Lamar Jackson leads ESPN's 2016 college football All-American team

ByESPN.COM
December 12, 2016, 9:31 AM

— --

There's almost no way to deal with the offensive talent assembled on this year's ESPN All-American team. Imagine devising a game plan against Louisville's Heisman winner Lamar Jackson, who could either hand off to D'Onta Foreman or Dalvin Cook, or throw to three elite wide receivers.

But if any defensive depth chart could bottle up that offense, it'd be the roster assembled here. Think about scheming to block Jonathan Allen, Derek Barnett and Ed Oliver.

Here's what both stacked rosters look like.

Offense

QB: Lamar Jackson, Louisville

A quick recap of Jackson's Heisman Trophy-winning season: ACC record for touchdowns, nearly 5,000 total yards, eight games with at least 400 yards, one of the most awe-inspiring beat downs of a college football blue blood (Florida State) in recent history. The list could go on and on, but the essence of Jackson's spot on this list is simple: No player in college football was more electric in 2016. -- David M. Hale

RB: D'Onta Foreman, Texas

Foreman was the third Texas recipient of the Doak Walker Award, and he became the 12th Power 5 back to rush for 2,000 yards -- he had 2,028 in 11 games. Foreman finished 10th in FBS history with an average of 184.4 yards per game. Over a 22-day, late-season stretch, the 249-pound junior rushed for 1,008 yards, reaching 250 yards three times in four games. -- Mitch Sherman?

RB: Dalvin Cook, Florida State

In three years at Florida State, Cook has racked up nearly 5,200 yards and 47 touchdowns. From his field vision to his explosiveness to his willingness to take on defenders between the tackles, few running backs have been as dynamic or productive in ACC history. Cook saved his best for last, totaling more than 2,000 yards this season. -- David M. Hale

WR: Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma

Westbrook snagged 74 passes for 1,465 yards, becoming the Big 12 offensive player of the year, fourth-place finisher in the Heisman Trophy balloting and Oklahoma's first Biletnikoff Award winner. He scored 17 touchdowns, including 16 through the air by an average distance of 48.8 yards. His 12 scores of 40 yards or more rank as the most in a season by an FBS player since 1996. -- Mitch Sherman?

WR: John Ross, Washington

Ross returned from injury to have one of the most prolific seasons in Pac-12 history. He caught 76 passes for 1,222 yards, and his 17 touchdown receptions are one shy of the conference's single-season record. -- Kyle Bonagura

WR: Zay Jones, East Carolina

Jones led the country in receptions with 158, and only 16 other FBS players had even half as many. In the process, he set the FBS career record for receptions and led the nation in receiving yards this season with 1,746. -- David M. Hale

OT: Cam Robinson, Alabama

Robinson was awarded the Outland Trophy for the most outstanding offensive lineman in the country. He paved the way for the SEC's highest-scoring offense and the second-leading rushing offense (245.0 yards per game). -- Alex Scarborough

OG: Dorian Johnson, Pitt

Pitt's offensive line was bursting with talent in 2016, and Johnson was at the top of the heap. He helped open holes that allowed the Panthers to run for 2,757 yards and 35 touchdowns -- including an ACC-best 4.3 yards per carry between the tackles. The Panthers' O-line allowed just nine sacks all season. -- David M. Hale

C: Pat Elflein, Ohio State

The Rimington winner and Ohio State captain helped hold together an offense that returned only three starters from last season. His consistency (40 consecutive starts) has been a major part of the Buckeyes finding a way back into the College Football Playoff. -- Dan Murphy?

OG: Cody O'Connell, Washington State

At 6-foot-8, 354 pounds, O'Connell is appropriately known as "The Continent." He was an Outland Trophy finalist in his first year as a starter. -- Kyle Bonagura

OT: Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin?

The former Division III transfer wasted no time in leaving a mark in his first year as a starter for the Badgers. The left tackle anchored a line that helped Wisconsin average more than 200 yards per game on the ground. -- Dan Murphy?

Defense

The Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and Jim Thorpe Award winner is perhaps most impactful with the ball in his hands. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, two punts for touchdowns and took his lone reception of the season 52 yards for a touchdown. -- Kyle Bonagura