2021 Freshman All-American Team | Defense
Of course, we start with the top overall defensive freshman from 2021.
Defensive Freshman of the Year: DE Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State’s Collin Oliver recorded 11.5 sacks for one of the nation’s best defenses in 2021. He was a menace off the edge and produced even more havoc when rushing the passer than the general box score indicates. Oliver is a name to know for all the 2022 defensive awards.
Oklahoma State knew it had a talented pass rusher, but he’s exceeded expectations in his debut out of high school. Used situationally to create havoc off the edge, Oliver has 15 tackles for loss in addition to his 11.5 sacks. He’s a special athlete, with the trademark flexibility and lower body strength of impactful pass rushers.
DT: Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
Lukas Van Ness did not start on the interior this season. It hasn’t been necessary for him to have a profound impact on one of the Big Ten’s saltiest defenses. As a key member of the rotation, Van Ness has powered his way to 26 tackles, 7.5 stops for loss, and 6 sacks. And despite ranking 14th on the team in total snaps, he’s third in pressures.
DT: Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
Tyleik Williams played just 166 regular-season snaps as the youngest member of a deep rotation of veteran linemen. But when he did, he showed flashes of being a disruptive interior force, especially in the early going of the year. 5 of Williams’ 15 tackles were sacks, and he has the skill set to take a quantum leap as a sophomore in Columbus.
DE: Josaiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina
This time last year, Josaiah Stewart was coping with the cancellation of his senior season at Everett High School in Massachusetts. Now, he’s in the Chants’ record books for most sacks in a season. Stewart was playing like an upperclassman right away, also setting the school’s single-game mark in just his second appearance. With a bowl game left, he’s up to 15.5 stops for loss and 12.5 sacks, both tops among all true freshmen.
LB: Carson Bruener, Washington
It took Carson Bruener two months to crack the lineup at inside linebacker. But now that he has, he’s there to stay. He had an auspicious starting debut against Stanford on October 30, making 16 tackles, including 11 solos. It was Bruener’s first of three 10-tackle games down the stretch. And despite being just a half-year starter, he finished second on the Huskies with 70 stops to go along with 1.5 sacks, an interception, and 2 forced fumbles.
LB: Eric Gentry, Arizona State
How highly was Eric Gentry regarded by the Arizona State coaches? They went all the way to Philadelphia to bring him back to the desert. At 6’6″ and 200 pounds, he has the long and lean frame to cover ground fast and obstruct the quarterback’s vision. Gentry is also a sure-tackler, with 40 stops and 4 TFL, none bigger than a fourth-down play on Dorian Thompson-Robinson that helped secure a win over UCLA.
LB: Cal Haladay, Michigan State
Cal Haladay is an old-school, all-day, every-day type of player. One of the biggest surprises in this season full of surprises in East Lansing, the farm-raised freshman helped bring a no-nonsense, blue-collar toughness to the MSU defense.
Haladay, who was named honorable mention All-Big Ten, ranks third on the team with 811 snaps. He registered 85 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and a pair of forced fumbles.
DB: Denzel Burke, Ohio State
Ohio State’s veteran corners were hampered by injuries all season, forcing Denzel Burke into an expanded role. He never backed down from the challenge, which is even more impressive since he mainly played offense in high school.
A wire-to-wire starter, Burke honed his coverage skills in practice against the nation’s top receiving corps. He recorded 33 tackles and a Buckeye-best 11 pass breakups.
DB: Tyreek Chappell, Texas A&M
Tyreek Chappell was the youngest member of an experienced and talented Texas A&M defense. But you couldn’t tell by the way he played in the secondary over the final two months of the regular season.
Chappell shook off some early struggles to start the last eight games at cornerback. His confidence, instincts, and playmaking ability resulted in 41 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, a pick, and 9 pass breakups.
DB: Andrew Mukuba, Clemson
The foundation has been laid for Andrew Mukuba to be the next big thing at a school that’s had a DB drafted in 13 of the last 17 years. The Zimbabwe-born DB started nine games at safety, excelling as an open-field run defender and improving throughout the season in coverage. His 52 tackles and 9 pass breakups paved the way to being named this year’s ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
DB: Kelee Ringo, Georgia
Despite missing all of 2020 recovering from surgery, Kelee Ringo hit the ground running in his first action as a Bulldog. He’s been a starting corner on the nation’s top defense ever since cracking the lineup in Week 4, making 27 stops and breaking up 7 throws. And he was never a liability in coverage that opposing quarterbacks could target. In fact, QBs completed less than 40% of their throws when Ringo was targeted.
Second-Team Defensive Freshman All-Americans
DE: Maason Smith, LSU
DT: Byron Murphy II, Texas
DT: Leonard Taylor, Miami (FL)
DE: Davin Vann, NC State
LB: Junior Colson, Michigan
LB: Brennon Scott, UNLV
LB: Dallas Turner, Alabama
DB: Jadon Canady, Tulane
DB: Darian Chestnut, Syracuse
DB: Maxen Hook, Toledo
DB: Jack Howell, Colorado State
2021 Freshman All-American Team: Special Teams
No Freshman All-American Team is complete without the third facet of football. Here are the top impact freshman specialists from 2021.
Kicker: Cam Little, Arkansas
Cam Little was one of the nation’s top kickers coming out of Southmoore High School in Oklahoma. He performed like it in 2021. More than just accurate with a strong leg, Little was clutch in some of Arkansas’ biggest wins, the mark of a special kicker. He nailed 19 of 23 field goals this fall, including 7 of 10 from at least 40 yards. He’ll be a weapon for the Hogs for the next three seasons.
Punter: Peter Moore, Virginia Tech
Brent Pry has holes to fill in Blacksburg. However, punter won’t be one of them for a long time. In his first full season, Peter Moore was named to the third-team All-ACC for his distance and accuracy. Not only is he tied atop the league with a 45-yard average, but he also placed 28 punts inside the 20-yard line, tied for 10th in the country.
Second-Team Special Teams Freshman All-Americans
Kicker: Andres Borregales, Miami (FL)
Punter: Eddie Czaplicki, Arizona State
