The 1969 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 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 Footbal ...

s in 1969. 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 ...

recognizes six selectors as "official" for the 1969 season. They 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 (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), and (6) 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). Four of the six teams (AP, UPI, NEA, and FWAA) were selected by polling of sports writers and/or broadcasters. The Central Press team was selected with input from the captains of the major college teams. The AFCA team was based on a poll of coaches. Other notable selectors, though not recognized by the NCAA as official, included ''Football News'', a national weekly football publication, ''

Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, to ...

'' magazine,Time's All-America: The Pick of the Pros
January 5, 1970. ''

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 ...

'' (TSN), and the

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 ...

(WC).

Offensive selections

Ends

Walker Gillette Walker Adams Gillette (born March 16, 1947) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Cardinals, and the New York Giants. He played college football for the Univ ...

, Richmond (AP-1 ide receiver FWAA, NEA-1 plit end TSN, Time) * Carlos Alvarez, Florida (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA lanker AP-3 ide receiver CP-2, NEA-1 plit end UPI-1, FN, WC) * Ken Burrough, Texas Southern (NEA-2, Time, TSN) * Cotton Speyrer, Texas (CP-1, UPI-2, WC) * Chuck Dicus, Arkansas (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA) *

Elmo Wright Elmo Wright (born July 3, 1949) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). While at the University of Houston, he became the first football player ever to perform an end zone dance. Wright was an All-A ...

, Houston (AP-2 ide receiver CP-3, NEA-2 plit end UPI-2, FN) * Ernie Jennings, Air Force (CP-2) * Jade Butcher, Indiana (CP-3)

Tight ends

Jim Mandich James Michael Mandich (July 30, 1948 – April 26, 2011), also known as "Mad Dog", was an American football player. Mandich played college football for the University of Michigan from 1967 to 1969 and was recognized as a consensus first-team t ...

, Michigan (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA nd AP-1, CP-1 nd FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1 nd FN nd Time, WC) * Steve Zabel, Oklahoma (TSN) * Jim McFarland, Nebraska (AP-2) * Ray Parson, Minnesota (NEA-2) *

Bob Moore Bob Loyce Moore (November 30, 1932 – September 22, 2021) was an American session musician, orchestra leader, and double bassist who was a member of the Nashville A-Team during the 1950s and 1960s. He performed on over 17,000 documented recor ...

, Stanford (AP-3)

Tackles

* Bob McKay, Texas (AP-1, CP-2, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, Time, TSN, WC) * John Ward, Oklahoma State (AFCA uard AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2) * Sid Smith, USC (AP-2, CP-1, NEA-2, UPI-1, FN, Time, TSN, WC) * Bob Asher, Vanderbilt (AP-2, CP-1, NEA-1, UPI-2) *

Bobby Wuensch Bobby Wuensch (born November 1, 1947) is a former American football offensive lineman. He played for the Texas Longhorns, anchoring their best offensive line in 1968–1970 as a consensus All-American. Wuensch was a captain of the National Champ ...

, Texas (AFCA) * Jim Riley, Notre Dame (AFCA, AP-3, NEA-2) *

Dan Dierdorf Daniel Lee Dierdorf (born June 29, 1949) is an American sportscaster and former football offensive tackle. A native of Canton, Ohio, Dierdorf played college football for the University of Michigan from 1968 to 1970 and was selected as a conse ...

, Michigan (College and Pro Football Halls of Fame) (CP-2) *

Larron Jackson Larron Deonne Jackson (born August 26, 1949) is a former professional American football Guard (American football), guard in the National Football League (NFL). Jackson was drafted in the fourth round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. H ...

, Missouri (AP-3) * Bob Bouley, Boston College (CP-3) * Manny Rodriguez, New Mexico State (CP-3)

Guards

* Bill Bridges, Houston (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-2, UPI-2) * Chip Kell, Tennessee (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA enter AP-1, CP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, WC) * Ron Saul, Michigan State (AP-3, CP-1, NEA-1, Time, TSN) * Larry DiNardo, Notre Dame (CP-2, UPI-1, WC) * Mike Carroll, Missouri (NEA-1, TSN) *

Chuck Hutchison Charles Arthur Hutchison (born November 17, 1948) is a former American football offensive guard who played six seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Browns. He was drafted by the Cardinals in the ...

, Ohio State (Time) * Alvin Samples, Alabama (AP-2, CP-2, UPI-2, FN) * Steve Greer, Georgia (FN) * Jerry Dossey, Arkansas (AP-2) * Ed Chapupka, North Carolina (AP-3) * Doug Redmann, Illinois (CP-3, NEA-2) * Jon Meskimen, Iowa (CP-3)

Centers

* Rodney Brand, Arkansas (AP-1, CP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, WC) *

Ken Mendenhall Ken E. Mendenhall (born August 11, 1948) is a former American football center who played ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Colts. Born in Stillwater, Mendenhall grew up in Pawhuska in Osage County, Oklahoma. He ...

, Oklahoma (CP-2, UPI-2, FN, Time, TSN) * Dale Evans, Kansas (AP-2) * Dennis Bramlett, UTEP (NEA-2) * Tom Banks, Auburn (AP-3) * Jack Kovar, Texas A&M (CP-3)

Quarterbacks

Mike Phipps Michael Elston Phipps (born January 19, 1947) is a former American college and professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for twelve seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. Phipps played college footbal ...

, Purdue (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1, CP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, Time, TSN, WC) *

Archie Manning Elisha Archibald Manning III (born May 19, 1949) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, primarily with the New Orleans Saints. He played for the Saints from 1971 to 1982 and al ...

, Mississippi (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-3, CP-2, UPI-2, FN) *

Jim Plunkett James William Plunkett (born December 5, 1947) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for sixteen seasons. He achieved his greatest professional success during his final eight seasons with the ...

, Stanford (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-2, CP-3)

Running backs

* Steve Owens, Oklahoma (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA alfback AP-1 alfback CP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN alfback Time, TSN, WC) *

Jim Otis James Lloyd Otis (born April 29, 1948) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons during the 1970s. Otis played college football for Ohio State University, a ...

, Ohio State (AP-1 ullback CP-1 ullback FWAA, UPI-1, FN ullback WC) * Bobby Anderson, Colorado (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1 alfback NEA-1, UPI-1, TSN) *

Charlie Pittman Charles Vernon Pittman (born January 22, 1948, in Baltimore, Maryland) is a former professional American football player. He was an All-American halfback at Penn State and played in the NFL for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Baltimore Colts. ...

, Penn State (AFCA alfback CP-3, UPI-2, Time) *

Steve Worster Stephen Clark Worster (July 8, 1949 – August 13, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a fullback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Following his prep career in Texas, he played college f ...

, Texas (AP-2 ullback CP-2 ullback FWAA, UPI-2, FN ullback * Warren Muir, South Carolina (AP-3 ullback AFCA ullback *

Rex Kern Rex William Kern (born May 28, 1949) is a former American football player. He played professional football in the National Football League at defensive back for the Baltimore Colts and Buffalo Bills. In college, Kern was the quarterback for ...

, Ohio State (College Football Hall of Fame) (CP-1, FN b NEA-2 b *

John Isenbarger John Phillips Isenbarger (born December 5, 1947) is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League. Football career College football Isenbarger played college football at Indiana University. Professional ...

, Indiana (AP-2 alfback CP-2, FN alfback * Mickey Cureton, UCLA (FN alfback * Mack Herron, Kansas State (CP-2, FN alfback * Jim Strong, Houston (AP-2) * Art Malone, Arizona State (NEA-2) * Greg Jones, UCLA (NEA-2) *

Jim Bertelsen James Allen Bertelsen (February 26, 1950 – May 7, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a running back for five seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football for the ...

, Texas (AP-3 alfback * Ed Marinaro, Cornell (AP-3 alfback *

Clarence Davis Clarence Eugene Davis (born June 28, 1949) is a former American football running back who played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Oakland Raiders from 1971 to 1978, having earlier played college football fo ...

, USC (CP-3, UPI-2) * Jim Braxton, West Virginia (CP-3 ullback

Defensive selections

Defensive ends

Jimmy Gunn Jimmy Gunn (November 27, 1948 – April 11, 2015) was an American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was born in Augusta, Arkansas. He prepped at Lincoln High School in San Diego. College career Gunn was a 1969 All- ...

, USC (AFCA, AP-1, CP-1, FWAA, NEA-2, UPI-1, FN nd WC) * Phil Olsen, Utah State (AP-1, NEA-1, UPI-1, Time, TSN, WC) *

Al Cowlings Allen Cedric "A.C." Cowlings (born June 16, 1947) is a former American football player and actor. He began playing for the National Football League (NFL) in 1970, for such teams as the Buffalo Bills, Houston Oilers, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Sea ...

, USC (AP-2 efensive tackle NEA-1, FN uard Time, TSN) *

Floyd Reese Floyd Reese (August 8, 1948 – August 21, 2021) was an American professional football coach and executive in the National Football League (NFL). From 1994 to 2006, he held the position of general manager of the Tennessee Titans. Reese then serv ...

, UCLA (AFCA, AP-2 efensive tackle *

Bill Brundige William Glenn Brundige (November 13, 1948 – December 29, 2018) was an American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins for eight seasons, from 1970 through 1977. He is currently sixth on the Reds ...

, Colorado (AP-2, CP-3, FWAA, UPI-2) * Dick Campbell, Texas Tech (CP-1, NEA-2) *

Bill Atessis William James Atessis (born July 16, 1949) is a former American football player who played on two NCAA national championship teams at the University of Texas. One of the most honored and productive defensive ends in NCAA history, he was a three ...

, Texas (AP-2) * Michael Berrera, Kansas State (CP-2) * Mark Debvec, Ohio State (CP-2) * David Campbell, Auburn (UPI-2) * Irby Augustine, California (AP-3) * Jeff Slipp, Brigham Young (AP-3) * Hap Farber, Mississippi (CP-3)

Defensive tackles

* Mike Reid, Penn State (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1, CP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN ackle Time, TSN, WC) * Mike McCoy, Notre Dame (AFCA, AP-1, CP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN ackle Time, TSN, WC) *

Steve Smear Steve Smear (born May 18, 1948) is a former defensive end and linebacker for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was a CFL All-Star in 1970 and was a part of a Grey Cup victory for the Alouettes. He was named an All- ...

, Penn State (CP-2, UPI-2) *

Rock Perdoni Renso Guido Perdoni (born December 10, 1947), nicknamed Rock Perdoni, is an American former football player who was a consensus All-American tackle for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team. Afterward, Perdoni played professionally for t ...

, Georgia Tech (AP-3, CP-2) * John Little, Oklahoma State (NEA-2) * Wes Grant, UCLA (NEA-2) * Leo Brooks, Texas (UPI-2) * Lynn Duncan, Wichita State (AP-3) * Paul Schmidlin, Ohio State (CP-3) * Larry Nels, Wyoming (CP-3)

Middle guard

Jim Stillwagon James R. Stillwagon (February 11, 1949 – February 4, 2018) was an American football player who played five years in the Canadian Football League and was a two-time All-American during his college career. Stillwagon was a three-year starter ...

, Ohio State (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1, CP-1, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN uard WC) * Carl Crennel, West Virginia (AP-2, CP-3, NEA-2, UPI-2) * Steve Greer, Georgia (AP-3, CP-2)

Linebackers

Steve Kiner Steven Albert Kiner (born June 12, 1947) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, and Houston Oilers. He played college football for th ...

, Tennessee (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1, CP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, Time, TSN, WC) * Dennis Onkotz, Penn State (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1, CP-3, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, WC) * Mike Ballou, UCLA (AFCA, AP-3, CP-1, FWAA, NEA-2, UPI-2, FN, WC) * Don Parish, Stanford (AP-1, UPI-2, Time, TSN) * John Small, The Citadel (AP-2, NEA-1, Time, TSN) * George Bevan, LSU (AFCA, AP-2, CP-2, FWAA, NEA-2) * Cliff Powell, Arkansas (AFCA, AP-3) * Glen Halsell, Texas (CP-1, FN) * Jim Corrigall, Kent State (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-3, NEA-1) * Jack Reynolds, Tennessee (CP-3, FN) *

Bob Olson Bob Olson (Born May 1948) is a former American football player born in Superior, Wisconsin. He attended Notre Dame where he played linebacker between 1968 and 1969 and became team captain. In the 1970 Cotton Bowl Classic game against the Universit ...

, Notre Dame (AP-2, CP-2) *

Mike Kolen John Michael Kolen (born January 31, 1948) is a former American football linebacker who played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Miami Dolphins. Because of his hard-hitting style, he was nicknamed "Captain Crunch." He ...

, Auburn (CP-2, NEA-2) * Ralph Cindrich, Pittsburgh (CP-3)

Defensive backs

Jack Tatum John David Tatum (November 18, 1948 – July 27, 2010) was an American football safety. He played 10 seasons, from 1971 through 1980, with the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers in the National Football League (NFL). He was popularly known as " ...

, Ohio State (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1, CP-1, FWAA, NEA-1 ornerback UPI-1, FN, TSN, WC) *

Buddy McClinton Buddy McClinton was a defensive back for the Auburn University Tigers who was selected to the 1969 College Football All-America Team. As a safety that year, he set a school record for most interceptions in a season with nine. He also holds the ...

, Auburn (AFCA, AP-1, CP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, WC) * Tom Curtis, Michigan (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1, CP-1, NEA-2 afety UPI-1, FN, WC) * Glenn Cannon, Mississippi (AFCA, AP-3, UPI-2, Time, TSN) * Neal Smith, Penn State (AP-3, NEA-1 afety UPI-1) * Steve Tannen, Florida (UPI-2, Time, TSN) *

Ted Provost Ted R. Provost (born July 26, 1948, in Navarre, Ohio) is a former star high school, university and professional football player. As a high school athlete at Fairless High School he lettered three seasons as a quarterback and defensive back. H ...

, Ohio State (UPI-2, Time, TSN) * Tim Foley, Purdue, (CP-3, NEA-2 ornerback Time) * Curtis Johnson, Toledo (AP-2, CP-3, NEA-1 ornerback *

Denton Fox Denton Fox (May 21, 1947 – April 29, 2013) was an American football cornerback who played college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders football team of Texas Tech University. He was recognised as a second-team All-American in 1969. Ear ...

, Texas Tech (AP-2, FWAA) *

Tommy Casanova Thomas Henry Casanova III (born July 29, 1950) is a former American football player and politician. He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cincinnati Bengals for six seasons and was invited to three Pro Bowls, as ...

, LSU (College Football Hall of Fame) (FN) * Dana Stephenson, Nebraska (AP-2, CP-2) * Mel Easley, Oregon State (CP-2) *

Mike Sensibaugh James Michael Sensibaugh (January 3, 1949 – March 31, 2021) was an American football safety in the National Football League. He played eight seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs (1971–1975) and the St. Louis Cardinals (1976–1978). Sensibaugh ...

, Ohio State (CP-2) * Bruce Taylor, Boston University (NEA-2 ornerback * David Berrong, Memphis State (AP-3, CP-3)

Special teams

Kicker

* Bob Jacobs, Wyoming (FWAA, TSN)

Punter

Zenon Andrusyshyn Zenon Andrusyshyn (born February 25, 1947) is a German-Canadian former Canadian Football League punter (football position), punter and Placekicker, kicker from –, –, primarily for the Toronto Argonauts. He also was a member of the Kansas City ...

, UCLA (TSN)

Key

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

Official selectors

* AFCA =

picked for Kodak * AP =

* CP = Central Press Association, "picked with the help of the captains of the major college elevens" * FWAA = Football Writers Association of America * NEA =

* UPI =

Unofficial selectors

* FN = ''The Football News'', consisting of the 33 best college football players as selected by the staff and correspondents of ''The Football News'' * Time = ''

'' magazine * TSN = ''

'' * WC =

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