The 1971 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 1971. The

National Collegiate Athletic Association 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 ...

(NCAA) recognizes five selectors as "official" for the 1971 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

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

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 (5) 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). Nine players are recognized by the NCAA as unanimous All-America selections: quarterback and 1971

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 ...

winner Winner(s) or The Winner(s) may refer to: * Champion, the victor in a game or contest *The successful social class in winner and loser culture Film * ''The Winner'' (1926 film), an American silent film starring Billy Sullivan * ''The Winner'' ...

Pat Sullivan of Auburn; running backs

Ed Marinaro Ed Marinaro (born March 31, 1950) is an American actor and former NFL player. In 1971, he was a unanimous All-American and finished as a runner-up to Pat Sullivan for the Heisman Trophy, and from 2010 to 2011 starred in the football comedy s ...

Cornell Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to teach an ...

and

Greg Pruitt Gregory Donald Pruitt (born August 18, 1951) is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) from 1973 through 1984. He was selected to five Pro Bowls, four as a member of the Cleveland Browns and one as a member o ...

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

; receiver

Terry Beasley Terry Paul Beasley (born February 5, 1950) is a former American football player. He played collegiately at Auburn where he lettered from 1969 to 1971. In his college career, Beasley amassed 141 receptions, 2,507 yards and 29 touchdowns. He was ...

of Auburn; tackle

Jerry Sisemore Jerald Grant Sisemore (born July 16, 1951) is a former American football offensive lineman who played for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1973 to 1984. He played college football for the Universi ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

; guard Royce Smith of

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

; defensive end

Walt Patulski Walter George Patulski (born February 3, 1950) is a former American football defensive end at the University of Notre Dame and the National Football League. High school Patulski was a star athlete at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, New ...

of Notre Dame; linebacker Mike Taylor of

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

; and defensive back

Bobby Majors Robert Owen Majors (born July 7, 1949) is a former American football defensive back who played one season with the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1972 NF ...

Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...

Consensus All-Americans

The following chart identifies the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans for the year 1971 and displays which first-team designations they received.

Offense

Receivers

, Auburn (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, Time, TSN, WC) *

Johnny Rodgers Johnny Steven Rodgers (born July 5, 1951) is an American former football player. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and won the Heisman Trophy in 1972. Rodgers played professionally in the Canadian Football League (CFL) ...

, Nebraska (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, WC) *

Mike Siani Mike Siani (born May 27, 1950) is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for nine seasons for the Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Colts. Career Siani was a high school football star with the New Dorp High School ...

, Villanova (NEA-2, UPI-2, TSN) *

Tom Gatewood Thomas Gatewood, Jr. (born March 7, 1950) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 1972 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame. ...

, Notre Dame (UPI-2, Time) *

Cliff Branch Clifford Branch Jr. (August 1, 1948 – August 3, 2019) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders during his entire 14-year National Football League (NFL) career. He won three NF ...

, Colorado (FN) * Rhett Dawson, Florida State (AP-3)

Tight ends

Riley Odoms Riley Mackey Odoms (born March 1, 1950) is a former American football tight end. He played college football at the University of Houston. In 1971, he had 45 catches for 730 yards and 8 TD after playing sparingly the two seasons prior. Played h ...

, Houston (AP-3, NEA-2 eceiver Time, TSN) * Doug Kingsriter, Minnesota (AP-1) *

Charles Young Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was " ...

, USC (AP-2)

Tackles

, Texas (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, WC) * Dave Joyner, Penn State (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, NEA-2, UPI-1, FN, WC) * John Vella, USC (AP-1, NEA-1, UPI-2, FN, TSN) * John Hannah, Alabama (AFCA, UPI-2) *

Tom Drougas Thomas Christopher Drougas, Jr. (born December 25, 1949) is a former American football player who played offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) in the 1970s. He played high school football at Sunset High School (Beaverton, Oregon) ...

, Oregon (TSN) * Lionel Antoine, Southern Illinois (Time) *

Tom Luken Thomas Andrew Luken (July 9, 1925 – January 10, 2018) was an American politician of the Democratic Party from Ohio, serving in the United States House of Representatives during the 1970s and 1980s. Early life and education Luken received h ...

, Purdue (AP-2, NEA-2 G * Carl Johnson, Nebraska (AP-3) * Mike Stark, Memphis State (AP-3)

Guards

* Reggie McKenzie, Michigan (AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, Time, TSN, WC) * Royce Smith, Georgia (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, Time, TSN, WC) *

Gordon Gravelle Gordon Carr Gravelle (born June 12, 1949) is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League. Drafted out of Brigham Young University in the 1972 NFL Draft, Gravelle spent eight seasons with three teams: the Pittsbur ...

, BYU (AP-2, NEA-2) * John Hannah, Alabama (AP-2) * Dick Rupert, Nebraska (AP-3, UPI-2) * B. C. Williams, West Virginia (AP-3) * Ken Jones, Oklahoma (UPI-2)

Centers

Tom Brahaney Thomas Brahaney (born October 23, 1951) is a former American football center who played nine seasons in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals. He played college football at Oklahoma, where he was an All-American. In 1971, he a ...

, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, FN, WC) *

Tom DeLeone Thomas Denning DeLeone (August 13, 1950 – May 22, 2016) was an American football center who played 13 seasons in the National Football League, with the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. He grew up in Kent, Ohio and graduated from Theo ...

, Ohio State (AP-2, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, Time, TSN) *

Dave Dalby David Merle Dalby (October 19, 1950 – August 30, 2002) was an American football center; he played fourteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL), all with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. Early years Dalby was a star linemen at center ...

, UCLA (AP-3, NEA-2, TSN)

Quarterbacks

* Pat Sullivan, Auburn (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, TSN, WC) *

Chuck Ealey Charles "Chuck" Ealey (born January 6, 1950) is a former American Canadian football player for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He became the first black quarterback to win the ...

, Toledo, (AP-3, FWAA, UPI-2, FN) *

Jerry Tagge Jerry Lee Tagge (born April 12, 1950) is a former American football player. He played college football as quarterback at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he led the Nebraska Cornhuskers to consecutive national championships in 1970 an ...

, Nebraska (AP-2, FN) *

Jack Mildren Larry Jack Mildren (October 10, 1949 – May 22, 2008), was an All-American quarterback at the University of Oklahoma, and professional football player with the Baltimore Colts and New England Patriots. A native Texan, he was later an oil compa ...

, Oklahoma (NEA-2, FN) *

John Reaves Thomas Johnson "John" Reaves (March 2, 1950 – August 1, 2017) was an American college and professional football player who was a quarterback for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and three seasons in the United States Football L ...

, Florida (Time)

Running backs

, Cornell (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, Time, TSN) *

, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, WC) *

Johnny Musso Johnny Musso (born March 6, 1950) is an American former football player, a running back for three seasons with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League and in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears. Early years Born and rais ...

, Alabama (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, NEA-2, UPI-1, FN, WC) *

Ahmad Rashad Ahmad Rashad (born Robert Earl Moore; November 19, 1949) is an American sportscaster and former professional football player. He was the fourth overall selection of the 1972 NFL Draft, taken by the St. Louis Cardinals. He was known as Bobby Moo ...

(born Bobby Moore), Oregon (AP-3, NEA-1, UPI-2, FN, Time, TSN) *

Lydell Mitchell Lydell Douglas Mitchell (born May 30, 1949) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) with the Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Rams from 1972 to 1980. ...

, Penn State (AP-1, NEA-2, UPI-2, FN) *

Eric Allen Eric Andre Allen (born November 22, 1965) is an American football coach and former cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, and Oakland Raiders from 1988 to 2001. A six-time ...

, Michigan State (AFCA, AP-2, NEA-2) *

Billy Taylor Billy Taylor (July 24, 1921 – December 28, 2010) was an American jazz pianist, composer, broadcaster and educator. He was the Robert L. Jones Distinguished Professor of Music at East Carolina University in Greenville, and from 1994 was the ...

, Michigan (AP-3, UPI-2, FN) *

Robert Newhouse Robert Fulton Newhouse (January 9, 1950 – July 22, 2014) was an American professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys for twelve seasons. He played college football for the Hous ...

, Houston (AP-2) *

Jeff Kinney Jeffrey Patrick Kinney (born February 19, 1971) is an American author and cartoonist, best known for the children's book series ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid''. He also created the child-oriented website '' Poptropica''. Early life Jeff Kinney was bor ...

, Nebraska (AP-3)

Defense

Defensive ends

, Notre Dame (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, Time, TSN, WC) * Willie Harper, Nebraska (AP-2, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, WC) * Smylie Gebhart, Georgia Tech (AP-1) * Robin Parkhouse, Alabama (AP-2, NEA-2, UPI-2) *

Junior Ah You Miki "Junior" Ah You (born December 30, 1948) is a former college and professional Canadian and American football player who played primarily at the defensive end position. Ah You enjoyed most of his professional career success with the CFL Montr ...

, Arizona State (UPI-2) *

Mike Keller Michael F. Keller (born December 13, 1949) is a former American football linebacker and football executive in the National Football League. He played professional football for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of M ...

, Michigan (AP-3) * Gene Ogilvie, Air Force (AP-3)

Defensive tackles

Larry Jacobson Larry Paul Jacobson (born December 10, 1949) is a former professional football player, a defensive tackle for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). A first round selection in the 1972 NFL Draft (24th overall) and starter i ...

, Nebraska (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-2 T UPI-1, Time) *

Mel Long Mel Long (born November 22, 1946) is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Toledo and high school football for Macomber. In 1998, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The 6-1, 230-pound Long p ...

, Toledo (AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1) * Sherman White, California (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, NEA-1, FN, Time, TSN, WC) *

Herb Orvis Herbert Vaughn Orvis (October 17, 1946 – August 14, 2020) was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions and the Baltimore Colts in a ten-year career that lasted from 1972 to 1981 in the Nation ...

, Colorado (AFCA, AP-3, NEA-2 E UPI-2, TSN E WC) *

Mike Kadish Michael S. Kadish (May 27, 1950 – March 19, 2023) was a American football defensive lineman who played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills. He played college football at the University of ...

, Notre Dame (Time, TSN) *

Ron Estay Ron Estay (born December 22, 1948) is a former defensive lineman for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Career After graduating from LSU Tigers football, Louisiana State University (LSU) in 1972, he was selected by the ...

, LSU (AFCA uard AP-2, NEA-2 G UPI-2) *

Pete Lazetich Peter Gary Lazetich (born February 4, 1950) is a former professional American football player who played defensive lineman for five seasons for the San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles. After retiring from NFL football, Lazetich started a co ...

, Stanford (NEA-2, FN)

Middle guards

Rich Glover Richard Edward Glover (born February 6, 1950) is a former professional football player, a defensive tackle for the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Nebraska under head c ...

, Nebraska (AP-1, NEA-1, WC) * Ron Curl, Michigan State (AFCA, AP-3, NEA-2) * Doug Krause, Miami (OH) (AP-2) * Bud Magrum, Colorado (AP-3)

Linebackers

* Mike Taylor, Michigan (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, Time, TSN, WC) *

Jeff Siemon Jeffrey Glenn Siemon (born June 2, 1950) is a former professional American football player and an inductee in the College Football Hall of Fame. A middle linebacker, he played eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL), all with the M ...

, Stanford (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, Time) * Jackie Walker, Tennessee (FWAA, NEA-2, UPI-1, FN, WC) * Dave Chaney, San Jose State (AP-1, NEA-1, UPI-2) * Willie Hall, Southern California (AP-2, UPI-2, Time, TSN, FN) *

Chuck Zapiec Chuck Zapiec (born July 1, 1949) is a former All-American linebacker at Penn State and defensive captain of the Cotton Bowl Champion Nittany Lions. He earned his All-American Status as a linebacker in the only year that he played linebacker at ...

, Penn State (AP-3, NEA-1) *

Mark Arneson Mark Edward Arneson (September 9, 1949 – April 14, 2023) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for the St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona Wildcats ...

, Arizona (TSN) *

Rodrigo Barnes Rodrigo DeTriana Barnes (born February 10, 1950) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders. He played college football at Rice University. Early y ...

, Rice (UPI-2) * Ralph Cindrich, Pittsburgh (AP-2, NEA-2) *

Joe Federspiel Joseph Michael Federspiel (born May 6, 1950) is a former American football middle linebacker who played ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Federspiel played college football at the University of Kentucky. Federspiel played in t ...

, Kentucky (AP-2) * Steve Aycock, Oklahoma (UPI-2) * Bill Light, Minnesota (AP-3) * Harold Sears, Miami (FL) (AP-3)

Defensive backs

, Tennessee (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, Time, TSN, WC) * Clarence Ellis, Notre Dame (AFCA, AP-1, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, Time, TSN, WC) *

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 (FWAA, UPI-1, FN, Time, WC) * Ernie Jackson, Duke (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA) *

Brad Van Pelt Brad Alan Van Pelt (April 5, 1951 – February 17, 2009) was an American football linebacker who played 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). A two-time All-American ( 1971, 1972) and the 1972 Maxwell Award winner as college football ...

, Michigan State (AP-3, UPI-1, FN) *

Willie Buchanon Willie James Buchanon (born November 4, 1950) is an American former football player who was a cornerback for the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He was defensive rookie of the year in 1972 and ...

, San Diego State (NEA-2, Time, TSN) *

Thom Darden The surname Thom is of Scottish origin, from the city of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Angus, and is a sept of the Clan MacThomas. Thom is also a first name variant of the abbreviation " Tom" of "Thomas" that holds the "h". People with the sur ...

, Michigan (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-2, TSN) *

Eric Hutchinson Eric Hutchinson (born September 8, 1980) is an American singer-songwriter best known for his songs " Rock & Roll", "OK, It's Alright with Me", "Not There Yet", "Watching You Watch Him", and "Tell the World". Hutchinson was named an AOL "About t ...

, Northwestern (FWAA, NEA-2, UPI-2) * Dickie Harris, South Carolina (UPI-2, WC) *

Craig Clemons Craig Clemons (born June 1, 1949 in Sidney, Ohio) is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears 12th overall in the 1972 NFL Draft. He played college football at Iowa.Rollow, Cooper (A ...

, Iowa (NEA-1, TSN) * Windlan Hall, Arizona State (AP-3, NEA-2 B UPI-2, FN) * Tom Myers, Syracuse (AP-1) *

Robert Popelka Robert E. Popelka (born November 20, 1949) is a former American football player. Popelka was raised in Temple, Texas, and played college football as a defensive back for Southern Methodist University. Popelka played tailback in high school but ...

, SMU (AP-2) *

Ralph McGill Ralph Emerson McGill (February 5, 1898 – February 3, 1969) was an American journalist and editorialist. An anti-segregationist editor he published the ''Atlanta Constitution'' newspaper. He was a member of the Peabody Awards Board of Juror ...

, Tulsa (AP-3, NEA-2)

Special teams

Kickers

* Bill McClard, Arkansas (FWAA TSN) *

Chester Marcol Czesław Bolesław "Chester" Marcol (born October 24, 1949) is a former professional American football player. A placekicker for the Green Bay Packers from 1972 to 1980, he was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1987. Early yea ...

, Hillsdale College (Time)

Punters

Marv Bateman Marvin Fredrick Bateman (born April 5, 1950) is a former American football punter in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills. He played college football at the University of Utah. Early years Bateman attended Hi ...

, Utah (TSN, Time)

Key

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

Official selectors

* AFCA –

for Kodak * AP –

* FWAA –

* NEA –

* UPI –

Other selectors

* FN – ''Football News'' * Time – ''Time'' magazine * TSN – ''The Sporting News'' * PFW – ''Pro Football Weekly'' * 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