1972 College Football All-America Team

The 1972 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 1972. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recognizes six selectors as "official" for the 1972 season. They are:^[1] (1) the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) which selected its team for Kodak based on a vote of the nation's coaches;^[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) selected by the nation's football writers;^[4] (4) the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) selected based on the votes of sports writers at NEA newspapers;^[5] (5) the United Press International (UPI) selected based on the votes of sports writers at UPI newspapers;^[6] and (6) the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WC).

Eight players are recognized by the NCAA as unanimous All-America selections. They are: (1) wide receiver and 1972 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers of Nebraska; (2) tight end Charles Young of USC; (3) offensive tackle Jerry Sisemore of Texas; (4) offensive guard John Hannah of Alabama; (5) running back Greg Pruitt of Oklahoma; (6) defensive tackle Greg Marx of Notre Dame; (7) middle guard Rich Glover of Nebraska; and (8) defensive back Brad Van Pelt of Michigan State.^[7]

Consensus All-Americans

The following chart identifies the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans for the year 1972 and displays which first-team designations they received.

Name	Position	School	Number	Official	Other
Rich Glover	Middle guard	Nebraska	6/3/9	AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC	FN, Time, TSN
John Hannah	Offensive guard	Alabama	6/3/9	AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC	FN, Time, TSN
Greg Marx	Defensive tackle	Notre Dame	6/3/9	AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC	FN, Time, TSN
Johnny Rodgers	Wide receiver	Nebraska	6/3/9	AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC	FN, Time, TSN
Jerry Sisemore	Offensive tackle	Texas	6/3/9	AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC	FN, Time, TSN
Charle Young	Tight end	USC	6/3/9	AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC	FN, Time, TSN
Greg Pruitt	Running back	Oklahoma	6/2/8	AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC	FN, TSN
Brad Van Pelt	Defensive back	Michigan State	6/2/8	AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC	Time, TSN
Tom Brahaney	Center	Oklahoma	5/3/8	AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC	FN, Time, TSN
Willie Harper	Defensive end	Nebraska	5/2/7	AFCA, AP, NEA, UPI, WC	FN, TSN
Dave Butz	Defensive tackle	Purdue	4/2/6	AFCA, NEA, UPI, WC	Time, TSN
Bert Jones	Quarterback	LSU	3/3/6	AFCA, NEA, UPI	FN, Time, TSN
Otis Armstrong	Running back	Purdue	4/1/5	AP, FWAA, UPI, WC	TSN
Bruce Bannon	Defensive end	Penn State	4/1/5	AFCA, NEA, UPI, WC	FN
Randy Gradishar	Linebacker	Ohio State	4/1/5	AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI	FN
Cullen Bryant	Defensive back	Colorado	3/2/5	AFCA, NEA, UPI	Time, TSN
Paul Seymour	Offensive tackle	Michigan	3/2/5	AFCA, FWAA, NEA	Time, TSN
Ron Rusnak	Offensive guard	North Carolina	4/0/4	AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI	--
Randy Logan	Defensive back	Michigan	3/1/4	AFCA, UPI, WC	FN
Woody Green	Running back	Arizona State	3/0/3	AP, NEA, UPI	--
Robert Popelka	Defensive back	SMU	3/0/3	AP, FWAA, WC	--
John Skorupan	Linebacker	Penn State	3/0/3	AP, FWAA, NEA	--

Offense

Receivers

Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska (AFCA [flanker], AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, WC, FN, Time TSN)
Steve Holden, Arizona State (FWAA, NEA-2, TSN, Time, FN)
Barry Smith, Florida State (AFCA [off. end], AP-2, UPI-2)
Jason Caldwell, North Carolina Central (NEA-2)
Mike Creaney, Notre Dame (AP-3 [TE])

Tight ends

Charle Young, USC (AFCA [off. end], AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, WC, FN, Time, TSN)
Billy Joe DuPree, Michigan State (NEA-2)
Al Chandler, Oklahoma (UPI-2)
Gary Butler, Rice (AP-2)
Steve Sweeney, California (AP-3)
Daryl White, Nebraska (AP-3 [OT], NEA-1 [OG])

Tackles

Jerry Sisemore, Texas (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, WC, TSN, Time, FN)
Paul Seymour, Michigan (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-2, Time, TSN)
John Hicks, Ohio State (AP-1, UPI-2, WC, NEA-1 [OG])
Pete Adams, USC (AP-2, NEA-2, UPI-1, Time)
John Dampeer, Notre Dame (FN)
Curtis Wester, East Texas State (NEA-2)
Bruce Walton, UCLA (AP-3)

Guards

John Hannah, Alabama (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, WC, FN, Time, TSN)
Ron Rusnak, North Carolina (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1)
Skip Singletary, Temple (AP-2, NEA-2, UPI-2, WC)
Joe DeLamielleure, Michigan State (AP-2, TSN)
Geary Murdock, Iowa State (FN)
Ken Jones, Oklahoma (AP-3, UPI-2)
Larry Ulmer, Western Michigan (AP-3)

Centers

Tom Brahaney, Oklahoma (AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC, FWAA, TSN, Time, FN)
Jim Krapf, Alabama (AFCA, UPI-2)
Doug Dumler, Nebraska (NEA-2)
Orderia Mitchell, Air Force (AP-2)
Gerald Schultze, West Virginia (AP-3)

Quarterbacks

Bert Jones, LSU (AFCA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, Time, TSN)
John Hufnagel, Penn State (AP-1, WC)
Gary Huff, Florida State (FWAA, NEA-2, UPI-2)
Tony Adams, Utah State (AP-2)
Don Strock, Virginia Tech (AP-3)

Running backs

Greg Pruitt, Oklahoma (AFCA [HB], AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1 [WR], UPI-1, WC, FN, TSN)
Otis Armstrong, Purdue (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, TSN)
Woody Green, Arizona State (AP-1, NEA-1, UPI-1)
Dick Jauron, Yale (AFCA [HB], AP-2, WC)
Sam Cunningham, USC (AFCA [FB], NEA-1)
George Amundson, Iowa State (NEA-2)
Howard Stevens, Louisville (AP-2, NEA-2, UPI-2)
Roosevelt Leaks, Texas (AP-2)
Charlie Davis, Colorado (UPI-2)
Anthony Davis, USC (UPI-2)
Bob Hitchens, Miami (OH) (AP-3)
Steve Jones, Duke (AP-3)
Pete Van Valkenburg, BYU (AP-3)

Defense

Defensive ends

Willie Harper, Nebraska (AFCA [LB], AP-1, NEA-1, UPI-1, WC, FN, TSN)
Bruce Bannon, Penn State (AFCA, AP-2, NEA-1, UPI-1, WC, FN)
Wally Chambers, Eastern Kentucky (NEA-2, TSN, Time)
John Matuszak, Tampa (AP-3 [DT], NEA-2 [DT], TSN, Time)
Ernie Price, Texas A&I (NEA-2)
Tab Bennett, Illinois (UPI-2)
Danny Sanspree, Auburn (AP-2)
Steve Bogosian, Army (AP-3)
Merv Krakau, Iowa State (AP-3)

Defensive tackles

Greg Marx, Notre Dame (AFCA [DE], AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, WC, FN, Time, TSN)
Dave Butz, Purdue (UPI-1, NEA-1, WC, AFCA, TSN, Time)
Roger Goree, Baylor (AP-1 [DE], FWAA, UPI-2 [DE])
John Grant, Southern California (AP-2, FWAA)
Derland Moore, Oklahoma (AP-1, UPI-2)
John LeHeup, South Carolina (AFCA)
Bud Magrum, Colorado (FWAA, UPI-2 [LB])
George Hasenohrl, Ohio State (AP-2, UPI-2, FN)
Bob Leyen, Yale (NEA-2)
Charlie Davis, Texas Christian (AP-3)

Middle guards

Rich Glover, Nebraska (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, WC, FN, Time TSN)
Don Rives, Texas Tech (AP-2)
Lucious Selmon, Oklahoma (UPI-2)
Tony Cristiani, Miami (FL) (AP-3)

Linebackers

Randy Gradishar, Ohio State (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, FN)
John Skorupan, Penn State (AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1)
Steve Brown, Oregon State (AP-3, NEA-1, WC, Time, TSN)
Jamie Rotella, Tennessee (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-1, FN)
Rich Wood, USC (AP-1, NEA-2 [MG], UPI-2, FN)
Jim Youngblood, Tennessee Tech (NEA-1, Time)
Tom Jackson, Louisville (AP-2, WC)
Warren Capone, LSU (FWAA)
John Mitchell, Alabama (AFCA)
Jackie Wallace, Arizona (NEA-2, UPI-2)
Matt Blair, Iowa State (NEA-2)
Glen Gaspard, Texas (AP-2)
Jim Merlo, Stanford (AP-3)
Eddie Sheats, Kansas (AP-3)

Defensive backs

Brad Van Pelt, Michigan State (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, WC, Time, TSN)
Cullen Bryant, Colorado (AFCA, AP-3, NEA-1, UPI-1, Time, TSN)
Randy Logan, Michigan (AFCA, AP-2, NEA-2, UPI-1, WC, FN)
Robert Popelka, Southern Methodist (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-2, WC)
Burgess Owens, Miami (NEA-2, TSN, Time)
Jackie Wallace, Arizona (AP-3, Time, TSN)
Conrad Graham, Tennessee (UPI-1, FN, NEA-2)
Randy Rhino, Georgia Tech (AP-2, FWAA)
Calvin Jones, Washington (AP-1, UPI-2)
Drane Scrivener, Tulsa (NEA-1)
Ray Guy, Southern Miss (WC)
Frank Dowsing, Mississippi State (FN)
Joe Blahak, Nebraska (AP-2, UPI-2)
J. T. Thomas, Florida State (NEA-2)
John Provost, Holy Cross (AP-3)

Special teams

Kickers

Ricky Townsend, Tennessee (FWAA)
Chris Gartner, Indiana (TSN)

Punters

Ray Guy, Southern Miss (FWAA, TSN, Time)

Key

Bold – Consensus All-American^[7]
-1 – First-team selection
-2 – Second-team selection
-3 – Third-team selection

Official selectors

AFCA – American Football Coaches Association for Kodak^[2]
AP – Associated Press^[3]
FWAA – Football Writers Association of America^[4]
NEA – Newspaper Enterprise Association^[5]
UPI – United Press International^[6]
WC = Walter Camp Football Foundation^[8]

Other selectors

FN – Football News
PFW – Pro Football Weekly
Time – Time magazine
TSN – The Sporting News

References

^ "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. p. 3. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
^ ^a ^b "Kodak All-America Picks". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. November 24, 1972. p. 13.
^ ^a ^b "Southern Cal, Nebraska Head AP All-America". The Bee (Danville, VA). December 7, 1972. p. D1.
^ ^a ^b "Huff Gets Spot On Writers 11". Panama City News-Herald (Panama City, Florida). November 30, 1972. p. 27.
^ ^a ^b "All America Team Named". The Herald (Provo, UT). November 29, 1972. p. 8.
^ ^a ^b "UPI All-Americans". The Republic (Columbus, Indiana). December 6, 1972. p. 20.
^ ^a ^b "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. p. 10. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
^ "Camp Honor To Rogers Once Again". The Spokesman-Review. AP. November 29, 1972. p. 20. Retrieved November 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

[1] "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. p. 3. Retrieved March 17, 2017.

[AFCA-2] "Kodak All-America Picks". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. November 24, 1972. p. 13.

[AP-3] "Southern Cal, Nebraska Head AP All-America". The Bee (Danville, VA). December 7, 1972. p. D1.

[FW-4] "Huff Gets Spot On Writers 11". Panama City News-Herald (Panama City, Florida). November 30, 1972. p. 27.

[NEA-5] "All America Team Named". The Herald (Provo, UT). November 29, 1972. p. 8.

[UPI-6] "UPI All-Americans". The Republic (Columbus, Indiana). December 6, 1972. p. 20.

[CAA-7] "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. p. 10. Retrieved October 21, 2017.

[WC-8] "Camp Honor To Rogers Once Again". The Spokesman-Review. AP. November 29, 1972. p. 20. Retrieved November 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

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v t e 1972 College Football All-America Team consensus selections
Offense	QB Bert Jones RB Otis Armstrong RB Woody Green RB Greg Pruitt WR Johnny Rodgers TE Charle Young OT Paul Seymour OT Jerry Sisemore G John Hannah G Ron Rusnak C Tom Brahaney
Defense	DL Bruce Bannon DL Dave Butz DL Rich Glover DL Willie Harper DL Greg Marx LB Randy Gradishar LB John Skorupan DB Cullen Bryant DB Randy Logan DB Robert Popelka DB Brad Van Pelt