The 2026 preseason Associated Press All-America team was revealed on Tuesday and included a pair of Sooners in defensive tackle David Stone and kicker Tate Sandell, but there could be even more Oklahoma players deemed as All-Americans the next time that team is announced.
Sandell was an obvious choice as the reigning Lou Groza Award winner as the best kicker in college football destined for the NFL after his fifth season. Stone was also worthy of the recognition ahead of what should be a breakout season as a former five-star recruit. The reality is, though, the title of All-American doesn't mean much until after a player earns it throughout the season.
Stone and Sandell will look to also end the season as All-Americans, but there are also six other Sooners (at least) who didn't get the honor this preseason but look primed to when it matters most after stellar 2026 campaigns. There's also reason to argue for others without this list getting over-inflated.
Kip Lewis among Sooners worthy of All-American hype
OU fans are well-aware of Eli Bowen heading into his third year as a starter at cornerback, but it's about time the rest of college football also learned. He was a Freshman All-American by ESPN in 2024, then was Third-Team All-SEC last year as a sophomore. The next progression is to be one of the best corners in the SEC, which also means being one of the best in the country.
If not for missing the first four games of the season with an injury last year, he'd probably even already have that respect and earned preseason All-America recognition.
How cool would it be to witness a pair of brothers become All-Americans together? The Bowen brothers certainly could.
Peyton, the oldest as a senior, has 20 starts under his belt and was Second-Team All-SEC last year. He and his brother were also on the preseason All-SEC Second Team, proving it's not just Sooner Nation that expects big things from this family.
After being a Freshman All-American by On3 last year, it's time for left tackle Michael Fasusi to upgrade his All-American status in 2026. He spent 2025 figuring things out, but still held his own in SEC trenches with 10 starts protecting quarterback John Mateer's blindside. He allowed four sacks on 395 pass-blocking snaps.
A former five-star recruit, Fasusi showed last year he was worthy of the hype, but as a sophomore, he should live up to it.
Read more: Michael Fasusi was the talk of Oklahoma's media day as his stock isn't done soaring
He's back.
Linebacker Owen Heinecke got an unexpected extra season after a lot of drama with the NCAA. He was a surprise star in 2025 as a former walk-on who started his college journey playing lacrosse at Ohio State. Now that he's a solidified starter in Brent Venables' defense and has everyone paying attention, a season that surpasses even a little bit of what he accomplished in 2025 will have him in All-American contention.
OU legend Brian Bosworth even proclaimed that Heinecke has a shot at winning the Butkus Award, which is given to the best linebacker in college football and was also won by The Boz.
Read more: Brian Bosworth sees something special brewing in Owen Heinecke at Oklahoma
A year after leading the Sooners with 76 total tackles, linebacker Kip Lewis should do even more in his fifth season as the heartbeat of OU's defense. Leading what could be the best defense in college football should already earn Lewis All-American respect, but his numbers will also catch the attention of stat watchers.
Somehow, Taylor Wein's breakout season has been forgotten about throughout college football. Even playing along one of the best defensive lines in the country and on the opposite edge of future second-round pick R Mason Thomas, Wein still stood out in 2025 and garnered Second-Team All-SEC honors after leading Oklahoma with 7.5 sacks.
Now, Wein is not only the guy for the Sooners, but could also emerge as one of the best pass rushers in the nation in 2026. And All-American voters love a high sack total.
Honorable mentions: Courtland Guillory (CB), Jayden Jackson (DT), John Mateer (QB), Isaiah Sategna III (WR)
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