1981 College Football All-America Team
Official list of the best college football players of 1981
The 1981 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams in 1981. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recognizes four selectors as "official" for the 1981 season.[1] They are: (1) the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) based on the input of more than 2,000 voting members;[2] (2) the Associated Press (AP) selected based on the votes of sports writers at AP newspapers;[3] (3) the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) selected by the nation's football writers;[4] and (4) the United Press International (UPI) selected based on the votes of sports writers at UPI newspapers.[5] Other selectors included Football News (FN),[6] Gannett News Service (GNS),[7] the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA),[8] The Sporting News (TSN),[9] and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WC).[10]
Nine players were unanimously selected as first-team All-Americans by all four official selectors.[1] They were:
Marcus Allen , running back for USC , who won the 1981 Heisman Trophy , Maxwell Award , and Walter Camp Award after becoming the first player to rush for more than 2,000 yards (2,427) in a season;
Anthony Carter , wider receiver for Michigan , consensus first-team All-American in both 1981 and 1982 who caught 50 passes for 952 yards during the 1981 season;
Sean Farrell , offensive guard who helped lead Penn State to a 10–2 record and a #3 ranking in the final AP Poll ;
Jim McMahon , quarterback for BYU and winner of the 1981 Davey O'Brien Award and Sammy Baugh Trophy ;
Dave Rimington , center for Nebraska , two-time winner of the Outland Trophy and the namesake of the Rimington Trophy , which is awarded annually to the nation's top collegiate center.
Kenneth Sims , defensive tackle who helped lead Texas to a 10–1–1 record and #2 ranking in the final AP Poll, and who became the #1 pick in the 1982 NFL Draft ;
Billy Ray Smith, Jr. , defensive end for Arkansas and who was a consensus first-team All-American in both 1981 and 1982;
Herschel Walker , running back for Georgia , a three-time consensus first-team All-American who finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1981 and won the award in 1982; and
Tim Wrightman , tight end for UCLA who caught 28 passes for 308 yards in 1981.
Allen, Carter, McMahon, Rimington, Smith, and Walker have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame .
The 1981 Michigan Wolverines football team led the nation with five of its players, all on offense, receiving first-team honors from one or more of the selectors. In addition to Anthony Carter, Michigan's honorees were offensive tackles Ed Muransky and Bubba Paris , offensive guard Kurt Becker , and running back Butch Woolfolk .
Consensus All-Americans
The following charts identify the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans for the year 1981 and displays which first-team designations they received.
Offense
Name
Position
School
Number[11]
Official
Other
Marcus Allen
Running back
USC
4/5/9
AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI
FN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WC
Anthony Carter
Wide receiver
Michigan
4/5/9
AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI
FN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WC
Sean Farrell
Offensive guard
Penn State
4/5/9
AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI
FN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WC
Herschel Walker
Running back
Georgia
4/5/9
AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI
FN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WC
Dave Rimington
Center
Nebraska
4/3/7
AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI
FN, GNS, WC
Tim Wrightman
Tight end
UCLA
4/2/6
AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI
NEA, WC
Jim McMahon
Quarterback
BYU
4/2/6
AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI
FN, GNS
Roy Foster
Offensive guard
USC
3/2/5
AFCA, FWAA, UPI
TSN, WC
Terry Tausch
Offensive tackle
Texas
2/3/5
AP, UPI
FN, TSN, WC
Kurt Becker
Offensive guard
Michigan
2/3/5
AFCA, AP
FN, GNS, NEA
Terry Crouch
Offensive tackle
Oklahoma
2/0/2
AFCA, FWAA
–
Ed Muransky
Offensive tackle
Michigan
2/0/2
AP, UPI
–
Defense
Name
Position
School
Number[11]
Official
Other
Kenneth Sims
Defensive tackle
Texas
4/5/9
AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI
FN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WC
Billy Ray Smith Jr.
Defensive end
Arkansas
4/5/9
AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI
FN, GNS, NEA, TSN, WC
Bob Crable
Linebacker
Notre Dame
3/4/7
AFCA, AP, UPI
FN, GNS, TSN, WC
Andre Tippett
Defensive end
Iowa
3/2/5
AP, FWAA, UPI
FN, GNS
Tommy Wilcox
Defensive back
Alabama
3/2/5
AFCA, AP, UPI
FN, WC
Jeff Davis
Linebacker
Clemson
3/1/4
AFCA, FWAA, UPI
FN
Tim Krumrie
Middle guard
Wisconsin
2/2/4
AP, UPI
FN, WC
Mike C. Richardson
Defensive back
Arizona State
2/2/4
AP, FWAA
TSN, WC
Sal Sunseri
Linebacker
Pittsburgh
3/0/3
AFCA, AP, FWAA
--
Terry Kinard
Defensive back
Clemson
2/1/3
AP, FWAA
NEA
Fred Marion
Defensive back
Miami (FL)
2/1/3
AP, FWAA
NEA
Special teams
Offensive selections
Receivers
Anthony Carter , Michigan (CFHOF) (AFCA , AP-1 , FWAA , UPI-1 , FN-1 [end], GNS, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
Perry Tuttle , Clemson, (FN-2, NEA-1, TSN)
Julius Dawkins , Pittsburgh (AP-1 )
Stanley Washington, TCU (AP-3, FWAA , FN-2)
Steve Bryant , Purdue (UPI-2, NEA-2)
Cedric Jones , Duke (AP-2)
Jim Sandusky , UNLV (AP-2)
Lindsay Scott , Georgia (GNS, NEA-2)
Tom Rogers, Colgate (AP-3)
Tight ends
Tim Wrightman , UCLA (AFCA , AP-1 , UPI-1 , FN-1 [end], NEA-1, WC)
Pat Beach , Washington State (NEA-2, TSN)
Jamie Williams , Nebraska (GNS)
Rodney Holman , Tulane (AP-2)
Mark Raugh, West Virginia (AP-3, UPI-2)
Tackles
Terry Tausch , Texas (AP-1 , UPI-1 , FN-1, TSN, WC)
Terry Crouch , Oklahoma (AFCA , AP-2 [guard], FWAA , UPI-2 [guard], FN-2 [guard])
Ed Muransky , Michigan (AP-1 , UPI-1 , FN-2, NEA-2)
Bubba Paris , Michigan (WC)
John Meyer, Arizona State (GNS, NEA-1)
Jimbo Covert , Pittsburgh (CFHOF) (FN-1, NEA-1)
Luis Sharpe , UCLA (NEA-2, TSN)
Don Mosebar , USC (GNS)
Ken Dallafior , Minnesota (UPI-2)
Maceo Fifer, Houston (AP-2)
Lee Nanney, Clemson (UPI-2)
Tootie Robbins , East Carolina (AP-2)
Keith Uecker , Auburn (AP-3, FN-2)
Harvey Salem , California (AP-3)
Guards
Sean Farrell , Penn State (AFCA , AP-1 , FWAA , UPI-1 , FN-1, GNS, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
Roy Foster , USC (AFCA , AP-2, FWAA , UPI-1 , NEA-2, TSN, WC)
Kurt Becker , Michigan (AFCA , AP-1 , UPI-2, FN-1, GNS, NEA-1)
Dave Drechsler , North Carolina (FWAA , FN-2)
Mike Munchak , Penn State (NEA-2)
Steve Korte , Arkansas (AP-3)
Gerry Raymond, Boston College (AP-3)
Centers
Dave Rimington , Nebraska (CFHOF) (AFCA , AP-1 , FWAA , UPI-1 , FN-1, GNS, NEA-2, WC)
Brad Edelman , Missouri (NEA-1, TSN)
Emil Boures , Pittsburgh (AP-2, UPI-2)
Dan Mackie, Arizona State (FN-2)
Mike Baab , Texas (AP-3)
Quarterbacks
Jim McMahon , BYU (CFHOF) (AFCA [tie], AP-1 , FWAA , UPI-1 , FN-1, GNS, NEA-2 [tie])
Dan Marino , Pittsburgh (CFHOF) (AFCA [tie], AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
Art Schlichter , Ohio State (NEA-2 [tie])
Reggie Collier , Southern Mississippi (AP-3)
Running backs
Marcus Allen , USC (CFHOF) (AFCA , AP-1 , FWAA , UPI-1 , FN-1, GNS, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
Herschel Walker , Georgia (CFHOF) (AFCA , AP-1 , FWAA , UPI-1 , FN-1, GNS, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
Curt Warner , Penn State (CFHOF) (UPI-1 , FN-2, WC)
Darrin Nelson , Stanford (CFHOF) (AFCA [FB], AP-3, UPI-2, FN-2, NEA-2)
Butch Woolfolk , Michigan (AP-2, UPI-2, FN-1)
Rich Diana, Yale (AP-3, FWAA )
Eric Dickerson , SMU (CFHOF) (AP-2, FN-2, NEA-2)
Dwayne Crutchfield , Iowa State (UPI-2)
Defensive selections
Defensive ends
Billy Ray Smith Jr. , Arkansas (CFHOF) (AFCA , AP-1 , FWAA , UPI-1 , FN-1, GNS, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
Andre Tippett , Iowa (CFHOF) (AP-1 , FWAA , UPI-1 , FN-1, GNS, NEA-2 [LB])
Jimmy Williams , Nebraska (AFCA , AP-2, UPI-2, FN-2, NEA-1, WC)
David Galloway , Florida (FWAA , UPI-2, FN-2)
Steve Clark , Utah (FWAA , NEA-2 [DT])
Mike Pitts , Alabama (FN-2)
Rusty Guilbeau, McNeese State (AP-2)
Defensive tackles
Kenneth Sims , Texas (CFHOF) (AFCA , AP-1 , FWAA , UPI-1 , FN-1, GNS, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
Lester Williams , Miami (Fla.) (AP-2, UPI-1 , FN-1, NEA-1, TSN [DE], WC)
Glen Collins , Mississippi State (AFCA , NEA-2, TSN)
Jeff Gaylord , Missouri (AP-1 , UPI-2)
Harvey Armstrong , SMU (AFCA , FN-2)
Rick Bryan , Oklahoma (GNS)
Jeff Bryant , Clemson (FN-2)
Fletcher Jenkins , Washington (AP-2, NEA-2)
Eddie Weaver, Georgia (UPI-2)
Middle guards
Linebackers
Bob Crable , Notre Dame (CFHOF) (AFCA , AP-1 , UPI-1 , FN-1, GNS, TSN, WC)
Jeff Davis , Clemson (CFHOF) (AFCA , AP-2, FWAA , UPI-1 , FN-1)
Sal Sunseri , Pittsburgh (AFCA , AP-1 , FWAA , UPI-2)
Johnie Cooks , Mississippi State (AP-1 , FWAA , UPI-2, FN-1, GNS, NEA-1, TSN)
Chip Banks , USC (UPI-1 , NEA-2, TSN, WC)
Tom Boyd , Alabama (NEA-1, WC)
Mark Stewart , Washington (GNS)
Kirk Hamon, Pacific (GNS)
Ricky Young, Oklahoma State (AP-2, FN-2)
Marcus Marek , Ohio State (AP-2, UPI-2, FN-2)
Robert Brown , Virginia Tech (NEA-2)
Mike Merriweather , Pacific (NEA-2)
Chet Parlavecchio , Penn State (FN-2)
Defensive backs
Mike Richardson , Arizona State (AP-1 , FWAA , UPI-2, NEA-2, TSN, WC)
Tommy Wilcox , Alabama (AFCA , AP-1 , UPI-1 , FN-1, WC)
Terry Kinard , Clemson (CFHOF) (AP-1 , FWAA , NEA-1)
Fred Marion , Miami (Fla.) (AFCA , AP-2, UPI-1 , FN-2)
John Krimm , Notre Dame (GNS, NEA-1, TSN)
Johnny Jackson, Air Force (AP-2, FWAA , NEA-2)
Steve Cordle, Fresno St. (AFCA )
Vann McElroy , Baylor (UPI-2, FN-1, WC)
Ray Horton , Washington (NEA-1)
Matt Vanden Boom, Wisconsin (AP-2, UPI-1 )
Paul Sorensen, Washington State (FN-1, GNS, NEA-1)
Rodney Lewis, Nebraska (TSN)
Rick Woods, Boise State (GNS)
Jim Burroughs , Michigan State (FN-2, TSN)
Paul Lankford , Penn State (GNS)
Jim Bob Harris, Alabama (UPI-2)
Mike Kennedy , Toledo (NEA-2)
Kevin Potter, Missouri (FN-2)
Ken Thomas , San Jose State (NEA-2)
Special teams
Kickers
Morten Andersen , Michigan State (AP-3, UPI-1 , FN-2, GNS, NEA-2, TSN, WC)
Bruce Lahay, Arkansas (FWAA , NEA-1)
Gary Anderson , Syracuse (AP-1 )
Danny Miller , Miami (Fla.) (UPI-2, FN-1)
Eddie Garcia , SMU (AP-2)
Punters
Reggie Roby , Iowa (AP-1 , UPI-1 , FN-1, WC)
Rohn Stark , Florida State (FWAA , UPI-2, FN-2, GNS, NEA-1, TSN)
Maury Buford , Texas Tech (NEA-2)
Bucky Scribner , Kansas (AP-2)
Key
Official selectors
Other selectors
See also
References
^ a b c "Football Award Winners" (PDF) . National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. pp. 3, 12. Retrieved March 18, 2017 .
^ a b "Kodak All-America Team" . The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) . November 24, 1981. p. D2 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b "Associated Press' All-America Team" . Akron Beacon Journal . December 2, 1981. p. D5 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b Ted Gangi (ed.). "FWAA All-America Since 1944: The All-Time Team" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2016 .
^ a b "UPI All-Americans" . The Indianapolis Star . December 9, 1981. p. 66 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b "Tippett, Roby make Football News team" . Cedar Rapids (IA) Gazette . November 29, 1981. p. 3C. Retrieved June 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b "McMahon rates with the best" . Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY) . December 8, 1981. pp. 1D, 4D – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b Murray Olderman (November 28, 1981). "NEA's 1981 All-America football team" . Mattoon (IL) Journal Gazette . p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b "Football All Americans: Sporting News" . The Pittsburgh Press . December 8, 1981. p. C4 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b c "All-America Teams". Arizona Republic . November 26, 1981. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b c This column lists the number of selectors choosing the player as a first-team All-American as follows: official selectors/other selectors/total selectors.
Offense Defense Special teams