The 1952 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 1952. The eight selectors recognized by 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 ...

as "official" for the 1952 season are (1) 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 ...

, (2) the

United Press 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 c ...

, (3) the All-America Board, (4) 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), (5) 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), (6) the

International News Service The International News Service (INS) was a U.S.-based news agency (newswire) founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909.

(INS), (7) 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 (8) 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 ...

''.

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

quarterback The quarterback (commonly abbreviated "QB"), colloquially known as the "signal caller", is a position in gridiron football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive platoon and mostly line up directly behind the offensive line. In modern Ame ...

Jack Scarbath John Carl Scarbath (August 12, 1930December 6, 2020) was a professional American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fam ...

and Notre Dame halfback

Johnny Lattner John Joseph Lattner (October 24, 1932 – February 12, 2016) was an American football player. While playing college football for the University of Notre Dame, he won the Heisman Trophy in 1953. He also won the Maxwell Award twice, in 1952 and ...

were the only two players to be unanimously named first-team All-Americans by all eight official selectors. Lattner was awarded the 1953

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 ...

Consensus All-Americans

For the year 1952, the NCAA recognizes eight published All-American teams as "official" designations for purposes of its consensus determinations. The following chart identifies the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans and displays which first-team designations they received.

All-American selections for 1952

Ends

* Frank McPhee, Princeton (AAB, INS, NEA, SN, UP, WC) *

Bernie Flowers Benjamin Bernard Flowers (born Benjamin Bernard Kwiatkowski, February 14, 1930April 14, 2011) was an American football player who played at the end position for the Purdue University where he became a consensus first-team All-American in 1952. ...

, Purdue (AAB, FWAA, NEA, SN, UP, WC) * Eddie Bell, Pennsylvania (AFCA, INS, AP-2) *

Tom Stolhandske Carl Thomas Stolhandske (born June 28, 1931) is a former American football linebacker who played one season with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the 49ers in the first round of the 1953 NFL Draft. H ...

, Texas (AP-1, FWAA, INS) * Tom Scott, Virginia (AP-1; NEA) *

Joe Collier Joel Dale Collier (born June 7, 1932) is an American former football coach who was the head coach of the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League (AFL) from 1966 through part of 1968, compiling a 13–16–1 record. College career Coll ...

, Northwestern (INS) *

Don Branby Donald Jerome Branby (December 29, 1928 – March 8, 2010) was an American football player. Branby played college football at the end position for the Colorado Buffaloes football team. During the 1952 season, he recovered seven fumbles, had ni ...

, Colorado (AP-1) *Buck Martin, Georgia Tech (AFCA) *Steve Mellinger, Kentucky (NEA) *Ed Luke, Michigan State (AP-2) * Harry Babcock, Georgia (AP-2)

Tackles

Dick Modzelewski Richard Blair Modzelewski (February 16, 1931 – October 19, 2018) was an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, and the Cleveland Browns. He al ...

, Maryland (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AAB, NEA, SN, UP, WC) *

Hal Miller Sir Hilary Duppa Miller (6 March 1929 – 21 March 2015) was a British Conservative Party politician. Early life He was the son of Lieutenant-Commander Jack Duppa-Miller, GC, and Barbara Miller (née Barbara Buckmaster, daughter of the fir ...

, Georgia Tech (AP-3, FWAA, NEA, SN, UP, WC) *

Doug Atkins Douglas Leon Atkins (May 8, 1930 – December 30, 2015) was an American professional football player who was a defensive end for the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, and New Orleans Saints in the National Football League (NFL). He played colleg ...

, Tennessee (AAB; INS) *

Ed Meadows Edward Allen Meadows (February 19, 1932 – October 22, 1974) was an American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Redskins. Early yea ...

, Duke (AFCA; AP-2) * Kline Gilbert, Mississippi (AP-1, FWAA) * Dave Suminski, Wisconsin (AP-1) * Harvey Achziger, Colorado A&M (INS) *Bob Fleck, Syracuse (INS) * J.D. Kimmel, Houston (AP-1) *

Charlie LaPradd Charles W. LaPradd (August 24, 1927 – February 1, 2006) was an American football player during the early 1950s. He played college football for the University of Florida and was recognized as an All-American as a defensive lineman. He late ...

, Florida (AP-1) *Jerry Minnick, Nebraska (INS) *Oliver Spencer, Kansas (NEA) *Ben Dunkerley, West Virginia (AP-2) *Eldred Kraemer, Pittsburgh (AP-2) *William "Bill" Skyinskus, Syracuse (AP-2)

Guards

John Michels John Spiegel Michels (born March 19, 1973 in La Jolla, California) is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League. High school career Michels attended La Jolla High School, where he was a three time letterman in ...

, Tennessee (College Football Hall of Fame) (AAB, AP-1, FWAA, NEA, SN, UP, WC) * Elmer Willhoite, Southern California (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, INS, NEA, UP, WC) * Steve Eisenhauer, Navy (AP-1, INS, NEA, SN) *

Harley Sewell Harley Edward Sewell (April 18, 1931 – December 17, 2011) was an American football guard for the Detroit Lions (1953–1962), the Los Angeles Rams (1963). He was born in Jefferson County, Oklahoma, and attended the University of Texas. He ...

, Texas (AFCA, AAB, AP-2, NEA) * Marv Matuszak, Tulsa (AP-1) *

Frank Kush Frank Joseph Kush (January 20, 1929 – June 22, 2017) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Arizona State University from 1958 to 1979, compiling a record of 176–54–1. Kush was also the head coach of th ...

, Michigan State (AP-1) *Michael "Mike" Takacs, Ohio State (INS) *James "Jim" Reichenbach, Ohio State (AP-2) *Chester Millett, Holy Cross (AP-2)

Centers

Donn Moomaw Donn Moomaw (born October 15, 1931) is an American retired professional football player and Presbyterian minister. Moomaw played college football for the UCLA Bruins as the center and linebacker for the team. He was elected to the College Foot ...

, UCLA (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1, NEA, SN, UP, WC) *

Tom Catlin Thomas Allen Catlin (September 8, 1931 – June 7, 2008) was an American football player and coach. He spent a total of 37 years in the National Football League, including stints as defensive coordinator with the Buffalo Bills (1978–1982) and ...

, Oklahoma (AAB, FWAA, INS, NEA, SN) *

Dick Tamburo Richard Pfeiffer Tamburo (February 6, 1930 – February 24, 2020) was an American football player and athletic coach and administrator. A native of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, he played college football for the Michigan State Spartans football ...

, Michigan State (AP-1, CP-1, INS) *

Pete Brown Peter Ronald Brown (born 25 December 1940) is an English performance poet, lyricist, and singer best known for his collaborations with Cream and Jack Bruce.Colin Larkin, ''Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music'', (Muze UK Ltd, 1997), , p. 80 Bro ...

, Georgia Tech (AP-1) * Joe Schmidt, Pittsburgh (INS) *James Dooley, Penn State (AP-2) *

, Oklahoma (AP-2) * George Morris, Georgia Tech (AP-2)

Backs

, Maryland (College Football Hall of Fame) (AAB, AFCA, AP-1, COL-1, FWAA, INS, NEA, SN, UP, Look-1) *

, Notre Dame (College Football Hall of Fame) (AAB; AFCA; AP-1, FWAA, INS, NEA, SN, UP, WC) *

Billy Vessels Billy Dale Vessels (March 22, 1931 – November 17, 2001) was a gridiron football player. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma and won the Heisman Trophy in 1952. Vessels went on to play professional football with the Nati ...

, Oklahoma (Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Fame) (AAB; AP-1, FWAA, INS, NEA, SN, UP, WC) *

Jim Sears James Herbert "Jimmy" Sears (March 20, 1931January 4, 2002) was a professional American football defensive back/ halfback in the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL). High school career Sears prepped at Inglewoo ...

, Southern California (AP-1, INS, NEA; WC) *Don McAuliffe, Michigan State (AAB; COL-1, UP) * Leon Hardeman, Georgia Tech (AAB, INS, SN) *

Johnny Olszewski John Peter Olszewski (December 21, 1929 – December 8, 1996) was an American football fullback. He was drafted in the first round (fourth overall) of the 1953 NFL Draft and played professionally for the Chicago Cardinals, the Washington Redski ...

, California (INS, NEA; AP-2) *Bobby Morehead, Georgia Tech (AP-1, INS) *

Paul Giel Paul Robert Giel (February 29, 1932 – May 22, 2002) was an American college football and professional baseball player from Winona, Minnesota. He was an All-American in both sports at the University of Minnesota. Collegiate career Giel att ...

, Minnesota (AP-1, FWAA) *

Buck McPhail Coleman "Buck" McPhail (December 25, 1929 — March 4, 2005) was an American football fullback and placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). McPhail played college football at Oklahoma. College career McPhail played fullback and punter ...

, Oklahoma (AFCA) *

Lowell Perry Lowell Wesley Perry (December 5, 1931 – January 7, 2001) was an American football player and coach, government official, businessman, and broadcaster. He was the first African-American assistant coach in the National Football League (NFL), the ...

, Michigan (NEA) *

Paul Cameron Paul Drummond Cameron (born November 9, 1939) is an American psychologist. Cameron has been designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an anti-gay extremist. While employed at various institutions, including the University of Nebraska–Li ...

, UCLA (NEA) *

Don Heinrich Donald Alan Heinrich (September 19, 1930 – February 29, 1992) was an American football player, coach, and announcer. He played professionally as a quarterback in National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys, and in ...

, Washington (AP-1) *

Gene Filipski Eugene C. Filipski (June 14, 1931 – August 23, 1994) was an American football halfback who played two seasons with the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round of the 1953 NFL ...

, Villanova (FWAA) *Andy Kozar, Tennessee (AP-2) *

Bobby Marlow Robert R. "Bobby" Marlow (February 8, 1930 – June 5, 1985) was an American and Canadian football running back who played for the Alabama Crimson Tide football, University of Alabama and the Canadian Football League's (CFL) Saskatchewan Roughrider ...

, Alabama (AP-2) *

Ed Mioduszewski Edward "Ed" Thomas Mioduszewski (October 28, 1931 – September 8, 2010) was a professional American football player for the National Football League (NFL)'s Baltimore Colts. He played quarterback in 12 games, starting one, during the 1953 NFL sea ...

, William & Mary (AP-2) *

Val Joe Walker Val Joe Walker (January 7, 1930 –December 25, 2013) was a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted in the seventh round of the 1952 NFL Draft by the New York Giants and would later play four seasons with the G ...

, Southern Methodist (AP-2) *Norris Mullis, South Carolina (AP-2) *Gilbert "Gil" Reich, Kansas (AP-2)

Key

Official selectors

Other selectors

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