GO ROLL TIDE ROLL: Understand Alabama football lands 3 players on AP all-America teams. Here’s who made the lists

Two Alabama football players have been named to the Associated Press All-America First Team, as announced on Monday. These preseason teams were selected by media members.

Both athletes are transfers who joined the Crimson Tide for the 2024 season. Parker Brailsford was chosen as the first-team center, while Graham Nicholson was selected as the top kicker.

 

 

Brailsford came to Alabama with new head coach Kalen DeBoer from Washington. Although he missed much of spring practice due to personal reasons, he remained with the team and has secured the starting center position during camp.

Last season, Brailsford and the Washington offensive line won the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s best offensive line unit.

“He’s familiar with the offense, so many look to him to lead the way,” DeBoer said of Brailsford’s role. “He’s identifying the linebacker they need to block or setting the protection. He’s confident, and the other players trust him.”

Nicholson transferred to Alabama from Miami of Ohio this offseason. He won the Lou Groza Award last year, beating out former Alabama kicker Will Reichard, and became the first player in Mid-American Conference history to do so.

In the 2023 season, he set an NCAA record with 25 consecutive field goals.

“I like his mindset,” DeBoer said of Nicholson. “He’s very confident. I’m curious to see how he handles a miss, if it happens. He’s been a great addition to the team, and the guys have welcomed him. It’s clear from his past achievements that he’s special, and we see that every day. We’re glad to have him here.”

Former Alabama safety Caleb Downs, who transferred to Ohio State after Nick Saban’s retirement, also earned a spot on the first team.

Additionally, Alabama had one player on the second team, junior guard Tyler Booker. The Connecticut native was the only returning Alabama player to be named to either AP All-America team.

Associated Press All-America first-team

Offense

 

QB: Carson Beck (Georgia)

RB: Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State), Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)

OT: Will Campbell (LSU), Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas)

OG: Donovan Jackson (Ohio State), Tate Ratledge (Georgia)

C: Parker Brailsford (Alabama)

TE: Colston Loveland (Michigan)

WR: Luther Burden III (Missouri), Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)

All-purpose: Travis Hunter (Colorado)

K: Graham Nicholson (Alabama)

Defense

Edge: James Pierce Jr. (Tennessee), Ashton Gillotte (Louisville

DT: Mason Graham (Michigan), Howard Cross III (Notre Dame)

LB: Harold Perkins Jr. (LSU), Jay Higgins (Iowa), Barrett Carter (Clemson)

CB: Will Johnson (Michigan), Denzel Burke (Ohio State)

S: Malachi Starks (Georgia), Caleb Downs (Ohio State)

DB: Xavier Watts (Notre Dame)

P: Alex Mastromanno (Florida State)

Associated Press all-America second-team

Offense

QB: Dillon Gabriel (Oregon)

RB: TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State), Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)

OT: Ajani Cornelius (Oregon), Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota)

OG: Tyler Booker (Alabama), Dylan Fairchild (Georgia)

C: Cooper Mays (Tennessee)

WR: Tez Johnson (Oregon), Tre Harris (Ole Miss), Ricky White III (UNLV)

All-purpose: Zachariah Branch (South Carolina)

Kicker: Andres Borregales (Miami)

Defense

Edge: Nic Scourton (Texas A&M), Abdul Carter (Penn State)

DT: Tyleik Williams (Ohio State), Deone Walker (Kentucky)

LB: Danny Stutsman (Oklahoma), Jason Henderson (Old Dominion), Nick Martin (Oklahoma State)

CB: Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame), Sebastian Castro (Iowa)

S: Dillon Thieneman (Purdue), Billy Bowman (Oklahoma)

DB: Ricardo Hallman (Wisconsin)

P: James Ferguson-Reynolds (Boise State)