Notre Dame's Joe Alt, Michael Mayer earn AP first-team All-America honors

A year ago, Joe Alt was the fourth different player Notre Dame tried in just finding a healthy and consistent presence at the left tackle position.

Two years ago he was an undersized, three-star offensive line prospect. Three years ago, he was a tight end.

On Monday, the Irish sophomore was named as the best in college football at his position, earning All-America honors at offensive tackle along with Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski.

Notre Dame junior tight end Michael Mayer joined Alt on the AP first team. Senior defensive end Isaiah Foskey was named to the AP second team.

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Both Mayer and Foskey last week opted into the 2023 NFL Draft as early entries, Mayer on Wednesday and Foskey on Thursday afternoon, and opted out of 21st-ranked Notre Dame’s Dec. 30 Gator Bowl date with South Carolina in Jacksonville, Fla.

Alt will play and start for the Irish (8-4) against the Gamecocks (8-4). The Irish are taking a break from bowl practices this week until Saturday for final exams.

All three are still in the running for consensus All-America honors, with Mayer having the easiest path to get there.

To earn unanimous All-America honors players must earn first-team honors from each of these five organizations: The Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and the Football Writers Association of America.

To clinch consensus honors players must land on the first team of three of those five organizations, though there is a path to gain consensus honors with just two first-team mentions.

With the final two All-America teams to be released in the next two days (TSN on Tuesday, AFCA on Wednesday), Mayer is one first-team spot from clinching consensus honors, having also been named first team by the Walter Camp Foundation and a second-teamer by the FWAA.

Alt and Foskey each have one first-team mention and two second-team mentions.

The Irish have had four players named at least consensus All-Americans in the past two award cycles, with safety Kyle Hamilton gleaning consensus honors in 2021. Offensive linemen Liam Eichenberg and Aaron Banks were consensus All-Americans in 2020, while linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was a unanimous selection.

If Foskey can reach consensus status, he’d be the first Notre Dame defensive end to do so since Frank Stams at the end of ND’s 1988 national championship season. It’s been even longer for a tight end to do so.

Ken MacAfee is the most recent, earning consensus honors at tight end in 1976 and unanimous honors in 1977.

Mayer led all FBS tight ends in touchdown receptions in 2022 while posting a team-high 67 receptions for 809 yards — each second-best among FBS tight ends. He holds every major tight end career and single-season school record for Irish tight ends.

Foskey finished the regular season tied for fourth nationally in sacks (11) and set the Irish career record in that category with 26.5.

Alt was Pro Football Focus’ highest-ranked college offensive tackle in run blocking and No. 2 in overall play. In 370 pass block sets this season, Alt allowed five pressures and zero sacks.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

Quarterback — Caleb Williams, second-year, Southern California.

Running backs — Bijan Robinson, third-year, Texas; Blake Corum, third-year, Michigan.

Tackles — Peter Skoronski, third-year, Northwestern; Joe Alt, second-year, Notre Dame.

Guard — O'Cyrus Torrence, fourth-year, Florida; Andrew Vorhees, sixth-year, Southern California.

Center — John Michael Schmitz, sixth-year, Minnesota.

Tight end — Michael Mayer, third-year, Notre Dame.

Wide receivers — Marvin Harrison Jr., second-year, Ohio State; Jalin Hyatt, third-year, Tennessee; Xavier Hutchinson, third-year, Iowa State.

All-purpose player — Deuce Vaughn, third-year, Kansas State.

Kicker — Christopher Dunn, fifth-year, North Carolina State.

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

Edge rushers — Will Anderson Jr., third-year, Alabama; Tuli Tuipulotu, third-year, Southern California.

Tackles — Jalen Carter, third-year, Georgia; Calijah Kancey, fourth-year, Pittsburgh.

Linebackers — Ivan Pace Jr., fourth-year, Cincinnati; Jack Campbell, fourth-year, Iowa; Drew Sanders, third-year, Arkansas.

Cornerbacks — Clark Phillips III, third-year, Utah; Devon Witherspoon, fourth-year, Illinois.

Safeties — Kamren Kinchen, second-year, Miami; Christopher Smith, fifth-year, Georgia.

Defensive back — Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, fourth-year, TCU.

Punter — Bryce Baringer, sixth-year, Michigan State.

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

Quarterback — Max Duggan, fourth-year, TCU.

Running backs — Chase Brown, fifth-year, Illinois; Mohamed Ibrahim, sixth-year, Minnesota.

Tackles — Paris Johnson Jr., third-year, Ohio State; Dawand Jones, fourth-year, Ohio State.

Guards — Cooper Beebe, fourth-year, Kansas State; Steve Avila, fifth-year, TCU.

Center — Olusegun Oluwatimi, sixth-year, Michigan.

Tight end — Brock Bowers, second-year, Georgia.

Wide receivers — Charlie Jones, sixth-year, Purdue; Rashee Rice, fourth-year, SMU; Josh Downs, third-year, North Carolina.

All-purpose player — Zach Charbonnet, fourth-year, UCLA.

Kicker — Jake Moody, fifth-year, Michigan.

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Edge rushers — Tyree Wilson, fifth-year, Texas Tech; Isaiah Foskey, fourth-year, Notre Dame.

Tackles — Jer'Zhan Newton, third-year, Illinois; Jonah Tavai, fifth-year, San Diego State.

Linebackers — Tommy Eichenberg, fourth-year, Ohio State; Jeremiah Trotter Jr., second-year, Clemson; Jamon Dumas-Johnson, second-year, Georgia.

Cornerbacks — Emmanuel Forbes, third-year, Mississippi State; Joey Porter Jr., fourth-year, Penn State.

Safeties — Kaevon Merriweather, fifth-year, Iowa; Ronnie Hickman, fourth-year, Ohio State.

Defensive back — Brian Branch, third-year, Alabama.

Punter — Tory Taylor, third-year, Iowa.

THIRD TEAM OFFENSE

Quarterback — Hendon Hooker, sixth-year, Tennessee.

Running backs — DeWayne McBride, third-year, UAB; Israel Abanikanda, third-year; Pittsburgh.

Tackles — Blake Freeland, fourth-year, BYU; Alex Palczewski, sixth-year, Illinois

Guards — Jaxson Kirkland, sixth-year, Washington; Christian Haynes, fourth-year, Connecticut.

Center — Brett Neilon, sixth-year, Southern California.

Tight end — Dalton Kincaid, fifth-year, Utah.

Wide receivers — Nathaniel Dell, fifth-year, Houston; Rome Odunze, third-year, Washington; Zay Flowers, fourth-year, Boston College.

All-purpose player — Jahmyr Gibbs, third-year, Alabama.

Kicker - Joshua Karty, third-year, Stanford.

THIRD TEAM DEFENSE

Edge rushers — Felix Anudike-Uzomah, third-year, Kansas State; Jose Ramirez, fifth-year, Eastern Michigan.

Tackles — Dontay Corleone, second-year, Cincinnati; Mekhi Wingo, second-year, LSU.

Linebackers — Jason Henderson, two-year, Old Dominion; Nick Herbig, third-year, Wisconsin; Jaylan Ford, third-year, Texas.

Cornerbacks — Kool-Aid McKinstry, second-year, Alabama; Mekhi Blackmon, fifth-year, Southern California.

Safeties — Marcus Fuqua, fourth-year, Buffalo; Jordan Battle, fourth-year, Alabama.

Defensive back — Quinyon Mitchell, third-year, Toledo.

Punter — Mason Fletcher, second-year, Cincinnati.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Position Name, School Height Weight Class Hometown
WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee 6-0 185 Jr. Irmo, SC
WR Marvin Harrison, Jr., Ohio State 6-4 205 Soph. Philadelphia, PA
TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame 6-4 265 Jr. Independence, KY
OL Paris Johnson, Jr., Ohio State 6-6 310 Jr. Cincinnati, OH
OL Peter Skoronski, Northwestern 6-4 315 Jr. Park Ridge, IL
OL Steve Avila, TCU 6-4 330 Sr. Arlington, TX
OL O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida 6-5 347 Jr. Greensburg, LA
C Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan 6-3 307 Gr. Upper Marlboro, MD
QB Caleb Williams, USC 6-1 215 Soph. Washington, DC
RB Blake Corum, Michigan 5-8 210 Jr. Marshall, VA
RB Bijan Robinson, Texas 6-0 222 Jr. Tucson, AZ
PK Christopher Dunn, North Carolina State 5-8 179 Gr. Lexington, NC

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL Tuli Tuipulotu, USC 6-4 290 Jr. Hawthorne, CA
DL Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh 6-0 280 Jr. Miami, FL
DL Jalen Carter, Georgia 6-3 300 Jr. Apopka, FL
DL Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame 6-5 265 Sr. Antioch, CA
LB Will Anderson, Jr., Alabama* 6-4 243 Jr. Hampton, GA
LB Jack Campbell, Iowa 6-5 246 Sr. Cedar Falls, IA
LB Ivan Pace, Jr., Cincinnati 6-0 235 Sr. Cincinnati, OH
DB Christopher Smith, Georgia 5-11 195 Sr. Atlanta, GA
DB Clark Phillips III, Utah 5-10 183 Soph. Lakewood, CA
DB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois 6-0 180 Jr. Pensacola, FL
DB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State 6-0 180 Jr. Grenada, MS
P Bryce Baringer, Michigan State 6-3 215 Sr. Waterford, MI
KR Jaylin Lucas, Indiana 5-9 170 Fr. Houma, LA

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
WR Nathaniel Dell, Houston 5-10 165 Jr. Daytona Beach, FL
WR Rashee Rice, SMU 6-2 203 Sr. North Richland Hills, TX
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia 6-4 230 Soph. Napa, CA
OL Joe Alt, Notre Dame 6-7 317 Soph. North Oaks, MN
OL Andrew Vorhees, USC 6-6 325 Sr. Kingsburg, CA
OL Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State 6-6 308 Soph. Waldorf, MD
OL Isaac Cochran, Air Force 6-5 325 Sr. Concord, NC
OL Nick Broeker, Ole Miss 6-5 315 Sr. Springfield, IL
C John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota 6-4 320 Sr. Flossmoor, IL
QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State 6-3 218 Jr. Inland Empire, CA
RB Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota 5-10 210 Sr. Baltimore, MD
RB Chase Brown, Illinois 5-11 205 Jr. Ontario, Canada
RB Dwayne McBride, UAB 5-11 215 Jr. Starke, FL
PK Jake Moody, Michigan* 6-1 210 Gr. Northville, MI

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL Jose Ramirez, Eastern Michigan 6-2 252 Sr. Lake Alfred, FL
DL Felix Anudike-Uzoma, Kansas State 6-4 255 Jr. Kansas City, MO
DL Durrell Johnson, Liberty 6-3 240 Sr. Baltimore, MD
DL Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois 6-2 295 Soph. St. Petersburg, FL
LB Nick Herbig, Wisconsin 6-2 228 Jr. Kauai, HI
LB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State 6-2 239 Sr. Cleveland, OH
LB Drew Sanders, Arkansas 6-5 233 Jr. Denton, TX
DB Jason Taylor II, Oklahoma State 6-0 215 Sr. Oklahoma City, OK
DB Joey Porter, Jr., Penn State 6-2 194 Jr. Bakersfield, CA
DB Kalen King, Penn State 5-11 189 Soph. Detroit, MI
DB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo 6-0 200 Soph. Williston, FL
P Kai Kroeger, South Carolina 6-4 207 Jr. Lake Forest, IL

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Position Name, School (Height, Weight, Class, Hometown)
QB Caleb Williams, USC (6-1, 215, So., Washington, D.C.)
RB Blake Corum, Michigan (5-8, 210, Jr., Marshall, Va.)
RB Bijan Robinson, Texas (6-0, 222, Jr., Tucson, Ariz.)
WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State (6-4, 205, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa.)
WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee (6-0, 185, Jr., Irmo, S.C.)
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia (6-4, 230, So., Napa, Calif.)
OL Steve Avila, TCU (6-4, 330, Sr., Arlington, Texas)
OL Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State (6-6, 310, Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio)
OL John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota (6-4, 320, Sr., Flossmoor, Ill.)
OL Peter Skoronski, Northwestern (6-4, 315, Jr., Park Ridge, Ill.)
C Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan (6-3, 307, Gr., Upper Marlboro, Md.)

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL Jalen Carter, Georgia (6-3, 300, Jr., Apopka, Fla.)
DL Calijah Kancey, Pitt (6-0, 280, Jr., Miami, Fla.)
DL Tuli Tuipulotu, USC (6-4, 290, Jr., Hawthorne, Calif.)
DL Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech (6-6, 275, Sr., Henderson, Texas)
LB Will Anderson Jr., Alabama (6-4, 243, So., Hampton, Ga.)
LB Jack Campbell, Iowa (6-5, 246, Sr., Cedar Falls, Iowa)
LB Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati (6-0, 235, Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio)
DB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State (6-0, 180, Jr., Grenada, Miss.)
DB Clark Phillips III, Utah (5-10, 183, So., Lakewood, Calif.)
DB Chris Smith, Georgia (5-11, 195, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.)
DB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois (6-0, 180, Jr., Pensacola, Fla.)

FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS
K Christopher Dunn, N.C. State (5-8, 170, Gr., Lexington, N.C.)
P Tory Taylor, Iowa (6-4, 230, Jr., Melbourne, Australia)
KR Lideatrick Griffin, Mississippi State (5-10, 185, Jr., Philadelphia, Miss.)
PR Derius Davis, TCU (5-10, 175, Sr., Saint Francisville, La.)
AP Zach Charbonnet, UCLA (6-1, 220, Sr., Camarillo, Calif.)

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE: QB Max Duggan, TCU; RB Israel Abanikanda, Pitt; RB Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota; WR Josh Downs, North Carolina; WR Rashee Rice, SMU; TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame; OL Joe Alt, Notre Dame; OL Nick Broeker, Ole Miss; OL O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida; OL Andrew Vorhees, USC; C Alex Forsyth, Oregon.

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE: DL Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State; DL Tyler Davis, Clemson; DL Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame; DL Mike Morris, Michigan; LB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State; LB Jason Henderson, Old Dominion; LB Drew Sanders, Arkansas; DB Erick Hallett II, Pitt; DB Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU; DB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State; DB John Torchio, Wisconsin.

SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS: K Joshua Karty, Stanford; P Bryce Baringer, Michigan State; KR Milan Tucker, App State; PR Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama; AP Chase Brown, Illinois.

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