The 1980 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 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 1980. 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 ...

recognizes four selectors as "official" for the 1980 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), 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). The AP, UPI, and FWAA teams were selected by polling of sports writers and/or broadcasters. The AFCA team was based on a poll of coaches. Other notable selectors, though not recognized by the NCAA as official, included ''Football News'', a national weekly football publication, 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). Fourteen players were unanimous picks by all four official selectors. Seven of the unanimous picks were offensive players: (1) South Carolina running back and 1980

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, George Rogers; (2) Georgia running back and 1982 Heisman Trophy winner, Herschel Walker; (3) Purdue quarterback and 1980

Sammy Baugh Trophy The Touchdown Club of Columbus was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1956 by Sam B. Nicola at the request of state auditor James A. Rhodes, who later became governor of the state. Nicola served as the club's president until his death in 1993. More ...

winner, Mark Hermann; (4) Stanford wide receiver

Ken Margerum Kenneth Margerum (born October 5, 1958) is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons during the 1980s. Margerum played college football for Sta ...

; (5) Purdue tight end Dave Young; (6) Pittsburgh tackle

Mark May Mark Eric May (born November 2, 1959) is a former American college and professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. May played college football for the University ...

; and (7) Notre Dame center John Scully. The seven unanimous picks on the defensive side were: (1) Pittsburgh defensive end Hugh Green, who won the 1980

Walter Camp Award The Walter Camp Player of the Year Award is given annually to the collegiate American football player of the year, as decided by a group of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I FBS head coaches and sports information directo ...

Maxwell Award The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the college football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best all ...

Lombardi Award The Rotary Lombardi Award is an award for college football in the United States. Awarded by the Rotary Club of Houston, Texas annually to the college football player "who best embodies the values and spirit of NFL's legendary coach Vince Lomba ...

, and ''

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 ...

'' and

UPI College Football Player of the Year The United Press International College Football Player of the Year Award was among the first and most recognized college football awards. With the second bankruptcy of UPI in 1991, along with that of its parent company, the award was discontinued. ...

awards; (2) Alabama defensive end E.J. Junior; (3) Houston defensive tackle

Leonard Mitchell Leonard Boyd Mitchell (born October 12, 1958) is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons during the 1980s. He played college football for the Un ...

; (4) Baylor linebacker Mike Singletary; (5) North Carolina linebacker

Lawrence Taylor Lawrence Julius Taylor (born February 4, 1959), nicknamed "L.T.", is an American former professional football player who spent his entire career as an outside linebacker for the New York Giants ( 1981–1993) in the National Football League (NF ...

; (6) UCLA defensive back

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 Brui ...

; and (7) USC defensive back

Ronnie Lott Ronald Mandel Lott (born May 8, 1959) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and safety in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. Lott played college football for the Univ ...

. In 1989, ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' published a follow-up on the 1980 AP All-America team. The article reported that 20 of the 22 first-team players went on to play in the NFL, with 13 still active and eight having received All-Pro honors.

Offensive selections

Wide receivers

, Stanford (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC) * Anthony Carter, Michigan (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1, NEA-2, TSN) *

Cris Collinsworth Anthony Cris Collinsworth (born January 27, 1959) is an American sports broadcaster and former professional American football player. Collinsworth was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons (1981-1988), all with ...

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

Mardye McDole Mardye McDole (May 1, 1959 – March 28, 2023) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). McDole was selected by the Vikings in the second round of the ...

, Mississippi State (NEA-2, TSN) * David Verser, Kansas (AP-2) * Bobby Stewart, Texas Christian (AP-3)

Tight ends

* Dave Young, Purdue (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, TSN, WC) * Marvin Harvey, Southern Mississippi (NEA-1) * Clay Brown, Brigham Young (AP-3, UPI-2) * Benjie Pryor, Pitt (AP-2) * Rodney Holman, Tulane (NEA-2)

Tackles

, Pittsburgh (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-2 uard TSN, WC) *

Keith Van Horne Keith Van Horne (born November 6, 1957) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. He played college football for the Unive ...

, USC (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN) *

Nick Eyre Nicholas G. Eyre (June 16, 1959 – November 15, 2018) was a former American college and professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). Eyre played college football for Brigham Young University, a ...

, BYU (AFCA, AP-3, FWAA, UPI-2 uard NEA-1) *

Bill Dugan William H. Dugan (born June 5, 1959) is an American former professional American football offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, and the New York Giants. Dugan played college football a ...

, Penn St. (AFCA, AP-3) *

Ken Lanier Kenneth Wayne LanierDenver Broncos 1981 Media Guide (profile on ...

, Florida State (AP-2) *

Curt Marsh Curt Marsh (born August 25, 1959) is a former American football offensive tackle. He was selected in the first round by the Oakland Raiders out of the University of Washington The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informa ...

, Washington (NEA-2)

Guards

Randy Schleusener Rand L. Schleusener (born October 23, 1957) is a former American football offensive lineman. He played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers 1977–1980. He was selected in the 1981 NFL Draft, but never played in the NFL. After football, he went on to ...

, Nebraska (AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC) *

Louis Oubre Louis Byron Oubre, III (born May 15, 1958) is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons during the 1980s. He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners and earne ...

, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-2 ackle FWAA, UPI-2 ackle NEA-2 ackle WC) *

Ron Wooten Ronald John Wooten (born June 29, 1959) is an American former professional American football playerwho was a guard for seven seasons with the New England Patriots in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North ...

, North Carolina (AP-3, UPI-2, NEA-1, WC) * Roy Foster, USC (UPI-1, NEA-2) * Frank Ditta, Baylor (AP-1) * Billy Ard, Wake Forest (TSN) * Terry Crouch, Oklahoma (TSN) * Sean Farrell, Penn State (AP-2) * Joe Lukens, Ohio State (AP-2) * Howard Richards, Missouri (UPI-2) * Frank McCallister, Navy (AP-3)

Centers

* John Scully, Notre Dame (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN) * George Lilja, Michigan (AP-3, UPI-2, NEA-2, WC) *

Rick Donnalley William Frederick Donnalley (born December 11, 1958) is a former American football Center (gridiron football), center in the National Football League (NFL). Donnalley was selected in the third round by the Pittsburgh Steelers out of the University ...

, North Carolina (AP-2)

Quarterbacks

Mark Herrmann Mark Donald Herrmann (born January 8, 1959) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for twelve seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. Herrmann played college football for the ...

, Purdue (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA ie AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC) *

Jim McMahon James Robert McMahon Jr. (born August 21, 1959) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, most notably with the Chicago Bears. McMahon played college football at BYU, where he wa ...

, BYU (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA ie AP-2, UPI-2) *

Art Schlichter Arthur Ernest Schlichter (, born April 25, 1960) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons with the Colts franchise. He also played one Canadian Football League (CFL) season wit ...

, Ohio State (NEA-1) * John Elway, Stanford (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-3, NEA-2, TSN)

Running backs

* George Rogers, South Carolina (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) * Herschel Walker, Georgia (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) *

Jarvis Redwine Jarvis John Redwine (born May 16, 1957) is a former American college and professional football player, a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons during the 1980s. Redwine played college football for the University o ...

, Nebraska (AFCA, UPI-1, WC) *

Freeman McNeil Freeman McNeil (born April 22, 1959) is a former professional American football player. He was selected by the New York Jets in the first round as the third overall pick of the 1981 NFL Draft. Early life McNeil was born in Jackson, Mississippi. ...

, UCLA (AP-2, FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-2) * James Brooks, Auburn (AP-2, NEA-2) *

Walter Abercrombie Walter Augustus Abercrombie (born September 26, 1959) is a former professional American football running back and kick returner who played in the National Football League. He was selected in first round (12th overall) of the 1982 NFL Draft by th ...

, Baylor (AP-3) *

Marcus Allen Marcus LeMarr Allen (born March 26, 1960) is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Raiders. Considered one of the greatest goal line and short- ...

, USC (College and Pro Football Halls of Fame) (AP-3, UPI-2) *

Dwayne Crutchfield Dwayne Crutchfield (born September 30, 1959 ) is a former professional American football player who played running back for the New York Jets, Houston Oilers, and Los Angeles Rams The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football te ...

, Iowa State (UPI-2) * Stump Mitchell, The Citadel (AP-3)

Defensive selections

Defensive ends

* Hugh Green, Pittsburgh (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) * E.J. Junior, Alabama (AFCA, AP-1 inebacker FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) * Scott Zettek, Notre Dame (AP-1) *

Derrie Nelson Derald Lawrence Nelson (born February 8, 1958 in York, Nebraska) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers. He played college football at the University of Nebraska. Early years Nelson ...

, Nebraska (AP-2, FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-2) * Don Blackmon, Tulsa (AP-2) *

Lyman White Lyman Dan White Jr. (born January 3, 1959) is a former American football linebacker. White was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Falcons out of Louisiana State University in the 1981 NFL Draft The 1981 NFL draft was the procedure by wh ...

, LSU (NEA-2) * Rich Dixon, California (AP-3) *

Rickey Jackson Rickey Anderson Jackson (born March 20, 1958) is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints (1981–1993) and the San Francisco 49ers (1994–1995). He led the team's Dome P ...

, Pittsburgh (AP-3, UPI-2)

Defensive tackles

, Houston (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) *

Kenneth Sims Kenneth Wayne Sims (born October 31, 1959) is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League for eight seasons during the 1980s. He played college football at Texas, where he ...

, Texas (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN) * Hosea Taylor, Houston (FWAA, WC) *

Vince Goldsmith Vince Goldsmith, born July 20, 1959, was a star football player in the Canadian Football League (CFL), as both a linebacker and defensive lineman. Goldsmith played college football with the University of Oregon Ducks (from 1977 to 1980) as a def ...

, Oregon (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-2) *

Mike Trgovac Mike may refer to: Animals * Mike (cat), cat and guardian of the British Museum * Mike the Headless Chicken, chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off * Mike (chimpanzee), a chimpanzee featured in several books and document ...

, Michigan (AP-2) * John Harty, Iowa (UPI-2, NEA-2) * Calvin Clark, Purdue (AP-3) * Elvin Keller, West Texas State (AP-3)

Middle guards

Ron Simmons Ronald Nasir Simmons (born May 15, 1958) is an American retired professional wrestler and football player. He performed for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) under his real name, and in the World Wres ...

, Florida State (College Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, UPI-1, WC) * Jim Burt, Miami (Fla.) (NEA-1) * Stan Gardner, Kansas (UPI-2) * Hosea Taylor, Houston (NEA-2)

Linebackers

* Mike Singletary, Baylor (College and Pro Football Halls of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) *

, North Carolina (Pro Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-2, TSN) *

Bob Crable Robert Edward Crable (born September 22, 1959) is an American former college and professional American football, football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons during the 1980s. He played college foot ...

, Notre Dame (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) * David Little, Florida (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, FN, NEA-2) * Tom Boyd, Alabama (AP-3, UPI-2, WC) *

Marcus Marek Markus Marek (born January 8, 1961) is a former American football linebacker who played three seasons with the Boston/New Orleans/Portland Breakers of the United States Football League. He played college football at Ohio State University. and at ...

, Ohio State (AP-3, UPI-2) * Andy Cannavino, Michigan (AP-2) *

Reggie Herring Reginald Wayne Herring (born July 3, 1959) is an American football coach and former player and most recently the linebackers coach for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). A former linebacker at Florida State University, h ...

, Florida State (AP-2) * Ricky Young, Oklahoma State (AP-2) *

Chip Banks William "Chip" Banks (born September 18, 1959) is a former All-Pro professional American football linebacker. High school and college career Banks graduated from Lucy Craft Laney High School in Augusta, Georgia. He played college football at ...

, USC (AP-3)

Defensive backs

, UCLA (College and Pro Football Hall of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) *

, USC (College and Pro Football Halls of Fame) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) * John Simmons, SMU (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2) *

Scott Woerner Scott Allison Woerner (born December 18, 1958) is a former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs. In t ...

, Georgia (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-1, NEA-2, WC) * Bobby Butler, Florida State (AP-3, NEA-1) * Bill Whitaker, Missouri (NEA-1) *

Ted Watts Ted W. Watts (born May 29, 1958) is a former American football player. Football career He was the cornerback of the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, New York Giants, and the San Diego Chargers. Watts played six years in the NFL. Collegiately, he ...

, Texas Tech (NEA-2, TSN) *

Hanford Dixon Hanford Dixon (born December 25, 1958) is a former professional American football cornerback who played his entire career (1981–1989) for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL. Dixon made the Pro Bowl three times, in 1986, 1987 and 1988. He was ...

, Southern Mississippi (TSN) * Tim Wilbur, Indiana (AP-2) * Tommy Wilcox, Alabama (AP-2) *

Todd Bell Todd Anthony Bell (November 28, 1958 – March 16, 2005) was an American football safety in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears during the early 1980s. College After graduating from Middletown High School, in Middletown, Ohio, ...

, Ohio State (UPI-2, NEA-2) * Jeff Hipp, Georgia (UPI-2) *

Jeff Griffin Jeffery Earl Griffin (born July 19, 1958, in Carson, California) is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Philadelphia Eagles. Early career Griffin played high school fo ...

, Utah (NEA-2) *

Vann McElroy Vann William McElroy (born January 13, 1960 in Birmingham, Alabama), is a former professional American football defensive back who played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). A , , safety from Baylor University, he was selected by ...

, Baylor (AP-3) * Dennis Smith, USC (AP-3)

Special teams

Kickers

Rex Robinson Rex Robinson (born March 17, 1959) is a placekicker that played for the Marietta Blue Devils, University of Georgia Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference and the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Originally from Ma ...

, Georgia (FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC) * Bill Capece, Florida State (UPI-2, TSN) * Obed Ariri, Clemson (NEA-2)

Punters

Rohn Stark Rohn Taylor Stark (born May 4, 1959, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States), who grew up in Fifty Lakes, Minnesota, is a former American football punter who played 16 seasons in the National Football League, 13 of those with the Baltimore / Indi ...

, Florida State (FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-2, TSN) *

Ray Stachowicz Raymond Mark Stachowicz (born March 6, 1959) is a former American football punter in the National Football League (NFL). Stachowicz was drafted in the third round by the Green Bay Packers out of Michigan State University in the 1981 NFL Draft ...

, Michigan State (UPI-2, NEA-1, WC)

Key

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

Official selectors

* AFCA =

* AP =

* FWAA =

* UPI =

Unofficial selectors

* FN = ''Football News'' * NEA =

* TSN = ''The Sporting News'' * 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