Which two Sooners crack PFF's first-team Preseason College Football All-America Team?
The 2021 college football season commences in two months. After last years unprecedented shortened schedule due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, this season will bring back a sense of normalcy. Crowded stadiums and tailgates will kick off shortly. In the meantime, a way to gear up for this seasons playmakers across the CFB landscape is to glance at PFFs Preseason All-America Team. The talent-filled compilation consists of players selected by PFF grades and statistical data. Two Sooners, quarterback Spencer Rattler and edge rusher Nik Bonitto, landed on the prestigious ranking. Spencer Rattler: First-Team Quarterback  Rattler took over the OU starting job as a redshirt freshman last season, hoping to continue Oklahomas run of dominance at the quarterback position under head coach Lincoln Riley. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound signal-caller lived up to expectations, earning a 92.5 mark that not only ranked fourth in the FBS but was also the best grade PFF has ever given to a true or redshirt freshman quarterback. Rattler has a little bit of Texas Techs Patrick Mahomes in him, both stylistically and situationally. He has an ultra-quick, effortless release to pair with jaw-dropping arm talent and elite playmaking ability outside of structure. The Oklahoma quarterback produced a 91.3 passing grade and a 69.7% accurate-pass rate when creating off structure in 2020, both of which led all FBS passers. That passing grade beat out Joe Burrow for the best grade ever earned by a Power Five quarterback. Following in the footsteps of Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts, Spencer Rattler is Lincoln Rileys latest prodigy in Norman with limitless potential. With his arm-talent, quick release, tight window accuracy and stellar improvisation skills, Rattler is poised to break barriers and records at the position. The analytical metrics speak for themselves, but No. 7 is special. When throwing on film, it does not take long before the eyebrows raise. He navigates pressure with ease and makes off-platform throws that are extremely challenging for any quarterback, much less a redshirt freshman new on the scene. He is able to seperate his upper and lower half to make a throw with unconventional footwork. Regardless of the base, he can make the throw and garner enough velocity. Rattler is a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy and will be a thrilling player to watch when college football returns in August. Nik Bonitto: First-Team Edge  Bonitto might be the most underrated player in all of college football. The rush-end led all FBS edge defenders in pass-rush grade (93.6), pass-rush win rate (28%) and pressure rate generated (25.7%) in 2020. Among all Power Five edge defenders since we began grading college seven years ago, Bonitto ranks in the top five in all three metrics. Bonittos explosiveness and athleticism caused headaches for every offensive tackle he faced, and no lineman succeeded in shutting him down in 2020. His lowest win rate in a single game this past year sat at 17.6%  a pretty solid day for most FBS edge rushers. Oklahomas high-powered offense often draws the spotlight, but Nik Bonitto is as good as it gets. His burst off the edge from a two-point stance is lethal. He consistently collapses pockets and his playmaking ability changes the outcome of ballgames. Bonitto effortlessly out-leverages offensive tackles at the line of scrimmage, creating a reputation across the college football landscape as one of the most feared defensive players across the nation. His pursuit angles are rare, resulting in earth-shattering hits on ball carriers and quarterbacks. He sets the tone and is the cornerstone of Alex Grinchs defense.