The 1973 All-America college football 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 1973. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recognizes six selectors as "official" for the 1973 season. They are: (1) the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) which selected its team for Kodak based on a vote of the nation's coaches; (2) the Associated Press (AP) selected based on the votes of sports writers at AP newspapers; (3) the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) selected by the nation's football writers; (4) the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) selected based on the votes of sports writers at NEA newspapers; (5) the United Press International (UPI) selected based on the votes of sports writers at UPI newspapers; and (6) the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WC).

Five players are recognized by the NCAA as unanimous All-America selections. They are: (1) running back and 1973 Heisman Trophy winner John Cappelletti of Penn State; (2) offensive tackle John Hicks of Ohio State; (3) defensive end John Dutton of Nebraska; (4) middle guard Lucious Selmon of Oklahoma; and (5) linebacker Randy Gradishar of Ohio State.

Consensus All-Americans The following chart identifies the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans for the year 1973 and displays which first-team designations they received.

Name Position School NumberThis column lists the number of selectors choosing the player as a first-team All-American as follows: official selectors/other selectors/total selectors. Official OtherJohn CappellettiRunning backPenn State6/3/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WCFN, Time, TSNJohn DuttonDefensive endNebraska6/3/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WCFN, Time, TSNRandy GradisharLinebackerOhio State6/3/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WCFN, Time, TSNJohn HicksOffensive guardOhio State6/3/9AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WCFN, Time, TSNMike TownsendDefensive backNotre Dame5/3/8AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WCFN, Time, TSNLynn SwannWide receiverUSC5/3/8AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPIFN, Time, TSNLucious SelmonMiddle guardOklahoma6/1/7AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WCFNBill WymanCenterTexas6/1/7AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WCFNDave GallagherDefensive endMichigan5/2/7AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, WCTime, TSNDavid JaynesQuarterbackKansas4/3/7AFCA, AP, UPI, WCFN, Time, TSNRoosevelt LeaksRunning backTexas5/1/6AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WCFNBooker BrownOffensive guardUSC3/3/6AFCA, FWAA, NEAFN, Time, TSNDave CasperTight endNotre Dame5/0/5AFCA, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC--Richard WoodLinebackerUSC4/1/5AFCA, AP, UPI, WCFNBill YoestOffensive tackleNC State4/1/5AP, FWAA, UPI, WCFNBuddy BrownOffensive tackleAlabama4/0/4AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI--Rod ShoateLinebackerOklahoma3/1/4AFCA, AP, NEAFNArtimus ParkerDefensive backUSC3/1/4AP, UPI, WCTimeDave BrownDefensive backMichigan3/0/3AFCA, FWAA, UPI--Randy RhinoDefensive backGeorgia Tech3/0/3AFCA, UPI, WC--Woody GreenRunning backArizona State2/1/3AFCA, WCTSNKermit JohnsonRunning backUCLA2/1/3FWAA, NEAFNTony CristianiMiddle guardMiami (FL)2/0/2FWAA, WC--

Offense

Receivers

Lynn Swann, USC (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, Time, TSN) Wayne Wheeler, Alabama (WC, FN, TSN) Danny Buggs, West Virginia (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-2) John Holland, Tennessee State (Time) Hank Cook, New Mexico State (AP-3) Pat McInally, Harvard (NEA-2)

Tight ends

Dave Casper, Notre Dame (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, WC) Andre Tillman, Texas Tech (AP-1) J.V. Cain, Colorado (NEA-2, Time, TSN) Randy Grossman, Temple (AP-3) Paul Seal, Michigan (UPI-2)

Tackles

John Hicks, Ohio St. (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, WC, FN, Time, TSN) Booker Brown, USC (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, NEA-1 [OG], UPI-2 [OG], FN [OG], Time, TSN [OG]) Daryl White, Nebraska (AFCA, AP-2, NEA-2 [OG], UPI-1, FN, TSN [OG]) Steve Riley, USC (Time, TSN) Al Oliver, UCLA (NEA-1) Henry Lawrence, Florida A. & M (NEA-2 [OG], Time) Eddie Foster, Oklahoma (WC) Charlie Getty, Penn State (AP-3, UPI-2 [OG]) Jim O'Connor, Arizona (AP-3)

Guards

Buddy Brown, Alabama (AFCA, AP-1 [OT], FWAA, UPI-1) Bill Yoest, N.C. State (AP-1, FWAA, NEA-2 [OT], UPI-1, WC, FN) Tyler Lafauci, LSU (AFCA, AP-1, NEA-1) Mark Markovich, Penn State (AP-2, UPI-2) Dave Manning, Utah State (AP-2) Frank Pomarico, Notre Dame (UPI-2) Dave Lapham, Syracuse (AP-3) Willie Viney, Pacific (AP-3)

Centers

Bill Wyman, Texas (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, WC, FN) Scott Anderson, Missouri (AP-3, NEA-2, UPI-2, Time) Steve Corbett, Boston College (TSN) Steve Taylor, Auburn (AP-2)

Quarterbacks

David Jaynes, Kansas (AFCA, AP-1, NEA-2, UPI-1, WC, FN, Time, TSN) Danny White, Arizona State (AP-2, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-2) Jesse Freitas, San Diego State (AP-3)

Running backs

John Cappelletti, Penn St. (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, WC, FN, Time, TSN) Roosevelt Leaks, Texas (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-2, UPI-1, WC, FN) Woody Green, Arizona St. (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-2, WC, TSN) Kermit Johnson, UCLA (AP-2, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-2, FN) Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh (AP-1, NEA-1, UPI-2) Bo Matthews, Colorado (Time) Archie Griffin, Ohio State (AP-2, NEA-2, UPI-1) Sonny Collins, Kentucky (NEA-2) Dickey Morton, Arkansas (AP-3) Barty Smith, Richmond (AP-3) Joe Washington, Oklahoma (AP-3)

Defense

Defensive ends

John Dutton, Nebraska (AP-1 [DT], UPI-1 [DT], NEA-1, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN [DT], Time, FN [DT]) Dave Gallagher, Michigan (AP-1 [DT], NEA-1, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN [DT], Time) Van DeCree, Ohio State (UPI-1, FN) Roger Stillwell, Stanford (UPI-1, FN) Pat Donovan, Stanford (AP-1) Randy White, Maryland (AP-1) Fred McNeill, UCLA (TSN)

Defensive tackles

Ed Jones, Tennessee State (NEA-1, TSN [DE], Time) Randy Crowder, Penn State (UPI-1, FN) Bill Kollar, Montana State (NEA-1, Time) Paul Vellano, Maryland (AFCA) Charlie Hall, Tulane (WC)

Middle guards

Lucious Selmon, Oklahoma (AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC, AFCA, FWAA, FN) Tony Cristiani, Miami (FL) (WC, FWAA)

Linebackers

Randy Gradishar, Ohio St. (AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, Time, FN) Richard Wood, USC (AP-1, UPI-1, WC, AFCA, FN) Rod Shoate, Oklahoma (AP-1, NEA-1, AFCA, FN) Ed O'Neil, Penn State (WC, Time, TSN) Woodrow Lowe, Alabama (NEA-1, FWAA) Warren Capone, LSU (AFCA, FWAA) Waymond Bryant, Tennessee State (TSN, Time) Cleveland Vann, Oklahoma State (FWAA)

Defensive backs

Mike Townsend, Notre Dame (AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC, FWAA, TSN [S], Time, FN) Artimus Parker, USC (AP-1, UPI-1, WC, Time) Dave Brown, Michigan (UPI-1, AFCA, FWAA) Randy Rhino, Georgia Tech (UPI-1, WC, AFCA) Jimmy Allen, UCLA (AP-1, NEA-1) Jeris White, Hawaii (TSN [CB], Time) Matt Blair, Iowa St. (AFCA) John Moseley Missouri (FWAA) Bill Simpson, Michigan State (TSN [CB]) Carl Capria, Purdue (TSN [S]) Kenith Pope, Oklahoma (Time) Harry Harrison, Mississippi (NEA-1) Eddie Brown, Tennessee (FN) Alvin Brown, Oklahoma State (FN)

Special teams

Kickers

Ricky Townsend, Tennessee (FWAA, NEA-2) Efren Herrera, UCLA (TSN) Mike Lantry, Michigan (FN)

Punters

Chuck Ramsey Wake Forest, (FWAA, NEA-1 [K], Time, TSN)

Returners

Steve Odom, Utah (FWAA)

Key

Official selectors

Other selectors

See also 1973 All-Big Eight Conference football team 1973 All-Big Ten Conference football team 1973 All-Pacific-8 Conference football team 1973 All-SEC football team 1973 All-Southwest Conference football team

References