3 Buckeyes Named To Phil Steele's 2012 Preseason All-American Teams

Expectations are high for Hankins in 2012

Phil Steele's College Football Blog released its annual 2012 preseason All-American teams. Steele lists four All-American teams.

Three Buckeyes were named to the list this year, a list that consisted of Jonathan Hankins, Jake Stoneburner, and John Simon. Hankins is the only Ohio State player represented on Steele's first team. Stoneburner and Simon are listed on the second team.

Conference-wise, seven of the 11 conferences in Div. 1-A (FBS) are represented — The Big Six, plus Conference USA. 

Unsurprisingly, the SEC leads all conferences with 38 selections; no other league had more than 18. Alabama and LSU lead the way with six players each while Arkansas, Auburn and Georgia each have three 1st-Team selections. LSU overall has the most players with 17 selections while Bama has 12 followed by Florida and Georgia who have 11.

Of the 14 teams that will play in the conference this season, 11 had at least one player on one of Steele’s four teams, the lone exceptions being Missouri, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt.

The Big 12 (including WVU) and Pac-12 were next with 18 players each, followed by the ACC with 18, the Big Ten with 14 and the Big East and Conference USA tied at two apiece. 

Independent football programs Notre Dame and BYU had two and one players selected, respectively.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

Wednesday's Buckeye Bits

Good morning, Buckeye fans!  It’s a big day for The Ohio State University on multiple fronts. 

The football team begins its first spring practice with Urban Meyer as head coach and the basketball team leaves later today on a flight to The Big Easy.

Meyer promotes competition.  Urban Meyer’s first spring practice will have plenty of competition, even if we are almost five months from the first game.  Meyer and his staff will not sit for any slacking in any practice or drill.  This article gives a little peek into what Buckeye fans can expect from Urban Meyer, and so far, so good.

Sullinger ready for Kansas.  It’s clear Jared Sullinger is a great competitor and a better teammate.  He put the blame on himself for the early season loss at Kansas, but is ready to redeem himself on Saturday evening. 

Sullinger was already ruled out by the time the Buckeyes arrived in Lawrence, but wanted to play after getting caught up in the pregame festivities.  He’ll get his shot this weekend, and he’ll be ready to fire.

Big men highlight Final Four.  Three first-team All-Americans lead the field into New Orleans.  Thomas Robinson of Kansas squares up against Jared Sullinger of Ohio State in one national semifinal, while Anthony Davis of Kentucky is the lone All-American in the other national semifinal.

Although not an All-American, Davis will go up against a talented big man, Gorgui Dieng, a sophomore for Senegal.

Enjoy today, Buckeye fans!  Urban Meyer is officially running his first spring practice and we’re just three days away from the Final Four!