2026 Walter Camp Preseason FBS All-America Teams; 2026 will mark the 137th edition of the nation’s oldest college football All-America team

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2026 will mark the 137th edition of the nation’s oldest college football All-America team

For Immediate Release:  June 30, 2026

A Little History

Walter Camp is the nation’s oldest college football All-America team.  Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880.   Nine years later in 1889, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first ever college football All-America team.

The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.

Typically announced in early December, the Walter Camp All-America teams are selected by the FBS head coaches and sports information directors.

  • From 1889 to 1964, eleven players were selected.
  • In 1965, both offensive and defensive teams were picked.
  • In 1972, the first punter (Ray Guy, Southern Mississippi) was honored.
  • In 1975, the first placekicker (Chris Bahr, Penn State) was selected.
  • In 1998, the first-ever Second Team All-America team was recognized.
  • In 2001, the first kick returner (Herb Haygood, Michigan State) was picked.
  • In 2024, the first player (Travis Hunter, Colorado) earned First Team honors on both offense and defense.

Representations

  • Players from 28 different schools and seven conferences (including independents) are represented on the 2026 Walter Camp Preseason All-America First and Second teams.
  • The Southeastern Conference has the most schools (12) and players (21) on the 2026 preseason team, followed by the Big Ten (7 schools, 16 players). The Big 12 Conference has four players from four of its member schools.
  • Texas has the most preseason All-Americans (5), while defending national champion Indiana and fellow Big Ten member Oregon each have four.
  • Three schools (Ohio State, Notre Dame and Georgia) each have three players on the preseason All-America teams.

Good to See You Again

  • Eight players on the 2026 preseason list earned 2025 Walter Camp All-America First and Second Team honors, led by Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (First Team), Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy (First Team) and Notre Dame defensive back Leonard Moore (First Team).
  • Smith is actually a two-time Walter Camp All-American – he earned Second Team honors in 2024 and was named to the first-team in 2025.

Please also note: the Foundation will be announcing the Players to Watch for the 2026 Walter Camp Player of Year on Monday, August 17 as part of the National College Football Awards Association Watch List rollout. 

 

2026 Walter Camp PRESEASON All-America Teams

First Team Offense:

Wide Receiver:  Malachi Toney (Miami), Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State)*

Tight End:  Trey’Dez Green (LSU)

Offensive Line:  Carter Smith (Indiana)#, Trevor Goosby (Texas), Austin Siereveld (Ohio State), Anthonie Knapp (Notre Dame)

Center:  Kade Pieper (Iowa)

Quarterback:  Arch Manning (Texas)

Running Back:  Kewan Lacy (Ole Miss), Ahmad Hardy (Missouri)*

Placekicker:  Tate Sandell (Oklahoma)#

First Team Defense

Defensive Line:  Dylan Stewart (South Carolina), Colin Simmons (Texas), Tyrique Tucker (Indiana), Teitum Tuioti (Oregon)

Linebacker: Xavier Atkins (Auburn), Sammy Brown (Clemson), Rasheem Biles (Texas)

Defensive Back:  Kelley Jones (Mississippi State), Leonard Moore (Notre Dame)*, Brandon Finney, Jr. (Oregon), KJ Bolden (Georgia)

Punter: Palmer Williams (Baylor)

Kick Returner:  Da’Realyst Clark (Kent State)

 

Second Team Offense

Wide Receiver: Cam Coleman (Texas), KJ Duff (Rutgers)

Tight End:  Jamari Johnson (Oregon)

Offensive Line:  Evan Tengesdahl (Cincinnati), Wendell Moe, Jr. (Tennessee), Jordan Seaton (LSU), Andrew Sprague (Michigan)

Center: Drew Bobo (Georgia)

Quarterback:  Julian Sayin (Ohio State)#

Running Back:  Cam Cook (West Virginia), Caleb Hawkins (Oklahoma State)#

Placekicker:  Lucas Carneiro (Ole Miss)

 

Second Team Defense

Defensive Line:  A’Mauri Washington (Oregon), Anthony Smith (Minnesota), David Stone (Oklahoma), John Henry Daley (Michigan)#

Linebacker:  Rolijah Hardy (Indiana), Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asu (Notre Dame), Isaiah Jones (Indiana)

Defensive Back:  Bray Hubbard (Alabama), Ellis Robinson IV (Georgia), Marcus Ratcliffe (Texas A&M), Bryce Fitzgerald (Miami)

Punter:  Evan Crenshaw (Troy)

Kick Returner:  Chauncy Cobb (Arkansas State)

 

* – 2025 First Team Walter Camp All-America selection

# – 2025 Second Team Walter Camp All-America selection