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AP All-America Team Analysis: Nate Orchard, Eric Kendricks Robbed

By Caleb Calhoun

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The 2014 AP All-America team was released on Tuesday. Washington, of all teams, tied Florida State for the most first-teamers with three. Who in the heck could have seen that coming?

As far as the quarterbacks go, Marcus Mariota was first team, Trevone Boykin was second team, and J.T. Barrett was third team. And that’s exactly where each of them should have been as well, including Barrett, who is now done for the year.

Our analysis of the All-America team features the hits and misses on each side of the ball and players who were robbed of spots that they rightfully deserved on the first team

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Starting with the offense, the selections were almost perfect. Marcus Mariota was obviously the top quarterback of the year, and Heisman candidate Melvin Gordon was the top running back of the year. Everybody on the actual offensive positions were fine, but there were some issues with the specialties.

Shaq Thompson had no business being the first team all-purpose player. That title should have gone to Tyler Lockett of Kansas State. Sure, as a linebacker, he is a superstar and very impressive because he can be utilized on the other side of the ball. But on all-purpose plays from scrimmage, there’s no way you can sell Thompson. Meanwhile, Robert Aguayo robbed Maryland’s Brad Craddock on the first-team as a kicker. Craddock missed one kick all year, and it was beyond 50 yards. To be fair, Aguayo had more kicks and only missed two, but he missed one shorter than 50. That alone should have been the difference.

On defense, Joey Bosa earned first-team, but how in the world could Vic Beasley get a spot over Utah’s Nate Orchard at the other spot on the end? Orchard has 52 more tackles, 1.5 more tackles for a loss, and 6.5 more sacks. They have the same number of forced fumbles. All Beasley has is a defensive touchdown as well, but that shouldn’t be enough. Orchard was flat-out robbed.

At linebacker, you can make a case for all three on the first team, but either Paul Dawson or Hau’oli Kikaha should have been dropped for Eric Kendricks of UCLA. Kendricks, a second-teamer, didn’t have their numbers in terms of sacks or tackles for a loss, but he dominated in overall tackles and had 3 interceptions to go with it. This is the classic case of big numbers not telling the whole story, and it screwed him out of a first-team All-America spot.

The secondary was about the most perfect layout, with the right two corners and right two safeties getting in, and Tom Hackett of Utah was the right punter.

So the mistakes in the first team were putting Shaq Thompson over Tyler Lockett, Robert Aguayo over Brad Craddock, Vic Beasley over Nate Orchard, and Hau’oli Kikaha and Paul Dawson over Eric Kendricks.

Fortunately, for the most part, the selections were right.

Here are the 2014 AP All-Americans for each team.

AP All-America First Team

Offense

Quarterback: Marcus Mariota, Oregon

Nov 29, 2014; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) runs the ball against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Running Backs: Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin and Tevin Coleman, Indiana

Tackles: Brandon Scherff, Iowa and Spencer Drango, Baylor

Guards: Tre Jackson, Florida State and Laken Tomlinson, Duke

Center: Reese Dismukes, Auburn

Tight End: Nick O’Leary, Florida State

Wide Receivers: Amari Cooper, Alabama and Rashard Higgins, Colorado State

Kicker: Robert Aguayo, Florida State

All-Purpose Player: Shaq Thompson, Washington

Defense

Defensive Ends: Joey Bossa, Ohio State and Vic Beasley, Clemson

Defensive Tackles: Malcolm Brown, Texas and Danny Shelton, Washington

Linebackers: Scooby Wright III, Arizona, Hau’oli Kikaha, Washington, and Paul Dawson, TCU

Cornerbacks: Senquez Golson, Ole Miss and Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon

Safeties: Landon Collins, Alabama and Gerod Holliman, Louisville

Punter: Tom Hackett, Utah

Second Team

 Offense

Quarterback: Trevone Boykin, TCU

Running Backs: James Conner, Pittsburgh and Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska

Oct 25, 2014; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Ameer Abdullah (8) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the second half at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 42-24. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

Tackles: La’el Collins, LSU and Andrus Peat, Stanford

Guards: Arie Kouandijo, Alabama and A.J. Cann, South Carolina

Center: Hroniss Grasu, Oregon

Tight End: Maxx Williams, Minnesota

Wide Receivers: Kevin White, West Virginia and Rashad Greene, Florida State

Kicker: Brad Craddock, Maryland

All-Purpose Player: Tyler Lockett, Kansas State

Defense

Defensive Ends: Shane Ray, Missouri and Nate Orchard, Utah

Defensive Tackles: Leonard Williams, USC and Robert Nkemdiche, Southern Miss

Linebackers: Eric Kendricks, UCLA, Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State, and Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame

Cornerbacks: Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida and Jacoby Glenn, UCF

Safeties: Jalen Ramsey, Florida State and Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss

Punter: JK Scott, Alabama

Third Team

 Offense

Quarterback: J.T. Barrett, Ohi oState

Running Backs: Jay Ajayi, Boise State and Samaje Perine, Oklahoma

Nov 1, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) rolls out of the pocket to pass during the first quarter against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Tackles: Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M and Jake Fisher, Oregon

Guards: Shaquille Mason, Georgia Tech and Ben Beckwith, Mississippi State

Center: Jack Allen, Michigan State

Tight End: Clive Walford, Miami

Wide Receivers: Justin Hardy, East Carolina and Nelson Agholor, USC

Kicker: Josh Lambert, West Virginia

All-Purpose Player: J.J. Nelson, UAB

Defense

Defensive Ends: Shawn Oakman, Baylor and Randy Gregory, Nebraska

Defensive Tackles:Michael Bennett, Ohio State and Eddie Goldman, Florida State

Linebackers: Denzel Perryman, Miami, Mike Hull, Penn State, and Eric Striker, Oklahoma

Cornerbacks: Trae Waynes, Michigan State and Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech

Safeties: Kurtis Drummond, Michigan State and Su’a Cravens, USC

Punter: Austin Rehkow, Idaho

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