DALLAS (FWAA) — The 16th annual Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team, presented by Sound Mind Sound Body camps, was announced Monday and includes one player who will appear in the College Football Playoff National Championship later Monday — Clemson defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence.

“Dexter is obviously very gifted from the standpoint of the physicality it takes to play inside,” said Tigers’ defensive line coach Dan Brooks, the AFCA assistant coach of the year.

“We opened the season at Auburn and threw him in the mix, and he had our first sack of the season. Dexter is a very coachable young man with a great attitude who is mature beyond his years.”

The 10 FBS conferences are each represented with at least one player on the team, and there are two players from schools with independent status.

The SEC and Big Ten each placed six players on the 34-member team, while the Pac-12 and ACC had five players from their respective conferences.

Other 2017 College Football Playoff participants on the Freshman All-American team are Taylor Rapp (safety, Washington), Mike Weber (tailback, Ohio State), Dre’Mont Jones (defensive lineman, Ohio State) and Michael Jordan (offensive lineman, Ohio State).

The First Year Coach of the Year Award had co-winners for the first time since its inception 15 years ago, with Virginia Tech Justin Fuente and USC’s Clay Helton sharing the award.

Helton, in his first full season as the Trojans’ head coach, led USC to nine consecutive victories to close the season, including a stirring 52-49 Rose Bowl victory over Penn State.

Fuente was selected as the ACC Coach of the Year, guiding the Hokies to the ACC Championship Game for the first time since 2011.

A 12-person panel of nationally prominent writers represented each of the FBS conferences along with independents in the selecting the team.

Both true freshmen (20 players) and redshirt freshmen (14 players) were considered for the team and are so noted on the list below.

There are six former Freshmen All-Americans involved in tonight’s game.

From Alabama

• Outland Trophy winner Cam Robinson (2014)
• All-SEC punter JK Scott (2014)
• Receiver Calvin Ridley (2015)
• Cornerback Marlon Humphrey (2015)

From Clemson

• All-ACC offensive lineman Mitch Hyatt (2015)
• Defensive lineman Christian Wilkins (2015)

2016 FWAA Freshman All-America Team

OFFENSE
Pos.	Name	School	Ht. / Wt.	Hometown
QB	Sam Darnold**	USC	6-4 / 225	Capistrano Beach, Calif.
RB	Mike Weber**	Ohio State	5-10 / 212	Detroit, Mich.
RB	Benny Snell*	Kentucky	5-11 / 220	Westerville, Ohio
RB	Justice Hill*	Oklahoma State	5-10 / 171	Tulsa, Okla.
WR	Ahmmon Richards*	Miami (Fla.)	6-1 / 192	Wellington, Fla.
WR	Demetris Robertson*	California	6-0 / 175	Savannah, Ga.
WR	Ty Lee*	Middle Tennessee	5-9 / 155	Moultrie, Ga.
TE	Isaac Nauta*	Georgia	6-4 / 246	Buford, Ga.
OL	Michael Jordan*	Ohio State	6-7 / 310	Canton, Mich.
OL	Jawaan Taylor*	Florida	6-5 / 340	Cocoa, Fla.
OL	Ryan Bates**	Penn State	6-4 / 305	Warrington, Pa.
OL	Thomas Shoaf **	BYU	6-5 / 280	Columbus, Ind.
OL	Ben Bredeson*	Michigan	6-5 / 310	Hartland, Wis.
OL	Zach Shackelford*	Texas	6-3 / 290	Belton, Texas
AP	Donnie Corley*	Michigan State	6-2 / 186	Detroit, Mich.

DEFENSE
Pos.	Name	School	Ht. / Wt.	Hometown
DL	Ed Oliver*	Houston	6-2 / 290	Houston, Texas
DL	Dexter Lawrence*	Clemson	6-5 / 340	Wake Forest, N.C.
DL	Brian Burns*	Florida State	6-5 / 218	Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
DL	Dre’Mont Jones**	Ohio State	6-3 / 280	Cleveland, Ohio
DL	Reggie Walker**	Kansas State	6-2 / 239	Ponchatoula, La.
LB	Logan Wilson**	Wyoming	6-2 / 225	Casper, Wyo.
LB	Troy Dye*	Oregon	6-4 / 225	Norco, Calif.
LB	Leo Lewis**	Mississippi State	6-2 / 240	Brookhaven, Miss.
LB	Josiah Tauaefa**	UTSA	6-1 / 230	Corinth, Texas
LB	David Reese*	Florida	6-0 / 244	Farmington, Mich.
DB	Xavier Crawford**	Oregon State	6-1 / 182	Pittsburg, Calif.
DB	Javon Hagan**	Ohio	6-0 / 211	Jacksonville, Fla.
DB	Taylor Rapp*	Washington	6-0 / 202	Bellingham, Wash.
DB	Jessie Bates**	Wake Forest	6-2 / 200	Fort Wayne, Ind.
DB	Clifton Duck*	Appalachian State	5-10 / 175	Matthews, N.C.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Pos.	Name	School	Ht. / Wt.	Hometown
K	Rodrigo Blannkenship**	Georgia	6-1 / 191	Marietta, Ga.
P	Tom Sheldon*	North Carolina	6-3 / 200 Echuca,	Victoria, Australia
KR	Tony Pollard**	Memphis	5-11 / 200	Memphis, Tenn.
PR	Malik McGue*	Army	5-8 / 174	Johnson City, Tenn.

* True Freshman

** Redshirt Freshman

Co-First Year Coaches of the Year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coach of the Year semifinalist: Kalani Sitake, BYU.

FWAA All-America selection committee: