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AP All-America Selections
AP All-American Teams Announced
For the second consecutive year USC’s receiver Dwayne Jarrett and Penn State’s linebacker Paul Posluszny were named to the Associate Press All-America first team.
Jarrett caught 53 passes this year for 773 yards and 10 touchdowns and was USC’s ultimate threat on offense this year. Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech was the other receiver to be named to the first team. A junior, Johnson totaled 13 touchdowns for the Yellow Jackets this season.
Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith of Ohio State got the nod at the quarterback position. Smith led the Buckeyes to a perfect 12-0 regular season record and a birth to the January 8 BCS Championship Game in Glendale, Arizona. Smith threw for 2,507 yards and 30 touchdowns and had a 167.9 passer rating this year.
The AP All-American running backs were Heisman runner-up Darrren McFadden of Arkansas and Steve Slaton from West Virginia. Both completed sensational sophomore seasons for their schools. McFadden rushed for 1558 yards and 14 touchdowns while Slaton ran for over 144 yards a game.
Minnesota Gopher Matt Spaeth was named first team All-America at the tight end position.
West Virginia was the only school with two offensive players named to the All-American first team. The Mountaineers center Dan Mozes joined Slaton on the team.
Michigan’s Jake Long, Outland Trophy winner Joe Thomas from Wisconsin, Justin Blalock of Texas and Josh Beekman of Boston College fill out the offensive line for the first team.
UCLA’s Justin Medlock was named first team All-America as a kicker. Medlock led the nation with 26 field goals.
The third sophomore to be named to the offensive All-American first team was California’s DeSean Jackson as an all purpose player. Jackson returned four punts fro touchdowns this year.
On the defensive side of the ball the Chuck Bednarik Award winner Paul Posluszny was joined by Butkus Award winner Patrick Willis of Mississippi, and sophomore James Laurinaitis from Ohio State at the linebacker position.
Quinn Pitcock joined his Ohio State teammate on the defensive side. Pitcock was partnered with Glenn Dorsey from LSU at the tackle position.
Not to be outdone by Ohio State, Michigan had three representatives of their own with LaMarr Woodley as an end and Leon Hall as a cornerback.
First-team offense
Quarterback: Troy Smith, 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, senior, Ohio State.
Running backs: Darren McFadden, 6-2, 212, sophomore, Arkansas; Steve Slaton, 5-10, 195, sophomore, West Virginia.
Wide receivers: Calvin Johnson, 6-5, 235, junior, Georgia, Tech; Dwayne Jarrett, 6-5, 210, junior, Southern California.
Tight end: Matt Spaeth, 6-7, 265, senior, Minnesota.
Tackles: Jake Long, 6-7, 313, senior, Michigan; Joe Thomas, 6-8, 313, senior, Wisconsin.
Guards: Josh Beekman, 6-2, 318, senior, Boston College; Justin Blalock, 6-4, 335, senior, Texas.
Center: Dan Mozes, 6-4, 290, senior, West Virginia.
Kicker: Justin Medlock, 6-0, 197, senior, UCLA.
All-purpose player: DeSean Jackson, 6-0, 178, sophomore, California.
First-team defense
Ends: LaMarr Woodley, 6-2, 269, senior, Michigan; Gaines Adams, 6-5, 265, senior, Clemson.
Tackles: Glenn Dorsey, 6-2, 299, junior, LSU; Quinn Pitcock, 6-3, 295, senior, Ohio State.
Linebackers: Paul Posluszny, 6-2, 238, senior, Penn State; Patrick Willis, 6-2, 240, senior, Mississippi; James Laurinaitis, 6-3, 244, sophomore, Ohio State.
Cornerbacks: Leon Hall, 5-11, 193, senior, Michigan; Daymeion Hughes, 6-0, 188, senior, California.
Safeties: LaRon Landry, 6-2, 202, senior, LSU; Reggie Nelson, 6-1, 175, junior, Florida.
Punter: Daniel Sepulveda, 6-3, 230, senior, Baylor.
Second-team offense
Quarterback: Brady Quinn, senior, Notre Dame.
Running backs: Ray Rice, sophomore, Rutgers; Mike Hart, junior, Michigan.
Wide receivers: Jarrett Dillard, sophomore, Rice; Jeff Samardzija, senior, Notre Dame.
Tight end: Zach Miller, junior, Arizona State.
Tackles: Sam Baker, junior, Southern California; Arron Sears, senior, Tennessee.
Guards: Ben Grubbs, senior, Auburn; T.J. Downing, senior, Ohio State.
Center: Ryan Kalil, senior, Southern California.
Kicker: Arthur Carmody, junior, Louisville.
All-purpose player: Ted Ginn. Jr., junior, Ohio State.
Second-team defense
Ends: Justin Hickman, senior, UCLA; Mkristo Bruce, senior, Washington State.
Tackles: Alan Branch, junior, Michigan; Amobi Okoye, senior, Louisville.
Linebackers: Dan Connor, junior, Penn State; Ameer Ismail, senior, Western Michigan; David Harris, senior, Michigan.
Cornerbacks: Aaron Ross, senior, Texas; Ryan Smith, senior, Florida.
Safeties: Eric Weddle, senior, Utah; Michael Griffin, senior, Texas.
Punter: Durant Brooks, junior, Georgia Tech.
Third-team offense
Quarterback: Colt Brennan, junior, Hawaii.
Running backs: Ian Johnson, sophomore, Boise State; Garrett Wolfe, senior, Northern Illinois.
Wide receivers: Robert Meachem, junior, Tennessee; Johnnie Lee Higgins, senior, UTEP.
Tight end: Jonny Harline, senior, BYU.
Tackles: Levi Brown, senior, Penn State; Tony Ugoh, senior, Arkansas.
Guards: Kurt Quarterman, senior, Louisville; Nathan Bennett, senior, Clemson.
Center: Jonathan Luigs, sophomore, Arkansas.
Kicker: Mason Crosby, senior, Colorado.
All-purpose player: Sammie Stroughter, junior, Oregon State.
Third-team defense
Ends: Quentin Moses, senior, Georgia; Anthony Spencer, senior, Purdue.
Tackles: Jay Alford, senior, Penn State; Eric Foster, junior, Rutgers.
Linebackers: H.B. Blades, senior, Pittsburgh; Rufus Alexander, senior, Oklahoma; Brandon Siler, junior, Florida.
Cornerbacks: Dwight Lowery, junior, San Jose State; Brandon Flowers, sophomore, Virginia Tech.
Safeties: Tra Battle, senior, Georgia; Tom Zbikowski, senior, Notre Dame.
Punter: Jeremy Kapinos, senior, Penn State.
