2016 ESPN college football preseason All-American team

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Take a look across the college football landscape this preseason, and then think about whom you'd zero in on for a preseason All-American team. Tough gig, right?

Don't sweat it. We took care of the hard work and the difficult non-Fournette, non-McCaffrey, non-Watson decisions.

Here's your ESPN 2016 preseason All-American team.

OFFENSE

QB: Deshaun Watson, Clemson

In his first full season as the starter at Clemson, Watson led the Tigers to an ACC title and an Orange Bowl win and nearly pulled the upset over Alabama in the national championship game. In the process, he threw for 4,109 yards, ran for 1,105 more and totaled 47 touchdowns. The performance set a high bar, but as NFL scouts drool over his potential to star at the next level, his sights are clearly set on finishing the run to a national championship first. -- David M. Hale

RB: Leonard Fournette, LSU

As a sophomore, Leonard Fournette strung together one of the best seasons in SEC history, with 1,953 rushing yards, 22 touchdowns and an FBS-high 162.8 rushing ypg. The only way for him to top that would be with a Heisman Trophy as a junior -- and that will be within his reach if LSU remains in the playoff conversation deep into November. -- David Ching

RB: Christian McCaffrey, Stanford

The NCAA's record holder for all-purpose yards in a season (3,864), McCaffrey was the only FBS player to lead his team in rushing and receiving in 2015. He finished second in the Heisman voting and set a school record for rushing yards in a season (2,019). --? Kevin Gemmell

WR: JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC

The Trojans' primary target hauled in 89 catches for 1,454 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He was the only Pac-12 player to average more than 100 receiving yards per game (103.9). --? K.G.

WR: Mike Williams, Clemson

In the first quarter of the first game of the 2015 season, Williams hauled in a touchdown pass, took a shove from behind and collided with the goal post. That was the end of his season, as a neck injury sidelined him for the next seven months. Watching his team win an ACC title without him took its toll, but it also is driving Williams to have a huge season in his return to action. Given his 1,030 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore in 2014, that could mean big problems for opposing DBs. -- D.H.

TE: Jake Butt, Michigan

Teammates say the 2015 All-American is deceptively fast and uses his body to get open as well as anyone in the country. Equipped with a coaching staff that makes good use of its tight ends, it's a safe bet that Butt is on his way to a second-straight season of 50-plus catches. -- Dan Murphy

OT: Cam Robinson, Alabama

The talented left tackle could go wire-to-wire, from the No. 1 prospect at his position coming out of high school to a Freshman All-American to a likely first-round draft pick in next year's draft. -- Alex Scarborough

OG: Dan Feeney, Indiana

An ESPN.com first team All-American in 2015, Feeney has allowed only one sack in his career and has helped pave the way for a 2,000-yard rusher in 2014 (Tevin Coleman) and one of the nation's top all-around offenses in 2015. -- Brian Bennett

C: Pat Elflein, Ohio State

The senior thought about joining the flood of Buckeyes who left early for the NFL, but his decision to return could prove invaluable both personally and for his team's chances of returning to the College Football Playoff. Elflein gets a chance to showcase his skills at center after previously starring as a guard, and Ohio State gets a veteran back to anchor the offensive line. -- Austin Ward

OG: Dorian Johnson, Pitt

Johnson has been a stalwart on the Pitt offensive line since his freshman year, with 27 straight starts entering the season. He is a big reason many believe Pitt has the best offensive line in the ACC. -- Andrea Adelson

OT: Conor McDermott, UCLA

A second-team all-conference performer last season, the 6-foot-8, 260-pounder helped the Bruins post their second-lowest sack total in school history (14). He also helped pave the way for former running back Paul Perkins to a second straight 1,000-yard rushing season. --? K.G.

DEFENSE