The 1975 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 1975. 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 four selectors as "official" for the 1975 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) selected based on the votes of sports writers at AP newspapers; (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) selected by the nation's football writers; 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 2 ...

(UPI) selected based on the votes of sports writers at UPI newspapers. Other selectors included ''Football News'' (FN), 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), ''

Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and event (philosophy), events that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various me ...

'' magazine, 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 fo ...

(WC). Two players were unanimously selected by all four official selectors and all five unofficial selectors. They were defensive linemen

Steve Niehaus Steve Niehaus (born September 25, 1954) is a former American defensive tackle who played for 4 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was the first draft pick for the Seattle Seahawks and the second player taken in the 1976 NFL Draft ...

of Notre Dame and

Lee Roy Selmon Lee Roy Selmon (October 20, 1954 – September 4, 2011) was an American professional football player who was a defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football as a defensive tackle a ...

of Oklahoma. The

1975 Oklahoma Sooners football team The 1975 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1975 NCAA Division I football season. The team was helmed by Barry Switzer in his third season as head coach. After sailing through their first eight games, Ok ...

had eight players who received first-team honors. The Oklahoma honorees were Lee Roy Selmon, receiver

Tinker Owens Charles Wayne "Tinker" Owens is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for four seasons for the New Orleans Saints (1976, 1978–1980) in the National Football League. The younger brother of Heisman Trophy winne ...

, offensive tackle

Mike Vaughan Mike Vaughan (born October 2, 1954) is an American former football player who was an offensive lineman for the Oklahoma Sooners football team of the University of Oklahoma from 1973 to 1976. Vaughan was recognized as a consensus first-team All-A ...

, offensive guard Terry Webb, defensive end

Jimbo Elrod James Whittington "Jimbo" Elrod (May 25, 1954 – December 12, 2016) was an American football linebacker who was an All-American at the University of Oklahoma and played professionally for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Oilers of the Nati ...

, defensive tackle James White, middle guard Dewey Selmon, and return specialist

Joe Washington Joe Dan Washington Jr (born September 24, 1953) is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Colts, Washington Redskins, and Atlanta Falcons. Early career Washington gradua ...

Ohio State The Ohio State University, commonly called Ohio State or OSU, is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. A member of the University System of Ohio, it has been ranked by major institutional rankings among the best public ...

followed with five first-team honorees: offensive guard Ted Smith, quarterback

Cornelius Greene Cornelius Green (born January 21, 1954) is a former American football quarterback who played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was the first African American quarterback to start at Ohio State. Early years Green attended Dunbar ...

, running back and

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 har ...

winner

Archie Griffin Archie Mason Griffin (born August 21, 1954) is a former American football running back. He played seven seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. As college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner, he is considered one of the greate ...

, defensive back Tim Fox, and punter

Tom Skladany Thomas Edward Skladany (born June 29, 1955) is a former American football punter who is widely considered to be, along with Ray Guy, one of the two greatest punters in college football history. Skladany later played in the NFL from 1978–1983. ...

Consensus All-Americans

The following chart identifies the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans for the year 1975 and displays which first-team designations they received.

Offense

Receivers

* Steve Rivera, California *

Larry Seivers Larry Seivers (born March 30, 1954) is a former American football wide receiver who played college football at the University of Tennessee. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL) in the fourth round of the ...

, Tennessee * Henry Marshall, Missouri * Theo Bell, Arizona *

Don Buckey Donald Charles Buckey (born November 9, 1953) is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL for the New York Jets. Buckey was the seventh player taken in the twelfth round of the 1976 NFL Draft directly before his twin brother Dave Bu ...

, N.C. State *

Larry Dorsey Larry Darnnell Dorsey (born August 15, 1953) is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at Tennessee State University and then played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) with the San Diego Chargers ...

, Tennessee State * Dave Logan, Colorado *

, Oklahoma * Steve Largent, Tulsa * Tony Hill, Stanford

Tight ends

Bennie Cunningham Bennie Lee Cunningham, Jr. (December 23, 1954 – April 23, 2018 Matt Connolly ''The State'', April 23, 2018 ) was an American football tight end. Cunningham was drafted out of the Clemson University in the 1976 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Ste ...

, Clemson * Mike Barber, Louisiana Tech * Ken MacAfee, Notre Dame * Barry Burton, Vanderbilt * Don Hasselbeck, Colorado

Tackles

* Bob Simmons, Texas *

Dennis Lick Dennis Allan Lick (born April 26, 1954) is a former American football offensive tackle for the Chicago Bears. Lick played six seasons with the Bears from 1976 to 1981. He was signed out of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Lick attended ...

, Wisconsin *

Rod Walters Wayne Roderick Walters II (born February 27, 1954) is a former American football offensive lineman for the National Football League (NFL). Walters was drafted fourteenth overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1976 NFL Draft from the University ...

, Iowa * Mark Koncar, Colorado * Marvin Powell, USC *

, Oklahoma * Brad Oates, BYU * Lamar Parrish, Georgia * Dan Jiggetts, Harvard

Guards

* Randy Johnson, Georgia * Ted Smith, Ohio State * Ken Jones, Arkansas State *

Joe Devlin Joseph or Joe Devlin may refer to: * Joseph Devlin (1871–1934), Irish journalist and nationalist politician * Joe Devlin (American football) (born 1954), American football offensive tackle * Joe Devlin (footballer) (born 1927), retired Scottish ...

, Iowa * Terry Webb, Oklahoma *

Tom Rafferty Thomas Michael Rafferty (born August 2, 1954) is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for head coach Joe Paterno at Penn State University. Early years Ra ...

, Penn State * Randy Cross, UCLA *

Mickey Marvin Phillip Michael "Mickey" Marvin (October 5, 1955 – March 6, 2017) was a professional American football player. Career After attending the University of Tennessee, Marvin played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, from 1977 t ...

, Tennessee * Ken Long, Purdue * Carl Dean, New Mexico State

Centers

Rik Bonness Richard Kyes "Rik" Bonness (born March 20, 1954) is an American former college and professional football player who was linebacker for four seasons in the National Football League (NFL). A consensus All-American at Nebraska as a center, he playe ...

, Nebraska *

Pete Brock Peter Brock (born November 1936) is an American automotive and trailer designer, author and photojournalist, who is best known for his work on the Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe and Corvette Sting Ray. Early life and education Peter Elbert Brock ...

, Colorado * James Files, McNeese State *

Ray Pinney Raymond Earl Pinney Jr. (born June 29, 1954) is a former American football offensive tackle and guard who played in the National Football League (NFL) seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was selected by the Steelers in the second rou ...

, Washington * Leo Tierney, Georgia Tech

Quarterbacks

John Sciarra John Michael Sciarra (born March 2, 1954) is a former professional American football safety in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1978 to 1983. He also played receiver for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Foo ...

, UCLA *

Craig Penrose Craig R. Penrose (born July 25, 1953) is a former professional American football quarterback. He spent five seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Denver Broncos (1976–1979) and the New York Jets (1980) and 2 seasons with the ...

, San Diego State * Marty Akins, Texas *

Gene Swick Gene Swick (born c. 1955) is an American former American football, football player. He played college football as a quarterback for the University of Toledo from 1972 to 1975, and the Cleveland Browns selected Swick in the fourth round of the 1976 ...

, Toledo *

, Ohio State * Jeff Grantz, South Carolina

Running backs

, Ohio State * Ricky Bell, USC * Chuck Muncie, California * Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh *

Earl Campbell Earl Christian Campbell (born March 29, 1955), nicknamed "the Tyler Rose", is an American former professional football player who played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints. ...

, Texas *

Jimmy DuBose Jimmy DeWayne DuBose (born October 25, 1954) is an American former college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons during the 1970s. DuBose played college football for the ...

, Florida *

, Oklahoma *

Gordon Bell Chester Gordon Bell (born August 19, 1934) is an American electrical engineer and manager. An early employee of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) 1960–1966, Bell designed several of their PDP machines and later became Vice President of Engi ...

, Michigan *

Louie Giammona Louis Jean Giammona (born March 3, 1953) is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New York Jets in the eighth round of the 1976 NFL Draft and played five seasons for the Philadel ...

, Utah State

Defense

Defensive ends

Leroy Cook Leroy Cook (born November 9, 1952) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Alabama and was a two-time College Football All-America Team ...

, Alabama *

, Oklahoma * Troy Archer, Colorado * Bob Martin, Nebraska * Jimmy Lisko, Arkansas State * Duncan McColl, Stanford *

Kim Bokamper Kim Bokamper (born September 25, 1954) is a former American football linebacker and defensive end who played his entire nine-year career with the National Football League (NFL)'s Miami Dolphins from 1977 to 1985. Bokamper was drafted in the fir ...

, San Jose State * Randy Cozens, Pittsburgh * Nate Toran, Rutgers

Defensive tackles

* Leroy Selmon, Oklahoma *

, Notre Dame *

Ken Novak Ken Novak (born July 3, 1954) is a former an American football player who played defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) in the 1970s. He played college football at Purdue University and was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the 1 ...

, Purdue * James White, Oklahoma State * Mike Dawson, Arizona * Edgar Fields, Texas A&M * Gary Jeter, USC * Nick Buonamici, Ohio State *

Bob Baumhower Robert Glenn Baumhower (born August 4, 1955) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Alabama und ...

, Alabama

Middle guards

* Dewey Selmon, Oklahoma * Cliff Frazier, UCLA * Tim Davis, Michigan * Tom Higgins, NC State

Linebackers

Ed Simonini Edward Clyde Simonini (February 2, 1954 – September 30, 2019) was an American football linebacker who played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Colts and New Orleans Saints. College Simonini was born in Portsm ...

, Texas A&M *

Greg Buttle Gregory Ellis Buttle (born June 20, 1954 in Atlantic City, New Jersey) is a retired American football linebacker for the New York Jets. He played college football at Penn State University. He was named a Consensus All-American in 1975. In 2005, ...

, Penn State * Sammy Green, Florida * Kevin McLain, Colorado State * Woody Lowe, Alabama * Larry Gordon, Arizona State * Ray Preston, Syracuse * Reggie Williams, Dartmouth * Garth Ten Nappel, Texas A&M * Brian Ruff, The Citadel * Phil Heck, California * Calvin O'Neal, Michigan * Gary Spani, Kansas State * Donnie Thomas, Indiana

Defensive backs

* Tim Fox, Ohio State * Pat Thomas, Texas A&M * Chet Moeller, Navy * Mike Haynes, Arizona State *

Don Dufek Donald Patrick Dufek Jr. (born April 28, 1954) is a former American football player who played safety and special teams for eight seasons with the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He had previously played for the Michigan W ...

, Michigan * James Hunter, Grambling *

Kurt Knoff Kurt L. Knoff is a former American football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers and the Minnesota Vikings. A graduate of East Grand Forks Senior High School in East Grand Forks, Minnes ...

, Kansas *

Wonder Monds Wonderful Terrific Monds Jr. (born May 3, 1952) is a former American football defensive back who played one season with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). His unusual name was originally given to his father when, after ...

, Nebraska * Jim Bolding, East Carolina *

Lester Hayes Lester Craig Hayes (born January 22, 1955) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for the Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). Hayes was commonly referred to as "the Judge" ...

, Texas A&M *

Shafer Suggs Shafer Suggs (born April 28, 1953 in Elkhart, Indiana) is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 1976 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ball State. ...

, Ball State * Danny Reece, USC * Bill Armstrong, Wake Forest * Tom Marvaso, Cincinnati

Special teams

Kickers

* Chris Bahr, Penn State * Bob Berg, New Mexico * Dave Lawson, Air Force

Punters

, Ohio State *

Rick Engles Rick B. Engles (born August 18, 1954 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is a former professional American football player who played in three NFL seasons from 1976 to 1978 for the Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a profe ...

, Tulsa

Returner

, Oklahoma

Key

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

Official selectors

* AFCA –

* AP –

* FWAA –

* UPI –

Other selectors

* FN – ''Football News'' * NEA –

* TSN – ''

'' * Time – ''Time'' magazine * 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