Notre Dame Earns Four Sporting News Preseason All-American Selections
Notre Dame football will be back sooner than later, which means preseason All-American teams.
Sporting News recognized four Notre Dame players on its All-American teams on Friday, including three first-team selections.
Tight end Michael Mayer, center Jarrett Patterson and defensive end Isaiah Foskey were named to the first-team and safety Brandon Joseph was a second-team pick.
Alabama and Ohio State were the only programs with more selections as the Crimson Tide had six and the Buckeyes had five selected.
Mayer, a junior, is the best tight end in the country and it's not a close call. In 2021, the Kentucky native recorded 71 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns to boost his two year total to 113 catches for 1,290 yards and nine scores.
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“Mayer and Georgia tight end Brock Bowers are the top returning tight ends, but we're giving the slight edge to the Notre Dame leader who put up 71 catches for 840 yards and seven TDs last season. Mayer was especially dominant in the Irish's last four games last year, with 26 catches on 32 targets for 347 yards and four TDs.” - Bill Bender, Sporting News |
Patterson has been a staple on the Notre Dame offensive line over the last three seasons as the California native has recorded 34 starts in 37 career games played. The list of accolades is long for Patterson and it will only increase this year under Harry Hiestand regardless of if he plays center or guard. Notre Dame’s long history of offensive line leaders will continue under the 2021 captain.
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“Patterson is arguably the most-reliable offensive lineman in the FBS. He logged 918 snaps at center for the Irish, and the three-year starter has not allowed a sack for his career. That makes him a viable candidate for the Rimington Trophy this season and the leader of a Notre Dame offense that takes flight with offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.” - Bill Bender, Sporting News |
Foskey will have a chance to break records in 2022. In 2021, Foskey recorded 11 sacks, which was good to put him No. 3 all-time behind Justin Tuck’s 13.5 (2003) and Stephon Tuitt’s 12.0 (2012). The California native enters the season with 15.5 career sacks and Foskey will chase Tuck’s career mark of 24.5 career sacks. Foskey didn’t record more than two sacks in a game last fall, but the record in a game is 4.0 held by Jerry Tillery (2018 Stanford), Victor Abiamiri (2005 Stanford) and Tuck (2002 Pitt and 2003 Stanford).
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“Foskey bypassed the NFL Draft for one more season with the Irish, and that's a problem for opposing offensive lines. Foskey, at 6-4 and 257 pounds, has a massive frame and used that to compile 10 sacks and six forced fumbles in 2021. That disruption will continue with new coach Marcus Freeman and defensive coordinator Al Golden.” - Bill Bender, Sporting News |
Notre Dame fans and even the staff might know a ton about Joseph to this point, but he’s already been an All-American (2020) after recording six interceptions in just nine games for Northwestern. The Irish desperately needed experience at safety and Joseph provides that as he’s played in 22 games and has recorded 80 tackles and eight picks in his career.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Bryce Young, Alabama
RB: Bijan Robinson, Texas
RB: TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
WR: Jordan Addison, USC
WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
TE: Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
T: Andrew Vorhees, USC
G: Caleb Chandler, Louisville
C: Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame
G: Emil Ekiyor, Alabama
T: Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
ATH: Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Bryan Bresee, Clemson
DL: Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame
DL: Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
DL: Jalen Carter, Georgia
LB: Will Anderson, Alabama
LB: Noah Sewell, Oregon
LB: Jack Campbell, Iowa
CB: Riley Moss, Iowa
CB: Kelee Ringo, Georgia
S: Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
S: Jordan Battle, Alabama
FIRST-TEAM SPECIALISTS
K: Jake Moody, Michigan
P: Adam Korsak, Rutgers
RET: Brian Battie, South Florida
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
QB: C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
RB: Sean Tucker, Syracuse
RB: Lew Nichols, Central Michigan
WR: Xavier Worthy, Texas
WR: Josh Downs, North Carolina
TE: Brock Bowers, Georgia
T: Paris Johnson, Ohio State
G: O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
C: Olesegun Oluwatimi, Michigan
G: Layden Robinson, Texas A&M
T: Clark Barrington, BYU
ATH: Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Myles Murphy, Clemson
DL: Calijah Kancey, Pitt
DL: Gervon Dexter, Florida
DL: BJ Ojulari, LSU
LB: Andre Carter, Army
LB: Trenton Simpson, Clemson
LB: Edefuan Olofoshio, Washington
CB: Eli Ricks, Alabama
CB: Cam Smith, South Carolina
S: Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame
S: Jalen Catalon, Arkansas
SECOND-TEAM SPECIALISTS
K: Noah Ruggles, Ohio State
P: Kyle Ostendorp, Arizona
RET: Malik Knowles, Kansas State
*Red indicates Notre Dame opponent
Notre Dame Fighting Irish HOVR Sonic 4 Running Shoe
