IRVING, Texas - Memphis running back Kenneth Gainwell has been named to the Associated Press Preseason All-America Team in advance of the 2020 college football season.
Gainwell was chosen to the second team along with Alabama's Najee Harris. The two first-team selections were Oklahoma State's Chuba Hubbard and Clemson's Travis Etienne.
Gainwell, who was chosen as the FWAA National Freshman of the Year in 2019, finished his rookie season with 1,459 rushing yards (12th nationally), 2,069 all-purpose yards (ninth nationally) and a school-record seven games with at least 100 rushing yards.
2020 Associated Press Preseason All-America Team
FIRST TEAM
Offense
Quarterback — Trevor Lawrence, junior, Clemson.
Running backs — Chuba Hubbard, junior, Oklahoma State; Travis Etienne, senior, Clemson.
Tackles — x-Penei Sewell, junior, Oregon; Alex Leatherwood, senior, Alabama.
Guards — x-Wyatt Davis, junior, Ohio State; Trey Smith, senior, Tennessee.
Center — Creed Humphrey, junior, Oklahoma.
Tight end — x-Pat Freiermuth, junior, Penn State.
Receivers — Ja’Marr Chase, junior, LSU; DeVonta Smith, senior, Alabama.
All-purpose player — y-Rondale Moore, junior, Purdue.
Kicker — x-Keith Duncan, senior, Iowa.
DEFENSE
Ends — x-Kayvon Thibodeaux, sophomore, Oregon; y-Gregory Rousseau, junior, Miami.
Tackles — Marvin Wilson, senior, Florida State; y-Jaylen Twyman, junior, Pitt.
Linebackers — y-Micah Parsons, junior, Penn State; x-Hamilcar Rashed Jr., senior, Oregon State; Dylan Moses, senior, Alabama.
Cornerbacks — Derek Stingley Jr., sophomore, LSU; x-Shaun Wade, junior, Ohio State.
Safeties — Richard LeCounte, senior, Georgia; Andre Cisco, junior, Syracuse.
Punter — Max Duffy, senior, Kentucky.
SECOND TEAM
Offense
Quarterback — x-Justin Fields, junior, Ohio State.
Running backs — Najee Harris, senior, Alabama; Kenneth Gainwell, sophomore, Memphis.
Tackles — Samuel Cosmi, junior, Texas; x-Cole Van Lanen, senior, Wisconsin.
Guards — x-Nolan Laufenberg, senior, Air Force; x-Alijah Vera-Tucker, junior, Southern California.
Center — x-Tyler Linderbaum, junior, Iowa.
Tight end — Charlie Kolar, junior, Iowa State.
Receivers — Tylan Wallace, senior, Oklahoma State; y-Rashod Bateman, junior, Minnesota.
All-purpose player — Jaylen Waddle, junior, Alabama.
Kicker — Gabe Brkic, sophomore, Oklahoma.
Defense
Ends — Carlos Basham, senior, Wake Forest; Quincy Roche, senior, Miami.
Tackles — y-Jay Tufele, junior, Southern California; x-Levi Onwuzurike, senior, Washington.
Linebackers — Chazz Surratt senior, North Carolina; Nick Bolton, junior, Missouri; x-Paddy Fisher, senior, Northwestern.
Cornerbacks — Patrick Surtain II, junior, Alabama; y-Caleb Farley, junior, Virginia Tech.
Safeties — x-Jevon Holland, junior, Oregon; Trevon Moehrig, junior, TCU.
Punter — x-Adam Korsak, junior, Rutgers.