1976 College Football All-America Team
The 1976 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 1976. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recognizes four selectors as "official" for the 1976 season. They are:[1] (1) the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA);[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] the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA),[7] The Sporting News (TSN),[8] and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WC).
Three players were unanimously selected by all four official selectors and all five unofficial selectors. They were running backs Tony Dorsett of Pittsburgh and Ricky Bell of USC and defensive end Ross Browner of Notre Dame.
Consensus All-Americans
The following charts identify the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans for the year 1976 and displays which first-team designations they received.
Offense
| Name | Position | School | Number[9] | Official | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Dorsett | Running back | Pittsburgh | 4/5/9 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI | CFN, FN, NEA, TSN, WC |
| Ricky Bell | Running back | USC | 4/5/9 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI | CFN, FN, NEA, TSN, WC |
| Joel Parrish | Offensive guard | Georgia | 4/4/8 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI | FN, NEA, TSN, WC |
| Rob Lytle | Running back | Michigan | 3/5/8 | AFCA, AP, UPI | CFN, FN, NEA, TSN, WC |
| Larry Seivers | Wide receiver | Tennessee | 3/4/7 | AFCA, AP, UPI | CFN, NEA, TSN, WC |
| Mike Vaughan | Offensive tackle | Oklahoma | 4/2/6 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI | FN, WC |
| Ken MacAfee | Tight end | Notre Dame | 3/3/6 | AFCA, FWAA, UPI | CFN, NEA, WC |
| Tommy Kramer | Quarterback | Owls | 3/2/5 | AFCA, AP, UPI | CFN, WC |
| Mark Donahue | Offensive guard | Michigan | 2/3/5 | FWAA, UPI | FN, NEA, WC |
| Derrel Gofourth | Center | Oklahoma State | 2/1/3 | AFCA, UPI | FN |
| Chris Ward | Offensive tackle | Ohio State | 1/0/1 | AFCA | -- |
Defense
| Name | Position | School | Number[9] | Official | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ross Browner | Defensive end | Notre Dame | 4/5/9 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI | CFN, FN, NEA, TSN, WC |
| Bill Armstrong | Defensive end | Wake Forest | 4/3/7 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI | FN, TSN, WC |
| Robert Jackson | Linebacker | Texas A&M | 4/3/7 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI | FN, TSN, WC |
| Dave Butterfield | Defensive end | Nebraska | 3/4/7 | AFCA, AP, UPI | CFN, FN, NEA WC |
| Bob Brudzinski | Defensive end | Ohio State | 4/2/6 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI | CFN, TSN, WC |
| Al Romano | Middle guard | Pittsburgh | 3/3/6 | AFCA, AP, UPI | CFN, NEA, WC |
| Gary Green | Defensive end | Baylor | 2/4/6 | AFCA, AP | CFN, NEA, TSN |
| Wilson Whitley | Defensive tackle | Houston | 3/2/5 | AFCA, AP, FWAA | FN, WC |
| Joe Campbell | Defensive tackle | Maryland | 2/2/4 | AFCA, FWAA | CFN, NEA, TSN |
| Gary Jeter | Defensive tackle | USC | 2/1/3 | FWAA, UPI | NEA |
| Jerry Robinson | Linebacker | UCLA | 2/1/3 | AP, FWAA | NEA |
| Dennis Thurman | Defensive end | USC | 2/1/3 | AP, FWAA | WC |
Offense
Receivers
- Larry Seivers, Tennessee (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC, TSN, CFN)
- Jim Smith, Michigan (AP-1, UPI-2, TSN, FN, NEA-2)
- Wes Chandler, Florida (AP-3, FN, NEA-1)
- Luther Blue, Iowa State (AP-3, FWAA)
- Jim Corbett, Pittsburgh (AP-2)
- Billy Ryckman, Louisiana Tech (AP-2)
- Tony Hill, Stanford (NEA-2)
Tight end
- Ken MacAfee, Notre Dame (AFCA, FWAA, UPI-1, CFN, NEA-1 WC)
- Clennie Brundidge, Army (UPI-2)
- Don Hasselbeck, Colorado (NEA-2, TSN)
Tackles
- Mike Vaughan, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN)
- Chris Ward, Ohio State (AFCA [g], AP-2, UPI-2)
- Warren Bryant, Kentucky (AFCA, AP-2, TSN, CFN, NEA-2, WC)
- Marvin Powell, USC (AP-3, UPI-1, TSN, FN)
- Morris Towns, Missouri (NEA-1, CFN)
- Mike Wilson, Georgia, (AP-1, UPI-2, NEA-1)
- Val Belcher, Houston (NEA-2)
- Steve August, Tulsa (AP-3)
Guards
- Mark Donahue, Michigan (FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC, FN)
- Joel Parrish, Georgia (AFCA, AP-3, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, NEA-2, TSN, WC)
- Steve Schindler, Boston College (AP-2, FWAA, NEA-1, TSN, CFN)
- Ted Albrecht, California (AP-1)
- T.J. Humphreys, Arkansas State (AP-1)
- Bill Dufek, Michigan (CFN)
- Tom Brzoza, Pittsburgh (AP-2, UPI-2)
- Donnie Hickman, USC (UPI-2, NEA-2)
- Mitch Hoban, Ball State (AP-3)
Centers
- Derrel Gofourth, Oklahoma St. (AFCA, UPI-1, FN)
- Billy Bryan, Duke (AP-2, FWAA, WC)
- John Yarno, Idaho (AP-1)
- R. C. Thielemann, Arkansas (NEA-1)
- Bob Rush, Memphis State (NEA-2, TSN)
- Mitch Kahn, UCLA (CFN)
- Leo Tierney, Georgia Tech (AP-3, UPI-2)
Quarterbacks
- Tommy Kramer, Rice (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-1, WC, CFN)
- Gifford Nielsen, BYU (AP-2, FWAA, UPI-2)
- Joe Roth, California (TSN)
- Vince Ferragamo, Nebraska (AP-3, FN)
- Jeff Dankworth, UCLA (NEA-1)
- Mark Manges, Maryland (NEA-2)
Running backs
- Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, CFN, FN, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
- Ricky Bell, USC (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, CFN, FN, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
- Rob Lytle, Michigan (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-1, CFN, FN, NEA-2, WC)
- Terry Miller, Oklahoma State (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-2)
- Wendell Tyler, UCLA ()
- Scott Dierking, Purdue (AP-2)
- Tony Reed, Colorado (AP-2)
- Mike Voight, North Carolina (AP-2, UPI-2)
- Pete Johnson, Ohio State (UPI-2)
- Andre Herrera, Southern Illinois (AP-3)
- Derrick Jensen, Texas-Arlington (AP-3)
- Jerome Persell, Western Michigan (AP-3)
Defense
Defensive ends
- Ross Browner, Notre Dame (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, CFN, FN, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
- Bob Brudzinski, Ohio State (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, CFN, NEA-2, TSN [LB])
- Mike Butler, Kansas (NEA-1 [DT], TSN [DT], FN)
- Duncan McColl, Stanford (AP-2, UPI-1, CFN, WC)
- Robin Cole, New Mexico (AP-3, UPI-2, NEA-2 [LB])
- Nate Toran, Rutgers (AP-2)
- Phil Dokes, Oklahoma State (NEA-2)
- Cary Godette, East Carolina (AP-3)
Defensive tackles
- Joe Campbell, Maryland (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-2, CFN, NEA-1, TSN [DE])
- Wilson Whitley, Houston (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, FN, NEA-2, WC)
- Gary Jeter, Southern California (AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1 [DE])
- Mike Fultz, Nebraska (UPI-1, FN, NEA-2, TSN, WC)
- Eddie Edwards, Miami (Fla.) (AP-1)
- Phil Dokes, Oklahoma State (AP-3, CFN)
- Nick Buonamici, Ohio State (UPI-2)
- Wilson Faumuina, San Jose State (AP-3)
Middle guards
- Al Romano, Pittsburgh (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-1, FN, NEA-1, WC)
- Gary Don Johnson, Baylor (AP-2)
- Mike Stensrud, Iowa State (NEA-2)
- Harvey Hull, Mississippi State (UPI-2)
- Jeff Sapp, Navy (AP-3)
Linebackers
- Robert Jackson, Texas A&M (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
- Jerry Robinson, UCLA (AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1)
- Thomas Howard, Texas Tech (AFCA, AP-2, CFN, WC)
- Calvin O'Neal, Michigan (AP-2, UPI-1, CFN, TSN, WC)
- Brian Ruff, The Citadel (AP-1, UPI-2)
- Kurt Allerman, Penn State (AP-3, UPI-1)
- Gary Spani, Kansas State (FN)
- Paul Nunu, Wyoming (FN)
- Clete Pillen, Nebraska (AP-2, UPI-2)
- Scott Studwell, Illinois (AP-3, NEA-2)
- David Lewis, USC (UPI-2)
- Ray Costict, Mississippi (AP-3)
Defensive backs
- Bill Armstrong, Wake Forest (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, TSN, WC)
- Dave Butterfield, Nebraska (AFCA, AP-3, UPI-1, CFN, FN, NEA, WC)
- Gary Green, Baylor (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-2, CFN, NEA, TSN)
- Dennis Thurman, USC (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, WC)
- Oscar Edwards, UCLA (AFCA, UPI-1)
- Luther Bradley, Notre Dame (FN, NEA-2, WC)
- Stan Black, Mississippi State (AP-2, NEA-1)
- Mike Davis, Colorado (NEA-1)
- Lester Hayes, Texas A&M (TSN)
- Eric Harris, Memphis State (CFN)
- Raymond Clayborn, Texas (NEA-2, TSN)
- Zac Henderson, Oklahoma (AP-2)
- Jimmy Stewart, Tulsa (AP-2)
- Jim Bolding, East Carolina (NEA-2)
- Ray Griffin, Ohio State (UPI-2, NEA-2)
- Bob Jury, Pittsburgh (AP-3)
- Jeff Nixon, Richmond (AP-3)
Special teams
Kickers
- Tony Franklin, Texas A&M (FWAA, UPI-1, CFN, NEA-2)
- Steve Little, Arkansas (AFCA)
- Neil O'Donoghue, Auburn (TSN)
- Carson Long, Pittsburgh (UPI-2)
Punters
- Tom Skladany, Ohio State (CFN, NEA-1 [placekicker], TSN)
- Russell Erxleben, Texas (FWAA, NEA-2)
- Glen Walker, Southern California (NEA-1)
Returner
- Jim Smith, Michigan (FWAA)
Key
- Bold – Consensus All-American[1]
- -1 – First-team selection
- -2 – Second-team selection
- -3 – Third-team selection
Official selectors
- AFCA – American Football Coaches Association[2]
- AP – Associated Press[3]
- FWAA – Football Writers Association of America[4]
- UPI – United Press International[5]
Other selectors
- CFN – College Football News (Tom Harmon)
- FN – Football News[6]
- NEA – Newspaper Enterprise Association[7][10]
- TSN – The Sporting News[8]
- WC – Walter Camp Football Foundation
See also
- 1976 All-Big Ten Conference football team
- 1976 All-Pacific-8 Conference football team
- 1976 All-SEC football team
References
- ^ a b "2014 NCAA Football Records: Consensus All-America Selections" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2014. p. 7. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- ^ a b "Bell, Dorsett repeat choices by coaches". The Pantagraph. November 25, 1976. p. C4.
- ^ a b "Tony Dorsett tops AP All-American Team". Jefferson City Post Tribune. December 2, 1976. p. 13.
- ^ a b Ted Gangi (ed.). "FWAA All-America Since 1944: The All-Time Team" (PDF). Retrieved March 2, 2016.
- ^ a b "Butterfield, Fultz make UPI All-America team". The Lincoln Star. December 3, 1976. p. 21.
- ^ a b "Football News All America Team". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. December 2, 1976. p. 5C.
- ^ a b "Dorsett leads All-Americans". The Hillsdale Daily News. December 1, 1976. p. 13.
- ^ a b "Sporting News Picks Three in Big Eight". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. December 12, 1976. p. 2G.
- ^ a b This column lists the number of selectors choosing the player as a first-team All-American as follows: official selectors/other selectors/total selectors.
- ^ "1976 NEA All-American Team". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. December 8, 1976.