There aren’t many college football players better than Calijah Kancey. That much should be apparent by now, and it’s already being proven by preseason watchlists.
Kancey, who was a first-team All-ACC and third-team All-American in 2021 following his stellar sophomore season, has already been named a preseason first-team All-ACC and first-team All-American by Athlon Sports. And now the Walter Camp Foundation is predicting success for Kancey.
While the Walter Camp Football Foundation didn’t name Kancey as a first-team member, he did earn second-team status. For reference, Clemson’s Bryan Breese, Georgia’s Jalen Carter, Washington’s Zion Tupuola-Fetui and Army’s Andre Carter II earned first-team honors.
As a sophomore in 2021, earning first-team All-ACC and third-team All-American honors, Kancey racked up 35 tackles (25 solo), 13 tackles for loss, seven sacks, a forced fumble and a pass defense as the anchor of Pitt’s stellar defensive line.
In just two seasons, he’s compiled 62 tackles (37 solo), 20 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, three passes defended and a forced fumble. And that’s all come as a defensive tackle — an anchor inside.
Kancey’s status as one of the very best defenders in college football is becoming clearer by the day, and his NFL Draft stock will only continue to increase, but he will once again anchor Pitt’s defensive line in 2022. And with Habakkuk Baldonado, Deslin Alexandre, Dayon Hayes, John Morgan and more on the line, Pitt’s defensive line should once again cause more havoc than any in college football.
Kancey was Pitt’s only representative in the Walter Camp preseason All-American list — former Pitt wide receiver Jordan Addison did earn first-team status. Addison and former Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett earned first-team All-American honors following the 2021 season.
The Walter Camp second-team defensive line is headlined by Kancey, Florida’s Gervon Dexter, Baylor’s Jaxon Player and Michigan State’s Jacob Slade.
Awesome H2P