| Sammy Watkins' production was down in 2012, but it didn't hurt his stock with pro scouts. (US Presswire) |
It's time for another All-America team -- here's the CBSSports.com selection if you've missed it -- but this one comes with a twist. It's the Pro Football Weekly team, and it's not particularly concerned with production or achievement on the college football field -- not nearly as much as the potential for that production on the professional field.
As the PFW's introduction writes:
PFW’s All-America team annually honors college football’s most talented players and is determined based on extensive evaluation and considerable feedback from NFL evaluators, taking into consideration how players grade out both in their assignments and by the quality of critical playing traits. PFW honors are distinguished by the premium placed on skill, football temperament and instincts and seek to recognize players we expect will become outstanding pros.
It's not the approach we'd endorse for anyone other than PFW, but it provides an interesting (of, if you prefer, misleading) alternative perspective -- one in which Syracuse's Ryan Nassib, the second-team quarterback in All-Big East voting, is a first-team All-American.
Here's the team:
OFFENSE
QB Ryan Nassib, Syracuse, Sr.
RB Montee Ball, Wisconsin, Sr.
FB J.C. Copeland, LSU, Jr.
WR Marqise Lee, USC, Soph.
WR Sammy Watkins, Clemson, Soph.
TE Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame, Sr.
OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M, Jr.
OT Eric Fisher, Central Michigan, Sr.
OG Chance Warmack, Alabama, Sr.
OG Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina, Sr.
C Travis Frederick, Wisconsin, Jr.
Honorable mention
QB Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville, Soph.; QB AJ McCarron, Alabama, Jr.; RB Eddie Lacy, Alabama, Jr.; RB Johnathan Franklin, UCLA, Sr.; FB Trey Millard, Oklahoma, Jr.; WR Terrance Williams, Baylor, Sr.; WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson, Jr.; WR Justin Hunter, Tennessee, Jr.; WR Quinton Patton, Louisiana Tech, Sr.; TE Zach Ertz, Stanford, Jr.; TE Gavin Escobar, San Diego State, Jr.; OT Taylor Lewan, Michigan, Jr.; OT Jake Matthews, Texas A&M, Jr.; OT D.J. Fluker, Alabama, Jr.; OT Brian Winters, Kent State, Sr.; OG Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State, Jr.; OG Cyril Richardson, Baylor, Jr.; C Barrett Jones, Alabama, Sr.
DEFENSE
DE Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina, Soph.
DE Bjoern Werner, Florida State, Jr.
DT Sylvester Williams, North Carolina, Sr.
DT Bennie Logan, LSU, Jr.
ILB Manti Te’o, Notre Dame, Sr.
OLB Dion Jordan, Oregon, Sr.
OLB Jarvis Jones, Georgia, Jr.
CB Dee Milliner, Alabama, Jr.
CB Logan Ryan, Rutgers, Jr.
S Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma, Jr.
S Kenny Vaccaro, Texas, Sr.
Honorable mention
DE Damontre Moore, Texas A&M, Jr.; DE Sam Montgomery, LSU, Jr.; DE Ezekiel Ansah, Brigham Young, Sr.; DE Morgan Breslin, USC, Jr.; DT Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame, Soph.; DT Star Lotulelei, Utah, Sr.; DT Sheldon Richardson, Missouri, Jr.; DT Johnathan Hankins, Ohio State, Jr.; ILB Kevin Minter, LSU, Jr.; ILB Max Bullough, Michigan State, Jr.; OLB C.J. Mosley, Alabama, Jr.; OLB Michael Mauti, Penn State, Sr.;CB Darius Slay, Mississippi State, Sr.; CB Jamar Taylor, Boise State, Sr.; S Eric Reid, LSU, Jr.; S D.J. Swearinger, South Carolina, Sr.; S Zeke Motta, Notre Dame, Sr.
SPECIALISTS
PK Dustin Hopkins, Florida State, Sr.
P Ryan Allen, Louisiana Tech, Sr.
RS Tavon Austin, West Virginia, Sr.
Honorable mention
PK Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State, Sr.; P Kyle Christy, Florida, Soph.; RS Ace Sanders, South Carolina, Jr.; RS Giovani Bernard, North Carolina, R-Soph.