The 1948 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 Team

College Football All-America Team

The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...

s in 1948. The organizations that chose the teams included: the United Press, the Associated Press

Associated Press

The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...

, Collier's Weekly

Collier's Weekly

Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....

, the International News Service

International News Service

International News Service was a U.S.-based news agency founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909.Established two years after the Scripps family founded the United Press Association, INS scrapped among the newswires...

 (the wire service operated by the Hearst newspapers), and the Football Writers Association of America

Football Writers Association of America

The Football Writers Association of America is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA...

. The individuals selected to the most All-American teams were SMU quarterback (and Heisman Trophy winner) Doak Walker

Doak Walker

Ewell Doak Walker, Jr. was an American football player who is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a teammate of Bobby Layne in high school and the NFL.-Early life:...

, Penn center Chuck Bednarik

Chuck Bednarik

Charles Philip Bednarik is a former professional American football player, known as one of the most devastating tacklers in the history of football and the last two-way player in the National Football League...

, North Carolina running back Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice, Cal running back (and future American League

American League

The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...

 baseball MVP) Jackie Jensen

Jackie Jensen

Jack Eugene Jensen was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for three American League teams from 1950 to 1961, most notably the Boston Red Sox...

, and Michigan end Dick Rifenberg.

Competition among the All-American selectors

Collier's Weekly

Collier's Weekly

Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....

, which began picking All-American football teams in 1888, had employed Grantland Rice

Grantland Rice

Grantland Rice was an early 20th century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio.-Biography:...

 to select its All-American team for 22 years. After Rice wrote a feature story about college football for Look

Look (American magazine)

Look was a bi-weekly, general-interest magazine published in Des Moines, Iowa from 1937 to 1971, with more of an emphasis on photographs than articles...

, Collier's replaced Rice in 1948, hiring eight college coaches (paying them $500 each) and billing them as the "Supreme Court of Football." The eight coaches were Frank Leahy

Frank Leahy

Francis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive...

 (Notre Dame), Matty Bell

Matty Bell

Madison A. "Matty" Bell was an American football player, coach of football and basketball, and college athletics administrator in the United States...

 (Southern Methodist), Tuss McLaughry

Tuss McLaughry

DeOrmond "Tuss" McLaughry was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania , Amherst College , Brown University , and Dartmouth College , compiling a career college...

 (Dartmouth), Bernie Bierman

Bernie Bierman

Bernard W. "Bernie" Bierman was an American football player and coach. He coached from 1919 to 1950 except for a span during World War II when he served in the U.S. armed forces...

 (Minnesota), Wally Butts

Wally Butts

James Wallace "Wally" Butts, Jr. was an American football player and coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head coach at the University of Georgia from 1939 to 1960, compiling a record of 140–86–9...

 (Georgia), Jeff Cravath

Jeff Cravath

Newell "Jeff" Cravath was an American football coach best known as the head coach of the USC Trojans football team from 1942-1950. He compiled a 54-28-8 record while coaching at USC, and is known to have introduced the T formation to the USC program. Jeff was a nickname given to him when he was...

 (Southern California), Harvey Harman

Harvey Harman

Harvey J. Harman was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Haverford College , Sewanee: The University of the South , the University of Pennsylvania , and Rutgers University , compiling a career college football record of...

 (Rutgers), and Lou Little

Lou Little

Lou "Luigi Piccolo" Little was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Georgetown College, now Georgetown University, from 1924 to 1929 and at Columbia University from 1930 to 1956, compiling a career college football record of 151–128–13...

 (Columbia). One of the innovations touted by Collier's for 1948 was the use of news reels provided by Warner Pathe and university athletic departments to study each player. Collier's circulated an initial round of ballots to members of the American Football Coaches Association

American Football Coaches Association

The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...

 (AFCA), with their votes narrowing the selections to a group of 55 finalists. The panel of eight then studied the "motion pictures of the players in action" and selected the Collier's All-American team.

Collier's new affiliation with the AFCA ended the Saturday Evening Posts association with the group as its All-American selectors. The competition for All-American selectors led Time

Time (magazine)

Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...

 to write an article in September 1948 about the "scrimmage" between the magazines: "No college football star hoping to make All-America takes it more seriously than the magazines which pick them. To the magazines All-Americas are a deadly business, an important piece of promotion involving the prestige of the magazines as well as their hired experts."

The Associated Press based its selections on a poll of several hundred staff writers, newspaper sports editors and broadcasters. The AP reported that its voters overwhelming agreed on five of the first-team selections -- Dick Rifenberg of Michigan at end, Buddy Burris

Buddy Burris

Paul "Buddy" Burris was an American football player. He played college football for the Golden Hurricane at University of Tulsa, and after a hiatus to serve in the Second World War, for the Sooners at the University of Oklahoma. Burris was the first Oklahoma player to earn All-America honors in...

 of Oklahoma at guard, Charlie Justice of North Carolia at back, Doak Walker

Doak Walker

Ewell Doak Walker, Jr. was an American football player who is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a teammate of Bobby Layne in high school and the NFL.-Early life:...

 at quarterback, and William Fischer of Notre Dame at tackle.

The first selection of separate offensive and defensive All-American squads

The biggest controversy in the 1948 All-American selection process concerned the widespread use of offensive and defensive specialists, resulting from the adoption of an unlimited substitution rule. The Associated Press considered selecting separate offensive and defensive teams, but opted to continue the tradition of picking a single squad of 11 All-Americans. The AP reported on its decision as follows:

"Sharpest argument this year over bestowing All-America honors centered on the merit of recognizing men who played only offense or defense under the spreading 'two platoon' system. Separate defensive and offensive All-America first teams were proposed. Should the present cleavage widen this could become a possibility."

In the end, the AP named only three platoon players to its All-American teams -- offensive specialists, Rifenberg, Justice and Bobby Stuart

Bobby Stuart

Bobby Stuart was a professional footballer who played as a defender for Middlesbrough, Plymouth Argyle and Whitby Town. He was born in Middlesbrough, England. During the 1934-35 season, he scored 5 own goals against Middlesbrough....

.

The Central Press Association

Central Press Association

The Central Press Association was an American newspaper syndication company based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in business from 1910 to 1971. At its peak, the Central Press supplied features, columns, and photographs to more than 400 newspapers and 12 million daily readers.-History:Virgil Venice...

 noted that its 1948 All-American eleven "is not necessarily a true All-American team because of the present-day system of using two teams, an offensive and a defensive unit."

It was the International News Service

International News Service

International News Service was a U.S.-based news agency founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909.Established two years after the Scripps family founded the United Press Association, INS scrapped among the newswires...

 (the wire service operated by the Hearst newspapers) that in 1948 became the first to break with tradition by naming separate All-American teams on offense and defense. The INS described its decision in its article announcing the selections:

"The days of selecting 11 men on an All-American first team are over, until such time as the unlimited substitution rules are altered. INS thus picks its All-America as the game is now played with the 22 man squad divided into an offensive team and a defensive team."

INS sports editor, Lawton Carver, wrote that the "era of the iron man in football

One-platoon system

The one-platoon system, also known as iron man football, was a system in American football where players played on both offense and defense. It was the result of rules that limited player substitutions. The alternative system is known as the "two-platoon system", or simply the "platoon system",...

 is rapidly passing," as an increasing number of players were being "tutored and geared to specialize for offense or defense and must be recognized for the part they play."

Consensus All-Americans

Doak Walker

Doak Walker

Ewell Doak Walker, Jr. was an American football player who is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a teammate of Bobby Layne in high school and the NFL.-Early life:...

 of Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...

 received more votes than any other athlete in the 1948 All-American voting. He was also the recipient of the 1948 Heisman Trophy

Heisman Trophy

The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...

, and was later inducted into both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

The chart below reflects the published vote total from the UP poll, and also reflects the number of polls in which the leading candidates were selected as a first-team All-American, and their point total for the top five players in the 1948 Heisman Trophy

Heisman Trophy

The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...

 voting.

Name	Class	Position	School	UPI votes	First-team selections	Heisman points
Doak Walker Doak Walker Ewell Doak Walker, Jr. was an American football player who is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a teammate of Bobby Layne in high school and the NFL.-Early life:...	Jr.	Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...	SMU Southern Methodist University Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...	2820	8	778
Chuck Bednarik Chuck Bednarik Charles Philip Bednarik is a former professional American football player, known as one of the most devastating tacklers in the history of football and the last two-way player in the National Football League...	Sr.	Center Center (American football) Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...	Penn. University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...	2514	8	336
Leo Nomellini Leo Nomellini Leo Joseph Nomellini was a Hall of Fame American football player with the San Francisco 49ers. He was born at Lucca in Italy. He was a two-time All-American at the University of Minnesota and the 49ers' first-ever NFL draft choice in 1950.Nomellini played every 49ers game for 14 seasons, 174...	Jr.	Tackle Tackle (American football) Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions....	Minn. Minnesota Golden Gophers football The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...	2034	8
Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice	Jr.	Running back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...	N. Car.	2740	7	443
Jackie Jensen Jackie Jensen Jack Eugene Jensen was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for three American League teams from 1950 to 1961, most notably the Boston Red Sox...	Jr.	Running back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...	Calif. California Golden Bears football The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to...	2118	7	143
Dick Rifenberg	Jr.	Ends	Mich. Michigan Wolverines football The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...	1790	7
Bill Fischer	Sr.	Guard Guard (American football) In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....	N.Dame Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...	2335	6
Paul "Buddy" Burris Buddy Burris Paul "Buddy" Burris was an American football player. He played college football for the Golden Hurricane at University of Tulsa, and after a hiatus to serve in the Second World War, for the Sooners at the University of Oklahoma. Burris was the first Oklahoma player to earn All-America honors in...	Sr.	Guard Guard (American football) In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....	Okla. Oklahoma Sooners football The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...	1512	6
Leon Hart Leon Hart Leon Joseph Hart was an American football tight end and defensive end. He was raised in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh....	Sr.	Ends	N.Dame Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...	1926	5
Al Wistert Al Wistert Albert Alexander "Ox" Wistert is a former All-Pro American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played his entire nine-year NFL career for the Eagles and became their team captain. He was named to play in the NFL's first Pro Bowl as an Eagle...	Jr.	Tackle Tackle (American football) Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions....	Mich. Michigan Wolverines football The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...	1689	4
Clyde Scott Clyde Scott Clyde Scott is a retired American athlete who competed professionally in the National Football League and earned an Olympic medal in the 110 meter hurdles....		Running back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...	Ark. Arkansas Razorbacks football The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...	na	2
Stan Heath Stan Heath (American football) Stanley Robert Heath was a quarterback in the National Football League who played 12 games for the Green Bay Packers. In 1949, the Green Bay Packers used the 5th pick in the 1st round of the 1949 NFL Draft to sign Heath out of the University of Nevada, Reno where he was the nations top passer...	Jr.	Running back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...	Nev. University of Nevada, Reno The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...	1224	1	113

Key

• AP = Associated Press
  Associated Press
  The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
  
  
• UP = United Press
• COL = Collier's
• NEA = NEA Sports Syndicate, based on a consensus of coaches, scouts, officials, opposing players, and "others qualified to judge players and accurately weigh their value."
• INS = INS (Hearst) newspaper syndicate
• CP = Central Press Association
  Central Press Association
  The Central Press Association was an American newspaper syndication company based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in business from 1910 to 1971. At its peak, the Central Press supplied features, columns, and photographs to more than 400 newspapers and 12 million daily readers.-History:Virgil Venice...
  
  , selected with the assistance of the nation's football captains.
• WC = Walter Camp Football Foundation
  Walter Camp Football Foundation
  The Walter Camp Football Foundation is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA. The organization also presents various awards.-Awards:*Walter Camp Player of the Year*CT Player of the Year...
  
  
• FW=Football Writers Association of America.

Bold = Consensus All-American

• 1 - First Team Selection
• 2 - Second Team Selection
• 3 - Third Team Selection

Ends

• Dick Rifenberg, Michigan (AP-1; UP-1; NEA-1; CP-1; INS-1 [offense]; WC-1; FW-1)
• Leon Hart
  Leon Hart
  Leon Joseph Hart was an American football tight end and defensive end. He was raised in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh....
  
  , Notre Dame (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-3; UP-1; NEA-2; CP-1; INS-1 [defense]; WC-1; FW-1 [tackle])
• Barney Poole
  Barney Poole
  George Barney Poole was an American football end in the National Football League for the New York Yanks, the Dallas Texans, the Baltimore Colts, and the New York Giants. Poole also played football in the All-America Football Conference for the New York Yankees...
  
  , Mississippi (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-2;NEA-2; CP-2; INS-1 [defense])
• Sam Tamburo, Penn State (AP-3; CO-1; CP-2; INS-1 [offense])
• George Broadnax, Georgia Tech (CO-1)
• Dan Foldberg
  Dan Foldberg
  John Daniel Foldberg was an American military officer and football player. He played as an end for the Army Cadets at the United States Military Academy. Army head coach Earl Blaik rated him the best end he had ever coached. He was selected in the 1951 NFL Draft, but pursued a 27-year military career...
  
  , Army (UP-2)
• Dale Armstrong
  Dale Armstrong
  Dale Armstrong is a Canadian drag racer and crew chief. After winning 12 National Hot Rod Association and 12 International Hot Rod Association events in the 1970s, including the Pro Comp title in 1975, he became Kenny Bernstein's crew chief. The combination produced four consecutive national...
  
  , Dartmouth (AP-2; NEA-1; CP-3; FW-2)
• Mel Sheehan, Missouri (AP-2)
• Art Weiner
  Art Weiner
  Art Weiner played American football as All American end at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1946-1949....
  
  , North Carolina (College Football Hall of Fame) (NEA-3; CP-3; FW-1)
• Jim Powell, Tennessee (NEA-3)
• Warren Huey, Michigan State (FW-2)
• Dan Garza, Oregon (FW-3)

Tackles

• Leo Nomellini
  Leo Nomellini
  Leo Joseph Nomellini was a Hall of Fame American football player with the San Francisco 49ers. He was born at Lucca in Italy. He was a two-time All-American at the University of Minnesota and the 49ers' first-ever NFL draft choice in 1950.Nomellini played every 49ers game for 14 seasons, 174...
  
  , Minnesota (College and Pro Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-1; CO-1; NEA-1; CP-1; INS-1 [offensive guard]; WC-1; FW-1)
• Al Wistert
  Al Wistert
  Albert Alexander "Ox" Wistert is a former All-Pro American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played his entire nine-year NFL career for the Eagles and became their team captain. He was named to play in the NFL's first Pro Bowl as an Eagle...
  
  , Michigan (College Football Hall of Fame) (UP-1; CO-1; NEA-2; CP-1; WC-1; FW-2)
• Al DeRogatis
  Al DeRogatis
  Albert John "Al" DeRogatis was an American football player and television and radio sportscaster.-Biography:...
  
  , Duke (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-2; UP-2; NEA-3; CP-3)
• Phillip O'Reilly, Purdue (UP-2)
• Bill Kay
  Bill Kay
  Walter Brocton "Bill" Kay was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played for the Washington Senators in 1907.-External links:...
  
  , Iowa (AP-2)
• Norman Meseroll, Tennessee (AP-3)
• Ernie Stautner
  Ernie Stautner
  -References:* * *-External links:*...
  
  , Boston College (Pro Football Hall of Fame) (AP-3; NEA-3; CP-3)
• Nick Balkovak, Pittsburgh (NEA-2)
• Laurie Niemi
  Laurie Niemi
  Laurie Jack Niemi was an American football offensive and defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at Washington State University and was drafted in the second round of the 1949 NFL Draft....
  
  , Washington State (CP-2; INS-1 [offense])
• Paul Lea
  Paul Lea
  Paul Lea was an American football player and physician.Lea played college football at Tulane University, where he was an offensive and defensive tackle...
  
  , Tulane (CP-2; INS-1 [offense])
• Leonard Szafaryn, North Carolina (FW-2)
• Chester Fritz, Missouri (FW-3)
• William Koch, Princeton (FW-3)

Guards

• Paul "Buddy" Burris
  Buddy Burris
  Paul "Buddy" Burris was an American football player. He played college football for the Golden Hurricane at University of Tulsa, and after a hiatus to serve in the Second World War, for the Sooners at the University of Oklahoma. Burris was the first Oklahoma player to earn All-America honors in...
  
  , Oklahoma (AP-1; UP-1; CO-1; NEA-1; CP-2; INS-1 [defense]; WC-1; FW-2)
• William Fischer, Notre Dame (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1 [tackle]; UP-1; NEA-1; CP-1; INS-1 [defensive guard]; WC-1)
• Marty Wendell, Notre Dame (CO-1; CP-3; FW-2)
• Rod Franz
  Rod Franz
  Rodney T. Franz was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977....
  
  , California (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-2; NEA-2; CP-2)
• William Healy, Georgia Tech (AP-2; UP-2; CP-1; INS-1 [defense]; FW-1)
• Don Mason
  Don Mason
  Donald Stetson Mason was a second baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres.-External links:...
  
  , Michigan State (AP-2)
• Joseph F. Quinn
  Joseph F. Quinn
  Joseph F. Quinn was the first Irishman elevated to the bench in Massachusetts where he served on the Essex County Superior Court after being appointed by Governor Eugene Foss in 1911. He lived in Salem and was the son of an immigrant from the days of the potato famine. He attended University of...
  
  , Cornell (AP-3)
• Vern Sterling, Santa Clara (AP-3; FW-3)
• Joe Henry
  Joe Henry
  Joseph Lee "Joe" Henry is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Henry's musical style spans several genres, including alt. country, rock, jazz and folk.- Early years :...
  
  , Army (NEA-2; INS-1 [offense]; FW-1)
• Paul Kelly
  Paul Kelly
  Paul Kelly may refer to:* Paul Kelly , United States criminal and founder of the Five Points Gang* Paul Kelly , US stage and screen actor* Paul Kelly , US soul singer-songwriter...
  
  , Penn State (NEA-3)
• Dominic Tomasi
  Dominic Tomasi
  Dominic Tomasi was an American football player who played guard for the University of Michigan Wolverines. He was a four-year starter and was selected as both the captain and Most Valuable Player of the National Champion 1948 Michigan Wolverines football team.-High school:A native of Flint,...
  
  , Michigan (NEA-3; CP-3; FW-3)

Centers

• Chuck Bednarik
  Chuck Bednarik
  Charles Philip Bednarik is a former professional American football player, known as one of the most devastating tacklers in the history of football and the last two-way player in the National Football League...
  
  , Pennsylvania (College and Pro Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-1; CO-1; NEA-1; CP-1; INS-1 [offense]; WC-1; FW-1)
• Alex Sarkisian
  Alex Sarkisian
  Alex Sarkisian was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998. His father was an immigrant steelworker.-References:...
  
  , Northwestern (College Football Hall of Fame) (UP-2; NEA-2; CP-2; INS-1 [defense])
• Dick Harris
  Dick Harris
  Richard M. "Dick" Harris is a Canadian politician. He is a Member of Parliament and member of the Conservative Party of Canada. He also was a member of the Reform Party of Canada and the Canadian Alliance. He represents the electoral district of Cariboo—Prince George, and formerly Prince...
  
  , Texas (AP-2; CP-3)
• Tommy Thompson
  Tommy Thompson (linebacker)
  Thomas Wright Thompson was an American football linebacker in the National Football League and All-America Football Conference for the Cleveland Browns. He played college football at the College of William & Mary and was drafted in the third round of the 1948 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins....
  
  , William and Mary (AP-3; NEA-3)
• William Yeoman, Army (FW-2)
• Clayton Tonnemaker
  Clayton Tonnemaker
  Clayton Tonnemaker is a former American football player who played linebacker for the Green Bay Packers from 1950 to 1954. Tonnemaker was an All-American at the University of Minnesota, where he played center. In 1980 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame....
  
  , Minnesota (FW-3)

Quarterbacks

• Doak Walker
  Doak Walker
  Ewell Doak Walker, Jr. was an American football player who is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a teammate of Bobby Layne in high school and the NFL.-Early life:...
  
  , Southern Methodist (College and Pro Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-1; CO-1; NEA-1; CP-1; INS-1 [defense]; WC-1; FW-1)
• Norm Van Brocklin
  Norm Van Brocklin
  Norman Mack "Norm" Van Brocklin , nicknamed "The Dutchman", was an American football player and coach. He was also a first rate punter in college and in the NFL...
  
  , Oregon (College and Pro Football Hall of Fame) (AP-3; UP-2; NEA-2; CP-3; INS-1 [offense]; FW-2)
• Chuck Ortmann
  Chuck Ortmann
  Charles H. Ortmann is a former American football player who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1948 to 1950 and in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1951 and the Dallas Texans in 1952....
  
  , Michigan (AP-2)
• John Rauch
  John Rauch
  John "Johnny" Rauch was an American football player and coach. He was head coach of the Oakland Raiders in the team's loss to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl II in 1968.-Early life:...
  
  , Georgia (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-2; UP-2; NEA-3; CP-2; WC-1; FW-1)
• Jack Mitchell, Oklahoma (NEA-2; CP-1)
• Pete Elliott
  Pete Elliott
  -External links:...
  
  , Michigan (INS-1 [defense])
• George Taliaferro
  George Taliaferro
  George Taliaferro is a former professional American football player. He was the first African American drafted by a National Football League team....
  
  , Indiana (INS-1 [defense])

Backs

• Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice, North Carolina (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-1; CO-1; NEA-1; CP-1; INS-1 [offense]; WC-1; FW-2)
• Jackie Jensen
  Jackie Jensen
  Jack Eugene Jensen was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for three American League teams from 1950 to 1961, most notably the Boston Red Sox...
  
  , California (College Football Hall of Fame; 1958 American League
  American League
  The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
  
   MVP) (AP-3; UP-1; CO-1; NEA-1; CP-1; INS-1 [offense]; WC-1; FW-1)
• Clyde Scott
  Clyde Scott
  Clyde Scott is a retired American athlete who competed professionally in the National Football League and earned an Olympic medal in the 110 meter hurdles....
  
  , Arkansas (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-2; CO-1;NEA-3; INS-1 [offense])
• Stan Heath
  Stan Heath (American football)
  Stanley Robert Heath was a quarterback in the National Football League who played 12 games for the Green Bay Packers. In 1949, the Green Bay Packers used the 5th pick in the 1st round of the 1949 NFL Draft to sign Heath out of the University of Nevada, Reno where he was the nations top passer...
  
  , Nevada-Reno
  University of Nevada, Reno
  The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
  
   (UP-1; CP-2)
• Bobby Stuart
  Bobby Stuart
  Bobby Stuart was a professional footballer who played as a defender for Middlesbrough, Plymouth Argyle and Whitby Town. He was born in Middlesbrough, England. During the 1934-35 season, he scored 5 own goals against Middlesbrough....
  
  , Army (AP-1; CP-3; FW-3)
• Art Murakowski
  Art Murakowski
  Arthur Raymond "Art" Murakowski was an American football player. He played fullback for the Northwestern University football team from 1946 to 1949. He was selected as a first-team All-American and won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy in 1948 as the most valuable player in the Big Ten...
  
  , Northwestern (AP-1; FW-2)
• Emil Sitko
  Emil Sitko
  Emil "Red" Sitko was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on September 7, 1923. He earned the nickname of "Red" due to his red hair. He attended Central High School in Fort Wayne. At only 5'8" and 180 pounds he was not considered a big man. "Emil wasn't very big as football players go -- even for those...
  
  , Notre Dame (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-2; UP-2; NEA-2; CP-2; FW-1)
• Jack Cloud
  Jack Cloud
  Jack Martin Cloud was an American football linebacker and fullback in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers and the Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990....
  
  , William & Mary (College Football Hall of Fame) (UP-2; NEA-1; FW-3)
• Bobby Gage
  Bobby Gage
  Robert "Bobby" Gage II was an American football player who played two seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers.-Early life:Gage was born in Chester, South Carolina...
  
  , Clemson (AP-3; INS-1 [defense])
• Eddie Price
  Eddie Price
  Edward J. Price was an American football running back for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He played college football at Tulane University and was drafted in the second round of the 1950 NFL Draft. Price led the NFL in rushing in 1951...
  
  , Tulane (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-3; NEA-3; CP-3)
• Fran Rogel
  Fran Rogel
  Francis Stephen Rogel was an American football fullback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL.-Collegiate career:...
  
  , Penn State (NEA-2; FW-2)
• Joe Whisler, Ohio State (NEA-3; CP-3)
• Harry Szulborski, Purdue (CP-2)
• Arnold Galiffa
  Arnold Galiffa
  Arnold Anthony Galiffa was a quarterback for the National Football League and Canadian Football League. He won 11 varsity letters at West Point and served with distinction as an officer in the Korean War....
  
  , Army (FW-3)
• Elwood Petchel, Penn State (FW-3)