The 1946 College Football All-America team is composed of

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

players who were selected as

All-America The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed upon an amateur sports person from the United States who is considered to be one of the best amateurs in their sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an All-Am ...

ns by various organizations and writers that chose

College Football All-America Team The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best college football players in the United States at their respective positions. The original use of the term ''All-America'' seems to have been to the 1889 College Football ...

s in 1946. The nine selectors recognized by the

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...

as "official" for the 1946 season are (1) the All-America Board (AAB), (2) the

American Football Coaches Association The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) is an association of over 11,000 American football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "mainta ...

(AFCA), published by '' Look'' magazine, (3) the

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...

(AP), (4) ''

Collier's Weekly ''Collier's'' was an American general interest magazine founded in 1888 by Peter Fenelon Collier. It was launched as ''Collier's Once a Week'', then renamed in 1895 as ''Collier's Weekly: An Illustrated Journal'', shortened in 1905 to ''Colli ...

'', as selected by

Grantland Rice Henry Grantland "Granny" Rice (November 1, 1880July 13, 1954) was an early 20th-century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio. Early years Rice wa ...

, (5) the

Football Writers Association of America The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) is an organization of college football media members in the United States founded in 1941. It is composed of approximately 1,200 professional sports writers from both print and Internet media out ...

(FWAA), (6) the

International News Service The International News Service (INS) was a U.S.-based news agency (newswire) founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909.

(INS), (7) the

Newspaper Enterprise Association The Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) is an editorial column and comic strip newspaper syndication service based in the United States and established in 1902. The oldest syndicate still in operation, the NEA was originally a secondary news ...

(NEA), (8) the ''

Sporting News The ''Sporting News'' is a website and former magazine publication owned by Sporting News Holdings, which is a U.S.-based sports media company formed in December 2020 by a private investor consortium. It was originally established in 1886 as a pr ...

'' (SN), and (9) the

United Press United Press International (UPI) is an American international news agency whose newswires, photo, news film, and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations for most of the 20th c ...

(UP).

Consensus All-Americans

For the year 1946, the NCAA recognizes nine published All-American teams as "official" designations for purposes of its consensus determinations. The following chart identifies the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans and displays which first-team designations they received.

All-American selections for 1946

Ends

* Burr Baldwin, UCLA *

Hub Bechtol Hubert Edwin "Hub" Bechtol (April 20, 1926 – October 22, 2004) was a college football player for the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas Longhorns. He was a 3 Time All-American at The University of Texas at Austin in 1944, 1945, and 1946. He ...

, Texas *

Hank Foldberg Henry Christian Foldberg Sr. (March 12, 1923 – March 7, 2001) was an American college and professional football player who became a college football coach. Foldberg played college football for Texas A&M University and the United States Milita ...

, Army * Elmer Madar, Michigan *

Al Baldwin Alton "Al" Baldwin (February 21, 1923 – May 23, 1994) was a professional American football end/defensive back who played in the All-America Football Conference, the National Football League and the Canadian Football League. In his senior ...

, Arkansas *Richard Hagen, Washington *George Poole, Army *

Wallace Jones Wallace Clayton "Wah Wah" Jones (July 14, 1926 – July 27, 2014) was an American professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1949 to 1952 with the Indianapolis Olympians. Biography Jones was born ...

, Kentucky * Ray Poole, Mississippi *

, Army *

Len Ford Leonard Guy Ford Jr. (February 18, 1926 – March 14, 1972) was an American football player who played at the offensive and defensive end positions from 1948 to 1958. He played college football for the University of Michigan and professional f ...

, Michigan *Browning, Denver *Clyde Lindsey, LSU *Ike Armstrong, Oklahoma A&M

Tackles

* George Connor, Notre Dame *

Dick Huffman Richard Maxwell Huffman (March 27, 1923 – September 13, 1992) was an American gridiron football tackle in the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU). A 9th round selection (81st overall ...

, Tennessee * Warren Amling, Ohio State *

George Savitsky George Michael Savitsky (July 30, 1924 – September 4, 2012) was an American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles. Born in New York City, Savitsky grew up in Camden, New Jersey and played foo ...

, Penn *

John Ferraro John Ferraro (May 14, 1924 – April 17, 2001) was an American politician and businessman who was a Democratic member of the Los Angeles City Council from 1966 until his death in 2001, the longest tenure of any member in the city's history. Befo ...

, USC *Bobby Davis, Georgia Tech *Bernie Gallagher, Penn * Frank Wydo, Cornell *

Walt Barnes Walter Lee Barnes (January 26, 1918 – January 6, 1998) was an American football guard and actor who played in National Football League (NFL) for four seasons. He played in the (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles and in college at Louisiana State ...

, LSU *Bill Kay, Iowa

Guards

* Weldon Humble, Rice *

Alex Agase Alexander Arrasi Agase (March 27, 1922 – May 3, 2007) was an American football guard and linebacker who was named an All-American three times in college and played on three Cleveland Browns championship teams before becoming head football coac ...

, Illinois * John Mastrangelo, Notre Dame *

Ed Hirsch Edward Norman "Buckets" Hirsch (March 26, 1921 – January 28, 2000) was an American gridiron football player who played for the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He won the Grey Cup with the Argonauts in 1950. He played college footba ...

, Northwestern *

Plato Andros Plato Gus Andrecopoulos (November 28, 1921 – September 22, 2008) was a college All-American and professional football player. A 6'0", 240 lbs. guard from the University of Oklahoma, Andros spent four years in the United States Coast Guar ...

, Oklahoma *

Joe Steffy Joseph Benton Steffy, Jr. (April 3, 1926 – May 22, 2011) was an American football player. He went to fight in the Korean War and received the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. Steffy was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. ...

, Army *Arthur Gerometta, Army * Knox Ramsey, William & Mary *

Herbert St. John Herbert LeGrande St. John (January 17, 1926 — June 29, 2011) was a professional American football Guard (American football), guard. He played two seasons in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). References

1926 births 2011 deat ...

, Georgia * Dick Barwegan, Purdue *

Fritz Barzilauskas Francis Daniel Barzilauskas (June 13, 1920 – November 30, 1990) was an American football guard who played four seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Boston Yanks/New York Bulldogs and New York Giants. He was drafted by the Yanks ...

, Yale

Centers

Paul Duke Paul Welden Duke (October 16, 1926 — July 18, 2005) was an American newspaper, radio and television journalist, best known for his 20-year stint as moderator of '' Washington Week in Review'' on PBS. A native of Richmond, Virginia, Duke ...

, Georgia Tech * George Strohmeyer, Notre Dame *Bryant Meeks, South Carolina * Chuck Bednarik, Penn *Dick Harris, Texas *

John Cannady John Hanley Cannady (September 5, 1923 – September 28, 2002) was an American football linebacker in the National Football League for the New York Giants. He played college football at Indiana University and was drafted in the third roun ...

, Indiana * Dick Scott, Navy

Quarterbacks

Johnny Lujack John Christopher Lujack (pronounced Lu' jack; born January 4, 1925) is a former American football quarterback and defensive back who won the 1947 Heisman Trophy; he is currently the oldest living recipient of the Heisman Trophy. Lujack played c ...

, Notre Dame (College Football Hall of Fame) *

Arnold Tucker Young Arnold Tucker (January 5, 1924 – January 10, 2019) was a United States Air Force officer who graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1947. Football career While lettering twice in football, Tucker wa ...

, Army *

Ben Raimondi Benjamin Louis "Ben" Raimondi (January 23, 1925 – April 16, 2020) was a professional American football player for the All-America Football Conference's New York Yankees. He played quarterback in seven games during the 1947 season. Raimond ...

, Indiana *

Ernie Case Ernest Francis Case (November 23, 1920 – December 13, 1995) was an American athlete who played quarterback for the Bruins of the University of California, Los Angeles, and professionally in the All-America Football Conference for the Baltimo ...

, UCLA *

Bobby Layne Robert Lawrence Layne (December 19, 1926 – December 1, 1986) was an American football quarterback who played for 15 seasons in the National Football League. He played for the Chicago Bears in 1948, the New York Bulldogs in 1949, the Detroit ...

, Texas *Mickey McCardle, USC

Halfbacks

Charley Trippi Charles Louis Trippi (December 14, 1921 – October 19, 2022) was an American professional football player for the Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) from 1947 to 1955. Although primarily a running back, his versatility al ...

, Georgia * Glenn Davis, Army *

Herman Wedemeyer Herman John Wedemeyer (May 20, 1924 – January 25, 1999) was an American actor, football player, and politician. He is best known for portraying Sergeant/Detective "Duke" Lukela on the crime drama ''Hawaii Five-O'' (1972–1980). He also appear ...

, St. Mary's *

Ray Evans Raymond Bernard Evans (February 4, 1915 – February 15, 2007) was an American songwriter. He was a partner in a composing and song-writing duo with Jay Livingston, known for the songs they composed for films. Evans wrote the lyrics and Living ...

, Kansas * Charlie Justice, North Carolina *

Bob Chappuis Robert Richard Chappuis ( ; February 24, 1923 – June 14, 2012) was an American football player who played halfback and quarterback for the University of Michigan Wolverines in 1942, 1946, and 1947. His college years were interrupted by servic ...

, Michigan *

Clyde Scott Clyde Luther Scott (August 29, 1924 – January 30, 2018) was an American athlete who competed professionally in the National Football League and earned an Olympic medal in the 110 meter hurdles. He was born in Dixie, Louisiana. Biography ...

, Arkansas *

Harry Gilmer Harry Vincent Gilmer Jr. (April 14, 1926 – August 20, 2016) was an American football halfback and quarterback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fam ...

, Alabama * Forrest Hall, U. San Francisco * Tony Minisi, Penn *

Lloyd Merriman Lloyd Archer Merriman (August 2, 1924 – January 20, 2004) was an American professional baseball player who played outfielder in the Major Leagues from to for the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs. Born in Clovis, California, ...

, Stanford

Fullbacks

* Felix Blanchard, Army

Black college All-Americans

During the 1940s, African-Americans were excluded from many college football programs. Many played the game at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The major All-America selectors in these years did not include players from HBCUs. However, ''The Pittsburgh Courier'' each year selected its own All-America team from African-American players, including those at HBCUs. The players chosen for 1946 were: * Nathaniel Powell,

Florida A&M Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), commonly known as Florida A&M, is a public historically black land-grant university in Tallahassee, Florida. Founded in 1887, It is the third largest historically black university in the U ...

, end * Roger Pierce, Langston, end * Robert Drummond,

Tennessee A&I Tennessee State University (Tennessee State, Tenn State, or TSU) is a public historically black land-grant university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1912, it is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennes ...

, tackle * Robert Smith, Southern, tackle * French Nickens, Virginia State, guard * Herman Mabrie, Tuskegee, guard * John Brown,

North Carolina College North Carolina Central University (NCCU or NC Central) is a public historically black university in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by James E. Shepard in affiliation with the Chautauqua movement in 1909, it was supported by private funds from ...

, center * Nathaniel Taylor, Tennessee A&I, back *

Whitney L. Van Cleve Whitney L. Van Cleve (April 6, 1922 – January 21, 1997) was an American college football coach. He served as the head football coach at Tuskegee University from 1955 to 1963, Alabama State University from 1964 to 1968, Hampton University from ...

, Tuskegee, back * Raymond Von Lewis,

Texas College Texas College is a private, historically black Christian Methodist Episcopal college in Tyler, Texas. It is affiliated with the United Negro College Fund. It was founded in 1894 by a group of ministers affiliated with the Christian Methodist Epi ...

, back * James Turpin, Morgan State, back

Key

* Bold – Consensus All-American * -1 – First-team selection * -2 – Second-team selection * -3 – Third-team selection

Official selectors

* AAB = All-America Board * AFCA =

, selected for the ''

Saturday Evening Post ''The Saturday Evening Post'' is an American magazine, currently published six times a year. It was issued weekly under this title from 1897 until 1963, then every two weeks until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely c ...

'' * AP =

* CO = ''

'' * FWAA =

* INS =

International News Service The International News Service (INS) was a U.S.-based news agency (newswire) founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909.

* NEA =

* SN = ''

'' * UP =

Other selectors

* CP =

Central Press Association The Central Press Association was American newspaper syndication company based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in business from 1910 to 1971. Originally independent, it was a subsidiary of King Features Syndicate from 1930 onwards. At its peak, the ...

, selected by college football captains * WC =

Walter Camp Football Foundation The Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF) is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The organization also presents various awards. It is named in honor of foo ...

References

{{College Football All-America Teams

All-America Team The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed upon an amateur sports person from the United States who is considered to be one of the best amateurs in their sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an All-Am ...

College Football All-America Teams