Four Ohio State players headline preseason All-America team

No. 2 Ohio State had four players selected to the Associated Press college football preseason All-America team on Monday, including safety Caleb Downs, a transfer from Alabama.

Defending champion Michigan and top-ranked Georgia -- including quarterback Carson Beck -- placed three players each.

Downs was second-team All-America for the Crimson Tide in 2023. He's joined on the first team by fellow Buckeyes guard Donovan Jackson, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and cornerback Denzel Burke.

Downs led Alabama with 107 tackles in 2023, adding two interceptions and punt return for a touchdown. He transferred to Ohio State in the wake of Nick Saban's retirement and the hiring of Kalen DeBoer.

Tight end Colston Loveland, defensive tackle Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson represent No. 9 Michigan.

In addition to Beck, the Bulldogs placed guard Tate Ratledge and defensive back Malaki Starks, a first-team All-America selection last year, on the team.

First Team

Quarterback -- Carson Beck, senior, Georgia

Running back -- Ollie Gordon II, junior, Oklahoma State

Running back -- Omarion Hampton, junior, North Carolina

Tackle -- Will Campbell, junior, LSU

Tackle -- Kelvin Banks Jr., junior, Texas

Guard -- Donovan Jackson, senior, Ohio State

Guard -- Tate Ratledge, senior, Georgia

Center -- Parker Brailsford, junior, Alabama

Tight end -- Colston Loveland, junior, Michigan

Wide receiver -- Luther Burden III, junior, Missouri

Wide receiver -- Tetairoa McMillan, junior, Arizona

Wide receiver -- Emeka Egbuka, senior, Ohio State

All-purpose player -- Travis Hunter, junior, Colorado

Kicker -- Graham Nicholson, senior, Alabama

Defense

Edge rusher -- James Pearce Jr., junior, Tennessee

Edge rusher -- Ashton Gillotte, senior, Louisville

Interior lineman -- Mason Graham, junior, Michigan

Interior lineman -- Howard Cross III, senior, Notre Dame

Linebacker -- Harold Perkins Jr., junior, LSU

Linebacker -- Jay Higgins, senior, Iowa

Linebacker -- Barrett Carter, senior, Clemson

Cornerback -- Will Johnson, junior, Michigan

Cornerback -- Denzel Burke, senior, Ohio State

Safety -- Malaki Starks, junior, Georgia

Safety -- Caleb Downs, sophomore, Ohio State

Defensive back -- Xavier Watts, senior, Notre Dame

Punter -- Alex Mastromanno, senior, Florida State

Second team

Quarterback -- Dillon Gabriel, senior, Oregon

Running back -- TreVeyon Henderson, senior, Ohio State

Running back -- Ashton Jeanty, junior, Boise State

Tackle -- Ajani Cornelius, senior, Oregon

Tackle -- Aireontae Ersery, senior, Minnesota

Guard -- Tyler Booker, junior, Alabama

Guard -- Dylan Fairchild, senior, Georgia

Center -- Cooper Mays, senior, Tennessee

Tight end -- Mitchell Evans, senior, Notre Dame

Wide receiver -- Tez Johnson, senior, Oregon

Wide receiver -- Tre Harris, senior, Mississippi

Wide receiver -- Ricky White III, senior, UNLV

All-purpose player -- Zachariah Branch, sophomore, Southern California

Kicker -- Andres Borregales, senior, Miami

Defense

Edge rusher -- Nic Scourton, junior, Texas A&M

Edge rusher -- Abdul Carter, junior, Penn State

Interior lineman -- Tyleik Williams, senior, Ohio State

Interior lineman -- Deone Walker, junior, Kentucky

Linebacker -- Danny Stutsman, senior, Oklahoma

Linebacker -- Jason Henderson, senior, Old Dominion

Linebacker -- Nick Martin, senior, Oklahoma State

Cornerback -- Benjamin Morrison, junior, Notre Dame

Cornerback -- Sebastian Castro, senior, Iowa

Safety -- Dillon Thieneman, sophomore, Purdue

Safety -- Billy Bowman, senior, Oklahoma

Defensive back -- Ricardo Hallman, senior, Wisconsin

Punter -- James Ferguson-Reynolds, junior, Boise State

--Field Level Media