1987 College Football All-America Team

The 1987 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 1987. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recognizes five selectors as "official" for the 1987 season.[1] They are: (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);[4] (4) the United Press International (UPI) selected based on the votes of sports writers at UPI newspapers;[5] and (5) the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WC).[6] Other notable selectors included Football News[7] the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA),[8] Scripps Howard (SH),[9] and The Sporting News (TSN).[10]

Consensus All-Americans

The following charts identify the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans for the year 1987 and displays which first-team designations they received.

Offense

Name Position School Number[11] Official Other
Tim Brown Wide receiver/return specialist Notre Dame 5/4/9 AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC FN, NEA, SH, TSN
Mark Hutson Offensive guard Oklahoma 5/3/8 AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC FN, NEA, SH
Don McPherson Quarterback Syracuse 5/3/8 AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC NEA, SH, TSN
Keith Jackson Tight end Oklahoma 5/2/7 AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC FN, SH
Nacho Albergamo Center LSU 5/2/7 AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC SH, TSN
Dave Cadigan Offensive tackle USC 4/3/7 AP, FWAA, UPI, WC NEA, SH, TSN
Lorenzo White Running back Michigan State 4/3/7 AFCA, FWAA, UPI, WC FN, NEA, SH
Wendell Davis Wide receiver LSU 3/3/6 AFCA, FWAA, UPI FN, SH, TSN
Randall McDaniel Offensive guard Arizona State 4/1/5 AFCA, FWAA, UPI, WC SH
Craig Heyward Running back Pittsburgh 3/2/5 AP, FWAA, UPI SH, TSN
Jumbo Elliott Offensive tackle Michigan 4/0/4 AFCA, FWAA, UPI, WC --

Defense

Name Position School Number[11] Official Other
Bennie Blades Defensive back Miami 5/4/9 AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC FN, NEA, SH, TSN
Chad Hennings Defensive line Air Force 5/4/9 AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC FN, NEA, SH, TSN
Deion Sanders Defensive back Florida State 5/4/9 AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC FN, NEA, SH, TSN
Chris Spielman Linebacker Ohio State 5/4/9 AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC FN, NEA, SH, TSN
Danny Stubbs Defensive line Miami 5/4/9 AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC FN, NEA, SH, TSN
Aundray Bruce Linebacker Auburn 3/2/5 AFCA, UPI, WC SH, TSN
Tracy Rocker Defensive line Auburn 3/2/5 FWAA, UPI, WC FN, SH
Ted Gregory Defensive line Syracuse 2/3/5 FWAA, UPI FN, NEA, TSN
Chuck Cecil Defensive back Arizona 3/1/4 AFCA, UPI, WC FN
Rickey Dixon Defensive back Oklahoma 3/1/4 AP, FWAA, UPI SH
Dante Jones Linebacker Oklahoma 2/1/3 AFCA, AP SH
John Roper Linebacker Texas A&M 2/0/2 AP, FWAA --

Special teams

Name Position School Number[11] Official Other
David Treadwell Placekicker Clemson 4/4/8 AFCA, AP, UPI, WC FN, NEA, SH, TSN
Tom Tupa Punter Ohio State 5/2/7 AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC NEA, SH

Full selections - offense

Quarterbacks

  • Don McPherson, Syracuse (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
  • Troy Aikman, UCLA (CFHOF) (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-2)
  • Steve Taylor, Nebraska (AP-3, FN)

Running backs

  • Lorenzo White, Michigan State (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH)
  • Craig Heyward, Pittsburgh (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, SH, TSN)
  • Gaston Green, UCLA (AFCA, UPI-2, WC, FN, NEA-1)
  • Bobby Humphrey, Alabama (AP-3, WC, NEA-2, TSN)
  • Thurman Thomas, Oklahoma State (CFHOF) (AP-1, UPI-2)
  • Lydell Carr, Oklahoma (NEA-1 [FB])
  • Eric Metcalf, Texas (AP-2)
  • Jamie Morris, Michigan (NEA-2)
  • Mel Bratton, Miami (FL) (NEA-2 [FB])
  • Blair Thomas, Penn State (AP-3)

Wide receivers

  • Tim Brown, Notre Dame (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1 [return specialist], FWAA [KR/WR], UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
  • Wendell Davis, LSU (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, SH, TSN)
  • Sterling Sharpe, South Carolina (CFHOF) (AP-3, FWAA, UPI-2, TSN)
  • Ernie Jones, Indiana (AP-1)
  • Marc Zeno, Tulane (AP-1, UPI-2)
  • Guy Liggins, San Jose State (AP-2)
  • Michael Irvin, Miami (FL) (NEA-2)
  • Terance Mathis, New Mexico (AP-3)

Tight ends

  • Keith Jackson, Oklahoma (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-2, SH)
  • Pat Carter, Florida State (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-1, TSN)
  • Ferrell Edmunds, Maryland (AP-3)

Centers

  • Nacho Albergamo, LSU (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, SH, TSN)
  • Chuck Lanza, Notre Dame (AP-2, UPI-2, FN, NEA-1)
  • Jake Young, Nebraska (NEA-2)
  • Matt Wilson, Texas A&M (AP-3)

Offensive guards

  • Mark Hutson, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH)
  • Randall McDaniel, Arizona State (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, SH)
  • John Phillips, Clemson (AP-2, NEA-1)
  • Steve Wisniewski, Penn State (TSN)
  • Harry Galbreath, Tennessee (AP-3, UPI-2, NEA-2, TSN)
  • Larry Rose, Alabama (NEA-2)
  • Eric Andolsek, LSU (AP-3)

Offensive tackles

  • Dave Cadigan, USC (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
  • Jumbo Elliot, Michigan (AFCA, FWAA, UPI-1, WC)
  • John McCormick, Nebraska (AFCA, AP-1 [OG], UPI-2 [OG], FN)
  • Paul Gruber, Wisconsin (UPI-2, NEA-1, TSN)
  • Stacy Searels, Auburn (AP-1, FN)
  • Dave Richards, UCLA (SH)
  • Greg Johnson, Oklahoma (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-2)
  • Tony Mandarich, Michigan State (AP-2, FN)
  • Louis Cheek, Texas A&M (AP-3)
  • Pat Tomberlin, Florida State (AP-3, NEA-2)

Full selections - defense

Defensive linemen

  • Chad Hennings, Air Force (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1 [DT], FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1 [DT], SH, TSN)
  • Danny Stubbs, Miami (AFCA, AP-1 [DT], FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1 [DE], SH, TSN)
  • Tracy Rocker, Auburn (CFHOF) (AP-3 [DT], FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, SH)
  • Ted Gregory, Syracuse (UPI-1, FWAA, FN, NEA-1 [NG], TSN)
  • Neil Smith, Nebraska (AP-2 [DT], NEA-1 [DT], TSN)
  • Tony Cherico, Arkansas (AFCA, UPI-2, SH)
  • Broderick Thomas, Nebraska (AP-2, UPI-2, WC, NEA-1 [DE])
  • Michael Dean Perry, Clemson (FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-2 [DT])
  • Darrell Reed, Oklahoma (AP-1 [DE], UPI-2, FN, NEA-2 [DE])
  • Mark Messner, Michigan (AP-2 [DT], TSN)
  • Roy Hart, South Carolina (AP-2 [NG])
  • Burt Grossman, Pittsburgh (NEA-2 [DE])
  • Carlton Bailey, North Carolina (NEA-2 [NG])
  • Kyle Rappold, Colorado (AP-3 [NG])

Linebackers

  • Chris Spielman, Ohio State (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
  • Aundray Bruce, Auburn (AFCA [DL], UPI-1, WC, NEA-2, SH, TSN)
  • Dante Jones, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-2, SH)
  • John Roper, Texas A&M (AP-1 [DE], FWAA, UPI-2)
  • Ken Norton Jr. UCLA (AP-3, UPI-1, WC, FN, TSN)
  • Paul McGowan, Florida State (AP-1, FN, NEA-1)
  • Kurt Crain, Auburn (AP-1)
  • Marcus Cotton, USC (NEA-1)
  • Chris Gaines, Vanderbilt (AFCA, AP-2)
  • Clifford Charlton, Florida (TSN)
  • Ezekial Gadson, Pittsburgh (FWAA)
  • Carnell Lake, UCLA (AP-2)
  • Ned Bolcar, Notre Dame (AP-2, NEA-2)
  • Van Waiters, Indiana (AP-3, UPI-2)
  • Bill Romanowski, Boston College (AP-2)
  • Jethro Franklin, Fresno State (AP-3)
  • John Brantley, Georgia (NEA-2)
  • Pete Curkendall, Penn State (AP-3 [DT])
  • George Mira Jr., Miami (FL) (AP-3)
  • Galand Thaxton, Wyoming (AP-3)

Defensive backs

  • Bennie Blades, Miami (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
  • Deion Sanders, Florida State (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
  • Rickey Dixon, Oklahoma (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, SH)
  • Chuck Cecil, Arizona (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-1, WC, FN)
  • Donnell Woolford, Clemson (AFCA)
  • Todd Krumm, Michigan State (UPI-2, SH)
  • Jarvis Williams, Florida (WC)
  • Gordon Lockbaum, Holy Cross (NEA-1)
  • Louis Oliver, Florida (AP-3, UPI-2, TSN)
  • Mickey Pruitt, Colorado (AP-2, TSN)
  • Brad Edwards, South Carolina (AP-3, UPI-2)
  • David Vickers, Oklahoma (AP-2)
  • Riccardo Ingram, Georgia Tech (UPI-2, NEA-2)
  • Terry McDaniel, Tennessee (NEA-2)
  • Gary Richard, Pittsburgh (NEA-2)
  • Kip Corrington, Texas A&M (AP-3)

Full selections - special teams

Placekickers

  • David Treadwell, Clemson (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
  • Marty Zendejas, Nevada-Reno (FWAA)
  • Gary Gussman, Miami (OH) (AP-2)
  • Derek Schmidt, Florida State (AP-3, UPI-2, NEA-2)

Punters

  • Tom Tupa, Ohio State (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, NEA-1, SH)
  • Scott Tabor, California (AP-3, NEA-2, TSN)
  • Barry Helton, Colorado (AP-2)
  • Greg Montgomery, Michigan State (UPI-2, FN)

Returners

  • Tim Brown, Notre Dame (CFHOF) (AP-1, FWAA [KR/WR])
  • Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State (AP-2, TSN)
  • Alan Grant, Stanford (AP-3)

Key

  • Bold – Consensus All-American[1]
  • -1 – First-team selection
  • -2 – Second-team selection
  • -3 – Third-team selection
  • CFHOF = College Football Hall of Fame inductee

Official selectors

Other selectors

See also

  • 1987 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team
  • 1987 All-Big Eight Conference football team
  • 1987 All-Big Ten Conference football team
  • 1987 All-Pacific-10 Conference football team
  • 1987 All-SEC football team

References

  1. ^ a b "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. pp. 3, 13. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "1987 Kodak All-America Team". Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY). November 22, 1987. p. 5E – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ a b "College All-Americans". The Call-Leader (Elwood, IN). December 3, 1987. p. 9.
  4. ^ a b "Football Writers All-America Team". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 26, 1987. p. 8E.
  5. ^ a b "UPI All-America". The Indianapolis Star. December 9, 1987. p. D4.
  6. ^ a b "Walter Camp All-America Team". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 26, 1987. p. 8E.
  7. ^ a b "Football News All-America Team". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 26, 1987. p. 8E.
  8. ^ a b George Robinson (November 22, 1987). "NEA/World Almanac Team: Here Are the 1987 All-Americans". Del Rio, Texas News-Herald. p. 3B.
  9. ^ a b "Scripps Howard All-America Team". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 26, 1987. p. 8E.
  10. ^ a b "Brown TSN top player of '87". Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, IL). December 9, 1987. p. 11.
  11. ^ a b c This column lists the number of selectors choosing the player as a first-team All-American as follows: official selectors/other selectors/total selectors.
  12. ^ Ted Gangi (ed.). "FWAA All-America Since 1944: The All-Time Team" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2016.