The 1956 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 1956. The seven 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 1956 season are (1) 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), (2) 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), (3) 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), (4) 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), (5) 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), (6) 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 (8) 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 1956, the NCAA recognizes seven 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 1956

Ends

Ron Kramer Ronald John Kramer (June 24, 1935 – September 11, 2010) was a multi-sport college athlete and professional American football player. Kramer attended the University of Michigan from 1953 to 1957, winning a total of nine varsity letters in fo ...

, Michigan (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA; AP-1; UP-1; SN; INS-1; CP-1; NEA-1; WC; FWAA) *

Joe Walton Joseph Frank Walton (December 15, 1935 – August 15, 2021) was an American football player and coach who retired after 20 years as the head coach and creator of the football program at Robert Morris University. Walton played eight seasons in t ...

, Pittsburgh (AFCA; AP-1; UP-1; SN; CO-1; INS-1; CP-1; NEA-1; WC; FWAA) *

Buddy Cruze Kyle Layman "Buddy" Cruze (May 24, 1933 – March 10, 2018) was an American football player at the University of Tennessee. A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Cruze attended Knoxville High School and East High School. He attended Southern Met ...

, Tennessee (AP-3; UP-2; INS-2; CP-2; NEA-2;FWAA) * Bill Steiger, Washington State (AP-2, FWAA) *Walter Brodie, William & Mary (AP-2) *

Lamar Lundy Lamar J. Lundy, Jr. (April 17, 1935 – February 24, 2007) was an American defensive end with the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League for 13 seasons, from 1957 to 1969. Along with Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, and Rosey Grier, Lundy w ...

, Purdue (UP-2; INS-2; NEA-3) *

Tom Maentz Tom Maentz (born c. 1934) is a former American football player who played end for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1954-1956. Maentz played on offense and defense and also served as the punter for the Michigan football team. Maentz a ...

, Michigan (UP-3; CP-3; NEA-3) *Paul Lopata, Yale (AP-3) * Frank Gilliam, Iowa (UP-3; NEA-2) *Jack Johnson, Miami (CP-2) *Brad Bomba, Indiana (CP-3) *

Ernie Pitts Ernie Pitts (March 8, 1935 – September 24, 1970) was a Canadian Football League wide receiver and defensive back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the BC Lions in a 14-year career in the CFL from 1957 to 1970. He won four Grey Cups with Winnipe ...

, Denver (INS-2) *John Bell, Oklahoma (INS-2)

Tackles

John Witte John August Witte (January 29, 1933 – March 17, 1993) was an American football tackle who played one season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the ninth round of the 195 ...

, Oregon State (AFCA, AP-1; FWAA UP-1; CO-1; INS-1; CP-1; NEA-1; WC) *

Lou Michaels Louis Andrew "Lou" Michaels (originally Majka) (September 28, 1935 – January 19, 2016) was an American football player who was a standout defensive lineman for the University of Kentucky Wildcats from 1955 to 1957. After Kentucky's victory ov ...

, Kentucky (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-2; UP-1; CO-1; INS-2; CP-2; NEA-1; WC-1) *

Alex Karras Alexander George Karras (July 15, 1935 – October 10, 2012) was an American football player, professional wrestler, sportscaster, and actor. He was a four-time Pro Bowl player with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL), ...

, Iowa , (College and Pro Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-2; INS-2; CP-1; NEA-2; FWAA) * Charlie Krueger, Texas A&M (AP-3, INS-1, CP-3) *Norm Hamilton, TCU (CP-3; NEA-2; FWAA) *

Bob Hobert Robert D. Hobert (born June 28, 1935) is a former Canadian football player who played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He won the Grey Cup with them in 1958. He played college football at the University of Minnesota The University of Minnesot ...

, Minnesota (AP-3; UP-3; NEA-3; FWAA) *

Paul Wiggin Paul David Wiggin (born November 18, 1934) is a former American football player and coach who currently serves as the senior consultant for pro personnel with the Minnesota Vikings. After graduating from Stanford University in 1957,

, Stanford (AP-2; UP-2, SN, INS-2) *Ed Gray, Oklahoma (SN) *

Mike Sandusky Mike Sandusky (born March 13, 1935) is a former All Pro guard who played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1957 NFL Draft. Sandusky attended the University of Maryland. Sandusky ...

, Maryland (CP-2) *Esker Harris, UCLA (AP-2)

Guards

* Jim Parker, Ohio State (College and Pro Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1; UP-1; SN; INS-1; CP-1; NEA-1; WC; FWAA) * Bill Glass, Baylor (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1; UP-1; SN; CO-1; INS-1; CP-2; NEA-1; WC-1; FWAA) * Sam Valentine, Penn State (AP-2; UP-2; INS-2; CP-1; NEA-2; NEA-2; FWAA) * John Barrow, Florida (Canadian Football Hall of Fame)(AP-3 CP-3; NEA-3; FWAA) *Allen Ecker, Georgia Tech (UP-2; INS-2; CP-3) *Dick Day, Washington (AP-3) *Stan Slater, Army (UP-3) *

Bill Krisher William Irwin Krisher (born September 18, 1935) is a former American football guard who was an All-American at Oklahoma in 1956 and 1957. Krisher played two seasons in the American Football League (AFL), from 1960 to 1961, for the Dallas Te ...

, Oklahoma (UP-3) *John Owselchik, Yale (CP-2; NEA-3) *

Dan Currie Daniel George Currie (June 27, 1935 – September 11, 2017) was an American football player in the National Football League (NFL). He played linebacker for nine seasons with the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams. Early years Born and raise ...

, Michigan State (INS-2)

Centers

Jerry Tubbs Jerry may refer to: Animals * Jerry (Grand National winner), racehorse, winner of the 1840 Grand National * Jerry (St Leger winner), racehorse, winner of 1824 St Leger Stakes Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Jerry'' (film), a 2006 Indian film ...

, Oklahoma (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1; UP-1; INS-1; CP-1; NEA-1; WC; FWAA) *Don Stephenson, Georgia Tech (AP-2; UP-3; SN; NEA-3; FWAA) * John Matsko, Michigan State (AP-3; UP-2; INS-2; CP-3; NEA-2) *Don Suchy, Iowa (INS-2; CP-2) *Jim Matheny, UCLA (INS-2)

Quarterbacks

John Brodie John Riley Brodie (born August 14, 1935) is a former American football player, a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons. He had a second career as a Senior PGA Tour professional golfer, and ...

, Stanford (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AP-3; UP-2; CO-1; INS-1; CP-2; NEA-1; WC-1; FWAA-1) *

Paul Hornung Paul Vernon Hornung (December 23, 1935 – November 13, 2020), nicknamed "the Golden Boy", was an American professional football player who was a Hall of Fame running back for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL) from 195 ...

, Notre Dame (Heisman Trophy winner and College and Pro Football Hall of Fame) (AP-2; UP-1; INS-2; CP-1; NEA-2; FWAA-1) *Claude Benham, Columbia (INS-2; NEA-3) *

Len Dawson Leonard Ray Dawson (June 20, 1935 – August 24, 2022) was an American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL) for 19 seasons, primarily with the Kansas City Chiefs franchise. Aft ...

, Purdue (UP-3) *Gene Newton, Tulane (CP-3)

Backs

Jim Brown James Nathaniel Brown (born February 17, 1936) is a former American football player, sports analyst and actor. He played as a fullback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 through 1965. Considered to be one ...

, Syracuse (College and Pro Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA; AP-1; UP-1; CO-1; INS-1; CP-1; NEA-1; WC; FWAA) *

Johnny Majors John Terrill Majors (May 21, 1935June 3, 2020) was an American professional football player and college coach. A standout halfback at the University of Tennessee, he was an All-American in 1956 and a two-time winner of the Southeastern Confe ...

, Tennessee (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA; AP-1; UP-1; CO-1; INS-1; CP-2; NEA-1; WC; FWAA) * Tommy McDonald, Oklahoma (College and Pro Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA; AP-1; UP-1; CO-1; INS-1; CP-1; NEA-2; WC; FWAA) *

Jack Pardee John Perry Pardee (April 19, 1936 – April 1, 2013) was an American football linebacker and the only head coach to helm a team in college football, the National Football League (NFL), the United States Football League (USFL), the World Footbal ...

, Texas A&M (College Football Hall of Fame) (UP-3; INS-2; CP-1; NEA-2; FWAA) * Jim Crawford, Wyoming (AP-3; UP-3; INS-2; CP-2; NEA-1; FWAA) *

Don Bosseler Donald John Bosseler (born January 24, 1936) is a former American football fullback who played in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins from 1957 to 1964. He played college football at the University of Miami and was drafted ...

, Miami (AP-1; INS-2; CP-2; NEA-3) *

Billy Ray Barnes Billy Ray Barnes (born May 14, 1935) is an American former professional football player who was a halfback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. He was a three-time Pro Bowl select ...

, Wake Forest (AP-2; FWAA) *

John David Crow John David Crow Sr. (July 8, 1935 – June 17, 2015) was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1957 as a halfback for the Texas A&M Aggies. After college, he played professional f ...

, Texas A&M (AP-2; SN; INS-2; NEA-3) *

Clendon Thomas Clendon Thomas (born December 28, 1935) is a former American football halfback and Defensive back who played 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). In college, he was a star athlete for the Oklahoma Sooners under coach Bud Wilkinson. ...

, Oklahoma (UP-2; INS-2; CP-3) *

Ken Ploen Kenneth Ploen LAYN (born June 3, 1935) is a former star quarterback in American college football and for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). College football In 1956, Ploen became the University of Iowa Hawkeyes s ...

, Iowa (AP-2) * Jim Swink, TCU (AP-3; UP-2; INS-2) * Paige Cothren, Mississippi (UP-2) *Mel Dillard, Purdue (AP-3) *

Jon Arnett Jon Dwane "Jaguar Jon" Arnett (April 20, 1935 – January 16, 2021) was an American professional football player. He was a first-team All-American out of USC and Manual Arts High School. Arnett died on January 16, 2021, from heart failure in L ...

, Southern California (UP-3; INS-2; NEA-2) *Bob McKeiver, Northwestern (CP-3) *John Bayuk, Colorado (INS-2; CP-3) *

Joel Wells Joel Whitlock Wells (November 26, 1935 – September 4, 2022) was an American gridiron football player. He played as a halfback in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants during the 1961 NFL season. Wells began his caree ...

, Clemson (NEA-3) *

Paul Rotenberry Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) * Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity *Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chri ...

, Georgia Tech (INS-2) *Dennis McGill, Yale (INS-2) *Earnel Durden, Oregon State (INS-2)

Key

Official selectors

* AFCA =

; selected by the votes of the 503 members of the AFCA and published in ''

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 ...

'' magazine, * AP =

* 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 = The ''

'' * 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 team 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