The Miami (OH) kicker and Toledo cornerback are Second Team AP All-American selections.
The 2023 Associated Press All-American team was revealed Monday.
The AP All-American team is among the most prestigious selectors. It is one of five selectors recognized by the NCAA to determine “consensus” and “unanimous” All-Americans. It is also the second oldest of the five major All-American selectors — first nominating a team in 1925.
This year’s AP All-American team featured two players from the Mid-American Conference. Miami (OH) kicker Graham Nicholson was a First Team All-American selection and Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell was a Second Team All-American selection by the AP.
Nicholson is a first-time AP All-American selection. The Miami (OH) kicker took home the Lou Groza Award on Friday night for the nation’s best kicker. Nicholson drained 26-of-27 field goals this year, ranking first in the FBS in field goal percentage among kickers with at least 15 attempts. He started the season with 25-straight makes, tying 1982 Washington kicker Chuck Nelson for the most consecutive field goals in college football history. Nicholson is tied for second in the FBS in field goals made this season, and he nailed a season-long 52-yarder in a shutout win over Bowling Green. The junior, who committed to return for 2024, also sunk 35-of-36 extra points this year. With three field goals made in a MAC Championship Game victory, Nicholson was named Special Teams MVP of the game. He tied the Miami record for most field goals made in a season and ranks first in program history in single-season field goal percentage. Nicholson is the first MAC player to win the Lou Groza Award. He is also the first MAC First Team All-American selection since Northern Illinois defensive end Sutton Smith in 2018.
Mitchell is a second-time AP All-American selection. The Toledo cornerback earned Third Team honors in 2022 for a season which featured five interceptions, 19 pass breakups, 41 tackles, and 3.5 tackles for loss for the MAC champion Rockets. This season, Mitchell upgraded those honors to Second Team. In 2023, he accumulated one interception, 18 pass deflections, 41 tackles, and two tackles for loss. His 18 pass breakups reign supreme in the MAC and currently rank third in the entire FBS. Since 2005, only two defenders have broken up more passes in their collegiate careers than Mitchell’s 45. The cornerback led was an integral part of a Toledo defense which is second nationally in opponent completion percentage (51.7) and 15th in passing yards allowed per game (182.9).