The offseason in college football is cruising along and all 119 teams have completed their spring scrimmage games. Already things are starting to unfold for the 2008 season, and while most of the focus typically surrounds the top teams, who are the best positional players to keep an eye on this fall? Read on as Rich Thomaselli looks at this year’s Football Action Preseason All-America Team, then be sure to pick up this year’s Football Action College Preview Edition now available in stores!

There was a time when master entertainer Bob Hope would celebrate the All-America team each year on one of his television specials, an event that passed gently into the night over time as the television shows waned and Hope passed away at the age of 100. But earning All-America honors is still special, as it offers a celebration of the finest college football players in the country.

Here is the 2008 Football Action Preseason All-America Team:

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE

RB–Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
Emerging as the Bulldogs’ top back last season, Moreno had five consecutive 100-yard games in themiddle of the year—the first Georgia back since a guy by the name of Herschel Walker to do so—and helped the Bulldogs to a Sugar Bowl romp over Hawaii. Moreno finished with 1,334 yards and 14 touchdowns.

RB–Chris Wells, Ohio State
Wells established himself at the end of the 2006 season when he preserved Ohio State’s perfect regular season with a long rushing touchdown against Michigan. Last year, he ran for 1,609 yards and scored 15 touchdowns—and burned the Wolverines again with 222 yards and two scores.Wells was the lone bright spot in the Buckeyes’ national title game loss to LSU, rushing for 146 yards.

WR–Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
Look at the huge numbers for the freshman last year: 125 catches for 1,861 yards and 21 touchdowns. Crabtree tailed off late in the season after captivating the nation with 17 scores in his first six games, although much of that was due to defenses suddenly flooding his side of the field. Of course, head coach Mike Leach probably spent the offseason tailoring his pass-happy offense to avoid such problems in 2008. Crabtree is sure to be one of college football’s most dynamic players.

WR–Percy Harvin, Florida
A threat every time he touches the football, whether it’s catching a pass or taking a handoff on an end-around. In fact, in the last three games he played against Vanderbilt, Florida State and Michigan, Harvin touched the ball 63 times for 689 yards (10.9 yards per touch) and had five touchdowns. Between Tebowand Harvin, Florida has what is arguably the best 1-2 punch in college football.

TE–Travis Beckum, Wisconsin
Beckum all but carried the Badger passing game last year, such as it is. He caught 73 balls for 960 yards and six touchdowns, picking up an offense that was decimated by injuries to receivers and to star running back P.J. Hill. His blocking skills pale in comparison to his receiving ability, but don’t tell that to the linebackers he’s run over paving the way for Hill.

OT–Andre Smith, Alabama
The prototypical left tackle, No. 71 is 6-5, 340 pounds of blocking terror. Earned Alabama’s Up-Front and Offensive Player of the Year Awards as a sophomore in 2007, was a co-winner of the SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy along with Arkansas’ Jonathan Luigs, and was a coaches’ First-Team All-SEC selection.

G–George Robinson, Oklahoma
Nicknamed “Duke,” and for good reason. NFL scouts consider him royalty on the offensive line. Arguably the nation’s premier left guard, Robinson’s also versatile enough to play tackle if he had to. The 6-5, 345-pound junior is equally adept as a pass protector and a run blocker.

C–Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas
Okay, so last year’s Heisman candidate Darren McFadden and fellow running back Felix Jones were the main reasons why the Hogs rushed for nearly 300 yards per game. However, Luigs was another reason, anchoring a line that opened up huge holes for its talented backs. Luigs won the Rimington Award as the nation’s best center.

G–Herman Johnson, LSU
This is a big man. A big man. Did we mention he was big? Johnson goes 6-7, 351 pounds,wears a 3X helmet and a size 17 cleat. And this is after the senior dropped 50 pounds since enrolling at LSU. The great thing about Johnson—and what will get him drafted fairly high in 2009—is his versatility. Johnson can also play both tackle positions and has, in the past, lined up in the backfield in short-yardage and goal-line situations.

OT–Michael Oher, Ole Miss
The senior has started 34 consecutive games over his career, and his blocking skills have helped running back BenJarvus Green- Ellis top the 1,000-yard rushing mark in consecutive seasons. Oher’s story is the stuff of books–literally. ANew York Times best seller by Michael Lewis, “The Blind Side: The Evolution of a Game” chronicles Oher’s journey from being one of 13 children of a drug-addicted mother to a possible first-round draft pick in 2009.

PK–Thomas Weber, Arizona State
The Sun Devils hope he doesn’t succumb to the ‘sophomore jinx,’ because Weber was golden as a freshman, nailing 22 of 23 field goal attempts and 42 of 44 extra points. His range is somewhat limited–he only attempted six field goals from 40 yards or more, but he hit all six, including a 53-yarder.

KR–A.J. Jefferson, Fresno State
Imagine what Jefferson could have done if he played a full season in 2007. He didn’t touch the ball in the Bulldogs’ first three games, and he missed the last two games. In between, Jefferson showed why he is one of college football’s most exciting players, with 26 returns for 930 yards, an average of 35.7 yards, and two touchdowns.

FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE

DT–Sen’Derrick Marks, Auburn
They’re expecting big things at Auburn from Marks this season, and he’s prepared to deliver. Marks, who has started 26 consecutive games, goes back inside to hismore comfortable tackle position after playing at end last season. Nonetheless, he recorded 43 tackles, including nine for loss and two sacks.

DT–Fili Moala, USC
Moala started all 13 games and had 32 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks. Sports Illustrated picked Moala as one of its top 2009 draft picks, saying “his size, athleticism and power remind many of former USC Trojan Darrell Russell. Moala is a dominant front-line defender.”

DE–George Selvie, South Florida
Halfway through the Big East season, Selvie found himself being double- and sometimes triple-teamed. Consider it a compliment and one of the big reasons why South Florida rose to No. 2 in the country at one point. Selvie finished with 57 tackles (31.5 for loss), 14.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and nine quarterback hurries.

LB–James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
Yeah, yeah, we know. His dad was a pro wrestler. But Laurinaitis ismaking a name for himself with his outstanding play. In leading Ohio State to a second consecutive national title game, he led the Buckeyes with 121 tackles, eight for loss, five sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

LB–Rey Maualuga, USC
Maualuga, USC’s leading tackler in 2007 and a two-time All-Pac-10 first-teamer, returns for his third season as the Trojans’ starting middle linebacker. The senior is on the “Watch List” for the Lombardi Award. Maualuga registered 79 tackles, including 10.5 for loss and six sacks, plus a fumble recovery, one forced fumble, and an interception.

LB–Brandon Spikes, Florida
Strength and agility, all in one 6-3, 245-pound package. Spikes started all 13 games at middle linebacker and earned First-Team All-SEC honors by the league’s coaches and the Associated Press. Led the team with 131 total tackles (81 solo), good for second in the SEC. Also led the team and tied for third in the SEC in fumble recoveries with three, including two in the victory over South Carolina and one versus Michigan.

CB–Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
How Rutgers let Jenkins get out of their backyard in Piscataway, N.J. will forever be a mystery. The senior returns for his fourth year as a starter and is a Thorpe Award candidate. He finished 2007 with 47 tackles (five for loss) and four interceptions.

SS–Nic Harris, Oklahoma
Unfortunately for opposing receivers, Harris doesn’t live up to his first name. No, he doesn’t ‘nick’ people; he punishes them with his 6-3, 232-pound frame. Harris was All-Big 12 first team in 2007 after a season in which he recorded 74 tackles (9.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and seven pass breakups.

FS–William Moore, Missouri
A flat-out game-changer, Moore emerged as one of the nation’s top safeties after tying for the NCAA lead with eight interceptions. He did not participate in spring drills due to offseason shoulder surgery he had following the Cotton Bowl to repair a torn labrum in a shoulder he suffered in the bowl game–while he was winning the game’s defensive MVP award. Moore will be completely healthy by the time camp opens in August.

CB–Mike Mickens, Cincinnati
Bearcats fans and head coach Brian Kelly breathed a sigh of relief in January when Mickens decided to bypass the NFL draft and stay at Cincinnati for his senior season. The three-year starter was named first-team All-Big East in 2007 after recording 53 tackles and six interceptions. He returned two of the picks for touchdowns.

P–Kevin Huber, Cincinnati
When the offense stalls, the punter can be the greatest weapon on the field. That’s Huber. The junior had 53 punts for 2,484 yards, which works out to an average of 46.9 yards per kick. He dropped 18 of those punts–more than a third–inside the 20-yard line.

PR–Deon Murphy, Kansas State
And, conversely, just as a punter can be a weapon, so too can a punt returner. Murphy took one of his 26 returns back for a touchdown, but his most impressive stat was his 17.5-yard per-return average.