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Phil Harrison

Five Ohio State players named to preseason AP All-American team

Believe it or not, we’ll have some real, live, college football at the end of this week. Yes, you can rejoice and come out of hibernation because the best time of the year is back.

But before we get to the pigskin flying on your television set, the Associated Press released its preseason All-American teams on Monday, and as you would expect, there’s a little scarlet and gray flair to it. In fact, five Ohio State players made either the first or second-team, which ties Georgia across both teams.

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You can probably guess one or two of the Buckeyes that made the AP’s list, but maybe you’ll be surprised by one or two. Either way, here’s the five representatives for Ohio State on the preseason AP All-American teams for 2023.

First Up … AP first-team preseason All-Americans

Marvin Harrison Jr., Wide Receiver

Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch

Reason for the selection

At this point, is there a preseason awards list that Harrison Jr. is eligible for that he’s not on? You could make the argument that he’s the best player in college football, and that he would have been a very high first-round NFL draft pick last season. Rumors on the street say that he’s increased his speed and agility numbers, so watch for some highlight worthy plays again in 2023.

Emeka Egbuka, Wide Receiver

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Reason for the selection

Though Harrison Jr. is a freak of an athlete and most talented receiver in the country, don’t be surprised if Emeka Egbuka has bigger numbers because of all of the attention opposing defenses will throw at Harrison Jr. Heck, the two were awfully close as it is in 2022. Egbuka isn’t Robin in this duo, but rather can also bring the hammer down like Thor in an Avengers-type receiving corps.

Tommy Eichenberg, Linebacker

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What to expect

We saw Eichenberg break-out in 2022 in the Jim Knowles scheme. He dissects plays quickly, plugs running lanes and has a real nose for the ball. He’s also fast enough to run sideline to sideline and track down ball carriers and cover in space. He’s on the shortlist of best linebackers in the country and should have one whale of a year in 2023.

NEXT … Second-team preseason AP All-American

Donovan Jackson, Offensive Guard

Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch

What to expect

Donovan Jackson should be one of the anchors and potentially the best offensive lineman for Ohio State this fall. He was a 5-star prospect coming out of high school, and with three high-level starters departing, it’s not his time to take that next step and dominate the one of the guard spots.

NEXT … The complete AP All-American teams

J.T. Tuimoloa, Edge Rusher

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What to expect

Every Ohio State fan remembers the game J.T. Tuimoloau had against Penn State last season. It showed his potential and the expectation is that he shows up more consistently in 2023. He can be a real problem off the edge with his power and quickness, and if Ohio State has designs of plugging the dam on explosive plays for opposing offenses this fall, it will need JTT to show up in crucial moments off the edge.

First-Team Offense

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The Honorees

Quarterback | Caleb Williams, third-year, Southern California

Running backs | Blake Corum, fourth-year, Michigan; Quinshon Judkins, second-year, Mississippi

Tackles | Joe Alt, third-year, Notre Dame; Olu Fashanu, fourth-year, Penn State

Guards | Cooper Beebe, fifth-year, Kansas State; Zak Zinter, fourth-year, Michigan

Center | Sedrick Van Pran, fourth-year, Georgia

Tight end | Brock Bowers, third-year, Georgia.

Wide receivers | Marvin Harrison Jr., third-year, Ohio State; Rome Odunze, fourth-year. Washington; Emeka Egbuka, third-year, Ohio State

All-purpose player | Travis Hunter, second-year, Colorado

Kicker | Joshua Karty, fourth-year, Stanford

First-Team Defense

Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch

The Honorees

Edge rushers | Jared Verse, fourth-year, Florida State; Bralen Trice, fifth-year, Washington

Interior linemen | Jer’Zhan Newton, fifth-year, Illinois; Dontay Corleone, third-year, Cincinnati

Linebackers | Harold Perkins, second-year, LSU; Jamon Dumas-Johnson, third-year, Georgia; Tommy Eichenberg, fourth-year, Ohio State

Cornerbacks | Kool-aid McKinstry, third-year, Alabama; Kalen King, third-year, Penn State

Safeties | Kam Kinchens, third-year, Miami; Malaki Starks, second-year, Georgia

Defensive back | Cooper DeJean, third-year, Iowa

Punter | Tory Taylor, fourth-year, Iowa

Second-Team Offense

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Honorees

Quarterback | Drake Maye, third-year, North Carolina

Running backs | Raheim Sanders, third-year, Arkansas; Braelon Allen, third-year, Wisconsin.

Tackles | JC Latham, third-year, Alabama; Kelvin Banks Jr., second-year, Texas

Guards | Donovan Jackson, third-year, Ohio State; Christian Mahogany, fifth-year, Boston College

Center | Zach Frazier, fourth-year, West Virginia

Tight end | Oronde Gadsden, third-year, Syracuse

Wide receivers | Xavier Worthy, third-year, Texas; Malik Nabers, third-year, LSU; Jacob Cowing, fifth-year, Arizona

All-purpose player | Will Shipley, third-year, Clemson

Kicker | John Hoyland, third-year, Wyoming

Second-Team Defense

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

The Honorees

Edge rushers | J.T. Tuimoloau, third-year, Ohio State; Dallas Turner, third-year, Alabama

Interior linemen | Tyler Davis, fifth-year, Clemson; Mekhi Wingo, third-year, LSU

Linebackers | Jeremiah Trotter Jr., third-year, Clemson; Barrett Carter, third-year, Clemson; Cedric Gray, fourth-year, North Carolina

Cornerbacks | Josh Newton, sixth-year, TCU; Ben Morrison, second-year, Notre Dame

Safeties | Calen Bullock, third-year, Southern California; Javon Bullard, third-year, Georgia

Defensive back | Will Johnson, second-year, Michigan

Punter | Kai Kroeger, fourth-year, South Carolina

An offer for Buckeyes fans

For the best local Columbus news, sports, entertainment and culture coverage, subscribe to The Columbus Dispatch.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

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