1956 College Football All-America Team
Encyclopedia
The 1956 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 Team
s in 1956. The organizations that chose the teams included: the United Press, the Associated Press
, Collier's Weekly
, the International News Service
(the wire service operated by the Hearst newspapers), and the Football Writers Association of America
.
----
Bold = Consensus All-American
voting.
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
s in 1956. The organizations that chose the teams included: the United Press, the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
, the International News Service
International News Service
International News Service was a U.S.-based news agency founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909.Established two years after the Scripps family founded the United Press Association, INS scrapped among the newswires...
(the wire service operated by the Hearst newspapers), and the Football Writers Association of America
Football Writers Association of America
The Football Writers Association of America is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA...
.
Ends
- Ron KramerRon KramerRonald J. Kramer was a multi-sport college athlete and professional American football player. Before embarking on a career in the National Football League, he lettered in football, basketball, and track at the University of Michigan in the 1950s...
, Michigan (AP, UP, CP, NEA, INS, TSN, AFCA, WC, FWAA) - Joe WaltonJoe WaltonJoseph Frank Walton is an American football coach and former player who is currently the head coach of Robert Morris University. Walton played eight seasons in the National Football League and served as head coach of the New York Jets for seven seasons...
, Pittsburgh (AP, UP, INS, CP, NEA, AFCA, WC, FWAA, TSN,) - Buddy Cruze, Tennessee (FWAA)
- Bill Steiger, Washington State (FWAA)
Tackles
- John Witte, Oregon State (AP, UP, AFCA, INS, CP, NEA, WC, FWAA)
- Lou MichaelsLou MichaelsLou Michaels is a former American football player who was a standout defensive lineman for the University of Kentucky Wildcats, 1955-57. After Kentucky's victory over archrival Tennessee in 1957, Michaels was quoted as saying, "Nothing sucks like a Big Orange." Michaels later played pro football...
, Kentucky (UP, AFCA, NEA, WC) - Alex KarrasAlex KarrasAlexander George "Alex" Karras , nicknamed "The Mad Duck", is a former football player, professional wrestler, and actor, best known for his stint with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League from 1958–1962 and 1964-1970 and for his role as Mongo in the film Blazing Saddles...
, Iowa (AP, CP, FWAA) - Charlie KruegerCharlie KruegerCharlie Krueger is a former American football defensive lineman. He played his whole fifteen-season career in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers. Previously he was an All-American at Texas A&M University and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982. With the 49ers, Krueger wore...
, Texas A&M (INS) - Norm Hamilton, TCU (FWAA)
- Bob Hobert, Minnesota (FWAA)
- Paul WigginPaul WigginPaul Wiggin is a former football player and coach who currently serves as the senior consultant for pro personnel with the Minnesota Vikings....
, Stanford (TSN) - Ed Gray, Oklahoma (TSN)
Guards
- Jim ParkerJim Parker (American football)James Thomas "Jim" Parker was a college and professional American football player in the 1950s and '60s. He is a member of the College and Professional Football Halls of Fame.-College career:...
, Ohio State (AP, UP, TSN, AFCA, INS, CP, NEA, WC, FWAA) - Bill GlassBill GlassWilliam Sheppeard Glass is a former American football defensive end who played eleven seasons in the National Football League, beginning with the Detroit Lions and finishing his career as a standout with the Cleveland Browns...
, Baylor (AP, UP, TSN, AFCA, INS, NEA, WC, FWAA) - Sam Valentine, Penn State (CP, FWAA)
- John Barrow, Florida (FWAA)
Centers
- Jerry TubbsJerry TubbsGerald J. Tubbs is a former American football linebacker who played for ten seasons in the National Football League from 1957 to 1966, mainly for the Dallas Cowboys. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft...
, Oklahoma (AP, UP, AFCA, INS, CP, NEA, WC, FWAA) - Don Stephenson, Georgia Tech (TSN, FWAA)
Quarterbacks
- John BrodieJohn BrodieJohn Riley Brodie is a former professional American football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, and had a second career as a Senior PGA Tour professional golfer.-Early years and education:...
, Stanford (AFCA, INS, NEA, WC, FWAA) - Paul HornungPaul HornungPaul Vernon Hornung is a retired Hall of Fame professional football player who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1957-66...
, Notre Dame (UP, CP, FWAA)
Backs
- Jim BrownJim BrownJames Nathaniel "Jim" Brown is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor. He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 2002, he was named by Sporting News...
, Syracuse (AP, UP, AFCA, INS, CP, NEA, WC, FWAA) - Johnny MajorsJohnny MajorsJohnny Majors is a former American football player and coach. A standout halfback at the University of Tennessee, he was an All-American in 1956 and a two-time winner of the Southeastern Conference Most Valuable Player award, in 1955 and 1956. He finished second to Paul Hornung in voting for...
, Tennessee (AP, UP, AFCA, INS, NEA, WC, FWAA) - Tommy McDonald, Oklahoma (AP, UP, AFCA, INS, CP, WC, FWAA)
- Jack PardeeJack Pardee-NFL:-External links:...
, Texas A&M (CP, FWAA) - Jim Crawford, Wyoming (NEA, FWAA)
- Don BosselerDon BosselerDonald John Bosseler is a former American football fullback who played in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins from 1957 to 1964. He played college football at the University of Miami and was drafted in the first round of the 1957 NFL Draft...
, Miami (AP) - Bill Barnes, Wake Forest (FWAA)
- John David CrowJohn David CrowJohn David Crow was the Heisman Trophy winner and halfback from Texas A&M University in 1957...
, Texas A&M (TSN)
----
Key
- AP = Associated Press
- UP = United Press
- NEA = Newspaper Editors Association
- INS = International News Service
- CP = Central Press AssociationCentral Press AssociationThe Central Press Association was an American newspaper syndication company based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in business from 1910 to 1971. At its peak, the Central Press supplied features, columns, and photographs to more than 400 newspapers and 12 million daily readers.-History:Virgil Venice...
, selected by college football team captains - WC = Walter Camp Football FoundationWalter Camp Football FoundationThe Walter Camp Football Foundation is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA. The organization also presents various awards.-Awards:*Walter Camp Player of the Year*CT Player of the Year...
- AFCA = selected by the votes of the 503 members of the Football Coaches Association and published in Colliers Magazine,
- FWAA=Football Writers Association of America.
- TSN = The Sporting News
Bold = Consensus All-American
Heisman Trophy voting
The chart below reflects the point total in the 1956 Heisman TrophyHeisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
voting.
| Rank | Name | Position | School | Heisman points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Hornung Paul Hornung Paul Vernon Hornung is a retired Hall of Fame professional football player who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1957-66... |
Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
Notre Dame | 1,066 |
| 2 | Johnny Majors Johnny Majors Johnny Majors is a former American football player and coach. A standout halfback at the University of Tennessee, he was an All-American in 1956 and a two-time winner of the Southeastern Conference Most Valuable Player award, in 1955 and 1956. He finished second to Paul Hornung in voting for... |
Halfback Halfback (American football) A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive... |
Tennessee | 994 |
| 3 | Tommy McDonald | Halfback Halfback (American football) A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive... |
Oklahoma | 973 |
| 4 | Jerry Tubbs Jerry Tubbs Gerald J. Tubbs is a former American football linebacker who played for ten seasons in the National Football League from 1957 to 1966, mainly for the Dallas Cowboys. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft... |
Center Center (American football) Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense... |
Oklahoma | 724 |
| 5 | Jim Brown Jim Brown James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor. He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 2002, he was named by Sporting News... |
Halfback Halfback (American football) A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive... |
Syracuse | 561 |
| 6 | Ron Kramer Ron Kramer Ronald J. Kramer was a multi-sport college athlete and professional American football player. Before embarking on a career in the National Football League, he lettered in football, basketball, and track at the University of Michigan in the 1950s... |
End | Michigan | 518 |
| 7 | John Brodie John Brodie John Riley Brodie is a former professional American football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, and had a second career as a Senior PGA Tour professional golfer.-Early years and education:... |
Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
Stanford | 281 |
| 8 | Jim Parker Jim Parker (American football) James Thomas "Jim" Parker was a college and professional American football player in the 1950s and '60s. He is a member of the College and Professional Football Halls of Fame.-College career:... |
Guard Guard (American football) In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team.... |
Ohio State | 248 |