Pitt, Penn State players picked for Sporting News preseason All-American team

Football players from Pitt and Penn State continue to be recognized among the best in the nation as the 2025 season inches closer. Members of the Panthers and Nittany Lions were picked for the Sporting News Preseason All-American team released Wednesday.

Pitt redshirt junior linebacker Kyle Louis and senior running back Desmond Reid made an appearance on the first-team.

Louis had 101 tackles in 13 games in earning first-team All-American honors last season, posting four interceptions with one being returned for a touchdown. He also led the team in sacks with seven.

So far in the preseason, Louis has been named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year watch lists.

Reid was tabbed first-team All-ACC as an all-purpose player and specialist in 2024 after he had 966 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground while also adding 52 catches for 579 yards and four touchdowns through the air, as well as a punt return touchdown. He is on the watch lists for the Doak Walker Award and Maxwell Award, recognizing the nation’s top running back and best overall player, respectively.

Penn State’s lone first-team representative on the preseason team was guard Olaivevega Ionae. The redshirt junior was a leading blocker for two 1,000-yard rushers last season and also is on the Outland Trophy watch list.

Senior running back Nick Singleton and senior defensive lineman Zane Durant were second-team preseason All-American selections.

Singleton has surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in two of his first three seasons with the Nittany Lions and forms one of the nation’s toughest backfield tandems with Kaytron Allen. Singleton, who is on the watch lists for the Doak Walker Award, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, has compiled 2,912 rushing yards, 32 rushing touchdowns, 78 receptions, 768 receiving yards, eight touchdowns and 993 kick return yards in his PSU career.

Through three seasons, Durant has six sacks and 17 1/2 tackles for loss. He also is on the Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy watch lists. Last season, he made 42 tackles (22 solo), 11 tackles for loss, three sacks and a pass breakup.