Ohio State senior defensive lineman Cameron Heyward Tuesday was named to the 2010 Playboy Preseason All-America Football Team.
Heyward, who also has been named to the preseason Lombardi and Lott Trophy watch lists, led the Buckeyes with 6.5 sacks and had 10 TFL for Ohio State’s Top 5-ranked defense in 2009. He led all defensive linemen with 46 tackles and had his best game of the year with 9.0 tackles and 2.0 sacks in the win at Penn State.
A 2009 Second Team All-Big Ten selection, Heyward will anchor a defensive line that loses five off the unit from last year, including Thaddeus Gibson and Doug Worthington – 18.0 tackles-for-loss and 6.0 sacks between them – and part-time starter Todd Denlinger (4.0 and 2.0, respectively) the most significant losses to overcome.
Heyward and the Buckeyes open the 2010 season at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2 against Marshall at Ohio Stadium.
This year marks the 54th year of the Playboy All-America Team, the direct descendent of the original All-America as conceived by Walter Camp back in the 1890’s.