College Football Stars
Oregon Dominates Walter Camp 2026 Preseason All-America Selections; Top Players Emerge Nationwide
Key Points
Brandon Finney Jr. had a standout true freshman season, earning FWAA freshman All-America honors and serving as the Orange Bowl Defensive MVP, with 3 interceptions and 8 pass breakups, plus 42 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, a sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Teitum Tuioti started all 15 games as a key Oregon defender, posting a career-best 16.0 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, along with 68 tackles, 5 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles, earning All-Big Ten third-team recognition for his 2025 performance.
Jamari Johnson and A'Mauri Washington provided significant contributions for Oregon, with Johnson totaling 32 receptions for 510 yards and 3 touchdowns (including two TD catches in the CFP), while Washington posted 33 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and eight pass breakups—the most by any Big Ten defensive lineman that season.
Caleb Hawkins joined Oklahoma State after transferring from North Texas and earned a Walter Camp Preseason All-America second-team spot; in 2025 he produced 29 total touchdowns, 1,434 rushing yards and 25 rushing TDs, plus 32 receptions for 370 yards and 4 receiving TDs, including six 100-yard rushing games and a 198-yard, 2-TD bowl performance against UNT, with him describing Oklahoma State as his dream school.
Evan Tengesdahl of Cincinnati was named a 2026 preseason All-American on the second team and is the lone Big 12 offensive lineman on the list; he posted an 82.8 PFF rating in 2025 (the highest among Big 12 guards and sixth nationally) and anchored a Bearcats line that allowed just 8 sacks and 43 TFLs, contributing to Cincinnati’s return-to-form line play.
The Walter Camp Football Foundation released its 2026 preseason All-America teams on June 30, spotlighting standout returners from across the country. Oregon led all programs with four players named, while Oklahoma State, Cincinnati, Arkansas State, and South Carolina each earned at least one spot, according to 247Sports.
The selections reflect a college football landscape reshaped by the transfer portal and conference realignment. A true freshman defensive back, a transfer running back with 29 total touchdowns, and a historic pick for a Group of Five program all headline the list.
Oregon Places Four Ducks on Walter Camp Preseason Rosters
No program made a bigger splash than Oregon. Cornerback Brandon Finney Jr. and defensive end Teitum Tuioti both earned first-team honors, according to 247Sports. Finney Jr. was one of the most remarkable true freshmen in the country in 2025. He recorded 3 interceptions, 8 pass breakups, 42 tackles, and earned Orange Bowl Defensive MVP honors.
Tuioti started all 15 games for the Ducks. He posted 16.0 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks — career bests — plus 68 tackles and 5 pass breakups, earning All-Big Ten third-team recognition. Tight end Jamari Johnson (32 receptions, 510 yards, 3 TDs) and defensive lineman A'Mauri Washington joined them on the second team. Washington's 8 pass breakups were the most by any Big Ten defensive lineman that season, 247Sports reported.
Caleb Hawkins Arrives at Oklahoma State as a Preseason All-American
Oklahoma State running back Caleb Hawkins was one of only four Big 12 players to earn a spot on the preseason rosters, landing on the second team, according to Pistols Firing Blog. Hawkins transferred from North Texas after a breakout 2025 season. He rushed for 1,434 yards, scored 25 rushing touchdowns, and added 32 catches for 370 yards and 4 receiving TDs — 29 total scores in all.
Hawkins capped his time at North Texas with a 198-yard, 2-touchdown bowl performance. He then chose Oklahoma State, saying the program was "always the dream school." He is now a legitimate Heisman watch candidate heading into 2026, with six 100-yard rushing games already on his résumé, per Pistols Firing Blog.
Cincinnati's Tengesdahl and Arkansas State's Cobb Make History for Their Programs
Cincinnati offensive lineman Evan Tengesdahl was the only Big 12 guard on the preseason list, earning a second-team spot, according to Go Bearcats. He posted an 82.8 PFF grade in 2025 — the highest among Big 12 guards and sixth nationally. The Bearcats allowed just 8 sacks and 43 tackles for loss all season, with Tengesdahl anchoring the line.
Arkansas State wide receiver Chauncy Cobb also earned a second-team spot. His selection makes him the first Red Wolf to receive Walter Camp preseason All-America honors since 2009 — a 17-year drought for the program, according to KAIT 8. His inclusion highlights a broader trend of Group of Five talent earning national recognition despite strong NIL interest from bigger programs.
Dylan Stewart Brings SEC Edge-Rushing Pedigree to the First Team
South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart earned a first-team spot, representing the SEC on the preseason list. Stewart is a rising junior who recovered from a back injury last season. He is widely viewed as one of the most "pro-ready" pass rushers heading into 2026, according to Garnet and Cocky.
Stewart's first-team selection alongside Oregon's Finney Jr. and Tuioti sets up an early "SEC vs. Big Ten" storyline for the season. With Hawkins chasing the Heisman in the Big 12 and historic picks for Arkansas State and Cincinnati, the 2026 Walter Camp preseason list reflects just how spread out elite college football talent has become.
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