The NIL era of college athletics has spread talent across a broader array of schools, and The Athletic\u2019s preseason All-America teams are a reflection of that reality. No school has more than two players on the two teams, and 24 different schools are represented among the 28 spots.<\/p>\n
First teamC\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Carson Tinney, Texas<\/p>\n
Tinney broke out last year as a sophomore, hitting .348\/.498\/.753 with 17 home runs at Notre Dame to earn All-ACC honors. He then transferred to Texas in arguably the most high-profile move of the summer.<\/p>\n
1B \u00a0 Brady Ballinger, Kansas<\/p>\n
Ballinger last year led the Jayhawks to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014, hitting .353\/.495\/.670 with 16 home runs and earning All-Big 12 honors.<\/p>\n
2B \u00a0 Chris Rembert, Auburn<\/p>\n
Rembert became the first Auburn freshman to earn All-SEC honors since 2008 after he hit .344\/.467\/.555, including a conference-best .485 on-base percentage in SEC play.<\/p>\n
3B \u00a0 Ace Reese, Mississippi State<\/p>\n
Reese transferred to Mississippi State from Houston before his sophomore season and hit .352\/.422\/.718 with 21 home runs and was named SEC Newcomer of the Year.<\/p>\n
Enjoy 40 seconds of Ace Reese HRs. pic.twitter.com\/t4mcOmukRQ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Old Row MSU (@OldRowMSU) January 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n SS \u00a0 Roch Cholowsky, UCLA<\/p>\n Cholowsky emerged as the nation\u2019s top player in 2025, hitting .353\/.480\/.710 with 23 home runs and was named both the Big Ten Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.<\/p>\n OF\u00a0 Drew Burress, Georgia Tech<\/p>\n Burress has been one of the best hitters in the country over the last two seasons, earning All-America honors in 2024 and 2025, and last year he hit .333\/.469\/.693 with 19 home runs.<\/p>\n OF\u00a0 Derek Curiel, LSU<\/p>\n Curiel starred as a freshman for LSU, helping the Tigers to the national championship and hitting .345\/.470\/.519 with 20 doubles and earning a spot on the all-tournament team at the College World Series.<\/p>\n OF\u00a0 Sawyer Strosnider, TCU<\/p>\n Strosnider hit .350\/.420\/.650 with 11 home runs and 10 stolen bases in 2025, earning Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors.<\/p>\n DH\u00a0 Daniel Cuvet, Miami<\/p>\n Cuvet has been one of the best power hitters in the country over the last two years, and last year hit .372\/.450\/.708 with 18 home runs.<\/p>\n SP \u00a0 Hunter Elliott, Ole Miss<\/p>\n After missing almost all of two seasons due to injury, Elliott returned last year to lead the Ole Miss rotation and went 10-3 with a 2.94 ERA, 102 strikeouts and 40 walks in 85 2\/3 innings.<\/p>\n SP \u00a0 Cameron Flukey, Coastal Carolina<\/p>\n Flukey helped lead Coastal to the College World Series finals, going 7-2 with a 3.19 ERA, 118 strikeouts and 24 walks in 101 2\/3 innings.<\/p>\n SP \u00a0 Dax Whitney, Oregon State<\/p>\n Whitney starred as a freshman in 2025, going 6-3 with a 3.40 ERA, 120 strikeouts and 37 walks in 76 2\/3 innings.<\/p>\n RP\u00a0 Tony Pluta, Arizona<\/p>\n Pluta emerged as one of the best relievers in the country in 2025 as he went 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA and 14 saves in 30 appearances.<\/p>\n RP\u00a0 Ryan Lynch, Coastal Carolina<\/p>\n Lynch starred in the Chanticleers\u2019 bullpen last season, helping them to a runner-up finish at the CWS and going 2-1 with a 0.56 ERA and nine saves in 28 appearances.<\/p>\n Second teamC \u00a0 \u00a0 Ryder Helfrick, Arkansas<\/p>\n Helfrick last year hit .305\/.420\/.616 with 15 home runs and was named Most Outstanding Player of the Fayetteville Regional, helping the Razorbacks eventually reach the College World Series.<\/p>\n 1B \u00a0 Myles Bailey, Florida State<\/p>\n Bailey hit .327\/.441\/.663 with 19 home runs in 2025, the most by any freshman in a major conference.<\/p>\n 2B \u00a0 Jarren Advincula, Georgia Tech<\/p>\n Last year at Cal, Advincula hit .342\/.410\/.506 with 13 stolen bases before transferring to Georgia Tech.<\/p>\n 3B \u00a0 Henry Ford, Tennessee<\/p>\n After two strong seasons at Virginia, Ford transferred to Tennessee and projects to take over at third base after hitting .362\/.420\/.575 with 11 home runs in 2025.<\/p>\n SS \u00a0 Justin Lebron, Alabama<\/p>\n Lebron has started all but one of Alabama\u2019s games at shortstop over the last two years, twice earning All-SEC Defensive Team honors, and last year hit .316\/.421\/.636 with 18 home runs and 17 stolen bases.<\/p>\n OF\u00a0 Harrison Feinberg, Northeastern<\/p>\n Feinberg broke out in 2025, earning co-CAA Player of the Year honors after hitting .367\/.455\/.715 with 18 home runs and 37 stolen bases.<\/p>\n OF\u00a0 AJ Gracia, Virginia<\/p>\n Gracia followed coach Chris Pollard from Duke to Virginia after hitting .293\/.449\/.558 with 15 home runs last season.<\/p>\n OF\u00a0 Lucas Moore, Louisville<\/p>\n Moore last year helped lead the Cardinals to the College World Series, hitting .341\/.430\/.456 with 53 stolen bases, the most by any player in a major conference since 2012.<\/p>\n DH\u00a0 Aiden Robbins, Texas<\/p>\n Robbins hit .422\/.537\/.652 with six home runs and 20 stolen bases for Seton Hall in 2025 and then transferred to Texas.<\/p>\n SP \u00a0 Jackson Flora, UCSB<\/p>\n Flora is the latest in a long line of star UCSB pitchers and is coming off a season in which he went 6-3 with a 3.60 ERA, 86 strikeouts and 17 walks in 75 innings.<\/p>\n RHP Jackson Flora is coming off a strong Sophomore campaign, where he posted a 3.60 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 75 innings of work. He continued his upward trajectory this fall, with a 1.40 FIP and 1.00 WHIP to go along with a gaudy strikeout rate of 42.9%.@jackflora05<\/a> @UCSB_Baseball<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/hyNCNJ8A98<\/a><\/p>\n