The 1978 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 1978. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recognizes four selectors as "official" for the 1978 season. They are: (1) the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) based on the input of more than 2,000 voting members; (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; and (4) the United Press International (UPI) selected based on the votes of sports writers at UPI newspapers. Other selectors included Football News (FN), the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), The Sporting News (TSN), and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WC).
Offense
Receivers
Emanuel Tolbert, SMU Kirk Gibson, Michigan State Gordon Jones, Pittsburgh Jerry Butler, Clemson Junior Miller, Nebraska Dave Petzke, Northern Illinois
Tight ends Kellen Winslow, Missouri Mark Brammer, Michigan State
Tackles
Keith Dorney, Penn St. Kelvin Clark, Nebraska Jeff Toews, Washington Matt Miller, Colorado Robert Dugas, LSU Anthony Muñoz, USC Greg Kolenda, Arkansas Craig Wolfley, Syracuse
Guards
Pat Howell, USC Greg Roberts, Oklahoma Joe Bostic, Clemson Pete Inge, San Diego State Steve Lindquist, Nebraska Brad Budde, USC Doug Panfil, Tulsa
Centers
Dave Huffman, Notre Dame Jim Ritcher, North Carolina St. Dwight Stephenson, Alabama Robert Shaw, Tennessee Chuck Brown, Houston
Quarterbacks
Chuck Fusina, Penn St. Rick Leach, Michigan Jack Thompson, Washington State Steve Dils, Stanford Steve Fuller, Clemson
Running backs
Billy Sims, Oklahoma Charles Alexander, LSU Charles White, USC Ted Brown, North Carolina State Eddie Lee Ivery, Georgia Tech Darrin Nelson, Stanford Willie McClendon, Georgia Obie Graves, Cal State Fullerton James Hadnot, Texas Tech Joseph H. Holland, Cornell
Defense
Defensive ends
Al Harris, Arizona St. Hugh Green, Pittsburgh Don Smith, Miami (Fla.) George Andrews, Nebraska Don Blackmon, Tulsa Willie Jones, Florida State John Adams, LSU Chuck Schott, Army
Defensive tackles
Mike Bell, Colorado St. Bruce Clark, Penn St. Marty Lyons, Alabama Matt Millen, Penn State Dan Hampton, Arkansas Jimmy Walker, Arkansas Mike Stensrud, Iowa State Ken Kremer, Ball State
Middle guards
Reggie Kinlaw, Oklahoma Manu Tuiasosopo, UCLA Ardis McCann, Louisiana Tech
Linebackers
Jerry Robinson, UCLA Tom Cousineau, Ohio State Bob Golic, Notre Dame Ken Fantetti, Wyoming Barry Krauss, Alabama George Cumby, Oklahima John Corker, Ohlahoma State Daryl Hunt, Oklahoma Michael Jackson, Washington Joe Norman, Indiana Jack Lazor, Kent State Frank Manumaleuga, San Jose State
Defensive backs
Johnnie Johnson, Texas Kenny Easley, UCLA Jeff Nixon, Richmond Lawrence Johnson, Wisconsin Henry Williams, San Diego St. Rick Sanford, South Carolina Pete Harris, Penn State Don Bessillieu, Georgia Tech Jeff Delaney, Pittsburgh Lovie Smith, Tulsa Russ Calabrese, Missouri Tim Smith, Oregon State Vaughn Lusby, Arkansas Jason Coloma, Brigham Young Nesby Glasgow, Washington Joe Restic, Notre Dame
Special teams
Kickers
Matt Bahr, Penn State Tony Franklin, Texas AM
Punters
Russell Erxleben, Texas Joe Restic, Notre Dame
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
See also 1978 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team 1978 All-Big Eight Conference football team 1978 All-Big Ten Conference football team 1978 All-Pacific-10 Conference football team 1978 All-SEC football team 1978 All-Southwest Conference football team
References