1981 College Football All-America Team: Difference between revisions
Updated seven players with CFHOF |
Updated three players with CFHOF Tag: Reverted |
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== Offensive selections == |
== Offensive selections == |
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=== |
=== Wide receivers === |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[Ken Margerum]]''', Stanford (CFHOF) <small>('''AFCA''', '''AP-1''', '''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''', NEA-1, WC)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Anthony Carter (American football)|Anthony Carter]], Michigan (CFHOF) <small>('''AP-1''', NEA-2, TSN)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Cris Collinsworth]], Florida <small>(AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-1)</small> |
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* |
* [[Mardye McDole]], Mississippi State <small>(NEA-2, TSN)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[David Verser]], Kansas <small>(AP-2)</small> |
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* |
* Bobby Stewart, Texas Christian <small>(AP-3)</small> |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
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=== Tight ends === |
=== Tight ends === |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[Dave Young (American football)|Dave Young]]''', Purdue <small>('''AFCA''', '''AP-1''', '''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''', TSN, WC)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Marvin Harvey (American football)|Marvin Harvey]], Southern Mississippi <small>(NEA-1)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Clay Brown (American football)|Clay Brown]], Brigham Young <small>(AP-3, UPI-2)</small> |
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* |
* Benjie Pryor, Pitt <small>(AP-2)</small> |
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* |
* Rodney Holman, Tulane <small>(NEA-2)</small> |
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=== Tackles === |
=== Tackles === |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[Mark May]]''', Pittsburgh (CFHOF) <small>('''AFCA''', '''AP-1''', '''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''', NEA-2 [guard], TSN, WC)</small> |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[Keith Van Horne]]''', USC <small>('''AP-1''', '''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''', NEA-1, TSN)</small> |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[Nick Eyre]]''', BYU <small>('''AFCA''', AP-3, '''FWAA''', UPI-2 [guard], NEA-1)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Bill Dugan]], Penn St. <small>('''AFCA''', AP-3)</small> |
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* |
* [[Ken Lanier]], Florida State <small>(AP-2)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Curt Marsh]], Washington <small>(NEA-2)</small> |
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⚫ | |||
* [[Don Mosebar]], USC <small>(GNS)</small> |
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* [[Pat Beach]], Washington State <small>(NEA-2)</small> |
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* [[Ken Dallafior]], Minnesota <small>(UPI-2)</small> |
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* Maceo Fifer, Houston <small>(AP-2)</small> |
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* Lee Nanney, Clemson <small>(UPI-2)</small> |
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* [[Tootie Robbins]], East Carolina <small>(AP-2)</small> |
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* [[Keith Uecker]], Auburn <small>(AP-3, FN-2)</small> |
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* [[Harvey Salem]], California <small>(AP-3)</small> |
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=== Guards === |
=== Guards === |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[Randy Schleusener]]''', Nebraska <small>('''AP-1''', '''UPI-1''', NEA-1, WC)</small> |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[Louis Oubre]]''', Oklahoma <small>('''AFCA''', AP-2 [tackle], '''FWAA''', UPI-2 [tackle], NEA-2 [tackle], WC)</small> |
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* |
* [[Ron Wooten]], North Carolina <small>(AP-3, UPI-2, NEA-1, WC)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Roy Foster (American football)|Roy Foster]], USC <small>('''UPI-1''', NEA-2)</small> |
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* |
* Frank Ditta, Baylor <small>('''AP-1''')</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Billy Ard]], Wake Forest <small>(TSN)</small> |
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* |
* [[Terry Crouch]], Oklahoma <small>(TSN)</small> |
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⚫ | |||
* [[Howard Richards (American football)|Howard Richards]], Missouri <small>(UPI-2)</small> |
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=== Centers === |
=== Centers === |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[John Scully (American football)|John Scully]]''', Notre Dame <small>('''AFCA''', '''AP-1''', '''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''', NEA-1, TSN)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[George Lilja]], Michigan <small>(AP-3, UPI-2, NEA-2, WC)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Rick Donnalley]], North Carolina <small>(AP-2)</small> |
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* Dan Mackie, Arizona State <small>(FN-2)</small> |
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* [[Mike Baab]], Texas <small>(AP-3)</small> |
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=== Quarterbacks === |
=== Quarterbacks === |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[Mark Herrmann]]''', Purdue (CFHOF) <small>('''AFCA''' [tie], '''AP-1''', '''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''', WC)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Jim McMahon]], BYU (CFHOF) <small>('''AFCA''' [tie], AP-2, UPI-2)</small> |
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* [[Art Schlichter]], Ohio State <small>(NEA- |
* [[Art Schlichter]], Ohio State <small>(NEA-1)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[John Elway]], Stanford (CFHOF) <small>(AP-3, NEA-2, TSN)</small> |
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=== Running backs === |
=== Running backs === |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[George Rogers (American football)|George Rogers]]''', South Carolina (CFHOF) <small>('''AFCA''', '''AP-1''', '''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''', NEA-1, TSN, WC)</small> |
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* '''[[Herschel Walker]]''', Georgia (CFHOF) <small>('''AFCA''', '''AP-1''', '''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''' |
* '''[[Herschel Walker]]''', Georgia (CFHOF) <small>('''AFCA''', '''AP-1''', '''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''', NEA-1, TSN, WC)</small> |
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* [[ |
* '''[[Jarvis Redwine]]''', Nebraska <small>('''AFCA''', '''UPI-1''', WC)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Freeman McNeil]], UCLA <small>(AP-2, '''FWAA''', UPI-2, NEA-2)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[James Brooks (American football)|James Brooks]], Auburn <small>(AP-2, NEA-2)</small> |
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* |
* [[Walter Abercrombie]], Baylor <small>(AP-3)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Marcus Allen]], USC (CFHOF) <small>(AP-3, UPI-2)</small> |
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* [[Dwayne Crutchfield]], Iowa State <small>(UPI-2)</small> |
* [[Dwayne Crutchfield]], Iowa State <small>(UPI-2)</small> |
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⚫ | |||
== Defensive selections == |
== Defensive selections == |
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=== Defensive ends === |
=== Defensive ends === |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[Hugh Green (American football)|Hugh Green]]''', Pittsburgh (CFHOF) <small>('''AFCA''', '''AP-1''', '''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''', NEA-1, TSN, WC)</small> |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[E.J. Junior]]''', Alabama <small>('''AFCA''', '''AP-1''' [LB], '''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''', NEA-1, TSN, WC)</small> |
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* |
* Scott Zettek, Notre Dame <small>('''AP-1''')</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Derrie Nelson]], Nebraska <small>(AP-2, '''FWAA''', UPI-2, NEA-2)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Don Blackmon]], Tulsa <small>(AP-2)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Lyman White]], LSU <small>(NEA-2)</small> |
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* |
* Rich Dixon, California <small>(AP-3)</small> |
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=== Defensive tackles === |
=== Defensive tackles === |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[Leonard Mitchell]]''', Houston <small>('''AFCA''', '''AP-1''', '''UPI-1''', NEA-1, TSN, WC)</small> |
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* [[ |
* '''[[Kenneth Sims]]''', Texas (CFHOF) <small>('''AP-1''', '''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''', NEA-1, TSN)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Hosea Taylor]], Houston <small>('''FWAA''', WC)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Vince Goldsmith]], Oregon <small>(AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-2)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Mike Trgovac]], Michigan <small>(AP-2)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[John Harty (American football)|John Harty]], Iowa <small>(UPI-2, NEA-2)</small> |
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* |
* Calvin Clark, Purdue <small>(AP-3)</small> |
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* |
* Elvin Keller, West Texas State <small>(AP-3)</small> |
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* Eddie Weaver, Georgia <small>(UPI-2)</small> |
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=== Middle guards === |
=== Middle guards === |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[Ron Simmons]]''', Florida State (CFHOF) <small>('''AFCA''', '''UPI-1''', WC)</small> |
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* |
* [[Jim Burt (American football)|Jim Burt]], Miami (Fla.) <small>(NEA-1)</small> |
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* |
* Stan Gardner, Kansas <small>(UPI-2)</small> |
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* |
* [[Hosea Taylor]], Houston <small>(NEA-2)</small> |
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=== Linebackers === |
=== Linebackers === |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[Mike Singletary]]''', Baylor (CFHOF) <small>('''AFCA''', '''AP-1''', '''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''', NEA-1, TSN, WC)</small> |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[Lawrence Taylor]]''', North Carolina <small>('''AFCA''', '''AP-1''', '''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''', NEA-2, TSN)</small> |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[Bob Crable]]''', Notre Dame (CFHOF) <small>('''AFCA''', AP-2, '''UPI-1''', NEA-1, TSN, WC)</small> |
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* [[ |
* '''[[David Little (linebacker)|David Little]]''', Florida <small>('''AP-1''', '''FWAA''', UPI-2, FN, NEA-2)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Tom Boyd (American football)|Tom Boyd]], Alabama <small>(AP-3, UPI-2, WC)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Marcus Marek]], Ohio State <small>(AP-3, UPI-2)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Andy Cannavino]], Michigan <small>(AP-2)</small> |
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* |
* [[Reggie Herring]], Florida State <small>(AP-2)</small> |
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* Ricky Young, Oklahoma State <small>(AP |
* Ricky Young, Oklahoma State <small>(AP-2)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Chip Banks]], USC <small>(AP-3)</small> |
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* Robert Brown, Virginia Tech <small>(NEA-2)</small> |
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* [[Mike Merriweather]], Pacific <small>(NEA-2)</small> |
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* [[Chet Parlavecchio]], Penn State <small>(FN-2)</small> |
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=== Defensive backs === |
=== Defensive backs === |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[Kenny Easley]]''', UCLA (CFHOF) <small>('''AFCA''', '''AP-1''', '''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''', NEA-1, TSN, WC)</small> |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[Ronnie Lott]]''', USC (CFHOF) <small>('''AFCA''', '''AP-1''', '''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''', NEA-1, TSN, WC)</small> |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[John Simmons (American football)|John Simmons]]''', SMU <small>('''AFCA''', '''AP-1''', '''FWAA''', UPI-2)</small> |
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* |
* [[Scott Woerner]], Georgia (CFHOF) <small>('''AFCA''', AP-2, '''UPI-1''', NEA-2, WC)</small> |
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* |
* [[Bobby Butler (American football)|Bobby Butler]], Florida State <small>(AP-3, NEA-1)</small> |
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* |
* [[Bill Whitaker (American football)|Bill Whitaker]], Missouri <small>(NEA-1)</small> |
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* |
* [[Ted Watts]], Texas Tech <small>(NEA-2, TSN)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Hanford Dixon]], Southern Mississippi <small>(TSN)</small> |
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* |
* Tim Wilbur, Indiana <small>(AP-2)</small> |
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* |
* [[Tommy Wilcox]], Alabama <small>(AP-2)</small> |
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* |
* [[Todd Bell]], Ohio State <small>(UPI-2, NEA-2)</small> |
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* |
* Jeff Hipp, Georgia <small>(UPI-2)</small> |
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* |
* [[Jeff Griffin]], Utah <small>(NEA-2)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Vann McElroy]], Baylor <small>(AP-3)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Dennis Smith (American football)|Dennis Smith]], USC <small>(AP-3)</small> |
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* Jim Bob Harris, Alabama <small>(UPI-2)</small> |
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* Mike Kennedy, Toledo <small>(NEA-2)</small> |
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* Kevin Potter, Missouri <small>(FN-2)</small> |
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* Ken Thomas, San Jose State <small>(NEA-2)</small> |
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== Special teams == |
== Special teams == |
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=== Kickers === |
=== Kickers === |
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* [[ |
* [[Rex Robinson]], Georgia <small>('''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''', NEA-1, WC)</small> |
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* |
* [[Bill Capece]], Florida State <small>(UPI-2, TSN)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Obed Ariri]], Clemson <small>(NEA-2)</small> |
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* Danny Miller, Miami (Fla.) <small>(UPI-2, FN-1)</small> |
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=== Punters === |
=== Punters === |
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* |
* [[Rohn Stark]], Florida State <small>('''FWAA''', '''UPI-1''', NEA-2, TSN)</small> |
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* [[ |
* [[Ray Stachowicz]], Michigan State <small>(UPI-2, NEA-1, WC)</small> |
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* [[Maury Buford]], Texas Tech <small>(NEA-2)</small> |
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* [[Bucky Scribner]], Kansas <small>(AP-2)</small> |
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== Key == |
== Key == |
Revision as of 11:47, 21 May 2024
1981 College Football All-America Team |
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College Football All-America Team |
1981 NCAA Division I-A football season |
Official selectors |
American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Associated Press (AP) Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) United Press International (UPI) |
← 1980 1982 → |
The 1981 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams in 1981. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recognizes four selectors as "official" for the 1981 season.[1] They are: (1) the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) based on the input of more than 2,000 voting members;[2] (2) the Associated Press (AP) selected based on the votes of sports writers at AP newspapers;[3] (3) the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) selected by the nation's football writers;[4] and (4) the United Press International (UPI) selected based on the votes of sports writers at UPI newspapers.[5] Other selectors included Football News (FN),[6] Gannett News Service (GNS),[7] the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA),[8] The Sporting News (TSN),[9] and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WC).[10]
Nine players were unanimously selected as first-team All-Americans by all four official selectors.[1] They were:
- Marcus Allen, running back for USC, who won the 1981 Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, and Walter Camp Award after becoming the first player to rush for more than 2,000 yards (2,427) in a season;
- Anthony Carter, wider receiver for Michigan, consensus first-team All-American in both 1981 and 1982 who caught 50 passes for 952 yards during the 1981 season;
- Sean Farrell, offensive guard who helped lead Penn State to a 10–2 record and a #3 ranking in the final AP Poll;
- Jim McMahon, quarterback for BYU and winner of the 1981 Davey O'Brien Award and Sammy Baugh Trophy;
- Dave Rimington, center for Nebraska, two-time winner of the Outland Trophy and the namesake of the Rimington Trophy, which is awarded annually to the nation's top collegiate center.
- Kenneth Sims, defensive tackle who helped lead Texas to a 10–1–1 record and #2 ranking in the final AP Poll, and who became the #1 pick in the 1982 NFL Draft;
- Billy Ray Smith, Jr., defensive end for Arkansas and who was a consensus first-team All-American in both 1981 and 1982;
- Herschel Walker, running back for Georgia, a three-time consensus first-team All-American who finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1981 and won the award in 1982; and
- Tim Wrightman, tight end for UCLA who caught 28 passes for 308 yards in 1981.
Allen, Carter, McMahon, Rimington, Smith, and Walker have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
The 1981 Michigan Wolverines football team led the nation with five of its players, all on offense, receiving first-team honors from one or more of the selectors. In addition to Anthony Carter, Michigan's honorees were offensive tackles Ed Muransky and Bubba Paris, offensive guard Kurt Becker, and running back Butch Woolfolk.
Consensus All-Americans
The following charts identify the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans for the year 1981 and displays which first-team designations they received.
Offense
Name | Position | School | Number[11] | Official | Other |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marcus Allen | Running back | USC | 4/5/9 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI | FN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WC |
Anthony Carter | Wide receiver | Michigan | 4/5/9 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI | FN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WC |
Sean Farrell | Offensive guard | Penn State | 4/5/9 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI | FN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WC |
Herschel Walker | Running back | Georgia | 4/5/9 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI | FN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WC |
Dave Rimington | Center | Nebraska | 4/3/7 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI | FN, GNS, WC |
Tim Wrightman | Tight end | UCLA | 4/2/6 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI | NEA, WC |
Jim McMahon | Quarterback | BYU | 4/2/6 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI | FN, GNS |
Roy Foster | Offensive guard | USC | 3/2/5 | AFCA, FWAA, UPI | TSN, WC |
Terry Tausch | Offensive tackle | Texas | 2/3/5 | AP, UPI | FN, TSN, WC |
Kurt Becker | Offensive guard | Michigan | 2/3/5 | AFCA, AP | FN, GNS, NEA |
Terry Crouch | Offensive tackle | Oklahoma | 2/0/2 | AFCA, FWAA | – |
Ed Muransky | Offensive tackle | Michigan | 2/0/2 | AP, UPI | – |
Defense
Name | Position | School | Number[11] | Official | Other |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kenneth Sims | Defensive tackle | Texas | 4/5/9 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI | FN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WC |
Billy Ray Smith Jr. | Defensive end | Arkansas | 4/5/9 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI | FN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WC |
Bob Crable | Linebacker | Notre Dame | 3/4/7 | AFCA, AP, UPI | FN, GNS, TSN, WC |
Andre Tippett | Defensive end | Iowa | 3/2/5 | AP, FWAA, UPI | FN, GNS |
Tommy Wilcox | Defensive back | Alabama | 3/2/5 | AFCA, AP, UPI | FN, WC |
Jeff Davis | Linebacker | Clemson | 3/1/4 | AFCA, FWAA, UPI | FN |
Tim Krumrie | Middle guard | Wisconsin | 2/2/4 | AP, UPI | FN, WC |
Mike C. Richardson | Defensive back | Arizona State | 2/2/4 | AP, FWAA | TSN, WC |
Sal Sunseri | Linebacker | Pittsburgh | 3/0/3 | AFCA, AP, FWAA | -- |
Terry Kinard | Defensive back | Clemson | 2/1/3 | AP, FWAA | NEA |
Fred Marion | Defensive back | Miami (FL) | 2/1/3 | AP, FWAA | NEA |
Special teams
Name | Position | School | Number[11] | Official | Other |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reggie Roby | Punter | Iowa | 2/2/4 | AP, UPI | FN, WC |
Offensive selections
Wide receivers
- Ken Margerum, Stanford (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC)
- Anthony Carter, Michigan (CFHOF) (AP-1, NEA-2, TSN)
- Cris Collinsworth, Florida (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-1)
- Mardye McDole, Mississippi State (NEA-2, TSN)
- David Verser, Kansas (AP-2)
- Bobby Stewart, Texas Christian (AP-3)
Tight ends
- Dave Young, Purdue (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, TSN, WC)
- Marvin Harvey, Southern Mississippi (NEA-1)
- Clay Brown, Brigham Young (AP-3, UPI-2)
- Benjie Pryor, Pitt (AP-2)
- Rodney Holman, Tulane (NEA-2)
Tackles
- Mark May, Pittsburgh (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-2 [guard], TSN, WC)
- Keith Van Horne, USC (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN)
- Nick Eyre, BYU (AFCA, AP-3, FWAA, UPI-2 [guard], NEA-1)
- Bill Dugan, Penn St. (AFCA, AP-3)
- Ken Lanier, Florida State (AP-2)
- Curt Marsh, Washington (NEA-2)
Guards
- Randy Schleusener, Nebraska (AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC)
- Louis Oubre, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-2 [tackle], FWAA, UPI-2 [tackle], NEA-2 [tackle], WC)
- Ron Wooten, North Carolina (AP-3, UPI-2, NEA-1, WC)
- Roy Foster, USC (UPI-1, NEA-2)
- Frank Ditta, Baylor (AP-1)
- Billy Ard, Wake Forest (TSN)
- Terry Crouch, Oklahoma (TSN)
- Sean Farrell, Penn State (AP-2)
- Joe Lukens, Ohio State (AP-2)
- Howard Richards, Missouri (UPI-2)
- Frank McCallister, Navy (AP-3)
Centers
- John Scully, Notre Dame (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN)
- George Lilja, Michigan (AP-3, UPI-2, NEA-2, WC)
- Rick Donnalley, North Carolina (AP-2)
Quarterbacks
- Mark Herrmann, Purdue (CFHOF) (AFCA [tie], AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC)
- Jim McMahon, BYU (CFHOF) (AFCA [tie], AP-2, UPI-2)
- Art Schlichter, Ohio State (NEA-1)
- John Elway, Stanford (CFHOF) (AP-3, NEA-2, TSN)
Running backs
- George Rogers, South Carolina (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
- Herschel Walker, Georgia (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
- Jarvis Redwine, Nebraska (AFCA, UPI-1, WC)
- Freeman McNeil, UCLA (AP-2, FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-2)
- James Brooks, Auburn (AP-2, NEA-2)
- Walter Abercrombie, Baylor (AP-3)
- Marcus Allen, USC (CFHOF) (AP-3, UPI-2)
- Dwayne Crutchfield, Iowa State (UPI-2)
- Stump Mitchell, The Citadel (AP-3)
Defensive selections
Defensive ends
- Hugh Green, Pittsburgh (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
- E.J. Junior, Alabama (AFCA, AP-1 [LB], FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
- Scott Zettek, Notre Dame (AP-1)
- Derrie Nelson, Nebraska (AP-2, FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-2)
- Don Blackmon, Tulsa (AP-2)
- Lyman White, LSU (NEA-2)
- Rich Dixon, California (AP-3)
- Rickey Jackson, Pittsburgh (AP-3, UPI-2)
Defensive tackles
- Leonard Mitchell, Houston (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
- Kenneth Sims, Texas (CFHOF) (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN)
- Hosea Taylor, Houston (FWAA, WC)
- Vince Goldsmith, Oregon (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-2)
- Mike Trgovac, Michigan (AP-2)
- John Harty, Iowa (UPI-2, NEA-2)
- Calvin Clark, Purdue (AP-3)
- Elvin Keller, West Texas State (AP-3)
Middle guards
- Ron Simmons, Florida State (CFHOF) (AFCA, UPI-1, WC)
- Jim Burt, Miami (Fla.) (NEA-1)
- Stan Gardner, Kansas (UPI-2)
- Hosea Taylor, Houston (NEA-2)
Linebackers
- Mike Singletary, Baylor (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
- Lawrence Taylor, North Carolina (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-2, TSN)
- Bob Crable, Notre Dame (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
- David Little, Florida (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, FN, NEA-2)
- Tom Boyd, Alabama (AP-3, UPI-2, WC)
- Marcus Marek, Ohio State (AP-3, UPI-2)
- Andy Cannavino, Michigan (AP-2)
- Reggie Herring, Florida State (AP-2)
- Ricky Young, Oklahoma State (AP-2)
- Chip Banks, USC (AP-3)
Defensive backs
- Kenny Easley, UCLA (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
- Ronnie Lott, USC (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
- John Simmons, SMU (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2)
- Scott Woerner, Georgia (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-1, NEA-2, WC)
- Bobby Butler, Florida State (AP-3, NEA-1)
- Bill Whitaker, Missouri (NEA-1)
- Ted Watts, Texas Tech (NEA-2, TSN)
- Hanford Dixon, Southern Mississippi (TSN)
- Tim Wilbur, Indiana (AP-2)
- Tommy Wilcox, Alabama (AP-2)
- Todd Bell, Ohio State (UPI-2, NEA-2)
- Jeff Hipp, Georgia (UPI-2)
- Jeff Griffin, Utah (NEA-2)
- Vann McElroy, Baylor (AP-3)
- Dennis Smith, USC (AP-3)
Special teams
Kickers
- Rex Robinson, Georgia (FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC)
- Bill Capece, Florida State (UPI-2, TSN)
- Obed Ariri, Clemson (NEA-2)
Punters
- Rohn Stark, Florida State (FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-2, TSN)
- Ray Stachowicz, Michigan State (UPI-2, NEA-1, WC)
Key
- Bold – Consensus All-American[1]
- -1 – First-team selection
- -2 – Second-team selection
- -3 – Third-team selection
- CFHOF = College Football Hall of Fame inductee
Official selectors
- AFCA – American Football Coaches Association, aka the Kodak All-America team[2]
- AP – Associated Press[3]
- FWAA – Football Writers Association of America[4][10]
- UPI – United Press International[5]
Other selectors
- FN – Football News[6]
- GNS – Gannett News Service[7]
- NEA – Newspaper Enterprise Association[8]
- TSN – The Sporting News[9]
- WC – Walter Camp Football Foundation[10]
See also
- 1981 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team
- 1981 All-Big Eight Conference football team
- 1981 All-Big Ten Conference football team
- 1981 All-Pacific-10 Conference football team
- 1981 All-SEC football team
References
- ^ a b c "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. pp. 3, 12. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
- ^ a b "Kodak All-America Team". The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY). November 24, 1981. p. D2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "All-America Team". Herald and Review (Decatur, IL). December 3, 1981. p. C2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Ted Gangi (ed.). "FWAA All-America Since 1944: The All-Time Team" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
- ^ a b "UPI All-Americans". The Indianapolis Star. December 9, 1981. p. 66 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Football News cites Iowa's Roby, Tippett". The Des Moines Register. December 1, 1981. p. 1B, 3B – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "McMahon rates with the best". Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY). December 8, 1981. pp. 1D, 4D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Murray Olderman (November 28, 1981). "NEA's 1981 All-America football team". Mattoon (IL) Journal Gazette. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Football All Americans: Sporting News". The Pittsburgh Press. December 8, 1981. p. C4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "All-America Teams". Arizona Republic. November 26, 1981. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c This column lists the number of selectors choosing the player as a first-team All-American as follows: official selectors/other selectors/total selectors.