Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Williams, Caleb Downs Headline 2025 AP Preseason All-America Team

Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams and Ohio State wideout Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs are among the notable standouts from the Associated Press' preseason All-American team.

The voters also singled out Clemson's Cade Klubnik at quarterback for the first team:

2025 Preseason All-American Team — First Team Offense

• Quarterback: Cade Klubnik, Clemson
• Running Back: Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame; Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
• Wide Receiver: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State; Ryan Williams, Alabama; Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
• Tight End: Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
• Offensive Tackle: Spencer Fano, Utah; Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
• Guard: Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State; Ar'maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M
• Center: Jake Slaughter, Florida
• All-Purpose Player: Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh
• Kicker: Dominic Zvada, Michigan

2025 Preseason All-American Team — First-Team Defense

• Edge: Dylan Stewart, South Carolina; Colin Simmons, Texas
• Defensive Tackle: Peter Woods, Clemson; Zane Durant, Penn State
• Linebacker: Anthony Hill Jr., Texas; West Weeks, LSU; Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
• Cornerback: Leonard Moore, Notre Dame; Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
• Safety: Caleb Downs, Ohio State; Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
• Defensive Back: Michael Taaffe, Texas
• Punter: Brett Thorson, Georgia

Texas and Penn State are the top two teams in the AP's preseason poll, and they're separated by the slimmest of margins. The Longhorns received two more first-place votes than the Nittany Lions.

Fittingly, those schools each had three players crack the first team. Edge-rusher Colin Simmons, linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and defensive back Michael Taaffe represented Texas, while Penn State had running back Nicholas Singleton, guard Olaivavega Ioane and defensive tackle.

In the case of both programs, their national championship hopes may rest on their quarterbacks playing at or near an All-American-type level.

Arch Manning is making his long-awaited debut as Texas' full-time starter after filing in for an injured Quinn Ewers as a redshirt freshman. We're about to find out whether the multiple years of hype are justified.

Drew Allar made a big improvement after Penn State hired Andy Kotelnicki as head coach. He threw for 3,327 yards and 24 touchdowns while boasting a 153.5 passer rating. Still, Allar will need to be better in the Nittany Lions' toughest games.

With Penn State and Texas in general, their representation in the preseason All-American team points to how a deep College Football Playoff run will be the minimum bar for success in 2025. Neither is lacking in talent.