In the transfer portal era of college football, retaining talent among the Group of Five programs can be difficult. Nonetheless, there are several stars in the G5 who are back this fall.
HERO Sports has put together its annual Preseason G5 All-American first, second, and third teams – and 39 programs have at least one representative. Here’s a look at some of the best G5 players in 2024.
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First Team Offense
QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
QB Jordan McCloud, Texas State
RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
RB Makhi Hughes, Tulane
WR Ricky White III, UNLV
WR Jalen Royals, Utah State
WR Tory Horton, Colorado State
TE Anthony Torres, Toledo
TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
OL Jacob Gideon, Western Michigan
OL Addison West, Western Michigan
OL Jacob Bayer, Arkansas State
OL Clay Webb, Jacksonville State
OL Chase Lundt, UConn
AP Ismail Mahdi, Texas State
First Team Defense
DL Ben Bell, Texas State
DL Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State
DL Pryce Yates, UConn
DL Darius Alexander, Toledo
DL Payton Zdroik, Air Force
LB Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
LB Matt Salopek, Miami (Ohio)
LB Shaun Dolac, Buffalo
LB Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern
LB Colin Ramos, Navy
DB Ike Larsen, Utah State
DB Jack Howell, Colorado State
DB Brylan Green, Liberty
DB Jaden Voisin, South Alabama
DB Jordan Oladokun, Bowling Green
First Team Special Teams
K Mason Shipley, Texas State
P James Ferguson-Reynolds, Boise State
RS Jacob De Jesus, UNLV
Second Team Offense
QB Seth Henigan, Memphis
QB Byrum Brown, USF
RB Quinton Cooley, Liberty
RB Antario Brown, Northern Illinois
WR Sean Atkins, USF
WR Kaedin Robinson, App State
WR Joey Hobert, Texas State
TE Holden Willis, Middle Tennessee
TE John Michael Gyllenborg, Wyoming
OL Tiger Shanks, UNLV
OL Jack Walsh, Wyoming
OL AJ Gillie, Louisiana
OL Canaan Yarro, New Mexico State
OL Federico Maranges, FAU
AP Malik Sherrod, Fresno State
Second Team Defense
DL Brian Ugwu, Miami (Ohio)
DL Santana Hopper, App State
DL Maurice Westmoreland, UTEP
DL Devo Bridges, Fresno State
DL Patrick Jenkins, Tulane
LB J-Rock Swain, Jacksonville State
LB Ty Wise, Miami (Ohio)
LB Jackson Woodard, UNLV
LB Andrew Simpson, Boise State
LB Chandler Martin, Memphis
DB Maxen Hook, Toledo
DB Dontae Balfour, Charlotte
DB Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina
DB Ethan Johnson, App State
DB Cameron Oliver, UNLV
Second Team Special Teams
K Jonah Dalmas, Boise State
P Mitchell Tomasek, Eastern Michigan
RS Zylan Perry, Louisiana
Third Team Offense
QB Joey Aguilar, App State
QB Mikey Keene, Fresno State
RB Jalen White, Georgia Southern
RB Jalen Buckley, Western Michigan
WR Jerjuan Newton, Toledo
WR Demeer Blankumsee, Memphis
WR Derwin Burgess Jr., Georgia Southern
TE Eli Wilson, App State
TE Sean Brown, Jacksonville State
OL Jordan White, Liberty
OL Xavier Hill, Memphis
OL Reid Holskey, Miami (Ohio)
OL Quantavious Leslie, Western Kentucky
OL Makilan Thomas, Arkansas State
AP Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State
Third Team Defense
DL Denzel Lowry, Old Dominion
DL Wy’Kevious Thomas, South Alabama
DL CJ Nunnally IV, Akron
DL D’Anta Johnson, East Carolina
DL Justin Rhodes, Georgia Southern
LB Reggie Peterson, FIU
LB Jesus Machado, Tulane
LB Kavian Gaither, Sam Houston
LB Jhalyn Shuler, USF
LB KC Ossai, Louisiana
DB A’Marion McCoy, Boise State
DB Chauncey Logan, JMU
DB Wyett Ekeler, Wyoming
DB Upton Stout, Western Kentucky
DB Rayuan Lane III, Navy
Third Team Special Teams
K Michael Hughes, App State
P Alec Bevelhimer, Miami (Ohio)
RS Henry Rutledge, Charlotte
