1981 All-America college football team

Official list of the best college football players of 1981 August 2023 25em 1981 College Football All-America Team border-top:#aaa 1px solid border-top:1px #aaa solid 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) border-top:1px #aaa solid ← 1980   1982 → The 1981 All-America college football 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. They are: (1) the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) based on the input of more than 2,000 voting members; (2) the Associated Press (AP) selected based on the votes of sports writers at AP newspapers; (3) the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) selected by the nation's football writers; and (4) the United Press International (UPI) selected based on the votes of sports writers at UPI newspapers. Other selectors included Football News (FN), Gannett News Service (GNS), the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), The Sporting News (TSN), and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WC). Nine players were unanimously selected as first-team All-Americans by all four official selectors. 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 NumberThis column lists the number of selectors choosing the player as a first-team All-American as follows: official selectors/other selectors/total selectors. Official OtherMarcus AllenRunning backUSC4/5/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPIFN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WCAnthony CarterWide receiverMichigan4/5/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPIFN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WCSean FarrellOffensive guardPenn State4/5/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPIFN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WCHerschel WalkerRunning backGeorgia4/5/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPIFN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WCDave RimingtonCenterNebraska4/3/7AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPIFN, GNS, WCTim WrightmanTight endUCLA4/2/6AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPINEA, WCJim McMahonQuarterbackBYU4/2/6AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPIFN, GNSRoy FosterOffensive guardUSC3/2/5AFCA, FWAA, UPITSN, WCTerry TauschOffensive tackleTexas2/3/5AP, UPIFN, TSN, WCKurt BeckerOffensive guardMichigan2/3/5AFCA, APFN, GNS, NEATerry CrouchOffensive tackleOklahoma2/0/2AFCA, FWAA–Ed MuranskyOffensive tackleMichigan2/0/2AP, UPI– Defense Name Position School Number Official OtherKenneth SimsDefensive tackleTexas4/5/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPIFN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WCBilly Ray Smith Jr.Defensive endArkansas4/5/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPIFN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WCBob CrableLinebackerNotre Dame3/4/7AFCA, AP, UPIFN, GNS, TSN, WCAndre TippettDefensive endIowa3/2/5AP, FWAA, UPIFN, GNSTommy WilcoxDefensive backAlabama3/2/5AFCA, AP, UPIFN, WCJeff DavisLinebackerClemson3/1/4AFCA, FWAA, UPIFNTim KrumrieMiddle guardWisconsin2/2/4AP, UPIFN, WCMike C. RichardsonDefensive backArizona State2/2/4AP, FWAATSN, WCSal SunseriLinebackerPittsburgh3/0/3AFCA, AP, FWAA--Terry KinardDefensive backClemson2/1/3AP, FWAANEAFred MarionDefensive backMiami (FL)2/1/3AP, FWAANEA Special teams Name Position School Number Official OtherReggie RobyPunterIowa2/2/4AP, UPIFN, WC Offensive selections Receivers Anthony Carter, Michigan (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN-1 [end], GNS, NEA-1, TSN, WC) Perry Tuttle, Clemson, (FN-2, NEA-1, TSN) Julius Dawkins, Pittsburgh (AP-1) Stanley Washington, TCU (AP-3, FWAA, FN-2) Steve Bryant, Purdue (UPI-2, NEA-2) Cedric Jones, Duke (AP-2) Jim Sandusky, UNLV (AP-2) Lindsay Scott, Georgia (GNS, NEA-2) Tom Rogers, Colgate (AP-3) Tight ends Tim Wrightman, UCLA (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-1, FN-1 [end], NEA-1, WC) Pat Beach, Washington State (NEA-2, TSN) Jamie Williams, Nebraska (GNS) Rodney Holman, Tulane (AP-2) Mark Raugh, West Virginia (AP-3, UPI-2) Tackles Terry Tausch, Texas (AP-1, UPI-1, FN-1, TSN, WC) Terry Crouch, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-2 [guard], FWAA, UPI-2 [guard], FN-2 [guard]) Ed Muransky, Michigan (AP-1, UPI-1, FN-2, NEA-2) Bubba Paris, Michigan (WC) John Meyer, Arizona State (GNS, NEA-1) Jimbo Covert, Pittsburgh (CFHOF) (FN-1, NEA-1) Luis Sharpe, UCLA (NEA-2, TSN) Don Mosebar, USC (GNS) Ken Dallafior, Minnesota (UPI-2) Maceo Fifer, Houston (AP-2) Lee Nanney, Clemson (UPI-2) Tootie Robbins, East Carolina (AP-2) Keith Uecker, Auburn (AP-3, FN-2) Harvey Salem, California (AP-3) Guards Sean Farrell, Penn State (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN-1, GNS, NEA-1, TSN, WC) Roy Foster, USC (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-2, TSN, WC) Kurt Becker, Michigan (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-2, FN-1, GNS, NEA-1) Dave Drechsler, North Carolina (FWAA, FN-2) Mike Munchak, Penn State (NEA-2) Steve Korte, Arkansas (AP-3) Gerry Raymond, Boston College (AP-3) Centers Dave Rimington, Nebraska (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN-1, GNS, NEA-2, WC) Brad Edelman, Missouri (NEA-1, TSN) Emil Boures, Pittsburgh (AP-2, UPI-2) Dan Mackie, Arizona State (FN-2) Mike Baab, Texas (AP-3) Quarterbacks Jim McMahon, BYU (CFHOF) (AFCA [tie], AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN-1, GNS, NEA-2 [tie]) Dan Marino, Pittsburgh (CFHOF) (AFCA [tie], AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-1, TSN, WC) Art Schlichter, Ohio State (NEA-2 [tie]) Reggie Collier, Southern Mississippi (AP-3) Running backs Marcus Allen, USC (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN-1, GNS, NEA-1, TSN, WC) Herschel Walker, Georgia (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN-1, GNS, NEA-1, TSN, WC) Curt Warner, Penn State (CFHOF) (UPI-1, FN-2, WC) Darrin Nelson, Stanford (CFHOF) (AFCA [FB], AP-3, UPI-2, FN-2, NEA-2) Butch Woolfolk, Michigan (AP-2, UPI-2, FN-1) Rich Diana, Yale (AP-3, FWAA) Eric Dickerson, SMU (CFHOF) (AP-2, FN-2, NEA-2) Dwayne Crutchfield, Iowa State (UPI-2) Defensive selections Defensive ends Billy Ray Smith Jr., Arkansas (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN-1, GNS, NEA-1, TSN, WC) Andre Tippett, Iowa (CFHOF) (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN-1, GNS, NEA-2 [LB]) Jimmy Williams, Nebraska (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-2, FN-2, NEA-1, WC) David Galloway, Florida (FWAA, UPI-2, FN-2) Steve Clark, Utah (FWAA, NEA-2 [DT]) Mike Pitts, Alabama (FN-2) Rusty Guilbeau, McNeese State (AP-2) Defensive tackles Kenneth Sims, Texas (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN-1, GNS, NEA-1, TSN, WC) Lester Williams, Miami (Fla.) (AP-2, UPI-1, FN-1, NEA-1, TSN [DE], WC) Glen Collins, Mississippi State (AFCA, NEA-2, TSN) Jeff Gaylord, Missouri (AP-1, UPI-2) Harvey Armstrong, SMU (AFCA, FN-2) Rick Bryan, Oklahoma (GNS) Jeff Bryant, Clemson (FN-2) Fletcher Jenkins, Washington (AP-2, NEA-2) Eddie Weaver, Georgia (UPI-2) Middle guards Tim Krumrie, Wisconsin (CFHOF) (AP-1, UPI-1, FN-1, NEA-2, WC) Emanuel Weaver, South Carolina (NEA-1) George Achica, USC (AP-2, GNS) Pat Dean, Iowa (UPI-2) Linebackers Bob Crable, Notre Dame (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-1, FN-1, GNS, TSN, WC) Jeff Davis, Clemson (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, FN-1) Sal Sunseri, Pittsburgh (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2) Johnie Cooks, Mississippi State (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, FN-1, GNS, NEA-1, TSN) Chip Banks, USC (UPI-1, NEA-2, TSN, WC) Tom Boyd, Alabama (NEA-1, WC) Mark Stewart, Washington (GNS) Kirk Hamon, Pacific (GNS) Ricky Young, Oklahoma State (AP-2, FN-2) Marcus Marek, Ohio State (AP-2, UPI-2, FN-2) Robert Brown, Virginia Tech (NEA-2) Mike Merriweather, Pacific (NEA-2) Chet Parlavecchio, Penn State (FN-2) Defensive backs Mike Richardson, Arizona State (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-2, TSN, WC) Tommy Wilcox, Alabama (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-1, FN-1, WC) Terry Kinard, Clemson (CFHOF) (AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1) Fred Marion, Miami (Fla.) (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-1, FN-2) John Krimm, Notre Dame (GNS, NEA-1, TSN) Johnny Jackson, Air Force (AP-2, FWAA, NEA-2) Steve Cordle, Fresno St. (AFCA) Vann McElroy, Baylor (UPI-2, FN-1, WC) Ray Horton, Washington (NEA-1) Matt Vanden Boom, Wisconsin (AP-2, UPI-1) Paul Sorensen, Washington State (FN-1, GNS, NEA-1) Rodney Lewis, Nebraska (TSN) Rick Woods, Boise State (GNS) Jim Burroughs, Michigan State (FN-2, TSN) Paul Lankford, Penn State (GNS) Jim Bob Harris, Alabama (UPI-2) Mike Kennedy, Toledo (NEA-2) Kevin Potter, Missouri (FN-2) Ken Thomas, San Jose State (NEA-2) Special teams Kickers Morten Andersen, Michigan State (AP-3, UPI-1, FN-2, GNS, NEA-2, TSN, WC) Bruce Lahay, Arkansas (FWAA, NEA-1) Gary Anderson, Syracuse (AP-1) Danny Miller, Miami (Fla.) (UPI-2, FN-1) Eddie Garcia, SMU (AP-2) Punters Reggie Roby, Iowa (AP-1, UPI-1, FN-1, WC) Rohn Stark, Florida State (FWAA, UPI-2, FN-2, GNS, NEA-1, TSN) Maury Buford, Texas Tech (NEA-2) Bucky Scribner, Kansas (AP-2) Key Bold – Consensus All-AmericanFootball Award Winners National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2016 March 18, 2017 3, 12 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/awards.pdf -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, the Kodak All-America teamKodak All-America Team The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) November 24, 1981 D2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4563487/1981_kodak_allamerica_team/ Newspapers.com AP – Associated PressAssociated Press' All-America Team Akron Beacon Journal December 2, 1981 D5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-1981-associated/149571238/ Newspapers.com FWAA – Football Writers Association of AmericaFWAA All-America Since 1944: The All-Time Team Ted Gangi March 8, 2016 http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/awards/allamerica/alltime.pdf March 4, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190304073432/http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/awards/allamerica/alltime.pdf dead UPI – United Press InternationalUPI All-Americans The Indianapolis Star December 9, 1981 66 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4563416/1981_upi_allamerican_football_team/ Newspapers.com Other selectors FN – Football NewsTippett, Roby make Football News team Cedar Rapids (IA) Gazette November 29, 1981 3C https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-1981-football-news-all-ameri/149137766/ June 11, 2024 Newspapers.com GNS – Gannett News ServiceMcMahon rates with the best Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY) December 8, 1981 1D, 4D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4574981/mcmahon_rates_with_the_best/ Newspapers.com NEA – Newspaper Enterprise AssociationNEA's 1981 All-America football team Murray Olderman Mattoon (IL) Journal Gazette November 28, 1981 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4563722/neas_1981_allamerica_football_team/ Newspapers.com TSN – The Sporting NewsFootball All Americans: Sporting News The Pittsburgh Press December 8, 1981 C4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4563807/football_all_americans/ Newspapers.com WC – Walter Camp Football FoundationAll-America Teams Arizona Republic November 26, 1981 9 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-1981-walter-camp-al/161645946/ Newspapers.com 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 All-America Team Category:All-America college football teams