1978 All-America college football team

Offense

Receivers

• Emanuel Tolbert, SMU (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-2, WC)
• Kirk Gibson, Michigan State (AP-2, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN)
• Gordon Jones, Pittsburgh (AFCA [split end], AP-2, NEA-1 [flanker])
• Jerry Butler, Clemson (AP-1, NEA-2 [flanker], TSN)
• Junior Miller, Nebraska (AP-3)
• Dave Petzke, Northern Illinois (AP-3)

Tight ends

• Kellen Winslow, Missouri (AFCA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
• Mark Brammer, Michigan State (FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-2)

Tackles

• Keith Dorney, Penn St.(AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
• Kelvin Clark, Nebraska (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-2, WC)
• Jeff Toews, Washington (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-1, TSN)
• Matt Miller, Colorado (UPI-1)
• Robert Dugas, LSU (AP-2, NEA-2)
• Anthony Muñoz, USC (UPI-2)
• Greg Kolenda, Arkansas (AP-3)
• Craig Wolfley, Syracuse (AP-3)

Guards

• Pat Howell, USC (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
• Greg Roberts, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
• Joe Bostic, Clemson (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-2)
• Pete Inge, San Diego State (AP-2)
• Steve Lindquist, Nebraska (AP-3, UPI-2)
• Brad Budde, USC (NEA-2)
• Doug Panfil, Tulsa (AP-3)

Centers

• Dave Huffman, Notre Dame (AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
• Jim Ritcher, North Carolina St. (AFCA, AP-1)
• Dwight Stephenson, Alabama (UPI-2)
• Robert Shaw, Tennessee (NEA-2)
• Chuck Brown, Houston (AP-3)

Quarterbacks

• Chuck Fusina, Penn St. (AFCA-t, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC)
• Rick Leach, Michigan (AFCA-t, AP-2, UPI-2)
• Jack Thompson, Washington State (TSN)
• Steve Dils, Stanford (NEA-2)
• Steve Fuller, Clemson (AP-3)

Running backs

• Billy Sims, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
• Charles Alexander, LSU (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
• Charles White, USC (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-2, WC)
• Ted Brown, North Carolina State (AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-2)
• Eddie Lee Ivery, Georgia Tech (AP-2, UPI-2)
• Darrin Nelson, Stanford (AP-2)
• Willie McClendon, Georgia (UPI-2)
• Obie Graves, Cal State Fullerton (AP-3)
• James Hadnot, Texas Tech (AP-3)
• Joseph H. Holland, Cornell (AP-3)

Defense

Defensive ends

• Al Harris, Arizona St. (AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN)
• Hugh Green, Pittsburgh (AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-2, WC)
• Don Smith, Miami (Fla.) (AFCA, NEA-2, TSN)
• George Andrews, Nebraska (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-1)
• Don Blackmon, Tulsa (AP-2)
• Willie Jones, Florida State (UPI-2)
• John Adams, LSU (AP-3)
• Chuck Schott, Army (AP-3)

Defensive tackles

• Mike Bell, Colorado St. (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
• Bruce Clark, Penn St. (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-2)
• Marty Lyons, Alabama (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-1, TSN)
• Matt Millen, Penn State (UPI-1, NEA-2, WC)
• Dan Hampton, Arkansas (AFCA)
• Jimmy Walker, Arkansas (AP-3, FWAA)
• Mike Stensrud, Iowa State (AP-2)
• Ken Kremer, Ball State (AP-3)

Middle guards

• Reggie Kinlaw, Oklahoma (AP-2, UPI-1, WC)
• Manu Tuiasosopo, UCLA (UPI-2)
• Ardis McCann, Louisiana Tech (AP-3)

Linebackers

• Jerry Robinson, UCLA (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC, TSN)
• Tom Cousineau, Ohio State (AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC, AFCA, TSN)
• Bob Golic, Notre Dame (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-2, WC)
• Ken Fantetti, Wyoming (AP-3, FWAA)
• Barry Krauss, Alabama (AP-2, UPI-2, TSN)
• George Cumby, Oklahima (NEA-1)
• John Corker, Ohlahoma State (AP-1)
• Daryl Hunt, Oklahoma (AP-2, UPI-2)
• Michael Jackson, Washington (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-2)
• Joe Norman, Indiana (NEA-2)
• Jack Lazor, Kent State (AP-3)
• Frank Manumaleuga, San Jose State (AP-3)

Defensive backs

• Johnnie Johnson, Texas (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC)
• Kenny Easley, UCLA (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN, WC)
• Jeff Nixon, Richmond (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-1, WC)
• Lawrence Johnson, Wisconsin (NEA-1, TSN)
• Henry Williams, San Diego St. (AFCA, UPI-2)
• Rick Sanford, South Carolina (TSN)
• Pete Harris, Penn State (AP-2, UPI-1, NEA-2)
• Don Bessillieu, Georgia Tech (TSN)
• Jeff Delaney, Pittsburgh (AP-2, UPI-2)
• Lovie Smith, Tulsa (AP-2)
• Russ Calabrese, Missouri (NEA-2)
• Tim Smith, Oregon State (NEA-2)
• Vaughn Lusby, Arkansas (NEA-2)
• Jason Coloma, Brigham Young (AP-3)
• Nesby Glasgow, Washington (AP-3)
• Joe Restic, Notre Dame (AP-3)

Special teams

Kickers

• Matt Bahr, Penn State (UPI-1, NEA-1, TSN)
• Tony Franklin, Texas A&M (FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-2)

Punters

• Russell Erxleben, Texas (NEA-1, WC, FWAA, TSN)
• Joe Restic, Notre Dame (NEA-2)

Key

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

Official selectors

• AFCA – American Football Coaches Association, selected by 2,100 voting members for Kodak
• AP – Associated Press
• FWAA – Football Writers Association of America
• UPI – United Press International

Other selectors

• FN – Football News
• NEA – Newspaper Enterprise Association
• TSN – The Sporting News
• WC – Walter Camp Football Foundation

References

References

1. (2016). "Football Award Winners". [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA).
2. (December 4, 1978). "Kodak All-America has two quarterbacks". The Salina Journal.
3. (December 6, 1978). "Bruins, Troy share wealth in AP All-America squad". The San Bernardino County Sun.
4. "FWAA All-America Since 1944: The All-Time Team".
5. (December 5, 1978). "UPI All-America Team". The Salina Journal.
6. (December 6, 1978). "Penn State's Fusina tops NEA All-America". The Paris News.
7. (December 5, 1978). "All-American Honors Pile Up For Hurricane Named Smith". The Miami Herald.