1978 College Football All-America Team
Encyclopedia
The 1978 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, and The Sporting 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 choose a teams for its 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, and 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"...
.
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 choose a teams for its publications. AP, UPI, NEA, and The Sporting News chose both first and second teams. AP, UPI, NEA, also listed numerous honorable mentions.
Receivers
- Emanuel TolbertEmanuel TolbertEmanuel Tolbert is a former slotback and wide receiver who played eleven seasons in the Canadian Football League, mainly for the Toronto Argonauts. He was a part of the Argonauts 1983 Grey Cup victory...
, SMU (AP, WC, FWAA) - Kirk GibsonKirk GibsonKirk Harold Gibson is a former Major League Baseball player and currently the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. As a player, Gibson was an outfielder who batted and threw left-handed...
, Michigan State (UPI, NEA, TSN) - Gordon JonesGordon Jones (American football)Gordon Jones is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for five seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams....
, Pittsburgh (NEA, AFCA) - Jerry ButlerJerry Butler (American football)Jerry O'Dell Butler is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played his entire career with the Buffalo Bills . Butler was a Pro Bowl selection in 1980. In his career, he caught 278 receptions for 4,301 yards and 29 touchdowns...
, Clemson (AP, TSN)
Tight ends
- Kellen WinslowKellen WinslowKellen Boswell Winslow is a former American football tight end with the Missouri Tigers and the San Diego Chargers. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest tight ends in the history of the game. He is currently the athletic director at Central State University.Winslow did not play high...
, Missouri (UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, TSN) - Mark BrammerMark BrammerMark Dewitt Brammer is a former professional American football player who played tight end for five seasons for the Buffalo Bills....
, Michigan State (FWAA)
Tackles
- Keith DorneyKeith DorneyKeith Robert Dorney is a former offensive lineman for the National Football League's Detroit Lions.-High school and college career:...
, Penn St. (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN) - Kelvin ClarkKelvin ClarkKelvin Wayne Clark is a former professional American football guard/tackle in the National Football League. He played for seven seasons for the Denver Broncos and the New Orleans Saints....
, Nebraska (AP, WC, AFCA, FWAA) - Jeff ToewsJeff ToewsJeffrey Mark Toews is a former NFL offensive tackle and guard who played seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins. He was selected by the Dolphins in the second round of the 1979 NFL Draft. He is the younger brother of former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Loren Toews....
, Washington (NEA, TSN) - Matt Miller, Colorado (UPI)
Guards
- Pat HowellPat HowellPat Howell is a retired American football offensive lineman.-Professional career:Howell played for the National Football League Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons between 1979 and 1985...
, USC (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN) - Greg Roberts, Oklahoma (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN)
Centers
- Dave HuffmanDave HuffmanDavid Huffman was a former American football tackle who played twelve seasons in the National Football League for the Minnesota Vikings. He also played for the Memphis Showboats of the USFL....
, Notre Dame (UPI, NEA, WC, FWAA, TSN) - Jim Richter, North Carolina St. (AP, AFCA)
Quarterbacks
- Chuck FusinaChuck FusinaCharles Anthony Fusina is a former professional American football quarterback. He played in both the National Football League and United States Football League and was an All-American and Maxwell Award winner at Penn State University in 1978.-Professional football:At 6'1" 195-lb., Fusina was a...
, Penn St. (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA-t, FWAA) - Rick Leach, Michigan (AFCA-t)
- Jack Thompson, Washington State (TSN)
Running backs
- Billy SimsBilly SimsBilly Sims is a former college football and NFL running back. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1978.-Early years:...
, Oklahoma (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN) - 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:...
, Louisiana St. (NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN) - Charles WhiteCharles White (American football)Charles White is a former professional American football running back. He had a distinguished college career and later played in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Rams.-College football:...
, USC (AP, UPI, WC, AFCA, FWAA) - Ted BrownTed BrownTed Brown is an American and former collegiate and professional football player. He attended High Point high school, before attending North Carolina State University.-Football career:...
, North Carolina State (AP, UPI)
Ends
- Al HarrisAl Harris (defensive lineman)Alfred Carl Harris is a former professional American football defensive end and linebacker in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears during the early 1980s. He played with the team from 1979 to 1984...
, Arizona St. (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN) - Hugh Green, Pittsburgh (AP, UPI, WC)
- Don SmithDon Smith (defensive lineman)Donald Loren Smith is a former American football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the Atlanta Falcons, the Buffalo Bills, and the New York Jets. He played college football at the University of Miami.-External links:*...
, University of Miami (Fla.) (AFCA, TSN) - George AndrewsGeorge Andrews (American football)George Eldon Andrews, II is a former American football linebacker. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska who played in the National Football League from 1979–1984 for the Los Angeles Rams.-High school:...
, Nebraska (NEA)
Tackles
- Mike BellMike Bell (defensive lineman)Mike J. Bell is a former American football defensive end who played twelve seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League. His twin brother Mark Bell, also played in the NFL and at Colorado State, where he was a consensus All-American in 1978.- External links :*...
, Colorado St. (NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN) - Bruce ClarkBruce Clark (American football)Bruce Clark is a former American football defensive end who played eight seasons in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and the Kansas City Chiefs. He was drafted in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers, but chose to play in the Canadian Football League. Clark played two...
, Penn St. (AP, UPI, AFCA, FWAA) - Marty LyonsMarty LyonsMartin Anthony Lyons is a former American Football defensive tackle who played his entire eleven year career from 1979 to 1989 with the New York Jets of the National Football League...
, Alabama (AP, NEA, FWAA, TSN) - Matt MillenMatt MillenMatthew George "Matt" Millen is an American former National Football League linebacker and a former executive. Millen played for the Oakland Raiders, the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Redskins. In Millen's 12-year NFL playing career, he played on four Super Bowl-winning teams...
, Penn State (UPI, WC) - Dan HamptonDan HamptonDaniel Oliver Hampton also known as "Danimal" is a retired Hall of Fame American football defensive tackle who played twelve seasons for the Chicago Bears from 1979 to 1990 in the National Football League. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002...
, Arkansas (AFCA) - Jimmy Walker, Arkansas (FWAA)
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, 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 (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, TSN) - Bob GolicBob GolicRobert Perry "Bob" Golic is a retired American football player, as well as a television and radio personality. He played as a defensive tackle who played for the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, and the Los Angeles Raiders in the NFL.Golic played high school football at St...
, Notre Dame (AP, UPI, WC, AFCA, FWAA) - Ken FantettiKen FantettiKen Fantetti is a former American football linebacker who played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions from 1979 through 1985....
, Wyoming (FWAA) - Barry KraussBarry KraussRichard Barry Krauss is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for eleven seasons in the National Football League.-Early years:...
, Alabama (TSN) - 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...
, Oklahima (NEA) - John CorkerJohn CorkerJohn Corker is a former American football linebacker who played four seasons in the National Football League, mainly for the Houston Oilers....
, Ohlahoma State (AP)
Backs
- Johnnie JohnsonJohnnie Johnson (American football)Johnnie Johnson was a member of the Los Angeles Rams from 1980 to 1988. He played cornerback and safety. Johnson played football for the University of Texas from 1976 to 1979. He was a unanimous All-America selection at defensive back in 1978 and 1979...
, Texas (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA) - Kenny EasleyKenny EasleyKenny Mason Easley Jr. is a former American football strong safety who played seven seasons for the Seattle Seahawks from 1981 to 1987 in the National Football League...
, UCLA (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, FWAA, TSN) - Jeff NixonJeff NixonJeffry Allen Nixon is a former professional American football player for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. Born in Germany, Nixon spent his high school days in Virginia, attending Gar-Field Senior High School...
, Richmond (AP, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA) - Lawrence JohnsonLawrence Johnson (American football)Lawrence Johnson is a former American football cornerback who played eight seasons in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and the Buffalo Bills. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin....
, Wisconsin (NEA, TSN) - Henry Williams, San Diego St. (AFCA)
- Rick SanfordRick SanfordRichard Sanford is a former American football defensive back in the NFL for the New England Patriots, and Seattle Seahawks....
, South Carolina (TSN) - Pete Harris, Penn State (UPI)
- Don Bessellieu, Georgia Tech (TSN)
Kickers
- Matt BahrMatt BahrMatthew David Bahr is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League. He attended Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania where he excelled in both football and soccer...
, Penn State (UPI, NEA, TSN) - Tony Franklin, Texas A&M (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