1987 College Football All-America Team

The 1987 College Football All-America 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]

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

1. "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. pp. 3, 13. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
2. "1987 Kodak All-America Team". Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY). November 22, 1987. p. 5E – via Newspapers.com.
3. "College All-Americans". The Call-Leader (Elwood, IN). December 3, 1987. p. 9.
4. "Football Writers All-America Team". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 26, 1987. p. 8E.
5. "UPI All-America". The Indianapolis Star. December 9, 1987. p. D4.
6. "Walter Camp All-America Team". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 26, 1987. p. 8E.
7. "Football News All-America Team". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 26, 1987. p. 8E.
8. George Robinson (November 22, 1987). "NEA/World Almanac Team: Here Are the 1987 All-Americans". Del Rio, Texas News-Herald. p. 3B.
9. "Scripps Howard All-America Team". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 26, 1987. p. 8E.
10. "Brown TSN top player of '87". Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, IL). December 9, 1987. p. 11.
11. This column lists the number of selectors choosing the player as a first-team All-American as follows: official selectors/other selectors/total selectors.
12. Ted Gangi (ed.). "FWAA All-America Since 1944: The All-Time Team" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2016.