1977 College Football All-America Team
Encyclopedia
The 1977 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that choose College All-America teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams were Associated Press
, United Press International
, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Football Writers Association of America
, American Football Coaches Association
, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News
and Football News.
AP, UPI, and NEA were all press organizations that polled writers and players. FWAA was also a poll of writers, as was the Walter Camp Foundation. The AFCA was a poll of college coaches. The Sporting News and Time polled football scouts and the editors of Football News chose teams for their publications. AP, UPI, NEA, and The Sporting News chose both first and second teams. AP, UPI, NEA, also listed numerous honorable mentions.
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...
, United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
, Newspaper Enterprise Association, 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...
, American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
and Football News.
AP, UPI, and NEA were all press organizations that polled writers and players. FWAA was also a poll of writers, as was the Walter Camp Foundation. The AFCA was a poll of college coaches. The Sporting News and Time polled football scouts and the editors of Football News chose teams for their publications. AP, UPI, NEA, and The Sporting News chose both first and second teams. AP, UPI, NEA, also listed numerous honorable mentions.
Receivers
- Ozzie NewsomeOzzie NewsomeOzzie Newsome Jr. and a 1974 graduate of Colbert County High School in Leighton, Alabama, is a former American football tight end for the Cleveland Browns, an inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the current General Manager of the Baltimore Ravens.-College career:Before his NFL career,...
, Alabama (AP, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, FN) - Wes ChandlerWes ChandlerWesley Sandy "Wes" Chandler is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for eleven seasons in the 1970s and 1980s...
, Florida (UPI, NEA, TSN, FN) - John JeffersonJohn JeffersonJohn Jefferson is a retired American football wide receiver in the National Football League . He was selected out of Arizona State University in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. He played three seasons in San Diego, where he became the first NFL player to gain...
, Arizona State (AP, AFCA, FWAA)
Tight ends
- Ken MacAfeeKen MacAfeeKenneth Adams MacAfee, Jr. , is a former college and professional American football player. He played collegiately at the University of Notre Dame and professionally for the San Francisco 49ers.-High school:...
, Notre Dame (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, FN)
Tackles
- Chris WardChris Ward (American football)Christopher Lamar James Ward is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints. He played college football at Ohio State University....
, Ohio State (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, FN) - Dan Irons, Texas Tech (UPI, WC, AFCA, FN)
- Keith DorneyKeith DorneyKeith Robert Dorney is a former offensive lineman for the National Football League's Detroit Lions.-High school and college career:...
Penn State (FWAA) - Gordon KingGordon KingGordon David King is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the New York Giants and the New York Jets. He played college football at Stanford University and was drafted in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft....
, Stanford (NEA, TSN) - Dennis Baker, Wyoming (AP)
Guards
- Mark Donahue, Michigan (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, FN)
- Leotis HarrisLeotis HarrisLeotis Harris is a former American football offensive guard in the NFL. He played his entire six year career for the Green Bay Packers. He attended the University of Arkansas. Harris is also a member of the Arkansas Razorbacks All-Century Team....
, Arkansas (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA) - Joe BosticJoe BosticJoe Earl Bostic, Jr. is a former American football offensive lineman, primarily guard, who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals...
, Clemson (FWAA) - Greg Roberts, Oklahoma (FN)
- George Collins, Georgia (TSN)
Centers
- Tom Brzoza, Pittsburgh (AP, UPI, WC)
- Walt DowningWalt DowningWalt Downing is a former professional American football player who played offensive guard for six seasons for the San Francisco 49ers. Mark was a varsity letterman on the 1975 and 1976 offensive lines that produced both of the games in which Michigan had three rushers accumulate 100...
, Michigan (AFCA, TSN, FN) - Tom Davis Nebraska (FWAA)
- Blair BushBlair BushBlair Walter Bush was a center who played 17 seasons in the National Football League for four different teams. He started in Super Bowl XVI as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals....
, Washington (NEA)
Quarterbacks
- Guy BenjaminGuy BenjaminGuy Emory Benjamin is a retired American football quarterback who played six seasons in the National Football League.-College career:...
, Stanford (UPI, NEA, FWAA, FN) - Doug Williams, Grambling State (AP, WC, TSN)
- Matt CavanaughMatt CavanaughMatthew Andrew Cavanaugh is a former American football quarterback in the NFL who played from 1978 to 1991. In the course of his career as a professional football player, he earned two Super Bowl rings...
, Pittsburgh (AFCA)
Running backs
- Earl CampbellEarl CampbellEarl Christian Campbell , nicknamed The Tyler Rose, is a former professional American Football running back. He, Paul Hornung and O.J Simpson are the only people to have won the Heisman Trophy , were first overall National Football League draft picks and are in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
, Texas (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, FN) - Terry MillerTerry MillerTerry Miller was an American football running back in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks. He was an All-American at Oklahoma State University in 1976 and 1977 and finished second in the 1977 Heisman Trophy voting....
, Oklahoma State (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, FN) - Charles AlexanderCharles Alexander (American football)Charles Alexander is a former professional American football player who played running back for seven seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals.-Louisiana State University:...
, LSU (UPI, WC, AFCA, FWAA) - John Pagliaro, Yale (WC)
Ends
- Art StillArt StillArthur Barry Still is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills...
, Kentucky (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, FN) - Ross BrownerRoss BrownerRoss Browner is a former American football defensive end who played ten seasons in the NFL, mainly for the Cincinnati Bengals. He is the father of current Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Max Starks, and brother of Joey Browner and Keith Browner...
, Notre Dame (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, FN)
Tackles
- Brad ShearerBrad ShearerBrad Shearer is a former American football player. He played for the NFL's Chicago Bears from 1978–81. He played college football for Texas. As a senior at Texas, he won the Outland Trophy....
, Texas (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, FN) - Randy HollowayRandy HollowayRandy Holloway is a former National Football League defensive end who played from 1978 to 1984 for the Minnesota Vikings and the St. Louis Cardinals. He attended the University of Pittsburgh and was the Vikings first round draft pick in the 1978 NFL Draft....
, Pittsburgh (UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, FN) - Dee HardisonDee HardisonWilliam David Hardison is a former American football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the Buffalo Bills , the New York Giants , the San Diego Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs...
, North Carolina (AP, FWAA, FN)
Middle guards
- Aaron BrownAaron Brown (linebacker)Aaron Cedric Brown is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for six seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Atlanta Falcons.-References:...
, Ohio St. (WC, AFCA) - Reggie KinlawReggie KinlawReggie Kinlaw Reggie Kinlaw Reggie Kinlaw (born January 9, 1957 is a former American football defensive tackle who played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners and for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders in the National Football League. He graduated from Miami Springs Senior High School....
, Oklahoma (UPI) - Randy SidlerRandy SidlerRandall Kevin "Randy" Sidler is a former professional American football player. Sidler was selected by the New York Jets in the 5th round of the 1978 NFL Draft but never played an NFL game. He left the Jets training camp and took a break from football...
, Penn State (AP)
Linebackers
- Jerry RobinsonJerry Robinson (American football)Jerry Dewayne Robinson is a former professional American football linebacker who played thirteen seasons in the National Football League. He played in Super Bowl XV with the Philadelphia Eagles and went to the Pro Bowl after the 1981 season.Robinson starred at UCLA, where he was a three-time...
, UCLA (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, FN) - Gary SpaniGary SpaniGary Spani is a former NFL linebacker who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1978-1986. He has worked for the Chiefs' front office since 1989, and is currently the director of tickets and events marketing for the Chiefs....
, Kansas St. (UPI, AFCA, FN) - Mike Woods, Cincinnati (AP, NEA, TSN)
- Tom CousineauTom CousineauTom Cousineau is a former American Football linebacker who played three seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes from 1979 to 1981, and six seasons in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns and the San Francisco 49ers from 1982 to 1987...
, Ohio State (UPI, WC, FWAA) - Lucius SanfordLucius SanfordLucius M. Sanford is a former American football linebacker who played ten seasons in the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns. He played collegiately for the Georgia Tech football team. Was a six year winner and two year runner up of the Milledgeville mean-mug award...
, Georgia Tech (AFCA, TSN) - Clay Matthews, USC (NEA, TSN)
- Darryl Hunt, Oklahoma (WC, FN)
- John Anderson, Michigan (FWAA)
- George CumbyGeorge CumbyGeorge Edward Cumby is a former NFL football player. After graduating from Bishop T.K. Gorman High School in 1975, he went on to become a three-time All-American at the University of Oklahoma, , being a consensus choice in 1979...
, Oklahoma (AP)
Backs
- Zac HendersonZac HendersonZachary Ryall Henderson was a football player in the CFL for four years. Henderson played defensive back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts from 1978-1983. Henderson also played one season in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles...
, Oklahoma (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, FN) - Dennis ThurmanDennis ThurmanDennis Lee Thurman is a retired American football cornerback in the National Football League.- Early life :...
, USC (AP, UPI, WC, AFCA, FWAA, FN) - Luther BradleyLuther BradleyLuther Bradley is a former professional American football player who played four seasons for the Detroit Lions. He later played with the Chicago Blitz, Arizona Wranglers and Houston Gamblers of the USFL...
, Notre Dame (UPI, WC, AFCA, TSN, FN) - Bob Jury, Pittsburgh (AP, WC, FWAA, TSN)
- Keith SimpsonKeith Simpson (American football)Keith Edward Simpson is a former NFL defensive back. He played his whole eight-season career for the Seattle Seahawks.-References:...
, Memphis State (NEA, TSN) - Ray GriffinRay GriffinRaymond Griffin is a former American football cornerback. He is the younger brother of former two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, and also played college football with the Ohio State Buckeyes and pro football for the Cincinnati Bengals.Ray set up the winning touchdown in the 1975...
, Ohio State (NEA, TSN) - Ken GreeneKen GreeneKen Edward Greene is a former professional American football player who played safety for the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Diego Chargers ....
, Washington State (NEA)
Kickers
- Steve LittleSteve Little (American football)Steven Richard Little was an American football kicker and punter in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is the third-highest drafted kicker in NFL history, with first highest pick being Charlie Gogolak of Princeton University and second being Russell Erxleben...
, Arkansas (UPI, NEA, FWAA)
Key
- AP - Associated Press
- UPI - United Press International
- NEA - Newspaper Enterprise Association
- FWAA - Football Writers Association of America
- WC - Walter Camp Foundation
- AFCA - American Football Coaches Association
- TSN - The Sporting News
- PFW - Pro Football Weekly
- FN - Football News
- 1 - First Team Selection
- 2 - Second Team Selection