The 2024 Associated Press preseason All-America teams sparked discussion with their quarterback selections, leaving Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, a top NFL prospect, off the list. Instead, Georgia’s Carson Beck was named to the first team, while Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, who played at Oklahoma in 2023, secured the second-team spot. The exclusion of Sanders raised eyebrows, given his strong performance in 2023, but a closer comparison of stats helps clarify the AP’s decision.
Shedeur Sanders vs. Carson Beck and Dillon Gabriel: 2023 Stats Comparison
Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)
- Record (W-L): 4-8
- Completion Percentage: 69.3%
- Passing Yards: 3,230
- Passing Touchdowns: 27
- Rushing Yards: -77
- Rushing Touchdowns: 4
- Sacks: 52
- Interceptions: 3
Carson Beck (Georgia)
- Record (W-L): 13-1
- Completion Percentage: 72.4%
- Passing Yards: 3,738
- Passing Touchdowns: 22
- Rushing Yards: 126
- Rushing Touchdowns: 4
- Sacks: 10
- Interceptions: 6
Dillon Gabriel (Oklahoma)
- Record (W-L): 10-3
- Completion Percentage: 69.3%
- Passing Yards: 3,660
- Passing Touchdowns: 30
- Rushing Yards: 373
- Rushing Touchdowns: 12
- Sacks: 17
- Interceptions: 6
Analysis
1. Passing Performance:
- Completion Percentage: Beck leads with 72.4%, while Sanders and Gabriel are tied at 69.3%.
- Passing Yards: Beck also leads with 3,738 yards, followed by Gabriel with 3,660 yards, and Sanders with 3,230 yards. Despite playing fewer games, Sanders’ passing stats are competitive, though he lags slightly behind Beck and Gabriel.
- Passing Touchdowns: Gabriel’s 30 touchdowns edge out Sanders’ 27, while Beck trails with 22.
2. Rushing Ability:
- Rushing Yards: Sanders falls short with -77 rushing yards, whereas Gabriel excels with 373 yards, and Beck contributes 126 yards.
- Rushing Touchdowns: Sanders and Beck each have 4 rushing touchdowns, but Gabriel far outpaces them with 12.
3. Supporting Cast and Team Performance:
- Team Record: Beck and Gabriel played on teams with significantly better records (13-1 and 10-3, respectively) than Sanders’ 4-8 Colorado squad. The success of their teams likely played a role in their All-America selections.
- Sacks: Sanders was sacked 52 times, compared to just 10 for Beck and 17 for Gabriel, indicating that Sanders faced more pressure and had less support from his offensive line.
While Shedeur Sanders had a strong individual season, the combination of Carson Beck and Dillon Gabriel’s superior team success, better protection, and more balanced offensive contributions likely tipped the scales in their favor for the All-America selections. Sanders’ stats are impressive, especially considering his challenging circumstances, but Beck and Gabriel’s performances in the context of their teams’ overall success were enough to earn them the nod from the AP.
