The Real 2013 College Football Preseason All-American Team

NCAA Football: Tennessee at Georgia

"Can y'all feel that? Can you feel that thing that's squeezing at your doggone hand? That thing that's beatin' in your doggone chest right now, man? Can you feel that? Can you feel what's about to happen on this field, man?" — Brian Dawkins, Clemson '95, 2nd-Team All-American

College football has a way of drawing you in. Regardless of who you are, where you're from and what you stand for, rooting for your favorite college football team gets the heart flowing. The name in front of the jersey is what brings the people together in ways that wouldn't naturally happen. Yet it's the names (or just numbers) on the back of the jerseys in which memories are made and stories are retold.

"You should've seen Roger Staubach run that Navy offense. Nothing like it."

"Earl Campbell was something else."

"Charles Woodson was unfair."

"Goodness gracious, that Cam Newton is a bad boy."

The names on this list could already be household names, or they could be names you'll get to know and possibly love this season. This is the 2013 edition of the REAL college football preseason All-American team. I call this the real list because you've probably seen a multitude of lists prior to this one, but this is the only one that was made with hard work, dedication, a lack of sleep and multiple sips (guzzles) of Hennessy invested into it.

This list is not up for debate (even when I might be blatantly wrong), but feel free to debate it anyway in the comments section. Let the list begin.

QB - Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville

This was honestly the easiest decision I had to make in regards to deciding on whom to select. 2012 was the year of Johnny Football, as Johnny Manziel mesmerized the world, took apart opposing defenses with his blend of passing and running, and Texas A&M vaulted itself near the top of the college football world. However, when 2012 turned into 2013 on the calendar, Louisville and Florida faced off in the Sugar Bowl, and Teddy Bridgewater showed the world that he might be the best quarterback in college football.

The Bridge is now primed to take his Louisville Cardinals on a run to the national title, and with another year under head coach Charlie Strong's tutelage, the golden arm from Miami might not only be the best quarterback, but also the newest winner of the Heisman Trophy in December.

Honorable Mentions: Johnny Manziel, Marcus Mariota, Tajh Boyd

RB - Todd Gurley, Georgia
RB - Lache Seastrunk, Baylor

On the other hand, these were probably the hardest selections to make on this list. De'Anthony Thomas didn't get chosen because I want to see what Oregon's offense looks like without Chip Kelly. Ka'Deem Carey will have to prove to me he's no fluke down there in Arizona. T.J. Yeldon will have to prove he can handle the full load in Alabama. Todd Gurley and Lache Seastrunk were elite last year, and now with a ever heavier load in 2013, I expect them to dominate. Could Gurley be the next Herschel Walker like everyone thinks he can be? Can Seastrunk capture the essence that RGIII did a few year prior in Waco? We're about to find out.

Oh, and that run on one leg by Seastrunk last year versus Oklahoma State? Come on, man.

Honorable Mentions: De'Anthony Thomas, T.J. Yeldon, Ka'Deem Carey, Duke Johnson, Damien Williams

WR - Sammy Watkins, Clemson
WR - Amari Cooper, Alabama
WR - Marqise Lee, USC

Playmaker. Playmaker. Playmaker. One might be a little faster. One might be a little more of a leaper. One might be a little better route-runner. All three are elite, have great offensive systems to flourish in, and all three will be first-round picks in the NFL draft. How could I not put them in my preseason All-American team?

Honorable Mentions: Mike Evans, Allen Robinson, Tracy Moore

TE - Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington

6'6". 276 pounds.

My Uncle Bill's watched this kid play since his days at Gig Harbor and was continually amazed that he looked and played like a grown man. Now as a true junior at UDubb, he is the preeminent tight end in the 2013 season. If the kid can keep his head during the season, he'll prove that he is a man in body and in spirit.

Honorable Mentions: Arthur Lynch, Jacob Pedersen, Eric Ebron

OT - Jake Matthews, Texas A&M
OG - David Yankey, Stanford
C - Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma
OG - Cyril Richardson, Baylor
OT - Taylor Lewan, Michigan

Jake Matthews has a ton of responsibility on his shoulders this season. He's got the responsibility of protecting the infamous Johnny Football again. Who knows where the quarterback might be — in the pocket, scrambling outside on a bootleg, in a hotel signing paraphernalia, running up the middle on a read option — it doesn't matter. Unlike some detractors of Manziel, Matthews will always have Johnny Football's back, and that you can sign off on.

Honorable Mentions: Cyrus Kouandjio, Spencer Long, B.J. Finney, Andrew Norwell, Zack Martin

DE - Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
DT - Louis Nix, Notre Dame
DT - Will Sutton, Arizona State
DE - Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame

We love Jadeveon Clowney around here, but I'm genuinely intrigued to see another year of Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt in Notre Dame. The nose tackle (Nix, 342) and defensive end (Tuitt, 312) combine for 654 pounds of defensive force on the line for the Irish, and I have a feeling they're going to want to atone for a poor ending of their 2012 campaign. Good luck blocking these guys.

Honorable Mentions: Devonte Fields, Anthony Johnson, Dominique Easley, Scott Crichton

LB - Anthony Barr, UCLA
LB - C.J. Mosley, Alabama
LB - Trent Murphy, Stanford
LB - Kyle Van Noy, BYU

And with one yelp from Gus Johnson on the microphone and one sack on USC's Matt Barkley, standout UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr was officially introduced to the world. Now on every watch list known to man, Barr is officially in the national limelight. “This is the most attention I’ve got, ever, in my life right now,” Barr said. “I have no problem being up here, so, yeah.”

Get used to it, homie. Let's all hope you stay up there man.

Honorable Mentions: Ryan Shazier, Max Bullough, Shayne Skov

DB - Jason Verrett, TCU
DB - Aaron Colvin, Oklahoma
S - HaHa Clinton-Dix, Alabama
S - Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State

I'm not going to lie: when I first saw this man's name flash onto my screen, I refused to take him seriously. However, after watching countless Alabama games on my CBS station, I had to. HaHa Clinton-Dix, the man who does not go by his government name Ha'Sean. The man who only answers to "HaHa." The man who prefers that you say it/write it the right way: all one word, no hyphens, capital "H" in the middle. Must be taken seriously in 2013. He's the best cover safety in college football, no laughter necessary.

Honorable Mentions: Bradley Roby, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Ed Reynolds, Marco Nelson

K - Cairo Santos, Tulane
P - Richie Leone, Houston
KR - Dri Archer, Kent State
PR - De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon

The beautiful thing about the special teams section of the All-American team is that it gives you a chance to have a bit of a do-over. For us here at TSFJ, that means I get to still have De'Anthony Thomas on the list. Will he be the best tailback in the game? Possibly. We'll let all that shake itself out in the coming months. However, the guy who they call Black Mamba (which is stupid, but I digress) is lethal as a returner, and he could be even better in 2013. I'd consider not kicking to him if I'm playing against him — it's just a thought.

Honorable Mentions: Chris Boswell, Kyle Christy, Tyler Lockett, Marcus Murphy

Selections by conference

Pac 12 - 7
SEC - 6
Big 12 - 5
Independent - 3
ACC - 2
C-USA - 2
AAC - 1
Big Ten - 1
MAC - 1

Ladies and gentlemen, those are the REAL 2013 preseason All-Americans. Let the debate begin.

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