The 1963 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 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 an ...

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 "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 Central Press Association (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 out ...

(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 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 ...

'', 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 20th ...

(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 warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral zone, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and ...

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 Roger Thomas Staubach (, -; , -; born February 5, 1942), nicknamed "Roger the Dodger", "Captain America", and "Captain Comeback", is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for ...

, who was awarded the 1963

Heisman Trophy The Heisman Memorial Trophy (usually known colloquially as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman) is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard ...

; (2)

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

center Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...

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, p ...

Dick Butkus, 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 award has been presented annually since 1924, when Red Grange of Illinois w ...

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 athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representati ...

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 Gordon Scott Appleton (February 20, 1942 – March 2, 1992) was an American football defensive tackle in the American Football League (AFL) for the Houston Oilers, San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders. He played college football at the Universi ...

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-Am ...

and led the 1963 Texas Longhorns football team 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 southwe ...

guard Guard or guards may refer to: Professional occupations * Bodyguard, who protects an individual from personal assault * Crossing guard, who stops traffic so pedestrians can cross the street * Lifeguard, who rescues people from drowning * Prison ...

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 dra ...

. 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, coach ...

s. The consensus All-American team also included College and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees

Gale Sayers Gale Eugene Sayers (May 30, 1943September 23, 2020) was an American professional football player who was both a halfback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). In a relatively brief but highly productive NFL career, Sa ...

(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 the ...

) 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 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

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

Offense

Ends

Vern Burke Vernon Eugene Burke (born April 30, 1941) is a former American football tight end who played five seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, and the New Orleans Saints. High school career Burke attended North High Scho ...

, Oregon State (AFCA-1, FWAA, NEA-2, UPI-1, CP, FN, WC) *

Larry Elkins Lawrence Clayton "Larry" Elkins (born July 28, 1943) is a former American football player. He was a two-time All-American flanker at Baylor and later for the AFL's Houston Oilers. Early life Elkins is the youngest of ten children. One of his ...

, 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, and ...

, 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 James Edward Kelly (born February 14, 1960) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He also spent two seasons with the Houston Gamblers of the United Stat ...

, Notre Dame (AFCA-1, UPI-1) *

Dave Parks David Wayne Parks (December 25, 1941 – August 8, 2019) was an American football wide receiver and tight end in the NFL. He was the first overall selection in the 1964 NFL Draft out of Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University). ...

, Texas Tech (AP-1, SN) * Charles Brooks, Memphis State (FN) * Billy Truax, LSU (FN) *

Hal Bedsole Harold Jay "Hal" Bedsole (December 21, 1941 – December 22, 2017) was an American football player. He played as a tight end and end early in his career during the single platoon days. High school career Bedsole prepped at Reseda High School ...

, USC (Time) *

Mel Profit Mel Profit (born July 30, 1941 in New York, New York) was a football player in the CFL for six years. He was selected originally by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1963 NFL Draft. He starred as a tight end for the Toronto Argonauts. Mel authored ...

, 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 Allen Brown (March 2, 1943 – January 27, 2020) was an American football tight end in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers. He played college football at the University of Mississippi. Early years He attended Natchez High S ...

, Ole Miss (NEA-3)

Tackles

, 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, Memphis State (NEA-1) *

Ken Kortas Kenneth Conrad Kortas (May 17, 1942 – October 15, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, the Pittsburgh St ...

, Louisville (FWAA) *Whaley Hall, Ole Miss (AFCA-2, UPI-2) *

Ralph Neely Ralph Eugene Neely (September 12, 1943 – January 5, 2022) was an American professional American football, football player who was an offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). He played 13 seasons and 172 ga ...

, Oklahoma (AFCA-2, AP-2, UPI-2, FN) *

Archie Sutton Archie Michael Sutton (November 2, 1941 – August 29, 2015) was an American professional football player who played offensive tackle for three seasons for the Minnesota Vikings. Sutton found early fame as a tackle playing for the Illini along ...

, 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 Tasma ...

, 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 football player who was a linebacker with the San Diego Chargers for nine seasons, including five in the American Football League (AFL) and four in the N ...

, Washington (AFCA-1, FWAA, NEA-1, SN, UPI-1, CP, FN, WC) *

Herschel Turner Herschel Turner (born June 17, 1942) is a former American football tackle and guard. He played college ball at Kentucky and was named a first team All-American in 1963. Turner was also named first-team All-Southeastern Conference as a senior ...

, 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 M ...

, 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 Universi ...

, 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 the National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 ...

, Pittsburgh (NEA-2) * Bill Budness, 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 ...

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

Centers

* Dick Butkus, Illinois (AFCA-1, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, SN, UPI-1, CP, WC, FN, Time) *Kenny Dill, Mississippi (AP-2, FWAA, FN) *

Ronnie Caveness Ronald Glen Caveness (March 6, 1943 – May 10, 2014) was an American football linebacker for the American Football League's Houston Oilers and Kansas City Chiefs from 1965 to 1968. Caveness played college football for the University of Arkansas ...

, Arkansas (FN) * Malcolm Walker, Rice (NEA-2, UPI-3) * Ray Kubala, Texas A&M (AFCA-2) *Pat Watson, Mississippi State (UPI-2) *Orville Hudson, East Texas St. (NEA-3)

Quarterbacks

, 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 play ...

, Georgia Tech (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, FN alfback *

Don Trull Donald Dean Trull (born October 20, 1941) is a former American football quarterback in the American Football League. Trull played football collegiately at Baylor University, where he was an All-American and twice won the Sammy Baugh Trophy as t ...

, Baylor (AFCA-2, AP-2, FWAA, NEA-2, UPI-2, FN) *

Jimmy Sidle James Corbin Sidle (February 7, 1942 – November 14, 1999) was a professional American football running back in the National Football League for the Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at Auburn University and was selected by the ...

, Auburn (FN) *

George Mira George Ignacio Mira (born January 11, 1942) is a Cuban-American former professional American football player, a quarterback in eight National Football League (NFL) seasons for four teams. He then played five seasons in the Canadian Football Leag ...

, Miami (AP-2) * Gary Wood, Cornell (NEA-2)

Backs

Sherman Lewis Sherman Lewis (born June 29, 1942) is a former American football coach and player. He spent thirty-four years as a coach, but had been out of football since the end of the 2004 season before joining the Washington Redskins mid-way into the 2009 ...

, Michigan State (AP-1, CP, NEA-3, UPI-1, FN, WC) * Paul Martha, Pittsburgh (AFCA-2, CP, NEA-1, SN, UPI-2, FN) *

, 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) *

, Auburn (AP-1, FWAA, NEA-3 b UPI-3) * Mel Renfro, Oregon (AFCA-2, NEA-2, UPI-3, Time) *

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

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

Cosmo Iacavazzi Cosmo Joseph Iacavazzi (some sources say Cosmo Iacovazzi, born August 18, 1943) is a former American football player. A fullback, he played college football at Princeton University and was a member of the Tiger Inn eating club. He was inducted ...

, Princeton (NEA-3, UPI-3)

Fullback

Jim Grisham Jim Grisham (December 4, 1942 – July 30, 2012) was an American football fullback and linebacker, who played at the University of Oklahoma from 1961 to 1964. Early years Grisham attended Olney High School, where he played quarterback, End, ...

, Oklahoma (CP, NEA-1, SN, UPI-2, FN) *

Tommy Crutcher Tommy Joe Crutcher (August 10, 1941 – February 16, 2002) was an American football player who played for the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Te ...

, TCU (AFCA-1, UPI-3) *

Tom Nowatzke Thomas Matthew Nowatzke (born September 30, 1942) is a former National Football League running back of Polish descent from 1965 through 1972. He scored a touchdown for the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl V Super Bowl V was an American football ...

, 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 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