2022 FWAA All-America Team

December 9, 2022 by FWAA

DALLAS (FWAA) – The 2022 Football Writers Association of America All-America Team, presented in partnership with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, is headlined by nine first-teamers from the four teams competing in the College Football Playoff, three repeat All-Americans and a record 16 total selections from the Big Ten Conference. There are 19 schools represented from six Football Bowl Subdivision conferences on the first team and 34 different schools and eight conferences plus an Independent included on the overall 54-man team.

"Partnering with the Cotton Bowl Classic each year to name this team and honor these standouts is always special. Making these teams is an honor that will stick with players long after they leave their campuses," said FWAA President David Ubben of The Athletic. "There are always so many deserving talents but it’s great to see big names we know like Will Anderson, Jack Campbell and Olusegun Oluwatimi have big-time seasons once again but it’s also incredible to see our team reflect the breakout season TCU enjoyed this year. It’s always difficult to narrow down the team but it’s also a sign of strength in the sport when there are so many deserving candidates at so many positions. College football’s on-field product is in great shape.”

“The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is proud of our partnership with the FWAA and what we do together to promote one of the most prestigious All-America teams in college football,” said Dave Brown, Chairman, Cotton Bowl Athletic Association and Cotton Bowl Foundation. "We congratulate these student-athletes for their outstanding play on the field this season and celebrate their impact on the game that so many of us love and enjoy.”

Georgia, the top seed in the College Football Playoff, has three members on the first team but it was fellow playoff qualifier TCU which led all schools with four players on the combined team. Michigan, which faces TCU in a playoff semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31, and Ohio State, which takes on Georgia in the other semifinal in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, join Notre Dame, Pitt and USC with three players each on the combined team.

Alabama’s star linebacker Will Anderson Jr., who this week earned his second Bronko Nagurski Trophy from the FWAA as the nation’s top defensive player, returns to the All-America first team. Anderson led the SEC with 10 sacks (t-6th in FBS) and 17 tackles for loss (7th in FBS).

Two other players join Anderson as now two-time All-Americans on the first team in Michigan center Olusegun Oluwatimi, the 2022 Outland Trophy winner who earned second-team honors at Virginia a year ago, and Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell, this year's winner of the National Football Foundation's prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy and the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year who averaged 9.8 tackles per game. Oluwatimi is one of four Big Ten offensive linemen on the first team along with Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski, the Big Ten’s Lineman of the Year and an Outland Trophy finalist, Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr., and Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz. It’s the first time in a decade (2012) for one conference to place four linemen on the first team.

The four players from TCU, the school’s highest number on the annual FWAA list, represent the different parts that sent the Horned Frogs to compete for the national title. Up front, Steve Avila is TCU’s first FWAA All-America offensive lineman and an Outland finalist, and joins special teams punt returner Derius Davis as the Horned Frogs’ first first-teamers since 2015. In the two backfields, TCU has quarterback Max Duggan on the second team offense and defensive back Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson extends TCU’s string of placing an All-American in the secondary in three of the last four seasons.

Georgia defensive back Chris Smith, who was a Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist, tight end Brock Bowers and defensive lineman Jalen Carter represent the Bulldogs, the only team to place three on the first team and the only school to have two members on defense. Michigan, with workhorse running back Blake Corum joining Oluwatimi on offense, and Ohio State, which has dynamic wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. joining Johnson, were the only schools to place two members on offense. The Big Ten owns nine of the first-team selections to the Southeastern Conference’s seven, and combined (16 and 11, respectively) make up half of the 54-member team.

The rest of the combined team’s honorees came from the Big 12 (7), Pac-12 (7), Atlantic Coast (6), Independents (3), American Athletic (2) and Sun Belt (2). There are 13 juniors on the first team along with 10 seniors/graduates and four sophomores. Juniors have the most representation on the combined team with 24 followed by 22 seniors/graduates and eight sophomores. No freshmen made the combined teams.

Iowa, Mississippi State and USC also have two first-team members. USC’s Caleb Williams leads the offensive selections at quarterback and has teammate Tuli Tuipulotu, another Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist, anchoring the defensive line. The Pac-12 has four members on the first team and seven overall, its best totals since 2019. Special teams members earned Iowa and Mississippi State their double representation, Iowa with punter Tory Taylor and Mississippi State with kick returner Lideatrick Griffin, who led the nation’s returners by five yards with a 32.3-yard average. Mississippi State also put defensive back Emmanuel Forbes on the first team after he tied for second nationally with six interceptions, returning three of them for touchdowns.

Texas running back Bijan Robinson is the Longhorns’ second All-American of the last five seasons, their first on offense since 2016. Also from the Big 12, Texas Tech defensive lineman Tyree Wilson, the Big 12 leader in tackles for loss (14.0), is the Red Raiders’ first first-team selection since 2018 and its first defensive lineman honoree since 1998.

Tennessee’s resurgence this season came from its passing game, and that’s represented in wide receiver Jalin Hyatt on the first team after he tied for the national lead with 15 receiving touchdowns. Pitt defensive lineman Calijah Kancey, who was a finalist for both the Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophies, is on the first team and leads the Panthers’ three overall selections that tie for second among all schools.

Cincinnati’s reputation as one of the nation’s top defensive programs continues with the first-team selection of linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. The Bearcats have now had a first-team defender in three consecutive seasons. Utah defensive back Clark Phillips III, who led the Pac-12 and tied for second nationally with six interceptions, extends the Utes’ string with at least one All-American in eight of the last nine seasons. Phillips is Utah’s fourth All-American on defense in the last four seasons. Illinois defensive back Devon Witherspoon is Illinois’ first FWAA All-American since 2011 – his 17 passes broken up were sixth in the nation.

N.C. State kicker Christopher Dunn gives the Wolfpack back-to-back All-Americans and its first on special teams since 1996. Dunn was second nationally making 24 of 25 field goals for a 96 percent success rate. UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet was among the top playmakers this season and earned the All-Purpose spot on the first team. Charbonnet led the nation averaging 168.0 all-purpose yards per game.

Among second-team notes, Michigan defensive lineman Mike Morris is the Wolverines’ third overall selection as is Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg. Notre Dame was also among the seven schools with three members, each of them on the second team with tight end Michael Mayer, offensive lineman Joe Alt and defensive lineman Isaiah Foskey. In addition to Schmitz, Minnesota has two players on combined team for the first time since 1961 with Mohamed Ibrahim placing from a crowded Big Ten running back field in the second-team spot. Illinois running back Chase Brown earned the second-team all-purpose slot, earning the Illini two players on the combined team for the first time.

Old Dominion linebacker Jason Henderson, who led the nation’s tacklers by more than four tackles on average making 15.5 stops per game, is his school’s first FWAA All-American. App State kick returner Milan Tucker gives the Sun Belt Conference two selections. Stanford kick Joshua Karty, perfect on the season hitting 18 of 18 field goals, is the second-team kicker and the Cardinal’s first All-American since 2018. SMU wide receiver Rashee Rice is only the Mustangs’ third all-time FWAA All-American and its first since 2019. Alabama punt returner Kool-Aid McKinstry is the Crimson Tide’s second selection on the team.

2022 FWAA ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE (11)
QB Caleb Williams, USC (6-1, 215, So., Washington, D.C.)
RB Blake Corum, Michigan (5-8, 210, Jr., Marshall, Va.)
RB Bijan Robinson, Texas (6-0, 222, Jr., Tucson, Ariz.
WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State (6-4, 205, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa.)
WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee (6-0, 185, Jr., Irmo, S.C.)
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia (6-4, 230, So., Napa, Calif.)
OL Steve Avila, TCU (6-4, 330, Sr., Arlington, Texas)
OL Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State (6-6, 310, Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio)
OL John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota (6-4, 320, Sr., Flossmoor, Ill.)
OL Peter Skoronski, Northwestern (6-4, 315, Jr., Park Ridge, Ill.)
C Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan (6-3, 307, Gr., Upper Marlboro, Md.)

DEFENSE (11)
DL Jalen Carter, Georgia (6-3, 300, Jr., Apopka, Fla.)
DL Calijah Kancey, Pitt (6-0, 280, Jr., Miami, Fla.)
DL Tuli Tuipulotu, USC (6-4, 290, Jr., Hawthorne, Calif.)
DL Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech (6-6, 275, Sr., Henderson, Texas)
LB Will Anderson Jr., Alabama (6-4, 243, So., Hampton, Ga.)
LB Jack Campbell, Iowa (6-5, 246, Sr., Cedar Falls, Iowa)
LB Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati (6-0, 235, Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio)
DB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State (6-0, 180, Jr., Grenada, Miss.)
DB Clark Phillips III, Utah (5-10, 183, So., Lakewood, Calif.)
DB Chris Smith, Georgia (5-11, 195, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.)
DB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois (6-0, 180, Jr., Pensacola, Fla.)

SPECIALISTS (5)
K Christopher Dunn, N.C. State (5-8, 170, Gr., Lexington, N.C.)
P Tory Taylor, Iowa (6-4, 230, Jr., Melbourne, Australia)
KR Lideatrick Griffin, Mississippi State (5-10, 185, Jr., Philadelphia, Miss.)
PR Derius Davis, TCU (5-10, 175, Sr., Saint Francisville, La.)
AP Zach Charbonnet, UCLA (6-1, 220, Sr., Camarillo, Calif.)

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE: QB Max Duggan, TCU; RB Israel Abanikanda, Pitt; RB Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota; WR Josh Downs, North Carolina; WR Rashee Rice, SMU; TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame; OL Joe Alt, Notre Dame; OL Nick Broeker, Ole Miss; OL O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida; OL Andrew Vorhees, USC; C Alex Forsyth, Oregon. SECOND TEAM DEFENSE: DL Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State; DL Tyler Davis, Clemson; DL Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame; DL Mike Morris, Michigan; LB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State; LB Jason Henderson, Old Dominion; LB Drew Sanders, Arkansas; DB Erick Hallett II, Pitt; DB Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU; DB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State; DB John Torchio, Wisconsin. SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS: K Joshua Karty, Stanford; P Bryce Baringer, Michigan State; KR Milan Tucker, App State; PR Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama; AP Chase Brown, Illinois

First Team by Conference: Big Ten 9, SEC 7, Big 12 4, Pac-12 4, ACC 2, American Athletic 1.

Second Team by Conference: Big Ten 7, ACC 4, SEC 4, Big 12 3, Pac-12 3, Independents 3, Sun Belt 2, American Athletic 1.

Combined by Conference: Big Ten 16, SEC 11, Big 12 7, Pac-12 7, ACC 6, Independents 3, American Athletic 2, Sun Belt 2.

First Team by School: Georgia 3, Iowa 2, Michigan 2, Mississippi State 2, Ohio State 2, TCU 2, USC 2, Alabama, Cincinnati, Illinois, Minnesota, N.C. State, Northwestern, Pitt, Tennessee, Texas, Texas Tech, UCLA, Utah.

Second Team by School: Notre Dame 3, Pitt 2, TCU 2, Alabama, App State, Arkansas, Clemson, Florida, Illinois, Kansas State, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio State, Old Dominion, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, SMU, Stanford, USC, Wisconsin.

Combined by School: TCU 4, Georgia 3, Michigan 3, Notre Dame 3, Ohio State 3, Pitt 3, USC 3, Alabama 2, Illinois 2, Iowa 2, Minnesota 2, Mississippi State 2, App State, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Clemson, Florida, Kansas State, Michigan State, North Carolina, N.C. State, Northwestern, Old Dominion, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, SMU, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas, Texas Tech, UCLA, Utah, Wisconsin.

First team by Class: Juniors 13, Seniors/Graduates 10, Sophomores 4, Freshmen 0.

Second team by Class: Seniors/Graduates 12, Juniors 11, Sophomores 4, Freshmen 0. 

Combined by Class: Juniors 24, Seniors/Graduates 22, Sophomores 8, Freshmen 0.Total by class: Juniors 24, Seniors/Graduates 22, Sophomores 8, Freshmen 0.

The FWAA All-America Team was first selected in 1944, three years after the organization was formed. The FWAA's inaugural team included Army's Heisman Trophy tandem of Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis and Georgia Tech's Frank Broyles, who later became Arkansas' head football coach and athletic director.

Since 1945, the FWAA All-America Team has been among the five teams used to formulate the NCAA's annual consensus All-America team, which will be announced later this week. Since the 2002 season, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), The Associated Press, The Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation have joined the FWAA as the five designated selectors by the NCAA.

Over the years, the FWAA team has highlighted all the game's great players in several media forums. From 1946-70, LOOK magazine published the FWAA team and brought players and selected writers to New York City for a celebration. During that 25-year period, the FWAA team was introduced on national television shows by such noted hosts as Bob Hope, Steve Allen and Perry Como.

After LOOK folded, the FWAA started a long association with NCAA Films (later known as NCAA Productions), which produced a 30-minute television program. The team was part of ABC-TV's 1981 College Football Series. From 1983-90, the team was introduced on either ABC or ESPN. In 2002 and ‘03, the All-America team was honored with a banquet at the Citrus Bowl.

The same bowl also was a sponsor when the team was featured on ABC and ESPN from different locations on Disney properties from 2004-07. From 2008-10, the team had been the subject of a one-hour ESPN special.

For seven decades the FWAA has selected an All-America team with the help of its members and an All-America Committee, which represents all the regions in the country. From that All-America team, the FWAA also selects the Outland Trophy winner (best interior lineman) and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner (best defensive player).

Some of the true greats of the writing profession have helped to select this team over the years: Grantland Rice, Bert McGrane, Blackie Sherrod, Furman Bisher, Pat Harmon, Fred Russell, Edwin Pope, Murray Olderman, Paul Zimmerman – and the list goes on and on. The FWAA All-America team is steeped in tradition and history and is selected by a writers' group with those same attributes.

Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team.

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic will play host to the Tulane Green Wave and the USC Trojans on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023 at 1 p.m. ET. The 87th Goodyear Cotton Bowl is the 14th Classic to be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

2022 FWAA All-America Committee: Andrea Adelson, ESPN.com; Evan Barnes, Memphis Commercial Appeal; Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman; Travis L. Brown, Bryan-College Station Eagle; Ken Capps, Freelance; Brett Ciancia, Pick Six Previews; Angelique Chengelis, Detroit ews; Scott Dochterman, The Athletic; Bryan Fischer, Athlon Sports; John Hoover, SI.com; Shehan Jeyarajah, CBS Sports; Nate Mink, Syracuse Post-Standard; Ben Portnoy, The State (Columbia, S.C.); Tony Siracusa, Last Word on College Football; Phil Steele, Phil Steele Publications; Ryan Thorburn, Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune; John Wagner, Toledo Blade; Jon Wilner, Bay Area News Group.