Predicting Every Power 5 All-Conference Team for 2016 College Football Season
College football's annual exodus of talent, either through graduation or players turning pro early, leaves behind major voids for nearly every team in the country. It also does a number on the all-conference teams each season.
These teams honor the best players in a given conference and place added emphasis on how they performed against conference rivals. Some are chosen by the coaches, others by members of the media, but in either case, it's a reflection of who stood out most during the season.
It's never too early to predict who might get recognized during the 2016 season. Check out our picks for who will be make the all-conference teams in the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC.
ACC
1 of 5
Offense
QB: Deshaun Watson, Jr., Clemson
RB: Dalvin Cook, Jr., Florida State
RB: Wayne Gallman, Jr., Clemson
WR: Travis Rudolph, Jr., Florida State
WR: Artavis Scott, Jr., Clemson
TE: Jaylen Samuels, Jr., North Carolina State
OL: Geron Christian, So., Louisville
OL: Lucas Crowley, Sr., North Carolina
OL: Mitch Hyatt, So., Clemson
OL: Dorian Johnson, Sr., Pittsburgh
OL: Roderick Johnson, Jr., Florida State
Watson has been the best player on the field in almost every game he's played in during his college career, so it's no surprise he's the choice at quarterback. Same goes for Cook, who set Florida State's single-season rushing record and has back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
Most of our skill-position selections were first-team all-ACC picks in 2015, but the offensive line is all new. Christian and Hyatt both shined as freshmen and represent the league's future at that position.
Defense
DL: DeAngelo Brown, Sr., Louisville
DL: Harold Landry, Jr., Boston College
DL: DeMarcus Walker, Sr., Florida State
DL: Christian Wilkins, So., Clemson
LB: Ben Boulware, Sr., Clemson
LB: Devonte Fields, Sr., Louisville
LB: Micah Kiser, Jr., Virginia
DB: Derwin James, So., Florida State
DB: M.J. Stewart, Jr., North Carolina
DB: Cordrea Tankersley, Sr., Clemson
DB: Jordan Whitehead, So., Pittsburgh
The ACC is losing a ton of talent on the defensive side of the ball, including nine players who turned pro early. But rising underclassmen like James and Whitehead in the secondary and Wilkins on the defensive line should mitigate the dropoff.
The league's linebacker corps is incredibly strong, led by Fields and his 22.5 tackles for loss.
Special Teams
K: Nick Weiler, Sr., North Carolina
P: Nicholas Conte, Sr., Virginia
RS: Ryan Switzer, Sr., North Carolina
Florida State's Roberto Aguayo opted to head to the NFL rather than return for his senior year. He'd been the ACC's top kicker for three seasons, but now that distinction will go to Weiler, who converted 20 of his 23 field-goal attempts during North Carolina's run to the conference title game.
He's joined by Switzer, who has seven punt-return touchdowns in his career, needing one to tie the all-time FBS record.
Big 12
2 of 5
Offense
QB: Baker Mayfield, Sr., Oklahoma
RB: Samaje Perine, Jr., Oklahoma
RB: Mike Warren, So., Iowa State
WR: KD Cannon, Jr., Baylor
WR: James Washington, Jr., Oklahoma State
TE: Mark Andrews, So., Oklahoma
OL: Orlando Brown, So., Oklahoma
OL: Kyle Fuller, Sr., Baylor
OL: Brad Lundblade, Jr., Oklahoma State
OL: Tyler Orlosky, Sr., West Virginia
OL: Patrick Vahe, So., Texas
Mayfield is the best of a strong group of returning Big 12 quarterbacks in 2016, by far the league's deepest offensive position. That's the exact opposite of the offensive line, where all six first-team selections chosen by the conference were seniors.
The Big 12's two most prolific running backs and its top four receivers have moved on as well, but there's no shortage of great rushers and pass-catchers left for next season.
Defense
DL: Josh Carraway, Sr., TCU
DL: Noble Nwachukwu, Sr., West Virginia
DL: Demond Tucker, Sr., Iowa State
DL: Charles Walker, Jr., Oklahoma
LB: Travin Howard, Jr., TCU
LB: Malik Jefferson, So., Texas
LB: Elijah Lee, Jr., Kansas State
DB: Nigel Bethel, Jr., Texas Tech
DB: Denzel Johnson, Sr., TCU
DB: Fish Smithson, Sr., Kansas
DB: Jordan Thomas, Jr., Oklahoma
Six of the seven juniors who were on the Big 12's defensive first team decided to turn pro, leaving Carraway as the only returning all-conference player on that side of the ball. That leaves room for the next crop of stars to emerge, which includes Jefferson, who was Texas' best defender as a true freshman in 2015.
Kansas was one of two winless teams in the FBS last season, but Smithson still managed to stand out at safety. His total of 87 solo tackles in just 11 games ranked second in the country.
Special Teams
K: Josh Lambert, Sr., West Virginia
P: Austin Seibert, So., Oklahoma
RS: KaVontae Turpin, So., TCU
TCU's leading rusher (Aaron Green) and receiver (Josh Doctson) both graduated, and those are two places where Turpin figures to be very involved. But the speedy 5'9" return man will also be the conference's best on punts and kickoffs, where he ranked second in the Big 12 in both categories in 2015.
Big Ten
3 of 5
Offense
QB: J.T. Barrett, Jr., Ohio State
RB: Saquon Barkley, So., Penn State
RB: Justin Jackson, Jr., Northwestern
WR: Chris Godwin, Jr., Penn State
WR: Jordan Westerkamp, Sr., Nebraska
TE: Jake Butt, Sr., Michigan
OL: Brian Allen, Jr., Michigan State
OL: Pat Elflein, Sr., Ohio State
OL: Dan Feeney, Sr., Indiana
OL: Erik Magnuson, Sr., Michigan
OL: Billy Price, Jr., Ohio State
Butt might have been the first tight end taken in the 2016 NFL draft had he opted to turn pro, but instead, he'll spend another year catching big passes for Michigan. The same goes for Nebraska's Westerkamp, whose 65 receptions in 2015 is the most in school history by a wide receiver.
And after a year of splitting snaps at quarterback, Barrett will have Ohio State's starting job all to himself and will parlay that into a season similar to the one he had as a redshirt freshman in 2014.
Defense
DL: Sam Hubbard, So., Ohio State
DL: Tyquan Lewis, Jr., Ohio State
DL: Malik McDowell, Jr., Michigan State
DL: Jake Replogle, Sr., Purdue
LB: Vince Biegel, Sr., Wisconsin
LB: Dawuane Smoot, Sr., Illinois
LB: Anthony Walker, Jr., Northwestern
DB: Rashard Fant, Jr., Indiana
DB: Desmond King, Sr., Iowa
DB: Jourdan Lewis, Sr., Michigan
DB: Jabrill Peppers, Jr., Michigan
Even with five of the nine Ohio State underclassmen who turned pro coming from the defensive side, the Buckeyes will reload up front as bit players Hubbard and Lewis take on more pronounced roles. Last season, that young duo combined for 14.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss.
King won the Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation's top defensive back, while Lewis and Peppers helped Michigan rank third in the country in pass defense.
Special Teams
K: Griffin Oakes, Jr., Indiana
P: Sam Foltz, Sr., Nebraska
RS: William Likely, Sr., Maryland
Before teams stopped kicking his way, Likely was on pace to break FBS records for punt-return yardage. He still averaged more than 18 yards on punts and 22.5 yards on kick returns.
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Pac-12
4 of 5
Offense
QB: Josh Rosen, So., UCLA
RB: Royce Freeman, Jr., Oregon
RB: Christian McCaffrey, Jr., Stanford
WR: Gabe Marks, Sr., Washington State
WR: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jr., USC
TE: Kody Kohl, Sr., Arizona State
OL: Zach Banner, Sr., USC
OL: Chris Borrayo, Sr., California
OL: J.J. Dielman, Sr., Utah
OL: Cole Madison, Jr., Washington State
OL: Conor McDermott, Sr., UCLA
Washington State's Luke Falk led the nation in passing yards per game in 2015, but the Pac-12's best quarterback next season will be Rosen. After an amazing performance as a true freshman, he'll be asked to do even more this time around as the Bruins look to replace their top running back and several key receivers.
McCaffrey finished second to Alabama's Derrick Henry in the Heisman Trophy voting while setting the FBS single-season record for all-purpose yards. His return will help ease Stanford through its transition to a new quarterback.
Defense
DL: Hunter Dimick, Sr., Utah
DL: Lowell Lotulelei, Jr., Utah
DL: Hercules Mata'afa, So., Washington State
DL: Derek McCartney, Jr., Colorado
LB: Deon Hollins, Sr., UCLA
LB: Hardy Nickerson, Sr., California
LB: Cameron Smith, So., USC
DB: Chidobe Awuzie, Sr., Colorado
DB: Budda Baker, Jr., Washington
DB: Randall Goforth, Sr., UCLA
DB: Marcus Sanders-Williams, Sr., Utah
The Pac-12 didn't have a team finish in the top 30 in total defense in 2015, and several impact players from that side of the ball have moved on. There's a lot of young talent in the league, though, and the secondary is stacked with standout cornerbacks and safeties.
USC's Smith, who was second on the team in tackles and tied for the team lead in interceptions, could be the conference's most versatile defender this fall.
Special Teams
K: Aidan Schneider, Jr., Oregon
P: Matt Haack, Sr., Arizona State
RS: Adoree' Jackson, Jr., USC
Kicking hasn't normally been an area that Oregon has excelled in, but last year, that changed thanks to Schneider. He converted 22 of his 24 field-goal attempts, and his 91.7 percent efficiency was second-best in the FBS.
SEC
5 of 5
Offense
QB: Chad Kelly, Sr., Ole Miss
RB: Nick Chubb, Jr., Georgia
RB: Leonard Fournette, Jr., LSU
WR: Josh Reynolds, Sr., Texas A&M
WR: Fred Ross, Sr., Mississippi State
TE: O.J. Howard, Sr., Alabama
OL: Martez Ivey, So., Florida
OL: Brandon Kublanow, Sr., Georgia
OL: Cam Robinson, Jr., Alabama
OL: Braden Smith, Jr., Auburn
OL: Dylan Wiesman, Sr., Tennessee
Before he suffered a major knee injury in October, Chubb was right in the middle of the Heisman race. Assuming he can come back at full strength, he figures to contend again for that honor, though he might not even be the most prolific rusher in the SEC with Fournette back for another year.
Fournette led the FBS in rushing yards per game, at 162.75, and barring a major setback, he'll become LSU's all-time rushing leader before the 2016 season is complete.
Defense
DL: Jonathan Allen, Sr., Alabama
DL: Myles Garrett, Jr., Texas A&M
DL: Charles Harris, Jr., Missouri
DL: Arden Key, So., LSU
LB: Zach Cunningham, Jr., Vanderbilt
LB: Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Sr., Tennessee
LB: Tim Williams, Sr., Alabama
DB: Jamal Adams, Jr., LSU
DB: Dominick Sanders, Jr., Georgia
DB: Jalen Tabor, Jr., Florida
DB: Armani Watts, Jr., Texas A&M
Allen had the perfect springboard into the pros by leading Alabama in sacks and tackles for loss during its national title run. But his decision to return for his senior year ensures the Crimson Tide will again be a championship contender, and he figures to be a lock for another all-conference nod.
Cunningham, Garrett and Tabor were also all-conference picks in 2015, while Key should build off a strong freshman year to become LSU's next great defensive end.
Special Teams
K: Daniel Carlson, Jr., Auburn
P: Johnny Townsend, Jr., Florida
RS: Evan Berry, Jr., Tennessee
Berry led the nation in kick returns last season, averaging more than 38 yards per attempt while bringing three back for touchdowns. Carlson's 23 field goals set a school record and tied for the most in the SEC in 2015.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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