaye Johnson – Georgia
S – Draxler Blue – Clemson
S – Jakoby Cobb – West Virginia
S – Deuce Palmer – Alabama
Mid-Season All-ACC
QB – Jim Carr – Sr. – Florida State
HB – Clay Allen – Fr. – North Carolina
HB – Duane Sammons – Sr. – Notre Dame
WR – Justice Fury* – Fr. – Miami
WR – Aaron Ike – Sr. – Florida State
WR – Vernon Mills – Sr. – Florida State
WR – Jrue Ward Johnson – Fr. – Clemson
TE – Cadbury Wellington – Fr. – North Carolina
RET – Rev LeBoucher – Sr. – Notre Dame K – Waylon Wright – Fr. – Miami
DL – Jay Gates – Fr. – Miami
DL – Jeff Knight – Fr. – Clemson
DL – Cory Mucci – So. – Miami
LB – Brendan Jackson – Sr. – Miami
LB – Daryl Jefferson – Sr. – Clemson
LB – Devin Rudisell – Fr. – Pitt
LB – Chance Thomas – So. – North Carolina
CB – Skyler Eik – Jr. – Clemson
CB – Thomas Lindsay – Sr. – Clemson
CB – Tom Reis – So. – Miami
S – Draxler Blue – Fr. – Clemson
S – Connor Cummings – Jr. – Notre Dame
S – Rick Davis – So. – Florida State
*Justice Fury is listed as a CB.
Mid-Season All-BIG 10
QB – Logan Radloff – So. – Ohio State
HB – John Carroll – Jr. – Ohio State
HB – Shaq Edwards – So. – Illinois
WR – Jackson Cain – Sr. – Illinois
WR – Derrick Pendleton – Sr. – Michigan
WR – Jalen Thomas – So. – Ohio State
WR – Pablo Thompson – So. – Oregon
TE – Connor Stephens – So. – Illinois
RET – Tavian Tyree – Jr. – Iowa
K – DJ Marley – Sr. – Wisconsin
DL – Tristan Paul – So. – Oregon
DL – Iman Porter – Sr. – Wisconsin
DL – Valentino Villareal – Fr. – Ohio State
LB – Zackary Babineau – So. – Michigan
LB – Brock Hoskins – Sr. – Oregon
LB – Ryan Schultz – Fr. – Iowa
LB – Matt Walker – Sr. – Oregon
CB – Riley Feagle – Sr. – Wisconsin
CB – Paul Hayes II – Sr. – Ohio State
CB – Charlie Pickett – Jr. – Michigan
S – MJ Boomer – Jr. – Illinois
S – Matthew Coleman – Sr. – Washington
S – Brian Mount – Jr. – Michigan
Mid-Season All-Big XII
QB – Kai Kohko – Sr. – Texas
HB – Killian Dunn – So. – Texas
HB – Joey Zaza – Sr. – Oklahoma
WR – JT Cass Jr. – Fr. – Oklahoma State
WR – Jafari Davis Jr. – Jr. – Texas A&M
WR – Anthony Delano – Sr. – Texas
WR – Matthew McCray – Sr. – Boise State
TE – Steve Suess – Sr. – Missouri
RET – Vinny Mixon – Sr. – Oklahoma
K – Asher Wilson – Fr. – Boise State
DL – Scott Frank – Sr. – Oklahoma
DL – Shane Lloyd – Fr. – Oklahoma
DL – Les McAdoo – Jr. – Oklahoma State
LB – Sage Collins – So. – Boise State
LB – Wes Finy – Fr. – Missouri
LB – Zach Flowerday – So. – Texas
LB – Tyler O’Curran – Jr. – Boise State
CB – Duke Stover – So. – Texas
CB – Demetrius Thomas – Jr. – Boise State
CB – Johnny Tipton – Sr. – Missouri
S – Dylan Bishop – Jr. – Texas
S – Johnathon Ramirez – So. – Nebraska
S – TJ Weinrich – Sr. – Boise State
Mid-Season All-SEC
QB – Scott Pinesaw – Sr. – Kentucky
HB – William Tree – Fr. – Florida
HB – James Ware – Sr. – Alabama
WR – Elliott Griffin – So. – LSU
WR – Titus Price – Fr. – Alabama
WR – Tucker Quick – Jr. – Kentucky
WR – Carlos Shapovalov – Jr. – Alabama
TE – Kris Keohane – So. – Alabama
RET – Ricky Hammer – Fr. – Florida
K – Max Boom – Fr. – Alabama
DL – Owen Britt – Sr. – Alabama
DL – Jessica Navarro – Sr. – Alabama
DL – George Yost – Fr. – Alabama
LB – Haikili Arroyo – Sr. – Georgia
LB – Jyair Leonard – Sr. – Alabama
LB – Ryder Mears – Fr. – Auburn
LB – JJ Smith – Jr. – Florida
CB – Herschel Duke – Fr. – Florida
CB – Jaye Johnson – Fr. – Georgia
CB – Terry Walther – Sr. – Tennessee
S – Gavin Beavers – So. – Florida
S – Maverick LeBlanc – So. – LSU
S – Deuce Palmer – Fr. – Alabama
