The 1970 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 in the United States, American football rules first gained populari ...

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 1970. The

National Collegiate Athletic Association 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 ...

(NCAA) recognizes six selectors as "official" for the 1970 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. new ...

(AP), (3) the

Central Press Association The Central Press Association was American newspaper syndication company based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in business from 1910 to 1971. Originally independent, it was a subsidiary of King Features Syndicate from 1930 onwards. At its peak, the ...

(CP), (4)

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), (5) 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 (6) 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 2 ...

(UPI). AP, UPI, NEA, and Central Press were all press organizations that polled writers and players. FWAA was also a poll of writers, as was the Walter Camp Foundation. The AFCA was a poll of college coaches. ''The Sporting News'' and ''Time'' polled football scouts and coaches.TIME'S All-America Team: Prime Prospects For the Pros
December 28, 1970. AP, UPI, NEA, Central Press, and ''The Sporting News'' chose both first and second teams. AP, UPI, NEA, and Central Press also listed numerous honorable mentions.

Consensus All-Americans

The following chart identifies the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans for the year 1970 and displays which first-team designations they received.

Offense

Ends

Tom Gatewood Thomas Gatewood, Jr. (born March 7, 1950) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 1972 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame. C ...

, Notre Dame (AFCA, CP-1 nd FWAA nd NEA-1, UPI-1 nd FN, WC) *

Elmo Wright Elmo Wright (born July 3, 1949) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). While at the University of Houston, he became the first football player ever to perform an end zone dance. Wright was an All-A ...

, Houston (AP-1, FWAA nd NEA-1, UPI-2 nd FN, PFW, Time, TSN) *

Ernie Jennings Ernie Jennings (born January 30, 1949) is a former American football wide receiver who played college football at the United States Air Force Academy and attended Kansas City Central High School in Kansas City, Missouri. He was drafted by the Sa ...

, Air Force (AFCA, AP-1, CP-1 nd FWAA

lanker Lanker may refer to: *Brian Lanker Brian Lanker (August 31, 1947 – March 13, 2011) was an American photographer. He won the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography for a black-and-white photo essay on childbirth for ''The Topeka Capital ...

NEA-2, UPI-1 nd FN) *

Chuck Dicus Charles Wayne Dicus (born October 2, 1948) is a former American football wide receiver and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Dicus played college football at the University of Arkansas and professionally two seasons in the National ...

, Arkansas (AFCA, CP-2 nd NEA-2, FN, WC) * J. D. Hill, Arizona State (PFW, Time, TSN) *

Terry Beasley Terry Paul Beasley (born February 5, 1950) is a former American football player. He played collegiately at Auburn where he lettered from 1969 to 1971. In his college career, Beasley amassed 141 receptions, 2,507 yards and 29 touchdowns. He was ...

, Auburn (AP-2, CP-2 nd NEA-2 ight end UPI-2 nd FN) *

Cotton Speyrer Charles Wayne Speyrer (born April 29, 1949) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Baltimore Colts and the Miami Dolphins. He played college football at the University of Texas. Speyrer was a first ...

, Texas (WC) * Bobby Newland, Oregon (AP-2)

Tight ends

* Jan White, Ohio State (NEA-1, Time, TSN) * Jim Braxton, West Virginia (AP-1) * Larry Brown, Kansas (PFW) * Bob Moore, Stanford (AP-2)

Tackles

* Dan Dierdorf, Michigan (AFCA, AP-1, CP-2, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, PFW, Time, WC) *

Bobby Wuensch Bobby Wuensch (born November 1, 1947) is a former American football offensive lineman. He played for the Texas Longhorns, anchoring their best offensive line in 1968–1970 as a consensus All-American. Wuensch was a captain of the National Champi ...

, Texas (AFCA, AP-2, CP-1, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, WC) * Bob Newton, Nebraska (AFCA, AP-1, CP-1, FWAA, NEA-2 uard UPI-2, FN) * Vernon Holland, Tenn State (PFW, Time, TSN) * Marv Montgomery, USC (Time, TSN) * Larron "Larry" Jackson, Missouri (AP-2, NEA-2, UPI-2) * Worthy McClure, Mississippi (CP-2, NEA-2)

Guards

Chip Kell Curtis Chip Kell (born March 10, 1949) is an American former professional football player who was a center in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers. Kell was elected to the College Footba ...

, Tennessee (AFCA, AP-1, CP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI, FN, WC) * Larry DiNardo, Notre Dame (AP-1, CP-1, FWAA, NEA-2, UPI, FN, TSN, WC) * Hank Allison, San Diego St. (AP-2, NEA-1, PFW, Time, TSN) * Mike Sikich, Northwestern (CP-2, UPI-2) * Gary Venturo, Arizona St. (CP-2, UPI-2) * Dave Thompson, Clemson (AP-2)

Centers

* Don Popplewell, Colorado (AP-1, CP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI, FN, WC) * Dave Thompson, Clemson (PFW, Time, TSN) * Wimpy Winther, Mississippi (PFW) * John Sande, Stanford (NEA-2, UPI-2) * Bob Herb, William & Mary (AP-2) * Tommy Lyons, Georgia (CP-2)

Quarterbacks

Jim Plunkett James William Plunkett (born December 5, 1947) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for sixteen seasons. He achieved his greatest professional success during his final eight seasons with the ...

, Stanford (AFCA, AP-2, CP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI, FN, Time, TSN, WC) *

Joe Theismann Joseph Robert Theismann (born September 9, 1949) is an American former professional football player, sports commentator, corporate speaker and restaurateur. He rose to fame playing quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) and Can ...

, Notre Dame (AP-1, CP-2, NEA-2, UPI-2, FN)

Running backs

* Steve Worster, Texas (AFCA, AP-1, CP-2 ullback FWAA, NEA-1, UPI, FN, Time, TSN, WC) *

Don McCauley Don McCauley (born May 12, 1949) is a former American football player. He was a running back for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1968 to 1970 and he attended Garden City High School in Garden City, New York. McCauley was a ...

, North Carolina (AFCA, AP-1, CP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, FN, WC) *

John Brockington John Stanley Brockington (born September 7, 1948) is a former American football player, a running back in the National Football League (NFL) with the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs. He was a first round draft choice out of Ohio Sta ...

, Ohio State (AP-2, CP-1 ullback NEA-2, UPI-1, FN, PFW, Time, TSN) *

Ed Marinaro Ed Marinaro (born March 31, 1950) is an American actor and former NFL player. In 1971, he was a unanimous All-American and finished as a runner-up to Pat Sullivan for the Heisman Trophy, and from 2010 to 2011 starred in the football comedy s ...

, Cornell (AP-2, CP-1, UPI-1, FN) * Leon Burns, Long Beach St. (NEA-1, PFW) *

Johnny Musso Johnny Musso (born March 6, 1950) is an American former football player, a running back for three seasons with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League and in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears. Early years Born and raised ...

, Alabama (CP-2, FN, WC) * Willie Armstrong, Grambling (PFW) *

Mike Adamle Michael David Adamle (born October 4, 1949) is a former American football player and sports broadcaster. Adamle was a sports anchor at other Chicago television stations, including WLS-TV from 1982 to 1989 before hosting '' American Gladiators'', ...

, Northwestern (UPI-2, FN) *

Leo Hayden Leophus "Leo" Hayden, Sr. (born June 2, 1948, in Louisville, Kentucky) is a former National Football League running back who played from 1971 to 1973 for the Minnesota Vikings and St. Louis Cardinals. He attended Ohio State and was the Vikings f ...

, Ohio State (PFW) * Vince Clements, Connecticut (NEA-2) * Joe Moore, Missouri (UPI-2) * Joe Orduna, Nebraska (CP-2)

Defense

Ends

Bill Atessis William James Atessis (born July 16, 1949) is a former American football player who played on two NCAA national championship teams at the University of Texas. One of the most honored and productive defensive ends in NCAA history, he was a three ...

, Texas (AFCA, AP-1, CP-1, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, PFW, Time, TSN) *

Charlie Weaver Charles Earl Weaver, Jr. (born July 12, 1949) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). Early life Weaver was born in Greenwood, Mississippi and attended Richmond High School in Richmond, California. Colle ...

, USC (AFCA, AP-1, CP-2, FWAA, NEA-2, UPI-1, FN, Time, WC) * Jack Youngblood, Florida (AP-2, CP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, FN, PFW, Time, TSN, WC) *

Richard Harris Richard St John Francis Harris (1 October 1930 – 25 October 2002) was an Irish actor and singer. He appeared on stage and in many films, notably as Corrado Zeller in Michelangelo Antonioni's '' Red Desert'', Frank Machin in '' This Sporting ...

, Grambling (PFW, Time, TSN) *

Tody Smith Lawrence Edward Smith (December 24, 1948 – July 18, 1999) was an American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills. He played college football at the University o ...

, USC (PFW, Time) * Herb Orvis, Colorado (AP-2, NEA-2, UPI-2) * Mike Kuhn, Kansas St. (CP-2)

Tackles

Rock Perdoni Renso Guido Perdoni (born December 10, 1947), nicknamed Rock Perdoni, is an American former football player who was a consensus All-American tackle for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team. Afterward, Perdoni played professionally for th ...

, Georgia Tech (AFCA, AP-1, CP-1, FWAA, NEA-2, UPI-1, FN, TSN, WC) * Dick Bumpas, Arkansas (AP-1, NEA-1 nd * Tom Neville, Yale (CP-2, WC) * Bruce James, Arkansas (FWAA) *

Joe Ehrmann Joseph Charles Ehrmann (born March 29, 1949) is a former National Football League (NFL) defensive lineman, originally drafted as the 10th pick in the first round of the 1973 NFL Draft out of Syracuse University to the Baltimore Colts. Ehrmann ...

, Syracuse (UPI-1) * Jim Poston, South Carolina (CP-1) * Win Headley, Wake Forest (NEA-1) * Mel Long, Toledo (NEA-1) * David Rolley, Kentucky (NEA-2) * Dave Walline, Nebraska (UPI-2) * Today Smith, USC (UPI-2) * Craig Hanneman, Oregon St. (AP-2) * John Sage, LSU (AP-2) * Bob Bell, Cincinnati (CP-2)

Middle guards

* Jim Stillwagon, Ohio State (AFCA, AP-1, CP-1 uard FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1 inebacker FN, WC) * Henry Hill, Michigan (AP-2 uard CP-1 uard NEA-2 G * George Smith, Nebraska (CP-2 uard * Roger Roitsch, Rice (CP-2 uard

Linebackers

* Jack Ham, Penn State (AFCA, AP-1, CP-2, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, PFW, Time, TSN, WC) * Mike Anderson, LSU (AFCA, AP-1, CP-1, FWAA, NEA-2, UPI-1, FN) *

Isiah Robertson Isiah "Butch" Robertson (August 17, 1949 – December 6, 2018) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams (1971–1978) and the Buffalo Bills (1979–1982). He was selected to six Pro Bowls during ...

, Southern University (Time, TSN) * Jerry Murtaugh, Nebraska (AP-1, CP-2, UPI-2, FN, WC) * Jackie Walker, Tennessee (AP-2, NEA-1, UPI-2, FN) * Dale Farley, West Virginia (PFW, TSN) *

Marty Huff Ralph Martin Huff (December 19, 1948 – June 29, 2023) was an American football linebacker. He played for the University of Michigan from 1968 to 1970. As a senior, he was selected as a first-team All-American by the American Football Co ...

, Michigan (AFCA, UPI-2) * Scott Henderson, Texas (CP-1) * Richard Slough, USC (PFW) * Charlie Hall, Houston (NEA-2) * Phil Croyle, California (AP-2) * Rick Kingrea, Tulane (AP-2)

Backs

Jack Tatum John David Tatum (November 18, 1948 – July 27, 2010) was an American football safety. He played 10 seasons, from 1971 through 1980, with the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers in the National Football League (NFL). He was popularly known as " ...

, Ohio State (AFCA, AP-1, CP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, PFW, Time, TSN, WC) *

Larry Willingham Larry Levi Willingham (born December 22, 1948) is a retired professional American football player. He played in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals (1971–1972) and in the World Football League for both the Birmingham Ameri ...

, Auburn (AFCA, CP-1, FWAA, NEA-1 inebacker FN, PFW, Time, TSN, WC) *

Dave Elmendorf David Cole Elmendorf (born June 20, 1949) is a former American football player. He played as a safety for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was a part of the Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl XIV team. In 1997, he was inducted into ...

, Texas A&M (AP-1, FWAA afety NEA-2 inebacker UPI-2) * Tommy Casanova, LSU (AFCA, AP-1, CP-2, UPI-2) * Clarence Scott, Kansas State (FWAA, NEA-2, PFW, Time, TSN) *

Dickie Harris Dickie Harris (born May 24, 1950 in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey) is a former all-star defensive back with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Harris started his 10-year ...

, South Carolina (AFCA, CP-2, NEA-1, FN) *

Mike Sensibaugh James Michael Sensibaugh (January 3, 1949 – March 31, 2021) was an American football safety in the National Football League. He played eight seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs (1971–1975) and the St. Louis Cardinals (1976–1978). Sensibau ...

, Ohio State (AP-2, CP afety UPI-1) * Tim Anderson, Ohio State (NEA-2, Time, TSN) *

Clarence Ellis Clarence Ellis (born February 11, 1950) is a former American football safety who played for the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League (NFL). He was the Falcons' first pick in the 1972 NFL Draft The 1972 NFL draft was held February ...

, Notre Dame (NEA-1, UPI-1) * Murry Bowden, Dartmouth (AFCA, WC) * Pat Murphy, Colorado (WC) * Bivian Lee, Prairie View (PFW) * Jerry Moore, Arkansas (PFW, NEA-2, TSN-2) * Bobby Majors, Tennessee (UPI-2) * Windlan Hall, Arizona St. (UPI-2) * Dick Adams, Miami (AP-2) * Norm Thompson, Utah (AP-2) * Tim Priest, Tennessee (CP-2)

Special teams

Kickers

* Happy Feller, Texas (PFW, TSN) *

Bill McClard Bill W. McClard (born October 15, 1950 in Purcell, Oklahoma) is a former professional American football player. A kicker, McClard played college football for the University of Arkansas, where he was named American Football Coaches Association All ...

, Arkansas (AFCA)

Punters

Marv Bateman Marvin Fredrick Bateman (born April 5, 1950) is a former American football punter in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills. He played college football at the University of Utah. Early years Bateman attended Hig ...

, Utah (FWAA icker TSN) * Jim McCann, Arizona State (PFW)

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

Consensus All-Americans

Offense

Ends

Tight ends

Tackles

Guards

Centers

Quarterbacks

Running backs

Defense

Ends

Tackles

Middle guards

Linebackers

Backs

Special teams

Kickers

Punters

Key

Official selectors

Other selectors

See also

References