By Charlie Campbell
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Heading into the 2018 college football season WalterFootball.com will debut our projections for the nation’s leaders during the fall. The All-American teams always have some surprises and the stars of next fall could be the headlining players next April in the 2019 NFL Draft.
First-Team Safeties:
Marvell Tell III, USC Tell has a good skill set and the upside to be one of the top safeties in the nation in 2018. Last year, he was a solid defender for the Trojans, totaling 85 tackles with two passes broken up and three interceptions. Tell contributed 43 tackles as a sophomore and 36 as a freshman. Over those two years, he had six breakups and an interception as well. Tell (6-3, 190) has a tall and long frame that helps him to match up against bigger receivers and tight ends. If Tell stays consistent or builds on his junior year, he could easily end up being a First-Team All-American.
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida Gardner-Johnson has flashed for the Gators over the past two seasons. As a freshman, he played well when rotating into the game behind the likes of Marcus Maye, Jalen Tabor and Quincy Wilson. Gardner-Johnson has played some corner and safety for the Gators, but he should be a starter at safety during his junior season. Gardner-Johnson was a solid safety in 2017, helping in the run game and in pass defense. He totaled 58 tackles with seven passes broken up and two interceptions on the year. Gardner-Johnson has excellent cornerback talent around him, so that could help Gardner-Johnson to use his instincts and make a lot of big plays for the Gators. That could easily lead to him being a First-Team All-American and one of the top safety prospects for his draft class.
Second-Team Safeties:
Jaquan Johnson, Miami The Hurricanes reestablished themselves as a team to be reckoned with in 2017, and their turnover chain became a media sensation. The player who sported that chain the most often for the Hurricanes was Johnson, who totaled four interceptions and three forced fumbles on the year. The junior also was a solid run defender with 96 tackles. Johnson showed big improvement over his sophomore year, when he had 38 tackles and two breakups with an interception. If Johnson is able to match last year’s production, he should definitely be a top All-American candidate.
Taylor Rapp, Washington Rapp was a solid defender for Washington as a sophomore. In 2017, he totaled 59 tackles with two sacks and one interception. Rapp played well as a freshman for the Huskies in 2016 and performed well as the strong safety next to Budda Baker. Rapp totaled 53 tackles with two passes broken up, one forced fumble and four interceptions that season. He is a quality strong safety, and the Huskies’ secondary should be better in 2018, so Rapp could have an uptick in production and end up being an All-American.
Third-Team Safeties:
Chris Johnson, North Alabama Johnson is definitely an All-American-caliber player. However playing at North Alabama will make it difficult for him to get noticed enough by the national media to earn awards that he deserves. NFL scouts are well aware of Johnson and like him as a prospect, so perhaps that will leak out enough to get Johnson some attention. In 2017, Johnson had six interceptions with 50 tackles for a loss and three passes broken up. He is a ballhawking free safety on the backend, so if he produces a big interception total, that could get him some of the recognition he deserves.
Lukas Denis, Boston College Denis was a ballhawk for Boston College in 2017, totaling seven interceptions with 10 passes broken up. He also had 83 tackles. It was a breakout year for Denis, and he easily could end up being a First-Team All-American selection if he is able to duplicate or build off his junior-year production.
Honorable Mentions: Mississippi State’s Jonathan Abram, Washington’s JoJo McIntosh, Delaware’s Nasir Adderley, Kentucky’s Mike Edwards, Ole Miss’ Zedrick Woods, Mississippi State’s Mark McLaurin, Rutger’s Saquan Hampton, Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons, Michigan’s Khaleke Hudson, Michigan State’s David Dowell and Wyoming’s Andrew Wingard.
2018 Preseason All-American Projections:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K/P
2018 Preseason Postseason Award Projections:
Thorpe Award | Lombardi Award | Biletnikoff Award | Lott IMPACT Trophy | Outland Trophy | Rimington Trophy | Mackey Award | Maxwell Award | Hendricks Award | O'Brien Award | Doak Walker Award | Bednarik Award | Nagurski Award | Hornung Award | Jet Award | Walter Camp Award | Ray Guy Award | Groza Award | Heisman Trophy |
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K/P
2018 Preseason Postseason Award Projections:
Thorpe Award | Lombardi Award | Biletnikoff Award | Lott IMPACT Trophy | Outland Trophy | Rimington Trophy | Mackey Award | Maxwell Award | Hendricks Award | O'Brien Award | Doak Walker Award | Bednarik Award | Nagurski Award | Hornung Award | Jet Award | Walter Camp Award | Ray Guy Award | Groza Award | Heisman Trophy |
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