The two Heisman Trophy contenders highlight the first preseason All-America team in the history of The Associated Press.
Darnold passed for 453 yards and five touchdowns in USC's 52-49 victory over the Nittany Lions. Barkley ran for 194 yards and scored three touchdowns against USC.
The AP All-America team is the longest-running annual honor roll of the nation's top college football players, dating to 1925, and is usually released after the season. Darnold was voted to the first team by a panel of 51 Top 25 voters, edging out Heisman winner Lamar Jackson, who is the second-team quarterback on the teams released Tuesday.
The first-team defense is led by Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick and two defensive backs from Florida State. The ACC led all conferences with seven players on the first team.
The Associated Press preseason All-America team, chosen by the votes of 51 members of the AP Top 25 media panel, and released Tuesday:
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Sam Darnold, sophomore, Southern California
Running backs — Saquon Barkley, junior, Penn State; Derrius Guice, junior, LSU.
Tackles — Orlando Brown, junior, Oklahoma; Connor Williams, junior, Texas.
Guards — Quenton Nelson, senior, Notre Dame; Cody O'Connell, senior, Washington State.
Center — Billy Price, senior, Ohio State.
Tight end — Mike Gesicki, junior, Penn State.
Wide receivers — James Washington, senior, Oklahoma State; Christian Kirk, junior, Texas A&M.
All-purpose player — Quadree Henderson, junior, Pittsburgh.
Kicker — Daniel Carlson, senior, Auburn.
DEFENSE
Ends — Harold Landry, senior, Boston College; Bradley Chubb, senior, North Carolina State.
Tackles — Ed Oliver, sophomore, Houston; Dexter Lawrence, sophomore, Clemson.
Linebackers — Arden Key, junior, LSU; Josey Jewell, senior, Iowa; Azeem Victor, senior, Washington.
Cornerbacks — Tavarus McFadden, junior, Florida State; Jaire Alexander, junior, Louisville.
Safeties — Derwin James, junior, Florida State; Minkah Fitzpatrick, junior, Alabama.
Punter — Mitch Wishnowsky, junior, Utah.
___
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Lamar Jackson, junior, Louisville.
Running backs — Nick Chubb, senior, Georgia; Bo Scarbrough, junior, Alabama.
Tackles — Mike McGlinchey, senior, Notre Dame; Jonah Williams, sophomore, Alabama.
Guards — Will Hernandez, senior, UTEP; Braden Smith, senior, Auburn.
Center — Frank Ragnow, senior, Arkansas.
Tight end — Troy Fumagalli, senior, Wisconsin.
Wide receivers — Calvin Ridley, junior, Alabama; Courtland Sutton, junior, SMU.
All-purpose player — Jaylen Samuels, senior, North Carolina State.
Kicker — Eddy Pineiro, sophomore, Florida.
DEFENSE
Ends — Tyquan Lewis, senior, Ohio State; Rashan Gary, sophomore, Michigan.
Tackles — Christian Wilkins, junior, Clemson; Vita Vea, junior, Washington.
Linebackers — Micah Kiser, senior, Virginia; Tegray Scales, senior, Indiana; Cameron Smith, junior, Southern California.
Cornerbacks — Duke Dawson, senior, Florida; Iman Marshall, junior, Southern California.
Safeties — Quin Blanding, senior, Virginia; Godwin Igewbuike, senior, Northwestern.
Punter — JK Scott, senior, Alabama.
