Three Bulldogs named to AP preseason All America 1st team

Georgia football had three players named to the AP preseason All America 1st team on Monday afternoon. Carson Beck and Tate Ratledge highlighted the offensive side of the ball, while former AP All-American Malaki Starks was once again selected to the defense.

Georgia was topped only by Ohio State with more players on the list (four), which included former Alabama safety Caleb Downs, guard Donovan Jackson, receiver Emeka Egbuka and cornerback Denzel Burke.

No. 9 ranked Michigan followed closely with three nominations of its own in tight end Colston Loveland, defensive tackle Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson.

Overall, the Bulldogs and the SEC hold 10 spots on the AP preseason list, followed with eight by the Big Ten and four by the ACC.

The list follows below.

First team (Offense)

Quarterback — Carson Beck, fifth year, Georgia.

Running backs — Ollie Gordon II, third year, Oklahoma State; Omarion Hampton, third year, North Carolina.

Tackles — Will Campbell, third year, LSU; Kelvin Banks Jr., third year, Texas.

Guards — Donovan Jackson, fourth year, Ohio State; Tate Ratledge, fifth year, Georgia.

Center — Parker Brailsford, third year, Alabama.

Tight end — Colston Loveland, third year, Michigan.

Wide receivers — Luther Burden III, third year, Missouri; Tetairoa McMillan, third year, Arizona; Emeka Egbuka, fourth year, Ohio State.

All-purpose player — Travis Hunter, third year, Colorado.

Kicker — Graham Nicholson, fourth year, Alabama.

First team (Defense)

Edge — James Pearce Jr., third year, Tennessee; Ashton Gillotte, fourth year, Louisville.

Tackles — Mason Graham, third year, Michigan; Howard Cross III, sixth year, Notre Dame.

Linebackers — Harold Perkins Jr., third year, LSU; Jay Higgins, fifth year, Iowa; Barrett Carter, fourth year, Clemson.

Cornerbacks — Will Johnson, third year, Michigan; Denzel Burke, fourth year, Ohio State.

Safeties — Malaki Starks, third year, Georgia; Caleb Downs, second year, Ohio State.

Defensive back — Xavier Watts, fifth year, Notre Dame.

Punter — Alex Mastromanno, fifth year, Florida State.