Jaylen Twyman continues to make news — even after opting out of the 2020 season.

Twyman, who would have been a junior defensive tackle at Pitt this season, was named Tuesday to the Associated Press’ preseason All-America first team.

Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons joins Twyman as two of 11 players who opted out this season, but were named to the AP first team. Also named was Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth, who did not opt out, but won’t play this fall after the Big Ten postponed the season.

Twyman, a second-team All-American and first-team All-ACC selection last year, decided Aug. 8 after the first day of training camp to skip this season, return to be his family in Washington D.C. and begin preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft.

That didn’t change AP voters’ opinions on Twyman, who was a major disrupter in the middle of Pitt’s defense last season. He totaled 41 tackles, 12 for a loss, 10 ½ sacks, two hurries and two pass breakups.

Twyman considered going into the 2020 NFL Draft, but announced after Pitt’s victory against Eastern Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl that he planned to return to Pitt.

— JT (@JaylenTwyman) August 8, 2020

Twyman (6-foot-2, 290 pounds) would have been part of Pitt’s four-man defensive line — ends Patrick Jones II and Rashad Weaver and tackle Keyshon Camp — that might have been the best in the ACC.

“This past year has been crazy for so many people,” Twyman wrote on Twitter at the time of his opt-out. “It makes you realize you have responsibilities beyond yourself. That’s why I have decided to opt out of the 2020 season and declare for the 2021 NFL Draft and to return home and be with my family.”

Twyman said his decision “isn’t about covid-19.”

“This is about my family’s needs now and in the future,” he said.

Twyman is Pitt’s first first-team preseason All-American since Quadree Henderson was chosen as an all-purpose player in 2017.

The 2020 AP Preseason All-America Team

(x-team not scheduled to play in the fall; y-opted out of season):

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, sneior, 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.

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