Four Alabama players named to Walter Camp preseason All-America teams

Alabama landed four players on this year’s Walter Camp Preseason All-American team, the foundation announced Monday afternoon. Offensive lineman Tyler Booker and placekicker Graham Nicholson are the Crimson Tide’s two first-team representatives, while center Parker Brailsford and punter James Burnip were named to the second team.

The Walter Camp Foundation is one of five preseason organizations used to determine consensus and unanimous All-Americans. The other four organizations included the Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association and Sporting News.

Booker started 13 games at left guard last season, earning a 74.1 pass-blocking grade and a 71.2 run-blocking mark from Pro Football Focus. The junior is expected to be the leader of this year’s offensive line unit.

Nicholson, the reigning Lou Groza Award winner, transferred to Alabama from Miami-Ohio in April. The senior kicker converted on 27 of 28 field-goal attempts and 35 of 37 extra-point tries last season. That included an NCAA-record streak of 25 straight made field goals.

Brailsford followed first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer over from Washington, joining Alabama in January. The redshirt sophomore started at center on the Huskies’ Joe Moore Award-winning unit last season, recording an 80.7 run-blocking grade and a 79.1 pass-blocking mark from Pro Football Focus.

Burnip is entering his fourth year at Alabama. Last season, the former Australian rules football player averaged 47.56 yards on 59 punts, including 24 boots of 50 or more yards.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

Wide Receiver: Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)

Tight End: Colston Loveland (Michigan)

Offensive Line: Clay Webb (Jacksonville State) #, Tate Ratledge (Georgia), Tyler Booker (Alabama), Will Campbell (LSU)

Center: Cooper Mays (Tennessee)

Quarterback: Carson Beck (Georgia)

Running Back: Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State)*, Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)*

Placekicker: Graham Nicholson (Alabama)*

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

Defensive Line: James Pearce, Jr. (Tennessee), Howard Cross III (Notre Dame) #, Ashton Gillotte (Louisville) #, Tyleik Williams (Ohio State) #

Linebacker: Jay Higgins (Iowa) #, Danny Stutsman (Oklahoma) #, Jason Henderson (Old Dominion)*

Defensive Back: Xavier Watts (Notre Dame)*, Travis Hunter Jr. (Colorado), Malaki Starks (Georgia)*, Will Johnson (Michigan)

Punter: Alex Mastromanno (Florida State)

Kick Returner: Zachariah Branch (USC)#s

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

Wide Receiver: Ricky White III (UNLV), Luthur Burden III (Missouri)

Tight End: Bryson Nesbit (North Carolina)

Offensive Line: Luke Kandra (Cincinnati) #, Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas), Ajani Cornelius (Oregon), Wyatt Milum (West Virginia)

Center: Parker Brailsford (Alabama)

Quarterback: Quinn Ewers (Texas)

Running Back: Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State), Tahj Brooks (Texas Tech)

Placekicker: Andrew Borregales (Miami)

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Defensive Line: Peter Woods (Clemson), Mason Graham (Michigan), Deone Walker (Kentucky), Landon Jackson (Arkansas)

Linebacker: Harold Perkins (LSU), Barrett Carter (Clemson), Abdul Cater (Penn State)

Defensive Back: Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame), Dillon Thieneman (Purdue), Denzel Burke (Ohio State) #, Caleb Downs (Ohio State)

Punter: James Burnip (Alabama)

Kick Returner: Jayden Harrison (Notre Dame)*

* – 2023 First Team Walter Camp All-America selection

# – 2023 Second Team Walter Camp All-America selection