The 1977 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 1977. 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 four selectors as "official" for the 1977 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) selected based on the votes of sports writers at AP newspapers;[ (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) selected by the nation's football writers;[ and (4) 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) selected based on the votes of sports writers at UPI newspapers.[ Other selectors included ''Football News'' (FN),][ 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),[ '']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).
Eight players were unanimously selected by all four official selectors and all four unofficial selectors. They were Ken MacAfee
Kenneth Adams MacAfee II (born January 9, 1956) is a former professional American football player. He played collegiately at the University of Notre Dame and professionally for the San Francisco 49ers.
High school
MacAfee grew up in Brockton, M ...
of Notre Dame, offensive tackle Chris Ward of Ohio State, offensive guard Mark Donahue
Mark Joseph Donahue (born January 28, 1956) is a former American football player. He played college football as an offensive guard for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1975 to 1977. He was a consensus All-American in both 1976 and 1977 ...
of Michigan, running backs Earl Campbell
Earl Christian Campbell (born March 29, 1955), nicknamed "the Tyler Rose", is an American former professional football player who played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints. K ...
of Texas and Terry Miller of Oklahoma State, defensive ends Art Still of Kentucky and Ross Browner
Ross Dean Browner (March 22, 1954 – January 4, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a defensive end for ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL), mainly for the Cincinnati Bengals. Browner was named to the Bengal ...
of Notre Dame, defensive tackle Brad Shearer of Texas.
Consensus All-Americans
The following charts identify the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans for the year 1977 and displays which first-team designations they received.
Offense
Defense
Offense
Receivers
* Ozzie Newsome
Ozzie Newsome Jr. (born March 16, 1956) is an American former professional football player and executive who is the executive vice president of player personnel of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Newsome was a tight e ...
, Alabama (AFCA plit end AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, FN nd NEA-1, TSN, WC)
* John Jefferson
John Larry Jefferson (né Washington; born February 3, 1956) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football with the Arizona State Sun Devils, h ...
, Arizona State (AFCA lanker AP-1, FWAA, NEA-2)
* Wes Chandler
Wesley Sandy Chandler (born August 22, 1956) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. He was selected to the Pro Bowl four t ...
, Florida (AP-2, UPI-1, FN unning back NEA-1, TSN)
* James Lofton
James David Lofton (born July 5, 1956) is an American former professional football player and coach. He is a former coach for the San Diego Chargers but is best known for his years in the National Football League as a wide receiver for the G ...
, Stanford (AP-2, NEA-2)
* Gordon Jones, Pittsburgh (AP-3)
* Mike Renfro
Michael Ray Renfro (born June 19, 1955) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Texas Christian University.
Early years
Renfro a ...
, TCU (AP-3)
Tight ends
* Ken MacAfee
Kenneth Adams MacAfee II (born January 9, 1956) is a former professional American football player. He played collegiately at the University of Notre Dame and professionally for the San Francisco 49ers.
High school
MacAfee grew up in Brockton, M ...
, Notre Dame (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN nd NEA-1, TSN, WC)
* Mickey Shuler
Mickey Charles Shuler Sr. (born August 21, 1956), is a former professional American football tight end from 1978 to 1991. He played in 181 games over 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eag ...
, Penn State (AP-2, NEA-2)
* Clennie Brundidge, Army (UPI-2)
* Mike Moore, Grambling (AP-3)
Tackles
* Chris Ward, Ohio State (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
* Dan Irons, Texas Tech (AFCA, UPI-1, FN, WC)
* Keith Dorney
Keith Robert Dorney (born December 3, 1957) is a former American college and professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons in the 1970s and 1980s. He played college football for Pe ...
Penn State (AP-3, FWAA)
* Gordon King, Stanford (UPI-2, NEA-1, TSN)
* Dennis Baker, Wyoming (AP-1)
* William Fifer, West Texas State (AP-2)
* Mike Kenn
Michael Lee Kenn (born February 9, 1956) is an American former professional football player who spent his entire 17-year career as an offensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL) from 1978 to 1994. He played ...
, Michigan (AP-2)
* James Taylor, Missouri (AP-3, UPI-2)
* Frank Meyers, Texas A&M (NEA-2)
* Jeff Morrow, Minnesota (NEA-2)
Guards
* Mark Donahue
Mark Joseph Donahue (born January 28, 1956) is a former American football player. He played college football as an offensive guard for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1975 to 1977. He was a consensus All-American in both 1976 and 1977 ...
, Michigan (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
* Leotis Harris
Leotis Harris (born June 28, 1955 in Little Rock, Arkansas) is a former American football offensive guard in the NFL. He played his entire six-year career for the Green Bay Packers. He attended the University of Arkansas. Harris is also a memb ...
, Arkansas (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC)
* Joe Bostic
Joe Earl Bostic, Jr. (born April 20, 1957) is a former American football offensive lineman, primarily guard, who played ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals. He is the older brother of former Wash ...
, Clemson (AP-3, FWAA, NEA-2)
* Greg Roberts, Oklahoma (AP-3, FN)
* George Collins, Georgia (TSN)
* Jim Hough, Utah State (AP-2)
* Ernie Hughes
Ernest Loyal Hughes Jr. is a former American football center who played five seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants. He was drafted by the 49ers in the third round of the 1978 NFL Draft. H ...
, Notre Dame (AP-2, UPI-2)
* Leon White, Colorado (UPI-2)
* Bob Cryder, Alabama (NEA-2)
Centers
* Tom Brzoza, Pittsburgh (AP-1, UPI-1, WC)
* Walt Downing
Walt Downing (born June 11, 1956) is a former American football player. He played professional football as an offensive guard for the San Francisco 49ers from 1978 to 1983. He played for Bill Walsh (American football coach), Bill Walsh and was a ...
, Michigan (AFCA, AP-3, FN, NEA-2, TSN)
* Tom Davis, Nebraska (FWAA, UPI-2)
* Blair Bush
Blair Walter Bush (born November 25, 1956) is a center who played 17 seasons in the National Football League for four teams.
Early life and education
Bush was born in Fort Hood, Texas. He played high school football at Palos Verdes in Palos Verd ...
, Washington (AP-2, NEA-1)
Quarterbacks
* Guy Benjamin
Guy Emory Benjamin (born June 27, 1955) is a former American football quarterback who played six seasons in the National Football League.
College career
Benjamin played high school football at James Monroe High School in North Hills, California ...
, Stanford (AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, NEA-1)
* Doug Williams, Grambling State (AP-1, UPI-2, NEA-2, TSN, WC)
* Matt Cavanaugh
Matthew Andrew Cavanaugh (born October 27, 1956) is an American football coach and former quarterback. During his playing career, he earned two Super Bowl rings. Since his retirement after the 1991 season, Cavanaugh has worked as an offensive c ...
, Pittsburgh (AFCA)
* Derrick Ramsey
Derrick Kent Ramsey (born December 23, 1956) was the Kentucky Secretary of Education and Workforce Development, having been appointed by Governor of Kentucky, Governor Matt Bevin. He was the Deputy Secretary of Commerce under former Kentucky Gov ...
, Kentucky (AP-3)
Running backs
* Earl Campbell
Earl Christian Campbell (born March 29, 1955), nicknamed "the Tyler Rose", is an American former professional football player who played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints. K ...
, Texas (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
* Terry Miller, Oklahoma State (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
* Charles Alexander, LSU (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-2, WC)
* John Pagliaro, Yale (AP-3, WC)
* Jerome Persell, Western Michigan (AP-2)
* I. M. Hipp
Isiah Moses Walter "I. M." Hipp (born February 15, 1956) is a former American football player who played running back in college for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and one season in the National Football League (NFL) for the Oakland Raiders.
College c ...
, Nebraska (UPI-2, NEA-2)
* Johnny Davis, Alabama (UPI-2)
* Ben Cowins, Arkansas (UPI-2)
* Bo Robinson, West Texas State (AP-3)
Defense
Defensive ends
* Art Still, Kentucky (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
* Ross Browner
Ross Dean Browner (March 22, 1954 – January 4, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a defensive end for ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL), mainly for the Cincinnati Bengals. Browner was named to the Bengal ...
, Notre Dame (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
* John Anderson John Anderson may refer to:
Business
*John Anderson (Scottish businessman) (1747–1820), Scottish merchant and founder of Fermoy, Ireland
* John Byers Anderson (1817–1897), American educator, military officer and railroad executive, mentor of ...
, Michigan (UPI-2)
* Kelton Dansler, Ohio State (AP-2)
* Willie Fry, Notre Dame (UPI-2)
* Hugh Green, Pittsburgh (AP-2)
* Al Harris, Arizona State (NEA-2)
* Jerry DeLoach, California (AP-3)
* Chuck Schott, Army (AP-3)
Defensive tackles
* Brad Shearer, Texas (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
* Randy Holloway, Pittsburgh (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
* Dee Hardison
William David "Dee" Hardison (May 2, 1956 – April 21, 2018) was a National Football League defensive end and defensive tackle who played for the Buffalo Bills (1978–1980), the New York Giants (1982–1985), the San Diego Chargers (1986–1 ...
, North Carolina (AP-1, FWAA, FN, NEA-2)
* Mike Bell, Colorado State (AP-2)
* Aaron Brown, Ohio State (UPI-2)
* Manu Tuiasosopo
Manu'ula Asovalu Tuiasosopo (born August 30, 1957) is a former American football defensive tackle. He was the 18th overall selection of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football ...
, UCLA (UPI-2)
* Mikeli Ieremia, Brigham Young (NEA-2)
* Larry Bethea
Larry Bethea (July 21, 1956 – April 24, 1987) was an American football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Michigan Panthers, Oakland Invaders and Houston Gamblers of the Unite ...
, Michigan State (AP-3, NEA-2 E
* Jimmy Walker, Arkansas (AP-3)
Middle guards
* Aaron Brown, Ohio St. (AFCA, WC)
* Reggie Kinlaw
Reggie Kinlaw (born January 9, 1957) is a former American football defensive tackle who played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners and Professionally for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders and Seattle Seahawks in the National Football Le ...
, Oklahoma (AP-3, UPI-1)
* Randy Sidler
Randall Kevin Sidler (born February 4, 1956) is a former professional American football player. Sidler was selected by the New York Jets in the 5th round of the 1978 NFL Draft but never played an NFL game. He left the Jets training camp and to ...
, Penn State (AP-1)
* Dee Hardison
William David "Dee" Hardison (May 2, 1956 – April 21, 2018) was a National Football League defensive end and defensive tackle who played for the Buffalo Bills (1978–1980), the New York Giants (1982–1985), the San Diego Chargers (1986–1 ...
, North Carolina (UPI-2)
* Don Latimer
Donald Bertsom Latimer (born March 1, 1955) is a former nose tackle for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Latimer was born and raised in Fort Pierce, Florida. He played high school football at F ...
, Pittsburgh (AP-2)
Linebackers
* Jerry Robinson
Sherrill David Robinson (January 1, 1922 – December 7, 2011), known as Jerry Robinson, was an American comic book artist known for his work on DC Comics' Batman line of comics during the 1940s. He is best known as the co-creator of Robin and ...
, UCLA (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, NEA-1, WC)
* Tom Cousineau
Thomas Michael Cousineau (born May 6, 1957) is an American former college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. ...
, Ohio State (AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-2, WC)
* Gary Spani
Gary Spani (born January 9, 1956) is a former NFL linebacker who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1978–1986. He has worked for the Chiefs' front office since 1989, and is currently the Director of Special Events for the Chiefs.
Spani w ...
, Kansas St. (AFCA, AP-3, UPI-1, FN, NEA-2)
* Mike Woods, Cincinnati (AP-1, NEA-1, TSN)
* Lucius Sanford, Georgia Tech (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-2, TSN)
* Clay Matthews, Jr., USC (NEA-1, TSN)
* Daryl Hunt
Daryl Lynn Hunt (November 3, 1956 – July 9, 2010) was a professional American football player, a linebacker for six seasons for the Houston Oilers appearing in 78 career regular season games after being selected by Houston during the 6th roun ...
, Oklahoma (AP-3, UPI-2, FN, WC)
* John Anderson John Anderson may refer to:
Business
*John Anderson (Scottish businessman) (1747–1820), Scottish merchant and founder of Fermoy, Ireland
* John Byers Anderson (1817–1897), American educator, military officer and railroad executive, mentor of ...
, Michigan (FWAA)
* George Cumby
George Edward Cumby (born July 5, 1956) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1980s. He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, t ...
, Oklahoma (AP-1)
* Bob Golic
Robert Perry Golic (born October 26, 1957) is an American former college and professional American football, football player, television actor, radio personality and sports commentator.
Golic played defensive tackle in the National Football L ...
, Notre Dame (AP-2, UPI-2)
* Harold Randolph
James Harold Randolph (born January 28, 1956) is a former American football linebacker in the United States Football League for the Washington Federals. He also was a member of the Toronto Argonauts and Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football ...
, East Carolina (NEA-2)
* Michael Jackson, Washington (AP-3)
Defensive backs
* Zac Henderson
Zachary Ryall Henderson (October 14, 1955 – April 20, 2020) was an American professional football player who played in the Canadian Football League for four years. Henderson played defensive back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argona ...
, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, NEA-1, WC)
* Dennis Thurman
Dennis Lee Thurman (born April 13, 1956) is an American football coach and former cornerback. He is the former Defensive coordinator on Deion Sanders' inaugural staff at Jackson State University. He is a former coach in the National Football L ...
, USC (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, NEA-2, WC)
* Luther Bradley
Luther Alexander Bradley (born May 7, 1955) is a former professional American football player who played four seasons for the Detroit Lions. He later played with the Chicago Blitz, Arizona Wranglers and Houston Gamblers of the USFL. He is the U ...
, Notre Dame (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-1, FN, NEA-2, TSN, WC)
* Bob Jury
Robert Vincent "Bob" Jury (born October 5, 1955) is a former American football defensive back who played one season with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of ...
, Pittsburgh (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-2, TSN, WC)
* Keith Simpson, Memphis State (NEA-1, TSN)
* Ray Griffin
Raymond Griffin (born June 26, 1956) is a former American football cornerback. He is the younger brother of former two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, and also played college football with the Ohio State Buckeyes and pro football for th ...
, Ohio State (UPI-2, NEA-1, TSN)
* Ken Greene
Kenneth Edward Greene (born May 8, 1956) is a former professional American football player who played safety in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons, for the St. Louis Cardinals (1978–1982) and San Diego Chargers (1983–1984) ...
, Washington State (NEA-1)
* Dwight Hicks
Dwight Hicks (born April 5, 1956) is a former professional American football player who played safety for the Toronto Argonauts in 1978, the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1985, and for the Indianapolis Colts in 1986.
High school and college
...
, Michigan (AP-2)
* Bill Krug, Georgia (UPI-2)
* Charles Williams, Jackson State (AP-2)
* Eric Felton
Eric Norman Felton (born October 8, 1955) is a former American football defensive back who played three seasons in the National Football League with the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fift ...
, Texas Tech (NEA-2)
* Larry Anderson, Louisiana Tech (AP-3)
* Ron Johnson
Ronald Harold Johnson (born April 8, 1955) is an American accountant, businessman, and politician serving as the senior United States senator from Wisconsin, a seat he has held since 2011. A Republican, Johnson was first elected to the U.S. S ...
, Eastern Michigan (AP-3)
* John Sturges, Navy (AP-3)
Special teams
Kickers
* Steve Little, Arkansas (FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN)
* Tony Franklin, Texas A&M (NEA-2)
Punters
* Russell Erxleben
Russell Erxleben (born January 13, 1957) is a former American football player and currency investor. He shares the record for the longest successful field goal in NCAA history at 67 yards (with tee), which he set in 1977 while playing for the Uni ...
, Texas (FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-1, TSN)
* John Evans, NC State (NEA-2)
Key
Official selectors
Other selectors
See also
* 1977 All-Big Eight Conference football team
* 1977 All-Big Ten Conference football team
* 1977 All-Pacific-8 Conference football team
The 1977 All-Pacific-8 Conference football team consists of American football players chosen by various organizations for All-Pacific-8 Conference teams for the 1977 NCAA Division I football season.
Offensive selections
Quarterbacks
* Guy Benjami ...
* 1977 All-SEC football team
The 1977 All-SEC football team consists of American football players selected to the All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) chosen by various selectors for the 1977 NCAA Division I football season.
Offensive selections Receivers
* Wes Chandler, Fl ...
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