The 1983 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 1983. 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 1983 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; (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); and (5) 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). Other selectors included '' Football News'' (FN),

Gannett News Service Gannett Co., Inc. () is an American mass media holding company headquartered in McLean, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.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 ''

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).

Consensus All-Americans

The following charts identify the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans for the year 1983 and displays which first-team designations they received.

Offense

Defense

Special teams

Offense

Receivers

Irving Fryar Irving Dale Fryar, Sr. (born September 28, 1962) is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for seventeen seasons. Fryar played college football for the Universit ...

, Nebraska (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, GNS-1, NEA-1, TSN) *

Gerald McNeil Gerald Lynn McNeil (born March 27, 1962) is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist who played in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons with the Cleveland Browns and Houston Oilers. He also played in the Unite ...

, Baylor (AFCA, AP-1) *

Kenny Jackson Kenny Jackson (born February 15, 1962) is an American former football player. He played wide receiver for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Oilers and was twice named a collegiate All- ...

, Penn State (AP-2, NEA-1) * Eric Martin, LSU (GNS-2, TSN) *

Jerry Rice Jerry Lee Rice (born October 13, 1962) is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 20 seasons. Known primarily as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, winning three championshi ...

, Mississippi Valley State (GNS-1) *

Brian Brennan Brian Michael Brennan (born February 15, 1962) is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 1984 NFL Draft. He graduated from Brother Rice High School (Michigan).http://ww ...

, Boston College (AP-2, UPI-2) *

Louis Lipps Louis Adam Lipps (born August 9, 1962) is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL who played nine seasons in the NFL, eight for the Pittsburgh Steelers and one for the New Orleans Saints. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers ...

, Southern Mississippi (GNS-2) * Eric Richardson, San Jose State (NEA-2) *

Dwight Collins Dwight Dean Collins (born August 23, 1961) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 1984 NFL Draft, and played one season for them in 1984. Co ...

, Pittsburgh (NEA-2) * Tracy Henderson, Iowa State (AP-3) * Dave Moritz, Iowa (AP-3) *

Jim Sandusky Jim Sandusky (born September 9, 1961) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the BC Lions and Edmonton Eskimos. In a 12-year career from 1984 to 1996, he caught 58 ...

, San Diego State (FN-3, GNS-3)

Tight ends

* Gordon Hudson, Brigham Young (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, GNS-1, NEA-1) *

Chuck Scott Charles John Miller Scott (born May 24, 1963) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Vanderbilt University. Early years Scott ...

, Vanderbilt (TSN) * John Frank, Ohio State (GNS-2, NEA-2) * Glenn Dennison, Miami (FL) (AP-2) * Paul Bergmann, UCLA (AP-3, UPI-2)

Tackles

Bill Fralic William P. Fralic Jr. ( ) (October 31, 1962 – December 13, 2018) was an American professional football player who was a guard for the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) from 1985 to 1993. He played colle ...

, Pittsburgh (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, GNS-1, NEA-1, TSN) * Terry Long, East Carolina (AFCA, AP-1 uard FWAA, UPI-2 uard WC) * Brian Blados, North Carolina (AP-1, UPI-2, NEA-1) * Mark Adickes, Baylor (AP-2, GNS-1, TSN) * Conrad Goode, Missouri (UPI-1) *

Jim Juriga James Allen Juriga (born September 12, 1964) is a former guard who played three seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He started in Super Bowl XXIV for the Denver Broncos. After he finished his football career, he obtained his docto ...

, Illinois (UPI-2, NEA-2) *

Guy McIntyre Guy Maurice McIntyre (born February 17, 1961) is a former professional American football offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL). He played in three Super Bowls and five Pro Bowls as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. McInty ...

, Georgia (AP-2) * Bill Roberts, Ohio State (GNS-2) * Don Maggs, Tulane (GNS-2) * Pat Arrington, Auburn (AP-3) * Scott Raridon, Nebraska (AP-3)

Guards

Dean Steinkuhler Dean Elmer Steinkuhler (born January 27, 1961) is a former professional American football guard in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons in the 1980s and 1990s. Steinkuhler played college football for the University of Nebraska, a ...

, Nebraska (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, GNS-1, NEA-1, TSN) * Doug Dawson, Texas (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-2, WC, GNS-2, NEA-2 ackle *

Stefan Humphries Stefan Govan Humphries (born January 20, 1962) is a former American football player. He played college football at the University of Michigan, principally as an offensive guard, from 1980 to 1983. He also played five seasons in the National ...

, Michigan (AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, GNS-2, NEA-2, TSN) *

Gary Zimmerman Gary Wayne Zimmerman (born December 13, 1961) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). Zimmerman played for the Minnesota Vikings from 1986 to 1992 and for the Denver ...

, Oregon (AP-3, NEA-1) *

Ron Solt Ronald Matthew Solt (born May 19, 1962) is a former American football guard in the National Football League. He played professionally for the Indianapolis Colts and the Philadelphia Eagles. Biography Solt was born in Bainbridge, Maryland and gra ...

, Maryland (GNS-1, NEA-2) * James Farr, Clemson (AP-3)

Centers

* Tony Slaton, USC (AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, WC) *

Tom Dixon Tom or Tommy Dixon may refer to: *Tom Dixon (American football) (born 1961), American football player * Tom Dixon (catcher) (1906–1982), Negro league baseball catcher * Tom Dixon (pitcher) (born 1955), Major League Baseball pitcher * Tom Dixon (C ...

, Michigan (AFCA, AP-1, TSN) * Mike Ruether, Texas (UPI-2 uard NEA-1) * Jim Sweeney, Pittsburgh (AP-3, GNS-2) *

Joel Hilgenberg Joel Hilgenberg (born July 10, 1962 in Iowa City, Iowa) was an American football center in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints. Hilgenberg played college football at the University of Iowa and he is the brother of former cent ...

, Iowa (NEA-2)

Quarterbacks

Steve Young Jon Steven Young (born October 11, 1961) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccane ...

, Brigham Young (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, GNS-1, NEA-1, TSN) *

Randall Cunningham Randall Wade Cunningham Sr. (born March 27, 1963) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. He spent the majority of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles and is also known for ...

, UNLV (AFCA unter AP-2 unter GNS-2) *

Doug Flutie Douglas Richard Flutie (born October 23, 1962) is an American former football quarterback whose professional career spanned 21 seasons. He played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), eight seasons in the Canadian Football League (CF ...

, Boston College (CFHOF) (UPI-2) *

Boomer Esiason Norman Julius "Boomer" Esiason (; born April 17, 1961) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons, primarily with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was selected in the ...

, Maryland (NEA-2) *

Turner Gill Turner Hillery Gill (born August 13, 1962) is an American college athletic administrator and former gridiron football player and coach. He is the Executive Director of Student-Athlete and Staff Development at the University of Arkansas, a positi ...

, Nebraska (AP-2) *

Ben Bennett Allen Beverly Bennett II (born May 5, 1962) is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears. He also was a member of the Jacksonville Bulls, Chicago Bruisers ...

, Duke (AP-3)

Running backs

Mike Rozier Michael T. Rozier (born March 1, 1961) is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the United States Football League (USFL) for two seasons and the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons duri ...

, Nebraska (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, GNS-1, NEA-1, TSN) *

Bo Jackson Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson (born November 30, 1962) is an American former professional baseball and American football player. He is the only professional athlete in history to be named an All-Star in both baseball and football. Jackson's el ...

, Auburn (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, GNS-1, NEA-1) * Greg Allen, Florida State (UPI-1, AP-3, WC, NEA-2) *

Napoleon McCallum Napoleon Ardel McCallum (born October 6, 1963) is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. McCallum played college footbal ...

, Navy (CFHOF) (AP-2, FWAA, UPI-2, WC, NEA-2, TSN eturn specialist * Allen Pinkett, Notre Dame (AP-2, UPI-2, GNS-2, TSN) *

Keith Byars Keith Alan Byars (born October 14, 1963) is an American sports broadcaster and former American football fullback in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets. Early life ...

, Ohio State (AP-3, UPI-2, GNS-2)

Defense

Defensive ends

* William Fuller, North Carolina (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-2 T WC, GNS-2, NEA-2, TSN) *

Bruce Smith Bruce Bernard Smith (born June 18, 1963) is an American former football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 19 seasons, primarily with the Buffalo Bills. He played college football at Virginia Tech, where he was ...

, Virginia Tech (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-2, GNS-1, NEA-1) *

Don Thorp Donald Kevin Thorp (born July 10, 1962 in Buffalo Grove, Illinois) is a former professional American football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints, the Indianapolis Colts, and the Kansas City Chiefs. He ...

, Illinois (AP-3 T FWAA, UPI-2 T NEA-2, TSN) * Freddie Gilbert, Georgia (AP-2, UPI-1, GNS-2) * Ron Faurot, Arkansas (UPI-1) * Donnie Humphrey, Auburn (UPI-2) * Jimmie Carter, New Mexico (AP-3)

Defensive tackles

* Rick Bryan, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, GNS-1, NEA-1, TSN) *

Reggie White Reginald Howard White (December 19, 1961 – December 26, 2004) was an American professional football player who played defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. He played college football for ...

, Tennessee (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, GNS-1, NEA-1, TSN) *

Keith Millard Keith Joseph Millard (born March 18, 1962) is an American former professional football player who played as a defensive tackle for nine seasons for the Minnesota Vikings, the Green Bay Packers, the Seattle Seahawks and the Philadelphia Eagles f ...

, Washington State (GNS-1) * Dan Ralph, Oregon (GNS-2) *

Ray Childress Raymond Clay Childress, Jr. (born October 20, 1962) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers and Dallas Cowboys. He played colleg ...

, Texas A&M (GNS-2) * Doug Smith, Auburn (AP-3, NEA-2)

Middle guards

William Perry William Perry may refer to: Business * William Perry (Queensland businessman) (1835–1891), businessman and politician in Queensland, Australia * William H. Perry (businessman) (1832–1906), American businessman and entrepreneur Politics and ...

, Clemson (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC) *

Brian Pillman Brian William Pillman (May 22, 1962 – October 5, 1997) was an American professional wrestler and professional football player best known for his appearances in Stampede Wrestling in the 1980s and World Championship Wrestling (WCW), Extreme Ch ...

, Miami (OH) (AP-2) * Michael Carter, SMU (AP-3, UPI-2)

Linebackers

* Ricky Hunley, Arizona (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, GNS-2, NEA-1) *

Wilber Marshall Wilber Buddyhia Marshall (born April 18, 1962) is an American former professional football player who was a outside linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for five teams from 1984 until 1995. Marshall played college football for the F ...

, Florida (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-1, WC, NEA-1) *

Ron Rivera Ronald Eugene Rivera (born January 7, 1962), nicknamed "Riverboat Ron", is an American football head coach for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He attended the University of California, Berkeley in the early 198 ...

, California (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, GNS-1, NEA-1 TSN) * Jeff Leiding, Texas (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, WC) *

Carl Banks Carl E. Banks (born August 29, 1962) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played from 1984 to 1995 for the New York Giants, the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Br ...

, Michigan State (AP-1, UPI-1, GNS-1, NEA-1, TSN) * Vaughan Johnson, North Carolina State (AP-2, TSN) * Jay Brophy, Miami (Fla.) (AP-3, UPI-2, FN, NEA-2) *

Jack Del Rio Jack Louis Del Rio Jr. (born April 4, 1963) is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football as a linebacker at the University of South ...

, USC (AP-3, GNS-1, NEA-2) * Kevin Murphy, Oklahoma (AP-2, UPI-2 E GNS-2) * Gregg Carr, Auburn (AP-2) * Steve DeOssie, Boston College (AP-2) * Mike Knox, Nebraska (GNS-2) * Jim Dumont, Rutgers (AP-3) * Andy Ponseigo, Navy (AP-3)

Defensive backs

* Don Rogers, UCLA (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-2, WC, GNS-1, TSN, NEA-2) *

Jerry Gray Jerry Don Gray (born December 16, 1962) is an American football coach and former player who is the defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). Gray played college footbal ...

, Texas (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, GNS-1, NEA-1) * Russell Carter, SMU (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, GNS-1, NEA-1, TSN) *

Terry Hoage Terrell Lee "Terry" Hoage (born April 11, 1962) is a former American college and professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for thirteen seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. Hoage played college football f ...

, Georgia (CFHOF) (AFCA, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, GNS-2, NEA-1, TSN) *

Mossy Cade Tommories "Mossy" Cade (born December 26, 1961 in Eloy, Arizona) is a former professional American football player who played safety first for the Memphis Showboats of the USFL in 1985 and then for two seasons (1985–86) for the Green Bay Pack ...

, Texas (AP-1, UPI-2, WC, GNS-2, TSN, NEA-2) *

Leonard Coleman Leonard Coleman (born January 30, 1962) is a former American football player who played cornerback in the National Football League for the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers from 1985 to 1989. Palmer, Pete; Pullis, Ken; Lahman, Sean; Silv ...

, Vanderbilt (AP-3, GNS-1, NEA-2) *

Craig Swoope Craig Avery Swoope, Sr. (born February 3, 1964), is a former professional American football player who played collegiately for the University of Illinois, and in 3 NFL seasons from 1986 to 1988 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colt ...

, Illinois (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-1) *

Victor Scott Victor Ramone Scott (born June 1, 1962) is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Colorado. Early years Scott attended East St. Lo ...

, Colorado (AP-2) * David Fulcher, Arizona State (GNS-2) * Randy Robbins, Arizona (GNS-2) *

Martin Bayless Martin Ashley Bayless (born October 11, 1962) is a former American football cornerback/safety and American football coach who is the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football Leag ...

, Bowling Green (AP-3) * Harry Hamilton, Penn State (AP-3)

Special teams

Kickers

Luis Zendejas Luis Fernando Zendejas (born October 22, 1961) is a Mexican former American football placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Arena Football ...

, Arizona State (AP-1, FWAA, WC, GNS-2, NEA-1) * Bruce Kallmeyer, Kansas (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-1, GNS-1) * Paul Woodside, West Virginia (UPI-2, TSN) *

Tony Zendejas Tony Zendejas (born May 15, 1960) is a Mexican-American former NFL placekicker. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League (USFL). After the USFL folded, he was selected in the first ...

, Nevada (Reno) (NEA-2) * Jeff Ward, Texas (AP-3)

Punters

* Jack Weil, Wyoming (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-2) * Jim Colquitt, Tennessee (WC, NEA-1) *

, UNLV (AFCA, AP-2) *

Ralf Mojsiejenko Ralf Mojsiejenko (born January 28, 1963) is a former American football punter in the National Football League (NFL) from (1985–1991) for three teams. He was a fourth round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers in the 1985 NFL Draft. He played co ...

, Michigan State (GNS-1, TSN) * John Kidd, Northwestern (GNS-2) *

John Teltschik John Teltschik (born March 8, 1964 in Floresville, Texas) is a former punter in the National Football League who spent his entire career playing for the Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team b ...

, Texas (UPI-2)

Returners

, Navy (TSN)

Key

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

College Football Hall of Fame The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vote ...

inductee

Official selectors

* AFCA –

, aka the Kodak-AFCA Team * AP –

* FWAA –

* UPI –

* WC –

Other selectors

* FN – '' Football News'' * GNS –

* TSN – ''

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

Consensus All-Americans

Offense

Defense

Special 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

Returners

Key

Official selectors

Other selectors

See also

References