JuJu Smith-Schuster Headlines USC’s Phil Steele Preseason All-Americans
JuJu Smith-Schuster headlined USC’s selections on the Phil Steele Preseason All-American and All-Pac-12 teams.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Adoree’ Jackson, Zach Banner, Cameron Smith and Zach Smith earned a place on Phil Steele’s preseason All-American teams, giving the Trojans five selections heading into 2016.
Smith-Schuster is USC’s lone first team pick and one of just two from the Pac-12 along with Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey.
Jackson and Banner appear on Steele’s second team at cornerback and offensive tackle respectively. Jackson doubled up as a second-team punt returner behind Jabrill Peppers of Michigan while ZachSmith, a longsnapper finished out the Trojans second-team selections.
Linebacker Cam Smith made his way onto the third team at linebacker.
USC’s five selections are the most by Pac-12 school on Steele’s teams. The Trojans season opener against Alabama will be brimming with preseason All-American talent with the Tide landing seven first teamers. Tackle Cam Robinson may be suspended for the game after an offseason legal issue but receiver Calvin Ridley, tight end OJ Howard, defensive end Jonathan Allen, linebacker Tim Williams, punter JK Scott and longsnapper Cole Mazza will likely take the field.
As for Steele’s preseason All-Pac-12 team, USC is represented by Smith-Schuster, Banner, Jackson, Cam Smith and Zach Smith on the first team.
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The second team includes running back Justin Davis and cornerback Iman Marshall.
Running back Ronald Jones II headlines the third team along with center Toa Lobendahn, tackle Chad Wheeler and safety Marvell Tell also making the cut.
Finally, Steele has high hopes for quarterback Max Browne who earned a fourth team place. Defensive lineman Rasheem Green and linebacker Osa Masina were USC’s final selections on the fourth team.
In his preview, Steele projects USC to finish second in the Pac-12 South behind UCLA.
Steele’s College Football Preview magazine will be on newstands on June 28th. A digital copy of the magazine is already available on iTunes and Google Play.