Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa & Clemson’s Christian Wilkins Headline 2018 FBS Coaches’ All-America Teams
December 12, 2018
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Clemson defensive lineman Christian Wilkins headline the 2018 AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Teams announced today by the American Football Coaches Association.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.
RELATED ARTICLE: 2018 Division II Coaches’ All-America Teams
RELATED ARTICLE: 2018 Division III Coaches’ All-America Teams
Tagovailoa, the 2018 Maxwell Award winner, has thrown for 3,353 yards and a school record 37 touchdowns with only four interceptions. Named The Sporting News and Walter Camp Player of the Year, Tagovailoa passed for 300 or more yards an Alabama-record five times in 2018 and has five games with four or more touchdown passes, which is also a school record. Wilkins became the third student-athlete ever to be named to three straight AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Teams, joining Houston’s Ed Oliver, who achieved the feat this year as well, and the great Herschel Walker of Georgia. Wilkins recorded 52 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and two rushing touchdowns in 2018.
2018 AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Teams – First Team
Offense
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
WR Jerry Jeudy 6-1 192 So. Alabama Nick Saban Deerfield Beach, Fla. (Deerfield Beach)
WR Andy Isabella 5-10 190 Sr. Massachusetts Mark Whipple Mayfield, Ohio (Mayfield)
TE T.J. Hockenson 6-5 250 So. Iowa Kirk Ferentz Chariton, Iowa (Chariton)
OL *Jonah Williams 6-5 301 Jr. Alabama Nick Saban Folsom, Calif. (Folsom)
OL *Mitch Hyatt 6-5 310 Sr. Clemson Dabo Swinney Suwanee, Ga. (North Gwinnett)
C Garrett Bradbury 6-3 300 Gr. NC State Dave Doeren Charlotte, N.C. (Christian)
OL Beau Benzschawel 6-6 315 Sr. Wisconsin Paul Chryst Grafton, Wis. (Grafton)
OL Ben Powers 6-4 313 Sr. Oklahoma Lincoln Riley Wichita, Kan. (Kapaun Mt. Carmel)
QB Tua Tagovailoa 6-1 218 So. Alabama Nick Saban Ewa Beach, Hawaii (St. Louis)
RB Jonathan Taylor 5-11 221 So. Wisconsin Paul Chryst Salem, N.J. (Salem)
RB Darrell Henderson 5-9 200 Jr. Memphis Mike Norvell Batesville, Miss. (South Panola)
Defense
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
DL Quinnen Williams 6-4 295 R-So. Alabama Nick Saban Birmingham, Ala. (Wenonah)
DL Clelin Ferrell 6-4 265 R-Jr. Clemson Dabo Swinney Richmond, Va. (Benedictine College Prep)
DL #Christian Wilkins 6-4 315 Gr. Clemson Dabo Swinney Springfield, Mass. (Suffield (Conn.) Academy)
DL Dexter Lawrence 6-4 350 Jr. Clemson Dabo Swinney Wake Forest, N.C. (Wake Forest)
LB Josh Allen 6-5 260 Sr. Kentucky Mark Stoops Montclair, N.J. (Montclair)
LB Devin Bush 5-11 233 Jr. Michigan Jim Harbaugh Pembroke Pines, Fla. (Flanagan)
LB Devin White 6-1 240 Jr. LSU Ed Orgeron Springhill, La. (North Webster)
DB Deandre Baker 5-11 185 Sr. Georgia Kirby Smart Miami, Fla. (Miami Northwestern)
DB Greedy Williams 6-3 184 So. LSU Ed Orgeron Shreveport, La. (Calvary Baptist Academy)
DB Deionte Thompson 6-2 196 R-Jr. Alabama Nick Saban Orange, Texas (West Orange-Stark)
DB Grant Delpit 6-3 203 So. LSU Ed Orgeron Houston, Texas (IMG Academy)
Specialist
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
P Braden Mann 5-11 190 Jr. Texas A&M Jimbo Fisher Houston, Texas (Cy-Fair)
PK Andre Szmyt 6-1 195 R-Fr. Syracuse Dino Babers Vernon Hills, Ill. (Vernon Hills)
AP Deebo Samuel 6-0 210 R-Sr. South Carolina Will Muschamp Inman, S.C. (Chapman)
*–2017 AFCA All-American #–2016 & 2017 AFCA All-American
2018 AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Teams – Second Team
Offense
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
WR Marquise Brown 5-10 168 Jr. Oklahoma Lincoln Riley Hollywood, Fla. (Chaminade Madonna)
WR *David Sills V 6-4 210 Sr. West Virginia Dana Holgorsen Wilmington, Del. (Eastern Christian Academy)
TE Irv Smith Jr. 6-4 241 Jr. Alabama Nick Saban New Orleans, La. (Brother Martin)
OL Michael Deiter 6-6 310 Sr. Wisconsin Paul Chryst Curtice, Ohio (Genoa)
OL Dalton Risner 6-5 308 Sr. Kansas State Bill Snyder Wiggins, Colo. (Wiggins)
C Sam Mustipher 6-3 306 Gr. Notre Dame Brian Kelly Owings Mills, Md. (Good Counsel)
OL Chris Lindstrom 6-4 310 Sr. Boston College Steve Addazio Dudley, Mass. (Shepherd Hill)
OL Dru Samia 6-5 303 Sr. Oklahoma Lincoln Riley Sacramento, Calif. (River City)
QB Kyler Murray 5-10 195 R-Jr. Oklahoma Lincoln Riley Allen, Texas (Allen)
RB Travis Etienne 5-10 200 So. Clemson Dabo Swinney Jennings, La. (Jennings)
RB Benny Snell Jr. 5-11 223 Jr. Kentucky Mark Stoops Westerville, Ohio (Central)
Defense
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
DL #Ed Oliver 6-3 292 Jr. Houston Major Applewhite Houston, Texas (Westfield)
DL Isaiah Buggs 6-5 286 Sr. Alabama Nick Saban Ruston, La. (Ruston)
DL *Sutton Smith 6-1 237 R-Jr. Northern Illinois Rod Carey Saint Charles, Mo. (Francis Howell)
DL Chase Winovich 6-3 255 Sr. Michigan Jim Harbaugh Jefferson Hills, Pa. (Thomas Jefferson)
LB Mack Wilson 6-2 239 Jr. Alabama Nick Saban Montgomery, Ala. (Carver)
LB Ben Burr-Kirven 6-0 221 Sr. Washington Chris Petersen Menlo Park, Calif. (Sacred Heart Prep)
LB Tre Lamar 6-4 255 Jr. Clemson Dabo Swinney Roswell, Ga. (Roswell)
DB Julian Love 5-11 193 Jr. Notre Dame Brian Kelly Westchester, Ill (Nazareth)
DB Trayvon Mullen 6-1 195 Jr. Clemson Dabo Swinney Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Coconut Creek)
DB Hamp Cheevers 5-10 180 Jr. Boston College Steve Addazio Trenton, Fla. (Trenton)
DB Johnathan Abram 6-0 215 Sr. Mississippi State Joe Moorhead Columbia, Miss. (East Marion)
Specialist
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
P ^Mitch Wishnowsky 6-2 220 Sr. Utah Kyle Whittingham Perth, Australia (Lumen Christi)
PK *Cole Tracy 5-11 188 Sr. LSU Ed Orgeron Camarillo, Calif. (Newbury Park)
AP Savon Scarver 5-11 185 So. Utah State Matt Wells Las Vegas, Nev. (Centennial)
*–2017 AFCA All-American #–2016 & 2017 AFCA All-American ^–2016 AFCA All-American
Team Background
The teams now chosen for each of the AFCA’s five divisions evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through 1971, two teams, University Division and College Division, were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — Division I-A and Division I-AA. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III, respectively. In 2006, the Division I-A and Division I-AA teams were renamed Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), respectively. The AFCA started selecting an NAIA All-America Team in 2006. In 2016, the AFCA added a second team All-America.
Top Team
With their record eight selections in 2018, Alabama has had the most players named to the AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Team. The Crimson Tide has been represented 82 times by 77 players on the AFCA team. They are followed by Oklahoma (70/61); Ohio State (67/51); Notre Dame (63/56); Michigan (61/55); USC (58/51); Nebraska (51/46); Texas (51/45); Florida State (41/37); LSU (39/35); Georgia (39/33); UCLA (36/34); Miami (Fla.) (34/33); Auburn (34/32); Penn State (34/32) and Tennessee (32/30).
Top Conference
The Southeastern Conference boasts the most AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Team representatives among current conference members with 320. Following the SEC are the Big 12 (290), Big Ten (288), Atlantic Coast (215), Pac-12 (211), American Athletic (76), Mountain West (58), Conference USA (51), Sun Belt (40) and Mid-American (34) (Totals include school All-America selections in all divisions).
The 2018 conference-by-conference breakdown
SEC: 18; ACC: 11; Big Ten: 6; Big 12: 6; IND: 3; AAC: 2; Pac-12: 2; MAC: 1; MWC: 1.
Repeat After Me
Ohio State has the most players who have been repeat selections (16 players). The Buckeyes are followed by Oklahoma (9); Notre Dame (7); USC (7); Texas (6); Michigan (6); Alabama (5); Arkansas (5); Georgia (5); Nebraska (5); Florida State (4); LSU (4) and Stanford (4).
Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams, Clemson offensive lineman Mitch Hyatt, West Virginia wide receiver David Sills V and Northern Illinois defensive lineman Sutton Smith earned AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America honors for a second consecutive season in 2018. Utah punter Mitch Wishnowsky earned his second AFCA All-America honor after being named to the 2016 team.
Three-Timer
Clemson’s Christian Wilkins and Houston’s Ed Oliver join Georgia’s Herschel Walker as the only three-time AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-Americans in the 74-year history of the team. Walker earned his All-America honors from 1980 to 1982, while Wilkins and Oliver earned their picks from 2016 to 2018.
Four For Four
No player has earned AFCA FBS All-America honors four times, however Eastern Washington’s Cooper Kupp and Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Johnny Bailey are the only players to earn AFCA Coaches’ All-America honors in four consecutive years at any level. Bailey was a four-year pick at running back in Division II from 1986 to 1989 while Kupp earned his honors in FCS from 2013 to 2016.
Double Duos
Teammates have earned back-to-back Coaches’ All-America honors in the same season eight times. Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick and JK Scott (2016 and 2017) join USC’s Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush (2004 and 2005); Army’s Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard (1945 and 1946); Notre Dame’s George Connor and Johnny Lujack (1946 and 1947); Michigan State’s Bubba Smith and George Webster (1966 and 1967); Ohio State’s Jack Tatum and Jim Stillwagon (1969 and 1970); Notre Dame’s Ken MacAfee and Ross Browner (1976 and 1977) and Colorado’s Joe Garten and Alfred Williams (1989 and 1990).
Two Players, Two Schools: Placekicker Cole Tracy joins punter Mark Bounds and placekicker Greg Zuerlein as the only players to earn AFCA Coaches’ All-America honors at two different schools. Tracy earned second team AFCA All-America honors in Division II at Assumption College in 2017, then transferred to LSU in 2018 and earned second team FBS All-America honors. Bounds was named to the AFCA College Division I team in 1990 while playing for West Texas A&M. He transferred to Texas Tech after West Texas dropped football and earned I-A All-America honors as a Red Raider in 1991. Zuerlein was named to the Division II Coaches’ All-America Team in 2009 while playing for Nebraska-Omaha. He transferred to Missouri Western State after Nebraska-Omaha dropped its football program and earned AFCA Division II honors in 2011 as a Griffon.
Consecutive Years
Notre Dame holds the record for consecutive years with at least one player on the AFCA Coaches’ All-America Team at 19 seasons (1963-1981). Nebraska had at least one player 12 straight seasons (1978-1989), which places the Cornhuskers second. Michigan (1969-1979), Oklahoma (1971-1981), USC (1972-82) and Miami (Fla.) (1984-1994) are next with 11 straight seasons. Pittsburgh placed one player on the AFCA team for 10 straight seasons from 1975-1984. Alabama has the longest current active streak at eight years (2011-18).
It’s Been A While
Linebacker Josh Allen and running back Benny Snell, Jr. earned AFCA Coaches’ All-America Team honors for Kentucky for the first time since 1977 when Art Still was named as an end.
Excellent Eight
Alabama’s eight selections (Jerry Jeudy, WR; Jonah Williams, OL; Tua Tagovailoa, QB; Quinnen Williams, DL; Deionte Thompson, DB; Irv Smith Jr., TE; Isaiah Buggs, DL; Mack Wilson, LB) in 2018 are the most players from any one school on a single AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Team.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
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Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Clemson defensive lineman Christian Wilkins headline the 2018 AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Teams announced today by the American Football Coaches Association.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.
RELATED ARTICLE: 2018 Division II Coaches’ All-America Teams
RELATED ARTICLE: 2018 Division III Coaches’ All-America Teams
Tagovailoa, the 2018 Maxwell Award winner, has thrown for 3,353 yards and a school record 37 touchdowns with only four interceptions. Named The Sporting News and Walter Camp Player of the Year, Tagovailoa passed for 300 or more yards an Alabama-record five times in 2018 and has five games with four or more touchdown passes, which is also a school record. Wilkins became the third student-athlete ever to be named to three straight AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Teams, joining Houston’s Ed Oliver, who achieved the feat this year as well, and the great Herschel Walker of Georgia. Wilkins recorded 52 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and two rushing touchdowns in 2018.
2018 AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Teams – First Team
Offense
| Pos | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | School | Coach | Hometown (High School) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | Jerry Jeudy | 6-1 | 192 | So. | Alabama | Nick Saban | Deerfield Beach, Fla. (Deerfield Beach) |
| WR | Andy Isabella | 5-10 | 190 | Sr. | Massachusetts | Mark Whipple | Mayfield, Ohio (Mayfield) |
| TE | T.J. Hockenson | 6-5 | 250 | So. | Iowa | Kirk Ferentz | Chariton, Iowa (Chariton) |
| OL | *Jonah Williams | 6-5 | 301 | Jr. | Alabama | Nick Saban | Folsom, Calif. (Folsom) |
| OL | *Mitch Hyatt | 6-5 | 310 | Sr. | Clemson | Dabo Swinney | Suwanee, Ga. (North Gwinnett) |
| C | Garrett Bradbury | 6-3 | 300 | Gr. | NC State | Dave Doeren | Charlotte, N.C. (Christian) |
| OL | Beau Benzschawel | 6-6 | 315 | Sr. | Wisconsin | Paul Chryst | Grafton, Wis. (Grafton) |
| OL | Ben Powers | 6-4 | 313 | Sr. | Oklahoma | Lincoln Riley | Wichita, Kan. (Kapaun Mt. Carmel) |
| QB | Tua Tagovailoa | 6-1 | 218 | So. | Alabama | Nick Saban | Ewa Beach, Hawaii (St. Louis) |
| RB | Jonathan Taylor | 5-11 | 221 | So. | Wisconsin | Paul Chryst | Salem, N.J. (Salem) |
| RB | Darrell Henderson | 5-9 | 200 | Jr. | Memphis | Mike Norvell | Batesville, Miss. (South Panola) |
Defense
| Pos | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | School | Coach | Hometown (High School) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL | Quinnen Williams | 6-4 | 295 | R-So. | Alabama | Nick Saban | Birmingham, Ala. (Wenonah) |
| DL | Clelin Ferrell | 6-4 | 265 | R-Jr. | Clemson | Dabo Swinney | Richmond, Va. (Benedictine College Prep) |
| DL | #Christian Wilkins | 6-4 | 315 | Gr. | Clemson | Dabo Swinney | Springfield, Mass. (Suffield (Conn.) Academy) |
| DL | Dexter Lawrence | 6-4 | 350 | Jr. | Clemson | Dabo Swinney | Wake Forest, N.C. (Wake Forest) |
| LB | Josh Allen | 6-5 | 260 | Sr. | Kentucky | Mark Stoops | Montclair, N.J. (Montclair) |
| LB | Devin Bush | 5-11 | 233 | Jr. | Michigan | Jim Harbaugh | Pembroke Pines, Fla. (Flanagan) |
| LB | Devin White | 6-1 | 240 | Jr. | LSU | Ed Orgeron | Springhill, La. (North Webster) |
| DB | Deandre Baker | 5-11 | 185 | Sr. | Georgia | Kirby Smart | Miami, Fla. (Miami Northwestern) |
| DB | Greedy Williams | 6-3 | 184 | So. | LSU | Ed Orgeron | Shreveport, La. (Calvary Baptist Academy) |
| DB | Deionte Thompson | 6-2 | 196 | R-Jr. | Alabama | Nick Saban | Orange, Texas (West Orange-Stark) |
| DB | Grant Delpit | 6-3 | 203 | So. | LSU | Ed Orgeron | Houston, Texas (IMG Academy) |
Specialist
| Pos | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | School | Coach | Hometown (High School) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Braden Mann | 5-11 | 190 | Jr. | Texas A&M | Jimbo Fisher | Houston, Texas (Cy-Fair) |
| PK | Andre Szmyt | 6-1 | 195 | R-Fr. | Syracuse | Dino Babers | Vernon Hills, Ill. (Vernon Hills) |
| AP | Deebo Samuel | 6-0 | 210 | R-Sr. | South Carolina | Will Muschamp | Inman, S.C. (Chapman) |
*–2017 AFCA All-American #–2016 & 2017 AFCA All-American
2018 AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Teams – Second Team
Offense
| Pos | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | School | Coach | Hometown (High School) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | Marquise Brown | 5-10 | 168 | Jr. | Oklahoma | Lincoln Riley | Hollywood, Fla. (Chaminade Madonna) |
| WR | *David Sills V | 6-4 | 210 | Sr. | West Virginia | Dana Holgorsen | Wilmington, Del. (Eastern Christian Academy) |
| TE | Irv Smith Jr. | 6-4 | 241 | Jr. | Alabama | Nick Saban | New Orleans, La. (Brother Martin) |
| OL | Michael Deiter | 6-6 | 310 | Sr. | Wisconsin | Paul Chryst | Curtice, Ohio (Genoa) |
| OL | Dalton Risner | 6-5 | 308 | Sr. | Kansas State | Bill Snyder | Wiggins, Colo. (Wiggins) |
| C | Sam Mustipher | 6-3 | 306 | Gr. | Notre Dame | Brian Kelly | Owings Mills, Md. (Good Counsel) |
| OL | Chris Lindstrom | 6-4 | 310 | Sr. | Boston College | Steve Addazio | Dudley, Mass. (Shepherd Hill) |
| OL | Dru Samia | 6-5 | 303 | Sr. | Oklahoma | Lincoln Riley | Sacramento, Calif. (River City) |
| QB | Kyler Murray | 5-10 | 195 | R-Jr. | Oklahoma | Lincoln Riley | Allen, Texas (Allen) |
| RB | Travis Etienne | 5-10 | 200 | So. | Clemson | Dabo Swinney | Jennings, La. (Jennings) |
| RB | Benny Snell Jr. | 5-11 | 223 | Jr. | Kentucky | Mark Stoops | Westerville, Ohio (Central) |
Defense
| Pos | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | School | Coach | Hometown (High School) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL | #Ed Oliver | 6-3 | 292 | Jr. | Houston | Major Applewhite | Houston, Texas (Westfield) |
| DL | Isaiah Buggs | 6-5 | 286 | Sr. | Alabama | Nick Saban | Ruston, La. (Ruston) |
| DL | *Sutton Smith | 6-1 | 237 | R-Jr. | Northern Illinois | Rod Carey | Saint Charles, Mo. (Francis Howell) |
| DL | Chase Winovich | 6-3 | 255 | Sr. | Michigan | Jim Harbaugh | Jefferson Hills, Pa. (Thomas Jefferson) |
| LB | Mack Wilson | 6-2 | 239 | Jr. | Alabama | Nick Saban | Montgomery, Ala. (Carver) |
| LB | Ben Burr-Kirven | 6-0 | 221 | Sr. | Washington | Chris Petersen | Menlo Park, Calif. (Sacred Heart Prep) |
| LB | Tre Lamar | 6-4 | 255 | Jr. | Clemson | Dabo Swinney | Roswell, Ga. (Roswell) |
| DB | Julian Love | 5-11 | 193 | Jr. | Notre Dame | Brian Kelly | Westchester, Ill (Nazareth) |
| DB | Trayvon Mullen | 6-1 | 195 | Jr. | Clemson | Dabo Swinney | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Coconut Creek) |
| DB | Hamp Cheevers | 5-10 | 180 | Jr. | Boston College | Steve Addazio | Trenton, Fla. (Trenton) |
| DB | Johnathan Abram | 6-0 | 215 | Sr. | Mississippi State | Joe Moorhead | Columbia, Miss. (East Marion) |
Specialist
| Pos | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | School | Coach | Hometown (High School) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | ^Mitch Wishnowsky | 6-2 | 220 | Sr. | Utah | Kyle Whittingham | Perth, Australia (Lumen Christi) |
| PK | *Cole Tracy | 5-11 | 188 | Sr. | LSU | Ed Orgeron | Camarillo, Calif. (Newbury Park) |
| AP | Savon Scarver | 5-11 | 185 | So. | Utah State | Matt Wells | Las Vegas, Nev. (Centennial) |
*–2017 AFCA All-American #–2016 & 2017 AFCA All-American ^–2016 AFCA All-American
Team Background
The teams now chosen for each of the AFCA’s five divisions evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through 1971, two teams, University Division and College Division, were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — Division I-A and Division I-AA. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III, respectively. In 2006, the Division I-A and Division I-AA teams were renamed Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), respectively. The AFCA started selecting an NAIA All-America Team in 2006. In 2016, the AFCA added a second team All-America.
Top Team
With their record eight selections in 2018, Alabama has had the most players named to the AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Team. The Crimson Tide has been represented 82 times by 77 players on the AFCA team. They are followed by Oklahoma (70/61); Ohio State (67/51); Notre Dame (63/56); Michigan (61/55); USC (58/51); Nebraska (51/46); Texas (51/45); Florida State (41/37); LSU (39/35); Georgia (39/33); UCLA (36/34); Miami (Fla.) (34/33); Auburn (34/32); Penn State (34/32) and Tennessee (32/30).
Top Conference
The Southeastern Conference boasts the most AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Team representatives among current conference members with 320. Following the SEC are the Big 12 (290), Big Ten (288), Atlantic Coast (215), Pac-12 (211), American Athletic (76), Mountain West (58), Conference USA (51), Sun Belt (40) and Mid-American (34) (Totals include school All-America selections in all divisions).
The 2018 conference-by-conference breakdown
SEC: 18; ACC: 11; Big Ten: 6; Big 12: 6; IND: 3; AAC: 2; Pac-12: 2; MAC: 1; MWC: 1.
Repeat After Me
Ohio State has the most players who have been repeat selections (16 players). The Buckeyes are followed by Oklahoma (9); Notre Dame (7); USC (7); Texas (6); Michigan (6); Alabama (5); Arkansas (5); Georgia (5); Nebraska (5); Florida State (4); LSU (4) and Stanford (4).
Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams, Clemson offensive lineman Mitch Hyatt, West Virginia wide receiver David Sills V and Northern Illinois defensive lineman Sutton Smith earned AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America honors for a second consecutive season in 2018. Utah punter Mitch Wishnowsky earned his second AFCA All-America honor after being named to the 2016 team.
Three-Timer
Clemson’s Christian Wilkins and Houston’s Ed Oliver join Georgia’s Herschel Walker as the only three-time AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-Americans in the 74-year history of the team. Walker earned his All-America honors from 1980 to 1982, while Wilkins and Oliver earned their picks from 2016 to 2018.
Four For Four
No player has earned AFCA FBS All-America honors four times, however Eastern Washington’s Cooper Kupp and Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Johnny Bailey are the only players to earn AFCA Coaches’ All-America honors in four consecutive years at any level. Bailey was a four-year pick at running back in Division II from 1986 to 1989 while Kupp earned his honors in FCS from 2013 to 2016.
Double Duos
Teammates have earned back-to-back Coaches’ All-America honors in the same season eight times. Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick and JK Scott (2016 and 2017) join USC’s Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush (2004 and 2005); Army’s Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard (1945 and 1946); Notre Dame’s George Connor and Johnny Lujack (1946 and 1947); Michigan State’s Bubba Smith and George Webster (1966 and 1967); Ohio State’s Jack Tatum and Jim Stillwagon (1969 and 1970); Notre Dame’s Ken MacAfee and Ross Browner (1976 and 1977) and Colorado’s Joe Garten and Alfred Williams (1989 and 1990).
Two Players, Two Schools: Placekicker Cole Tracy joins punter Mark Bounds and placekicker Greg Zuerlein as the only players to earn AFCA Coaches’ All-America honors at two different schools. Tracy earned second team AFCA All-America honors in Division II at Assumption College in 2017, then transferred to LSU in 2018 and earned second team FBS All-America honors. Bounds was named to the AFCA College Division I team in 1990 while playing for West Texas A&M. He transferred to Texas Tech after West Texas dropped football and earned I-A All-America honors as a Red Raider in 1991. Zuerlein was named to the Division II Coaches’ All-America Team in 2009 while playing for Nebraska-Omaha. He transferred to Missouri Western State after Nebraska-Omaha dropped its football program and earned AFCA Division II honors in 2011 as a Griffon.
Consecutive Years
Notre Dame holds the record for consecutive years with at least one player on the AFCA Coaches’ All-America Team at 19 seasons (1963-1981). Nebraska had at least one player 12 straight seasons (1978-1989), which places the Cornhuskers second. Michigan (1969-1979), Oklahoma (1971-1981), USC (1972-82) and Miami (Fla.) (1984-1994) are next with 11 straight seasons. Pittsburgh placed one player on the AFCA team for 10 straight seasons from 1975-1984. Alabama has the longest current active streak at eight years (2011-18).
It’s Been A While
Linebacker Josh Allen and running back Benny Snell, Jr. earned AFCA Coaches’ All-America Team honors for Kentucky for the first time since 1977 when Art Still was named as an end.
Excellent Eight
Alabama’s eight selections (Jerry Jeudy, WR; Jonah Williams, OL; Tua Tagovailoa, QB; Quinnen Williams, DL; Deionte Thompson, DB; Irv Smith Jr., TE; Isaiah Buggs, DL; Mack Wilson, LB) in 2018 are the most players from any one school on a single AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Team.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
