The 1961 Little All-America college football team was composed of college football players from small colleges and universities who were selected by the Associated Press (AP) as the best players at each position. For 1961, the AP selected three teams of 11 players each, with no separate defensive platoons.
Halfback Leroy Jackson of Western Illinois finished third in the NCAA in the 100-yard dash and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the first round (11th overall pick) of the 1962 NFL draft.
Back Joe Iacone of West Chester was the only junior selected for the first team. He repeated as a first-team player in 1962.
First team Position Player Team B Leroy Jackson Western Illinois Bobby Jancik Lamar Tech Gary Snadon Pittsburg State Joe Iacone West Chester E Drew Roberts Humboldt State Powell McClellan Arkansas Tech T Ray Jacobs Howard Payne David Baxter Tennessee Tech G Dan Lewis Wofford Wendell Williams State College of Iowa C Curtis Miranda Florida A&M
Second team Position Player Team B Carey Henley Chattanooga Donald Lee Smith Langston Sid Blanks Texas A&I Joe Thorne South Dakota State E Paul Blazevich Omaha John Murlo Whitworth T Frank Annweiler Texas Lutheran Dave Kemna Wheaton (IL) G Douglas Brown Fresno State James Lightner Coast Guard C Terry Fohs Washington & Lee
Third team Position Player Team B Kenneth Fults Tennessee Tech Dennis Spurlock Whitworth Steve Beguin Linfield Roy Curry Jackson State E John Budde Carroll (WI) Stuart Hall Willamette T John Lamoski Western Michigan Paul Abodeely Amherst G Al Sandona Northern Michigan Charles Speleotis Bowdoin C Michael Reilly Williams
See also 1961 College Football All-America Team
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