The 1963 College Football All-America team is composed of college football 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 Footba ...

s in 1963. 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 and ...

as "official" for the 1963 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 "maint ...

(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. n ...

(AP), (3) the

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 ...

(CP), (4) 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 ou ...

(FWAA), (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 ne ...

(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 ...

'', and (7) the

United Press International 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 ...

(UPI).

Consensus All-Americans

For the year 1963, the NCAA recognizes seven published All-American teams as "official" designations for purposes of its consensus determinations. Four players were unanimously chosen as first-team All-Americans by all seven official selectors. They were: (1)

Navy A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It include ...

quarterback The quarterback (commonly abbreviated "QB"), colloquially known as the "signal caller", is a position in gridiron football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive platoon and mostly line up directly behind the offensive line. In modern Ame ...

Roger Staubach, who was awarded the 1963 Heisman Trophy; (2)

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Roc ...

center/

linebacker Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and the defensive linemen. They are the "middle ground" of defenders, pl ...

Dick Butkus Richard Marvin Butkus (born December 9, 1942) is an American former professional football player, sports commentator, and actor. He played football as a middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) from 1965 to ...

, won the 1963

Chicago Tribune Silver Football The Chicago Tribune Silver Football is awarded by the ''Chicago Tribune'' to the college football player determined to be the best player from the Big Ten Conference The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and ...

as the

Big Ten Conference The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and the Big Nine Conference) is the oldest Division I collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conferen ...

Most Valuable Player In team sports, a most valuable player award, abbreviated 'MVP award', is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particu ...

; (3) tackle Scott Appleton who won the

Outland Trophy The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best college football interior lineman in the United States as adjudged by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named an All- ...

and led the

1963 Texas Longhorns football team The 1963 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 1963 NCAA University Division football season. The Longhorns won their first national championship. Tommy Nobis was the only sophomore starter, and was ...

to a national championship; and (4)

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the so ...

guard Bob "The Boomer" Brown, who was the second player chosen in the

1964 NFL Draft The 1964 National Football League draft was held in Chicago, Illinois, at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers on Monday, December 2, 1963. The first overall pick was Dave Parks, an end from Texas Tech, selected by the San Francisco 49ers. The AFL ...

. Staubach, Butkus and Brown were each subsequently inducted into both the

College A college ( Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offering ...

and

Pro Football Hall of Fame The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, , the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of professional football, including players, coac ...

s. The consensus All-American team also included College and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees Gale Sayers (running back,

Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to ...

) and Carl Eller (tackle,

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the List of U.S. states and territories by population, 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minne ...

). The following chart identifies the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans and displays which first-team designations they received.

Offense

Ends

* Vern Burke, Oregon State (AFCA-1, FWAA, NEA-2, UPI-1, CP, FN, WC) * Larry Elkins, Baylor (NEA-1, SN, CP, UPI-2, FN, WC) *

Bob Lacey Robert Joseph "Bob" Lacey, Jr. (born August 25, 1953) is former professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, California Angels, a ...

, North Carolina (AP-1, FWAA, NEA-2, FN) *

Billy Martin Alfred Manuel Martin Jr. (May 16, 1928 – December 25, 1989), commonly called "Billy", was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager who, in addition to leading other teams, was five times the manager of the New York Yan ...

, Georgia Tech (Time, NEA-1, SN, UPI-2, FN) * Jim Kelly, Notre Dame (AFCA-1, UPI-1) * Dave Parks, Texas Tech (AP-1, SN) * Charles Brooks, Memphis State (FN) *

Billy Truax William Frederick Truax (born July 15, 1943) is a former American football tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Louisiana State University. Early years Truax ...

, LSU (FN) * Hal Bedsole, USC (Time) * Mel Profit, UCLA (AFCA-2, AP-2, NEA-3, UPI-3) *John Simmons, Tulsa (AFCA-2, UPI-3) *Don Montgomery, North Carolina St. (AP-2) * Allen Brown, Ole Miss (NEA-3)

Tackles

* Scott Appleton, Texas (AFCA-1, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, SN, UPI-1, CP, WC, FN, Time) * Carl Eller, Minnesota (AFCA-1, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-3, UPI-1, CP, WC, FN, Time) * Ernie Borghetti, Pittsburgh (AP-2, FWAA, NEA-3, FN) *

Harry Schuh Harry Frederick Schuh (September 25, 1942 – May 20, 2013) was an American football player. He was an All-American tackle at the University of Memphis in 1963 and 1964. He was the third player drafted overall in the 1965 American Football Lea ...

, Memphis State (NEA-1) * Ken Kortas, Louisville (FWAA) *Whaley Hall, Ole Miss (AFCA-2, UPI-2) * Ralph Neely, Oklahoma (AFCA-2, AP-2, UPI-2, FN) * Archie Sutton, Illinois (NEA-2, UPI-3) *Jim Freeman, Navy (NEA-2, FN) * Al Hillebrand, Stanford (FN)

Guards

Bob Brown Robert James Brown (born 27 December 1944) is a former Australian politician, medical doctor and environmentalist. He was a senator and the parliamentary leader of the Australian Greens. Brown was elected to the Australian Senate on the Tasm ...

, Nebraska (AFCA-1, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, SN, UPI-1, CP, WC, FN, Time) *

Rick Redman Richard Clark Redman (March 7, 1943 – September 30, 2022) was an American professional American football, football player who was a linebacker with the San Diego Chargers for nine seasons, including five in the American Football League (AFL) a ...

, Washington (AFCA-1, FWAA, NEA-1, SN, UPI-1, CP, FN, WC) * Herschel Turner, Kentucky (SN, UPI-3 ackle Time) *

Damon Bame Damon may refer to: Places in the United States * Damon, Illinois, an unincorporated community * Damon, Missouri, a ghost town * Damon, Texas, a census-designated place * Damon, Virginia, an unincorporated community * Lake Damon, Florida * Damon ...

, USC (AP-1, NEA-3, UPI-2) *

Steve DeLong Steven Cyril DeLong (July 3, 1943 – August 18, 2010) was an American football defensive lineman who played professionally in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He played collegiately for the Univers ...

, Tennessee (AFCA-2, FWAA, UPI-3, FN) *Mike Reilly, Iowa (AP-2, FWAA) *Dick Nowak, Army (AFCA-2, UPI-2, FN) *Bob Lehman, Notre Dame (AP-2) *

Ed Adamchik Edward James Adamchik (born November 2, 1941) is a former professional American football offensive lineman In gridiron football, a lineman is a player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage. The linemen of the team currently in po ...

, Pittsburgh (NEA-2) *

Bill Budness William Walter Budness (January 30, 1943 – January 24, 2018) was a professional American football player who played linebacker for seven seasons for the Oakland Raiders. He played in three consecutive AFL title games (1967, 1968, and 1969), wi ...

, Boston Univ. (NEA-2) *

Don Croftcheck Donald Anthony Croftcheck (born September 12, 1942) is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and the Chicago Bears. He played college football at Indiana University and wa ...

, Indiana (NEA-3) *Earl Lattimer, Michigan State (UPI-3, FN) * Robbie Hucklebridge, LSU (FN)

Centers

, Illinois (AFCA-1, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, SN, UPI-1, CP, WC, FN, Time) *Kenny Dill, Mississippi (AP-2, FWAA, FN) * Ronnie Caveness, Arkansas (FN) * Malcolm Walker, Rice (NEA-2, UPI-3) *

Ray Kubala Raymond George Kubala (October 26, 1942 – August 30, 2018) was an American football player. He played college football at Texas A&M where he was selected by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as the second-team center on the 1 ...

, Texas A&M (AFCA-2) *Pat Watson, Mississippi State (UPI-2) *Orville Hudson, East Texas St. (NEA-3)

Quarterbacks

* Roger Staubach, Navy (AFCA-1, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, SN, UPI-1, CP, WC, FN, Time) *

Billy Lothridge William Lamar Lothridge (January 1, 1942 – February 23, 1996) was an American football Punter, Safety and Quarterback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins. He ...

, Georgia Tech (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, FN alfback * Don Trull, Baylor (AFCA-2, AP-2, FWAA, NEA-2, UPI-2, FN) * Jimmy Sidle, Auburn (FN) * George Mira, Miami (AP-2) *

Gary Wood Gary Fay Wood (July 9, 1942 – March 3, 1994) was an American football quarterback who played 63 games in the National Football League (NFL), for the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints, from 1964 until 1969. The quarterback was drafted f ...

, Cornell (NEA-2)

Backs

* Sherman Lewis, Michigan State (AP-1, CP, NEA-3, UPI-1, FN, WC) * Paul Martha, Pittsburgh (AFCA-2, CP, NEA-1, SN, UPI-2, FN) * Gale Sayers, Kansas (AFCA-1, AP-2, FWAA, NEA-1, SN, UPI-1, FN, WC) * Jay Wilkinson, Duke (AFCA-1, AP-2, FWAA, NEA-3, UPI-1, FN) * Jimmy Sidle, Auburn (AP-1, FWAA, NEA-3 b UPI-3) *

Mel Renfro Melvin Lacy Renfro (born December 30, 1941) is a former American football player, a cornerback who spent his entire 14-year career in the National Football League (NFL) with the Dallas Cowboys. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Ea ...

, Oregon (AFCA-2, NEA-2, UPI-3, Time) *

Paul Warfield Paul Dryden Warfield (born November 28, 1942) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) from 1964 to 1977 for the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins, exce ...

, Ohio State (Time) * Tommy Ford, Texas (FWAA, FN) * Tom Vaughn, Iowa State (FWAA) *Benny Nelson, Alabama (NEA-2) * Cosmo Iacavazzi, Princeton (NEA-3, UPI-3)

Fullback

* Jim Grisham, Oklahoma (CP, NEA-1, SN, UPI-2, FN) * Tommy Crutcher, TCU (AFCA-1, UPI-3) * Tom Nowatzke, Indiana (FN) * Tony Lorick, Arizona State (FN) * Tom Vaughn, Iowa State (AFCA-2)

Key

Official selectors

Other selectors

References

{{College Football All-America Teams All-America Team College Football All-America Teams