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The 1979 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 1979. 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 1979 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) based on the input of more than 2,000 voting members; (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), 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).


Offense


Receivers

*
Ken Margerum Kenneth Margerum (born October 5, 1958) is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons during the 1980s. Margerum played college football for Stanfo ...
, Stanford (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) * Art Monk, Syracuse (FWAA) * Johnny "Lam" Jones, Texas (TSN) * Rick Beasley, Appalachian State (AP-2) *
Jackie Flowers Jackie Flowers (born March 4, 1958) is a former professional American football wide receiver in the United States Football League (USFL) for the Arizona Wranglers, Chicago Blitz, Pittsburgh Maulers and the Orlando Renegades. He also played in t ...
, Florida State (UPI-2) * Wayne Baumgardner, Wake Forest (NEA-2) * Steve Coury, Oregon State (AP-3)


Tight ends

*
Junior Miller Selvia Miller, Jr. (born November 26, 1957) is a former American college and professional football player who was a tight end in the national Football League (NFL) for five seasons during the 1980s. Miller played college football for the ...
, Nebraska (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) *
Mark Brammer Mark Dewitt Brammer (born May 3, 1958) is a former professional American football player who played tight end for five seasons for the Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo metrop ...
, Michigan State (UPI-2) * Dave Young, Purdue (AP-2) * Mark Geisler, Ohio (NEA-2) * Benjie Pryor, Pittsburgh (AP-3)


Tackles

*
Greg Kolenda Greg Kolenda is a former American football offensive tackle who played college football at the University of Arkansas The University of Arkansas (U of A, UArk, or UA) is a public land-grant research university in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It is ...
, Arkansas (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC) *
Jim Bunch Jim Bunch (born March 10, 1956) is a former American football player and businessman. He played offensive guard for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide from 1976 through 1979 and was a member of the 1978 and 1979 national championship team ...
, Alabama (AP-1, AFCA FWAA, UPI-2) * Tim Foley, Notre Dame (AP-2, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN) * Melvin Jones, Houston (AFCA, AP-3, WC) * Stan Brock, Colorado (NEA-2, TSN) * Steve McKenzie, Purdue (AP-2) * Irv Pankey, Penn State (NEA-2) *
Ray Snell Ray Michael Snell (February 24, 1958 – September 28, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions. Tampa Bay, ...
, Wisconsin (UPI-2) * Herman Parker, Long Beach State (AP-3)


Guards

* Brad Budde, USC (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) * Ken Fritz, Ohio State (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC) *
Ray Snell Ray Michael Snell (February 24, 1958 – September 28, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions. Tampa Bay, ...
, Wisconsin (TSN) * Mike Brock, Alabama (AP-2) * Pete Inge, San Diego State (AP-2, UPI-2) * George Stewart, Arkansas (UPI-2) * Mark Jones, Missouri (NEA-2) * Mark Goodspeed, Nebraska (NEA-2) * Wayne Inman, East Carolina (AP-3) *
Craig Wolfley Craig Alan Wolfley (born May 19, 1958) is a former football player and current color analyst for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Along with former teammate Max Starks, he hosts a show on 970 ESPN. College career Wolfley attended Syracuse Univ ...
, Syracuse (AP-3)


Centers

*
Jim Ritcher James Alexander Ritcher (born May 21, 1958) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. Ritcher played college football for North ...
, North Carolina State (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) *
Dwight Stephenson Dwight Eugene Stephenson (born November 20, 1957) is an American former professional football player who was a center for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL) from 1980 to 1987. He played college football for the Alabama ...
, Alabama (AP-2, UPI-2) *
Ray Donaldson Raymond Canute Donaldson (born May 18, 1958) is a former American football Center in the National Football League for the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Georgia ...
, Georgia (AP-3, NEA-2)


Quarterbacks

* Marc Wilson, Brigham Young (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-2, WC) * Art Schlichter, Ohio State (AP-3, UPI-2, NEA-1, TSN) * Paul McDonald, USC (AP-2)


Running backs

* Charles White, USC (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) * Billy Sims, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC * Vagas Ferguson, Notre Dame (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-2, WC) * George Rogers, South Carolina (AP-1, UPI-2, NEA-1) * James Brooks, Auburn (AP-2) * James Hadnot, Texas Tech (AP-2, UPI-2) * Dennis Mosley, Iowa (AP-3, UPI-2) * Jarvis Redwine, Nebraska (NEA-2) * Joe Cribbs, Auburn (AP-3, NEA-2) *
Freeman McNeil Freeman McNeil (born April 22, 1959) is a former professional American football player. He was selected by the New York Jets in the first round as the third overall pick of the 1981 NFL Draft. Early life McNeil was born in Jackson, Mississippi. ...
, UCLA (AP-3)


Defense


Defensive ends

* Hugh Green, Pittsburgh (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) *
Curtis Greer Curtis Greer (born November 10, 1957) is a former American football player. He played college football as a defensive tackle for the University of Michigan from 1976 to 1979. He was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round (six ...
, Michigan (AFCA, FWAA, UPI-2 T NEA-1) * Jacob Green, Texas A&M (AP-1, UPI-2, WC) * Rick Antle, Oklahoma State (AP-2) *
E. J. Junior Ester James Junior III (born December 8, 1959) is an American former football player and coach. He played professionally as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, from 1981 to 1993, St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals, Miam ...
, Alabama (AP-2) * John Adams, LSU (UPI-2) *
Rush Brown Rush Brown Jr. (June 27, 1954 – February 6, 2020) was a professional American football player who played defensive tackle for four seasons for the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals. He started 32 of his first 41 games, but appeared in only six of his ...
, Ball State (NEA-2 L * Gerry Gluscic, Indiana State (AP-3) * Bob Kohrs, Arizona State (AP-3)


Defensive tackles

* Steve McMichael, Texas (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-2, WC) * Bruce Clark, Penn State (AFCA, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1 G TSN, WC) *
Jim Stuckey James Davis Stuckey (born June 21, 1958) is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons during the 1980s. Stuckey played college football for Clem ...
, Clemson (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1 E NEA-1, TSN E *
Hosea Taylor Hosea Taylor (born December 3, 1958) is a former American football defensive end for the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played 16 games in the 1981 NFL season and four games in the 1983 NFL season. Taylor played col ...
, Houston (NEA-1) *
Rulon Jones Rulon Kent Jones (born March 25, 1958 in Salt Lake City, Utah) is a retired American football defensive end. Jones was drafted out of the Utah State University in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. He played his entire career in Denver. ...
, Utah State (AP-2, NEA-2, TSN) * Doug Martin, Washington (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-2) * Cleveland Crosby, Arizona (AP-3) * Dino Mangiero, Rutgers (AP-3)


Middle guards

* Ron Simmons, Florida State (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-2, WC) * Ken Loushin, Purdue (AP-2) * Kerry Weinmaster, Nebraska (UPI-2) * George Mays, Army (AP-3)


Linebackers

*
George Cumby George Edward Cumby (born July 5, 1956) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1980s. He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, ...
, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) *
Mike Singletary Michael Singletary (born October 9, 1958), also known by his nickname Samurai Mike, is an American professional football coach and former middle linebacker. After playing college football for the Baylor Bears, Singletary was drafted by the C ...
, Baylor (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-2, WC) * Ron Simpkins, Michigan (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-2, WC) * Dennis Johnson, USC (UPI-1, TSN) *
Otis Wilson Otis Ray Wilson (born September 15, 1957) is an American former professional football player who was an outside linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Raiders. He won a Super Bowl as a member ...
, Louisville (NEA-1, TSN) * David Hodge, Houston (AFCA, AP-2) * Dan Bass, Michigan State (AP-2) * Lance Mehl, Penn State (AP-2, UPI-2) *
Otis Wilson Otis Ray Wilson (born September 15, 1957) is an American former professional football player who was an outside linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Raiders. He won a Super Bowl as a member ...
, Louisville (AP-3, UPI-2) * Tom Boyd, Alabama (AP-3) *
Bob Crable Robert Edward Crable (born September 22, 1959) is an American former college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons during the 1980s. He played college football for the U ...
, Notre Dame (AP-3)


Defensive backs

* Kenny Easley, UCLA (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) * Johnnie Johnson, Texas (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) * Roland James, Tennessee (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) * Don McNeal, Alabama (AP-3, NEA-1, TSN) * Mark Haynes, Colorado (AP-1, UPI-2) * Derrick Hatchett, Texas (AP-2) *
Lovie Smith Lovie Lee Smith (born May 8, 1958) is an American football coach who is the head coach of the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). From 2004 to 2016, he served as the head coach of the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a ...
, Tulsa (AP-2) * Darrol Ray, Oklahoma (UPI-2) * Mike Guess, Ohio State (UPI-2) * Willie Teal, LSU (NEA-2) * Mark Lee, Washington (NEA-2) *
Roynell Young Roynell Young (born December 1, 1957) is a former professional American football safety and cornerback who played for the Philadelphia Eagles his entire National Football League (NFL) career, from 1980 to 1988. Young was selected by the Eagles fr ...
, Alcorn State (NEA-2) * Vince Skillings, Ohio State (NEA-2) * Monk Bonasorte, Florida State (AP-3) * Dennis Smith, USC (AP-3)


Special teams


Kickers

*
Dale Castro Dale Castro (born November 26, 1959) is a former American college and professional football player and coach. He played college football for the University of Maryland as a record-setting placekicker and All-American. Castro had a brief profes ...
, Maryland (FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) * Ish Ordonez, Arkansas (UPI-2, NEA-2)


Punters

* Jim Miller, Ole Miss (FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC) * Mike Smith, Wyoming (UPI-2) * Ken Naber, Stanford (NEA-2)


Key


Official selectors


Other selectors


See also

* 1979 All-Big Eight Conference football team * 1979 All-Big Ten Conference football team * 1979 All-Pacific-10 Conference football team * 1979 All-SEC football team


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