The Sporting News Names Seven Buckeyes All-Americans

Ohio State had seven players named All-Americans by The Sporting News, with senior captain linebacker Sonny Styles earning a tree in Buckeye Grove.

Styles was named a first-teamer for the first time this year alongside wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, safety Caleb Downs and defensive tackle Kayden McDonald.

For Smith, Downs and McDonald, it’s now four out of five All-America teams they have been named to this season, with only the Football Writers’ Association of America to go on Thursday. If they are included on the first team by the FWAA, each of them will be unanimous All-Americans, which would be the second straight season accomplishing the feat for Downs.

Styles has had his best season in four years as a Buckeye, leading the team with 80 tackles (45 solo), and has five tackles for loss, 1/2 sack, an interception, three passes broken up, four quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

Downs was named the winner of the Thorpe Award last week during a season in which he has 60 stops, five tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and two passes broken up. Even though his value is represented on the stat sheet, his full value isn’t quite captured by the numbers, with his positional versatility giving the Buckeyes many options to use the junior.

Arvell Reese has been getting more recognition as an All-American to this point, and was named a second-teamer, which ends his chances at being a unanimous All-American this season.

Also named to the second team were defensive end Caden Curry and wide receiver Carnell Tate.