1987 All-America college football team
Official list of the best college football players of 1987
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The 1987 All-America college football 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 1987. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recognizes five selectors as "official" for the 1987 season.[1] They are: (1) the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA);[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);[4] (4) the United Press International (UPI) selected based on the votes of sports writers at UPI newspapers;[5] and (5) the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WC).[6] Other notable selectors included Football News[7] the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA),[8] Scripps Howard (SH),[9] and The Sporting News (TSN).[10]
Consensus All-Americans
The following charts identify the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans for the year 1987 and displays which first-team designations they received.
Offense
| Name | Position | School | Number[11] | Official | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Brown | Wide receiver/return specialist | Notre Dame | 5/4/9 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC | FN, NEA, SH, TSN |
| Mark Hutson | Offensive guard | Oklahoma | 5/3/8 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC | FN, NEA, SH |
| Don McPherson | Quarterback | Syracuse | 5/3/8 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC | NEA, SH, TSN |
| Keith Jackson | Tight end | Oklahoma | 5/2/7 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC | FN, SH |
| Nacho Albergamo | Center | LSU | 5/2/7 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC | SH, TSN |
| Dave Cadigan | Offensive tackle | USC | 4/3/7 | AP, FWAA, UPI, WC | NEA, SH, TSN |
| Lorenzo White | Running back | Michigan State | 4/3/7 | AFCA, FWAA, UPI, WC | FN, NEA, SH |
| Wendell Davis | Wide receiver | LSU | 3/3/6 | AFCA, FWAA, UPI | FN, SH, TSN |
| Randall McDaniel | Offensive guard | Arizona State | 4/1/5 | AFCA, FWAA, UPI, WC | SH |
| Craig Heyward | Running back | Pittsburgh | 3/2/5 | AP, FWAA, UPI | SH, TSN |
| Jumbo Elliott | Offensive tackle | Michigan | 4/0/4 | AFCA, FWAA, UPI, WC | -- |
Defense
| Name | Position | School | Number[11] | Official | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennie Blades | Defensive back | Miami | 5/4/9 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC | FN, NEA, SH, TSN |
| Chad Hennings | Defensive line | Air Force | 5/4/9 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC | FN, NEA, SH, TSN |
| Deion Sanders | Defensive back | Florida State | 5/4/9 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC | FN, NEA, SH, TSN |
| Chris Spielman | Linebacker | Ohio State | 5/4/9 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC | FN, NEA, SH, TSN |
| Danny Stubbs | Defensive line | Miami | 5/4/9 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC | FN, NEA, SH, TSN |
| Aundray Bruce | Linebacker | Auburn | 3/2/5 | AFCA, UPI, WC | SH, TSN |
| Tracy Rocker | Defensive line | Auburn | 3/2/5 | FWAA, UPI, WC | FN, SH |
| Ted Gregory | Defensive line | Syracuse | 2/3/5 | FWAA, UPI | FN, NEA, TSN |
| Chuck Cecil | Defensive back | Arizona | 3/1/4 | AFCA, UPI, WC | FN |
| Rickey Dixon | Defensive back | Oklahoma | 3/1/4 | AP, FWAA, UPI | SH |
| Dante Jones | Linebacker | Oklahoma | 2/1/3 | AFCA, AP | SH |
| John Roper | Linebacker | Texas A&M | 2/0/2 | AP, FWAA | -- |
Special teams
| Name | Position | School | Number[11] | Official | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Treadwell | Placekicker | Clemson | 4/4/8 | AFCA, AP, UPI, WC | FN, NEA, SH, TSN |
| Tom Tupa | Punter | Ohio State | 5/2/7 | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC | NEA, SH |
Full selections - offense
Quarterbacks
- Don McPherson, Syracuse (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
- Troy Aikman, UCLA (CFHOF) (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-2)
- Steve Taylor, Nebraska (AP-3, FN)
Running backs
- Lorenzo White, Michigan State (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH)
- Craig Heyward, Pittsburgh (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, SH, TSN)
- Gaston Green, UCLA (AFCA, UPI-2, WC, FN, NEA-1)
- Bobby Humphrey, Alabama (AP-3, WC, NEA-2, TSN)
- Thurman Thomas, Oklahoma State (CFHOF) (AP-1, UPI-2)
- Lydell Carr, Oklahoma (NEA-1 [FB])
- Eric Metcalf, Texas (AP-2)
- Jamie Morris, Michigan (NEA-2)
- Mel Bratton, Miami (FL) (NEA-2 [FB])
- Blair Thomas, Penn State (AP-3)
Wide receivers
- Tim Brown, Notre Dame (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1 [return specialist], FWAA [KR/WR], UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
- Wendell Davis, LSU (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, SH, TSN)
- Sterling Sharpe, South Carolina (CFHOF) (AP-3, FWAA, UPI-2, TSN)
- Ernie Jones, Indiana (AP-1)
- Marc Zeno, Tulane (AP-1, UPI-2)
- Guy Liggins, San Jose State (AP-2)
- Michael Irvin, Miami (FL) (NEA-2)
- Terance Mathis, New Mexico (AP-3)
Tight ends
- Keith Jackson, Oklahoma (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-2, SH)
- Pat Carter, Florida State (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-1, TSN)
- Ferrell Edmunds, Maryland (AP-3)
Centers
- Nacho Albergamo, LSU (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, SH, TSN)
- Chuck Lanza, Notre Dame (AP-2, UPI-2, FN, NEA-1)
- Jake Young, Nebraska (NEA-2)
- Matt Wilson, Texas A&M (AP-3)
Offensive guards
- Mark Hutson, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH)
- Randall McDaniel, Arizona State (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, SH)
- John Phillips, Clemson (AP-2, NEA-1)
- Steve Wisniewski, Penn State (TSN)
- Harry Galbreath, Tennessee (AP-3, UPI-2, NEA-2, TSN)
- Larry Rose, Alabama (NEA-2)
- Eric Andolsek, LSU (AP-3)
Offensive tackles
- Dave Cadigan, USC (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
- Jumbo Elliot, Michigan (AFCA, FWAA, UPI-1, WC)
- John McCormick, Nebraska (AFCA, AP-1 [OG], UPI-2 [OG], FN)
- Paul Gruber, Wisconsin (UPI-2, NEA-1, TSN)
- Stacy Searels, Auburn (AP-1, FN)
- Dave Richards, UCLA (SH)
- Greg Johnson, Oklahoma (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-2)
- Tony Mandarich, Michigan State (AP-2, FN)
- Louis Cheek, Texas A&M (AP-3)
- Pat Tomberlin, Florida State (AP-3, NEA-2)
Full selections - defense
Defensive linemen
- Chad Hennings, Air Force (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1 [DT], FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1 [DT], SH, TSN)
- Danny Stubbs, Miami (AFCA, AP-1 [DT], FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1 [DE], SH, TSN)
- Tracy Rocker, Auburn (CFHOF) (AP-3 [DT], FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, SH)
- Ted Gregory, Syracuse (UPI-1, FWAA, FN, NEA-1 [NG], TSN)
- Neil Smith, Nebraska (AP-2 [DT], NEA-1 [DT], TSN)
- Tony Cherico, Arkansas (AFCA, UPI-2, SH)
- Broderick Thomas, Nebraska (AP-2, UPI-2, WC, NEA-1 [DE])
- Michael Dean Perry, Clemson (FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-2 [DT])
- Darrell Reed, Oklahoma (AP-1 [DE], UPI-2, FN, NEA-2 [DE])
- Mark Messner, Michigan (AP-2 [DT], TSN)
- Roy Hart, South Carolina (AP-2 [NG])
- Burt Grossman, Pittsburgh (NEA-2 [DE])
- Carlton Bailey, North Carolina (NEA-2 [NG])
- Kyle Rappold, Colorado (AP-3 [NG])
Linebackers
- Chris Spielman, Ohio State (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
- Aundray Bruce, Auburn (AFCA [DL], UPI-1, WC, NEA-2, SH, TSN)
- Dante Jones, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-2, SH)
- John Roper, Texas A&M (AP-1 [DE], FWAA, UPI-2)
- Ken Norton Jr. UCLA (AP-3, UPI-1, WC, FN, TSN)
- Paul McGowan, Florida State (AP-1, FN, NEA-1)
- Kurt Crain, Auburn (AP-1)
- Marcus Cotton, USC (NEA-1)
- Chris Gaines, Vanderbilt (AFCA, AP-2)
- Clifford Charlton, Florida (TSN)
- Ezekial Gadson, Pittsburgh (FWAA)
- Carnell Lake, UCLA (AP-2)
- Ned Bolcar, Notre Dame (AP-2, NEA-2)
- Van Waiters, Indiana (AP-3, UPI-2)
- Bill Romanowski, Boston College (AP-2)
- Jethro Franklin, Fresno State (AP-3)
- John Brantley, Georgia (NEA-2)
- Pete Curkendall, Penn State (AP-3 [DT])
- George Mira Jr., Miami (FL) (AP-3)
- Galand Thaxton, Wyoming (AP-3)
Defensive backs
- Bennie Blades, Miami (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
- Deion Sanders, Florida State (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
- Rickey Dixon, Oklahoma (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, SH)
- Chuck Cecil, Arizona (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-1, WC, FN)
- Donnell Woolford, Clemson (AFCA)
- Todd Krumm, Michigan State (UPI-2, SH)
- Jarvis Williams, Florida (WC)
- Gordon Lockbaum, Holy Cross (NEA-1)
- Louis Oliver, Florida (AP-3, UPI-2, TSN)
- Mickey Pruitt, Colorado (AP-2, TSN)
- Brad Edwards, South Carolina (AP-3, UPI-2)
- David Vickers, Oklahoma (AP-2)
- Riccardo Ingram, Georgia Tech (UPI-2, NEA-2)
- Terry McDaniel, Tennessee (NEA-2)
- Gary Richard, Pittsburgh (NEA-2)
- Kip Corrington, Texas A&M (AP-3)
Full selections - special teams
Placekickers
- David Treadwell, Clemson (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
- Marty Zendejas, Nevada-Reno (FWAA)
- Gary Gussman, Miami (OH) (AP-2)
- Derek Schmidt, Florida State (AP-3, UPI-2, NEA-2)
Punters
- Tom Tupa, Ohio State (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, NEA-1, SH)
- Scott Tabor, California (AP-3, NEA-2, TSN)
- Barry Helton, Colorado (AP-2)
- Greg Montgomery, Michigan State (UPI-2, FN)
Returners
- Tim Brown, Notre Dame (CFHOF) (AP-1, FWAA [KR/WR])
- Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State (AP-2, TSN)
- Alan Grant, Stanford (AP-3)
Key
- Bold – Consensus All-American[1]
- -1 – First-team selection
- -2 – Second-team selection
- -3 – Third-team selection
- CFHOF = College Football Hall of Fame inductee
Official selectors
- AFCA – American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), selected by the members of the AFCA for the Kodak All-America team[2]
- AP – Associated Press[3]
- FWAA – Football Writers Association of America[4][12]
- UPI – United Press International[5]
- WC – Walter Camp Football Foundation, selected by the nation's college coaches and sports information directors[6]
Other selectors
- FN – Football News[7]
- NEA – Newspaper Enterprise Association, the NEA/World Almanac team, "chosen by a sports panel representing the World Almanac, its 140 co-sponsoring newspapers and its publisher"[8]
- TSN – The Sporting News[10]
- SH – Scripps Howard[9]
