The 1978 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 1978. 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 1978 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) based on the input of more than 2,000 voting members; (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).

Offense

Receivers

Emanuel Tolbert Emanuel Tolbert (born December 2, 1958) is a former American college and professional football player who was a slotback and wide receiver in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for eleven seasons during the 1980s and early 1990s. Tolbert playe ...

, SMU *

Kirk Gibson Kirk Harold Gibson (born May 28, 1957) is an American former professional baseball player and manager. He is currently a color commentator for the Detroit Tigers on Bally Sports Detroit and a special assistant for the Tigers. As a player, Gibson ...

, Michigan State * Gordon Jones, Pittsburgh *

Jerry Butler Jerry Butler Jr. (born December 8, 1939) is an American soul singer-songwriter, producer, musician, and retired politician. He was the original lead singer of the Rhythm and blues, R&B vocal group the Impressions, inducted into the Rock and Rol ...

, Clemson *

Junior Miller Selvia Miller, Jr. (born November 26, 1957) is a former American college and professional football player who was a tight end in the national Football League (NFL) for five seasons during the 1980s. Miller played college football for the Un ...

, Nebraska *

Dave Petzke Dave Petzke (born c. 1957) was an American football player. He played college football for the Northern Illinois Huskies football team from 1977 to 1978. In 11 games during the 1978 season, he caught 91 passes for 1,215 yards and 11 touchdowns. ...

, Northern Illinois

Tight ends

Kellen Winslow Kellen Boswell Winslow Sr. (born November 5, 1957) is an American former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL). A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1995), he is widely recognized as one of the greatest tight ...

, Missouri * Mark Brammer, Michigan State

Tackles

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 St. *

Kelvin Clark Kelvin Wayne Clark (born January 30, 1956) is a former American college and professional American football, football player who was an Offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons in the 1970s and 1980s. He played ...

, Nebraska *

Jeff Toews Jeffrey Mark Toews (born November 4, 1957) is a former NFL offensive tackle and guard who played seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins. In college, Toews played for the University of Washington and was named to the 1977 All-Pacific-8 Conferen ...

, Washington * Matt Miller, Colorado * Robert Dugas, LSU *

Anthony Muñoz Michael Anthony Muñoz (born August 19, 1958) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle for 13 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the US ...

, USC *

Greg Kolenda Greg Kolenda is a former American football offensive tackle who played college football at the University of Arkansas The University of Arkansas (U of A, UArk, or UA) is a public land-grant research university in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It ...

, Arkansas *

Craig Wolfley Craig Alan Wolfley (born May 19, 1958) is a former football player and current color analyst for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Along with former teammate Max Starks, he hosts a show on 970 ESPN. College career Wolfley attended Syracuse Univer ...

, Syracuse

Guards

Pat Howell Patrick Gerrard Howell (born March 12, 1957) is a former American college and professional football player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons during the late 1970s and 1980s. Howell played col ...

, USC * Greg Roberts, Oklahoma *

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 * Pete Inge, San Diego State *

Steve Lindquist ''yes'Steve is a masculine given name, usually a short form (hypocorism) of Steven or Stephen Notable people with the name include: steve jops * Steve Abbott (disambiguation), several people * Steve Adams (disambiguation), several people * Steve ...

, Nebraska *

Brad Budde Brad Edward Budde (born May 9, 1958) is a former American college and professional football player who was an offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons during the 1980s. Budde played college football for the Unive ...

, USC * Doug Panfil, Tulsa

Centers

* Dave Huffman, Notre Dame *

Jim Ritcher James Alexander Ritcher (born May 21, 1958) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. Ritcher played college football for North ...

, North Carolina St. *

Dwight Stephenson Dwight Eugene Stephenson (born November 20, 1957) is an American former professional football player who was a center for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL) from 1980 to 1987. He played college football for the Alabama Crim ...

, Alabama * Robert Shaw, Tennessee * Chuck Brown, Houston

Quarterbacks

Chuck Fusina Charles Anthony Fusina (born May 31, 1957) is a former American college and professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) and United States Football League (USFL) for seven seasons during the 1970s and ...

, Penn St. *

Rick Leach Rick Leach (born December 28, 1964) is a former professional tennis player and a coach from the United States. A doubles specialist, he won five Grand Slam doubles titles (three at the Australian Open, one at Wimbledon, and one at the US Open) ...

, Michigan *

Jack Thompson Jack Thompson may refer to: Sports * Jack Thompson (footballer, born 1892) (1892–1969), English footballer who played for Sheffield United and Bristol City * Jack Thompson (1920s footballer), English footballer who played for Aston Villa and Brig ...

, Washington State *

Steve Dils Stephen Whitfield "Steve" Dils (born December 8, 1955) is an American retired football quarterback who played 10 seasons in the National Football League. College career Dils played high school football at Fort Vancouver High School in Vancouver, ...

, Stanford * Steve Fuller, Clemson

Running backs

Billy Sims Billy Ray Sims (born September 18, 1955) is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons during the 1980s. Sims played college football for the Universi ...

, Oklahoma * Charles Alexander, LSU * Charles White, USC * Ted Brown, North Carolina State *

Eddie Lee Ivery Eddie Lee Ivery (born July 30, 1957) is a former professional American football player. Early years through college Ivery was born in McDuffie County, Georgia. He played high school football at Thomson High School in Thomson, Georgia. During th ...

, Georgia Tech *

Darrin Nelson Darrin Milo Nelson (born January 2, 1959) is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings and San Diego Chargers. He played college football at Stanford University. Early years Nelson att ...

, Stanford *

Willie McClendon Willie Edward McClendon (born September 13, 1957) is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL). Selected in the 1979 NFL Draft, he played for the Chicago Bears from 1979 to 1982. He is the father of former Bea ...

, Georgia *

Obie Graves Obie Graves is a former Citrus College and Cal State Fullerton football player, who played three seasons in the Canadian Football League. Football career While at Monrovia High School, he played for the football time in the halfback position fr ...

, Cal State Fullerton *

James Hadnot James Weldon Hadnot (July 11, 1957 – March 30, 2017) was an American professional football player who was a running back for four seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League (NFL). In his first two years of college fo ...

, Texas Tech * Joseph H. Holland, Cornell

Defense

Defensive ends

* Al Harris, Arizona St. * Hugh Green, Pittsburgh * Don Smith, Miami (Fla.) * George Andrews, Nebraska * Don Blackmon, Tulsa * Willie Jones, Florida State * John Adams, LSU * Chuck Schott, Army

Defensive tackles

* Mike Bell, Colorado St. * Bruce Clark, Penn St. *

Marty Lyons Martin Anthony Lyons (born January 15, 1957) is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive tackle and defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. Lyons play ...

, Alabama *

Matt Millen Matthew George Millen (born March 12, 1958) is a former American football linebacker and executive. Millen played 12 years in the National Football League for the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, and Washington Redskins, ...

, Penn State *

Dan Hampton Daniel Oliver Hampton (born September 19, 1957) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive lineman for twelve seasons with the Chicago Bears from 1979 to 1990 in the National Football League (NFL). He was elected ...

, Arkansas * Jimmy Walker, Arkansas *

Mike Stensrud Michael Iver Stensrud (born February 19, 1956) is a former American football defensive lineman who played for five teams in eleven seasons in the National Football League. He wrestled for Lake Mills High School, winning the super heavy weight brac ...

, Iowa State *

Ken Kremer Kendall James Kremer (born July 16, 1957) is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 1979 NFL Draft The 1979 NFL Draft was the procedure b ...

, Ball State

Middle guards

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 *

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 * Ardis McCann, Louisiana Tech

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 *

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 *

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 *

Ken Fantetti Ken or KEN may refer to: Entertainment * ''Ken'' (album), a 2017 album by Canadian indie rock band Destroyer. * ''Ken'' (film), 1964 Japanese film. * ''Ken'' (magazine), a large-format political magazine. * Ken Masters, a main character in t ...

, Wyoming *

Barry Krauss Richard Barry Krauss (born March 17, 1957) is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for twelve seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Early years Krauss was born and reared in Pompano Beach, Florida; he wa ...

, Alabama *

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 ...

, Oklahima *

John Corker John B. Corker (born December 29, 1958) is a former American football linebacker who played four seasons in the National Football League, mainly for the Houston Oilers, and eight seasons in the Arena Football League. In 2002, Corker was elected i ...

, Ohlahoma State *

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 * Michael Jackson, Washington *

Joe Norman Joseph Dennison Norman (born October 15, 1956) is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 tea ...

, Indiana * Jack Lazor, Kent State *

Frank Manumaleuga Frank Toto'a Manumaleuna (May 9, 1956 – June 1, 2022) was an American football linebacker who played three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 1979 ...

, San Jose State

Defensive backs

* Johnnie Johnson, Texas *

Kenny Easley Kenneth Mason Easley Jr. (born January 15, 1959) is an American former professional football player who was a strong safety in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons during the 1980s. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins ...

, UCLA *

Jeff Nixon Jeffry Allen Nixon (born October 13, 1956) is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. He played college football ...

, Richmond * Lawrence Johnson, Wisconsin * Henry Williams, San Diego St. *

Rick Sanford Richard Sanford (born January 9, 1957) is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the New England Patriots, and Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based ...

, South Carolina * Pete Harris, Penn State *

Don Bessillieu Don Bessillieu (born May 4, 1956) is a former National Football League safety for the Miami Dolphins, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Los Angeles Raiders. He also played in the United States Football League. He played collegiately at Georgia Te ...

, Georgia Tech *

Jeff Delaney Jeff Delaney (born December 28, 1956) is a former safety in the National Football League. He played college football at Pittsburgh. Early life and high school Delaney was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and grew up in the suburb of Upper St. ...

, Pittsburgh *

Lovie Smith Lovie Lee Smith (born May 8, 1958) is an American football coach who is the head coach of the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). From 2004 to 2016, he served as the head coach of the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a ...

, Tulsa * Russ Calabrese, Missouri * Tim Smith, Oregon State * Vaughn Lusby, Arkansas * Jason Coloma, Brigham Young *

Nesby Glasgow Nesby Lee Glasgow (April 15, 1957 – February 25, 2020) was a professional American football safety for fourteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL) from 1979 to 1992. He played his first nine seasons with the Baltimore/Indianapolis C ...

, Washington * Joe Restic, Notre Dame

Special teams

Kickers

Matt Bahr Matthew David Bahr (born July 6, 1956) is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League, and professional soccer player in the North American Soccer League. He attended Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, ...

, Penn State * Tony Franklin, Texas AM

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 * Joe Restic, Notre Dame

Key

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

Official selectors

* AFCA –

, selected by 2,100 voting members for Kodak * AP –

* FWAA –

* UPI –

Other selectors

* FN – ''Football News'' * NEA –

* 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

Offense

Receivers

Tight ends

Tackles

Guards

Centers

Quarterbacks

Running backs

Defense

Defensive ends

Defensive tackles

Middle guards

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Kickers

Punters

Key

Official selectors

Other selectors

See also

References