Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson headlines the USA TODAY college football All-America teams, which were released on Tuesday. Watson is one of the three Heisman Trophy Finalist to be named to the all-star squad.
Defensive end Shaq Lawson was also named as a first-team selection. Lawson led the nation in tackles for loss with 22.5. He also recorded 9.5 sacks to lead the Tigers, while finishing fourth on the team with 55 tackles.
Watson, the first Clemson quarterback to be named as USA Today’s All-American quarterback, led the ACC this year with 3,512 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. He also led all quarterbacks with 887 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.
His 11 rushing touchdowns led Clemson as well. He was also named the ACC Championship Game’s Most Valuable Player as he totaled 420 yards and was responsible for five touchdowns in Clemson’s 45-37 victory over North Carolina. Both of those marks were ACC Championship Game records.
Joining Watson on the first-team offense is running backs Derrick Henry of Alabama and Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey.
Top-ranked Clemson, the only undefeated team in the country, will play No. 4 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 31 at 4 p.m. as part of the College Football Playoffs.
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB: Deshaun Watson, Clemson
RB: Derrick Henry, Alabama
RB: Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
WR: Corey Coleman, Baylor
WR: Josh Doctson, TCU
TE: Hunter Henry, Arkansas
OL: Jack Conklin, Michigan State
OL: Joshua Garnett, Stanford
OL: Ryan Kelly, Alabama
OL: Spencer Drango, Baylor
OL: Joe Thuney, North Carolina State
DEFENSE
DL: Joey Bosa, Ohio State
DL: Sheldon Day, Notre Dame
DL: DeForest Buckner, Oregon
DL: Shaq Lawson, Clemson
LB: Tyler Matakevich, Temple
LB: Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame
LB: Reggie Ragland, Alabama
CB: Jourdan Lewis, Michigan
CB: Desmond King, Iowa
S: Jeremy Cash, Duke
S: Marcus Maye, Florida
SPECIALISTS
K: Jake Elliott, Memphis
P: Tom Hackett, Utah
RET: Morgan Burns, Kansas State
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QB: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
RB: Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
RB: Leonard Fournette, LSU
WR: Will Fuller, Notre Dame
WR: Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma
TE: David Morgan, UTSA
OL: Roderick Johnson, Florida State
OL: Jack Allen, Michigan State
OL: Matt Skura, Duke
OL: Taylor Decker, Ohio State
OL: Joe Dahl, Washington State
DEFENSE
DL: Carl Nassib, Penn State
DL: A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama
DL: Andrew Billings, Baylor
DL: Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State
LB: Kentrell Brothers, Missouri
LB: Blake Martinez, Stanford
LB: Joe Schobert, Wisconsin
CB: Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma
CB: Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
S: Damontae Kazee, San Diego State
S: Quin Blanding, Virginia
SPECIALISTS
K: Roberto Aguayo, Florida State
P: Hayden Hunt, Colorado State
RET: Will Likely, Maryland
PHOTOS: USA TODAY SPORTS ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM