1976 All-America college football team

Official list of the best college football players of 1976 August 2023 25em 1976 College Football All-America Team border-top:#aaa 1px solid border-top:1px #aaa solid College Football All-America Team 1976 NCAA Division I football season border-top:1px #aaa solid 1974 1975 ← → 1977 1978 The 1976 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 1976. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recognizes four selectors as "official" for the 1976 season. They are: (1) the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA); (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), the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), The Sporting News (TSN), 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. The 1976 USC Trojans football team led all others with five players who received first-team All-American honors in 1976. In addition to Ricky Bell, the USC honorees were offensive tackle Marvin Powell, defensive end Dennis Thurman, defensive tackle Gary Jeter, and punter Glen Walker. The consensus national champion Pittsburgh Panthers team had two first-team honorees: Tony Dorsett and middle guard Al Romano. 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 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 OtherTony DorsettRunning backPittsburgh4/5/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPICFN, FN, NEA, TSN, WCRicky BellRunning backUSC4/5/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPICFN, FN, NEA, TSN, WCJoel ParrishOffensive guardGeorgia3/4/8AFCA, FWAA, UPIFN, NEA, TSN, WCRob LytleRunning backMichigan3/5/8AFCA, AP, UPICFN, FN, NEA, TSN, WCLarry SeiversWide receiverTennessee3/4/7AFCA, AP, UPICFN, NEA, TSN, WCMike VaughanOffensive tackleOklahoma4/2/6AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPIFN, WCKen MacAfeeTight endNotre Dame3/3/6AFCA, FWAA, UPICFN, NEA, WCTommy KramerQuarterbackRice3/2/5AFCA, AP, UPICFN, WCMark DonahueOffensive guardMichigan2/3/5FWAA, UPIFN, NEA, WCDerrel GofourthCenterOklahoma State2/1/3AFCA, UPIFNChris WardOffensive tackleOhio State1/0/1AFCA-- Defense Name Position School Number Official OtherRoss BrownerDefensive endNotre Dame4/5/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPICFN, FN, NEA, TSN, WCBill ArmstrongDefensive backWake Forest4/3/7AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPIFN, TSN, WCRobert JacksonLinebackerTexas A&M4/3/7AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPIFN, TSN, WCDave ButterfieldDefensive backNebraska3/4/7AFCA, AP, UPICFN, FN, NEA WCBob BrudzinskiDefensive endOhio State3/2/6AFCA, AP, FWAACFN, TSN, WCAl RomanoMiddle guardPittsburgh3/3/6AFCA, AP, UPICFN, NEA, WCGary GreenDefensive backBaylor2/4/6AFCA, APCFN, NEA, TSNWilson WhitleyDefensive tackleHouston3/2/5AFCA, AP, FWAAFN, WCJoe CampbellDefensive tackleMaryland2/2/4AFCA, FWAACFN, NEA, TSNGary JeterDefensive tackleUSC2/1/3FWAA, UPINEAJerry RobinsonLinebackerUCLA2/1/3AP, FWAANEADennis ThurmanDefensive backUSC2/1/3AP, FWAAWC 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) Vince Ferragamo, Nebraska (AP-3, FN) Joe Roth, California (TSN) 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) Dave Lewis, USC (UPI-2) Ray Costict, Mississippi State (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-1, WC) Gary Green, Baylor (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-2, CFN, NEA-1, TSN) Dennis Thurman, USC (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, WC) Oscar Edwards, UCLA (AFCA, UPI-1) Luther Bradley, Notre Dame (FN, NEA-2, WC) Mike Davis, Colorado (NEA-1) Stan Black, Mississippi State (AP-2, 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-AmericanFootball Award Winners National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2016 March 18, 2017 3, 11 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/Awards.pdf -1 – First-team selection -2 – Second-team selection -3 – Third-team selection Official selectors AFCA – American Football Coaches AssociationBell, Dorsett repeat choices by coaches The Pantagraph November 25, 1976 C4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4499702/bell_dorsett_repeat_choices_by_coaches/ AP – Associated PressTony Dorsett tops AP All-American Team Jefferson City Post Tribune December 2, 1976 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4499583/tony_dorsett_tops_ap_all_american_team/ FWAA – Football Writers Association of AmericaFWAA All-America Since 1944: The All-Time Team Ted Gangi March 2, 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 InternationalButterfield, Fultz make UPI All-America team The Lincoln Star December 3, 1976 21 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4499623/butterfield_fultz_make_upi_all_america/ Other selectors CFN – College Football News (Tom Harmon) FN – Football NewsFootball News All America Team St. Louis Post-Dispatch December 2, 1976 5C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4499885/football_news_all_america_team/ NEA – Newspaper Enterprise AssociationDorsett leads All-Americans The Hillsdale Daily News December 1, 1976 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4499999/dorsett_leads_allamericans/1976 NEA All-American Team Lubbock Avalanche-Journal December 8, 1976 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4500068/1976_nea_all_american_team/ TSN – The Sporting NewsSporting News Picks Three in Big Eight St. Louis Post-Dispatch December 12, 1976 2G https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4500898/sporting_news_picks_three_in_big_eight/ WC – Walter Camp Football Foundation See also 1976 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team 1976 All-Big Eight Conference football team 1976 All-Big Ten Conference football team 1976 All-Pacific-8 Conference football team 1976 All-SEC football team 1976 All-Southwest Conference football team References All-America Team Category:All-America college football teams