As the season opener for Purdue football draws nearer, junior defensive end George Karlaftis continues to be peppered with preseason recognition.
Karlaftis was named to the Associated Press 2021 preseason All-America second team on Monday. He was the only Boilermaker football player honored. He started just three games in 2020 due to injury and COVID-19, yet still led the team with two sacks while also recording four tackles.
Below is the full list of AP 2021 preseason All-America teams:
2021 AP First Team Offense
Quarterback — Spencer Rattler, sophomore, Oklahoma.
Running backs — Breece Hall, junior, Iowa State; Bijan Robinson, sophomore, Texas.
Tackles — Evan Neal, junior, Alabama; Kenyon Green, junior, Texas A&M.
Guards — Cain Madden, senior, Notre Dame; Zion Johnson, senior, Boston College.
Center — Tyler Linderbaum, junior, Iowa.
Tight end — Charlie Kolar, senior, Iowa State.
Wide receivers — Chris Olave, senior, Ohio State; Justyn Ross, junior, Clemson.
All-purpose player — Kyren Williams, sophomore, Notre Dame.
Kicker — Cade York, junior, LSU.
2021 AP First Team Defense
Ends — Kayvon Thibodeaux, junior, Oregon; DeMarvin Leal, junior, Texas A&M.
Tackles —- Haskell Garrett, super senior, Ohio State; Bryan Bresee, sophomore, Clemson.
Linebackers — Will Anderson Jr., sophomore, Alabama; Nik Bonitto, junior, Oklahoma; Mike Rose, senior, Iowa State.
Cornerbacks — Derek Stingley, Jr., junior, LSU; Ahmad Gardner, junior, Cincinnati.
Safeties — Kyle Hamilton, junior, Notre Dame; Brandon Joseph, sophomore, Northwestern.
Punter — Jake Camarda, senior, Georgia.
2021 AP Second Team Offense
Quarterback — Sam Howell, junior, North Carolina.
Running backs — Mohamed Ibrahim, senior, Minnesota; Isaiah Spiller, junior, Texas A&M.
Tackles — Thayer Munford, senior, Ohio State; Darian Kinnard, senior, Kentucky.
Guards — Jamaree Salyer, senior, Georgia; Emil Ekiyor, junior, Alabama.
Center — Jarrett Patterson, junior, Notre Dame.
Tight end — Jalen Wydermyer, junior, Texas A&M.
Wide receivers — Garrett Wilson, junior, Ohio State; John Metchie III, junior, Alabama.
All-purpose player — Jerrion Ealy, junior, Mississippi.
Kicker — Anders Carlson, senior, Auburn.
2021 AP Second Team Defense
Ends — Aidan Hutchinson, senior, Michigan; George Karlaftis, junior, Purdue.
Tackles — Jordan Davis, senior, Georgia; Dante Stills, senior, West Virginia.
Linebackers — Devin Lloyd, super senior Utah; Christian Harris, junior, Alabama; Micah McFadden, senior, Indiana.
Cornerbacks — Kaiir Elam, junior, Florida; Tiawan Mullen, junior, Indiana.
Safeties — Jalen Catalon, redshirt sophomore, Arkansas; Jaquan Brisker, super senior, Penn State.
Punter — Lou Hedley, senior, Miami.
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