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. They are: (1) the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA); (2) the Associated Press (AP) selected based on the votes of sports writers at AP newspapers; (3) the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA); (4) the United Press International (UPI) selected based on the votes of sports writers at UPI newspapers; and (5) the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WC). Other notable selectors included Football News the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), Scripps Howard (SH), and The Sporting News (TSN).

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 NumberThis column lists the number of selectors choosing the player as a first-team All-American as follows: official selectors/other selectors/total selectors. Official OtherTim BrownWide receiver/return specialistNotre Dame5/4/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WCFN, NEA, SH, TSNMark HutsonOffensive guardOklahoma5/3/8AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WCFN, NEA, SHDon McPhersonQuarterbackSyracuse5/3/8AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WCNEA, SH, TSNKeith JacksonTight endOklahoma5/2/7AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WCFN, SHNacho AlbergamoCenterLSU5/2/7AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WCSH, TSNDave CadiganOffensive tackleUSC4/3/7AP, FWAA, UPI, WCNEA, SH, TSNLorenzo WhiteRunning backMichigan State4/3/7AFCA, FWAA, UPI, WCFN, NEA, SHWendell DavisWide receiverLSU3/3/6AFCA, FWAA, UPIFN, SH, TSNRandall McDanielOffensive guardArizona State4/1/5AFCA, FWAA, UPI, WCSHCraig HeywardRunning backPittsburgh3/2/5AP, FWAA, UPISH, TSNJumbo ElliottOffensive tackleMichigan4/0/4AFCA, FWAA, UPI, WC--

Defense Name Position School Number Official OtherBennie BladesDefensive backMiami5/4/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WCFN, NEA, SH, TSNChad HenningsDefensive lineAir Force5/4/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WCFN, NEA, SH, TSNDeion SandersDefensive backFlorida State5/4/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WCFN, NEA, SH, TSNChris SpielmanLinebackerOhio State5/4/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WCFN, NEA, SH, TSNDanny StubbsDefensive lineMiami5/4/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WCFN, NEA, SH, TSNAundray BruceLinebackerAuburn3/2/5AFCA, UPI, WCSH, TSNTracy RockerDefensive lineAuburn3/2/5FWAA, UPI, WCFN, SHTed GregoryDefensive lineSyracuse2/3/5FWAA, UPIFN, NEA, TSNChuck CecilDefensive backArizona3/1/4AFCA, UPI, WCFNRickey DixonDefensive backOklahoma3/1/4AP, FWAA, UPISHDante JonesLinebackerOklahoma2/1/3AFCA, APSHJohn RoperLinebackerTexas A&M2/0/2AP, FWAA--

Special teams Name Position School Number Official OtherDavid TreadwellPlacekickerClemson4/4/8AFCA, AP, UPI, WCFN, NEA, SH, TSNTom TupaPunterOhio State5/2/7AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WCNEA, 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 – 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 AP – Associated Press FWAA – Football Writers Association of America UPI – United Press International WC – Walter Camp Football Foundation, selected by the nation's college coaches and sports information directors

Other selectors

FN – Football News 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" TSN – The Sporting News SH – Scripps Howard

See also 1987 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team 1987 All-Big Eight Conference football team 1987 All-Big Ten Conference football team 1987 All-Pacific-10 Conference football team 1987 All-SEC football team

References