PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – A pair of Florida State defensive backs highlight the first preseason All-America team in the history of The Associated Press.
Florida State cornerback Tarvarus McFadden and safety Derwin James were named to the first team Tuesday.
McFadden, a junior from Fort Lauderdale, tied for the national lead with eight interceptions last season.
James suffered a season-ending injury in the second game last year and received a medical redshirt. He was sensational in his only full game of 2016, recording a team-best eight tackles and an interception in Florida State's season-opening comeback win against then-No. 11 Mississippi.
The Seminoles are the only team in the state to have representatives on the first team.
Florida kicker Eddy Pineiro and cornerback Duke Dawson were named to the second team.
Pineiro, who was a standout soccer player at Miami Sunset Senior High School, led the Gators in scoring as a freshman last season with 95 points.
Dawson started seven games as a sophomore last season, recording one interception.
The AP All-America team is the longest-running annual honor roll of the nation's top college football players, dating to 1925, and is usually released after the season.
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The Associated Press preseason All-America team, chosen by the votes of 51 members of the AP top 25 media panel:
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Sam Darnold, sophomore, Southern California
Running backs — Saquon Barkley, junior, Penn State; Derrius Guice, junior, LSU.
Tackles — Orlando Brown, junior, Oklahoma; Connor Williams, junior, Texas.
Guards — Quenton Nelson, senior, Notre Dame; Cody O'Connell, senior, Washington State.
Center — Billy Price, senior, Ohio State.
Tight end — Mike Gesicki, junior, Penn State.
Wide receivers — James Washington, senior, Oklahoma State; Christian Kirk, junior, Texas A&M.
All-purpose player — Quadree Henderson, junior, Pittsburgh.
Kicker — Daniel Carlson, senior, Auburn.
DEFENSE
Ends — Harold Landry, senior, Boston College; Bradley Chubb, senior, North Carolina State.
Tackles — Ed Oliver, sophomore, Houston; Dexter Lawrence, sophomore, Clemson.
Linebackers — Arden Key, junior, LSU; Josey Jewell, senior, Iowa; Azeem Victor, senior, Washington.
Cornerbacks — Tarvarus McFadden, junior, Florida State; Jaire Alexander, junior, Louisville.
Safeties — Derwin James, sophomore, Florida State; Minkah Fitzpatrick, junior, Alabama.
Punter — Mitch Wishnowsky, junior, Utah.
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Lamar Jackson, junior, Louisville.
Running backs — Nick Chubb, senior, Georgia; Bo Scarbrough, junior, Alabama.
Tackles — Mike McGlinchey, senior, Notre Dame; Jonah Williams, sophomore, Alabama.
Guards — Will Hernandez, senior, UTEP; Braden Smith, senior, Auburn.
Center — Frank Ragnow, senior, Arkansas.
Tight end — Troy Fumagalli, senior, Wisconsin.
Wide receivers — Calvin Ridley, junior, Alabama; Courtland Sutton, junior, SMU.
All-purpose player — Jaylen Samuels, senior, North Carolina State.
Kicker — Eddy Pineiro, sophomore, Florida.
DEFENSE
Ends — Tyquan Lewis, senior, Ohio State; Rashan Gary, sophomore, Michigan.
Tackles — Christian Wilkins, junior, Clemson; Vita Vea, junior, Washington.
Linebackers — Micah Kiser, senior, Virginia; Tegray Scales, senior, Indiana; Cameron Smith, junior, Southern California.
Cornerbacks — Duke Dawson, senior, Florida; Iman Marshall, junior, Southern California.
Safeties — Quin Blanding, senior, Virginia; Godwin Igewbuike, senior, Northwestern.
Punter — JK Scott, senior, Alabama.