The Associated Press recently unveiled The All-Time All-America team to commemorate the 100th anniversary of recognizing the outstanding players in college football. This historic roster highlights the top athletes who have made a significant impact on the game since the award's inception in 1925. Both Ohio State and Pittsburgh garnered recognition with three players each on this distinguished team.
According to the AP, nearly 2,000 athletes have been named AP first-team All-Americans, a prestigious accolade in college football. The selection panel, comprised of 12 AP sports writers specializing in collegiate football coverage, emphasized that the team selection is subjective and should not be seen as definitive due to the sheer number of outstanding players who have featured throughout the century.
The Big Ten Conference led the way with seven selections, outperforming the Southeastern Conference, which had five players honored. Out of the 25 athletes named to the first team, five were Heisman Trophy winners, and 21 are enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. Additionally, two nominees from this year's selections are under consideration for induction in 2026, while two players are ineligible due to not being 10 years removed from their college careers.
For a player to be eligible for this all-time team, they needed to have been named an AP first-team All-American at least once during their college career, and their professional achievements were not taken into account. Players were only eligible to be listed on the side of the ball where they earned their first-team All-America honors, but those recognized as all-purpose players could come from any position.
One of the most notable selections was Florida's Tim Tebow, who edged out Vince Young from Texas for the all-time first-team quarterback position. Tebow captured the Heisman Trophy during his sophomore season in 2007 and played a pivotal role in leading the Gators to their second national championship in three years in 2008. He holds significant records in the Southeastern Conference, including the most career rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns responsible for.
The running back positions on the roster feature Barry Sanders from Oklahoma State, who won the Heisman in 1988, alongside Herschel Walker of Georgia, recognized as a three-time Heisman winner in 1980, 1981, and 1982. The wide receiver slots include Randy Moss from Marshall and Larry Fitzgerald from Pittsburgh, both of whom had illustrious collegiate careers.
The offensive line is composed of standout players such as Orlando Pace from Ohio State and Bill Fralic from Pittsburgh at the tackle positions, with John Hannah from Alabama and Jim Parker from Ohio State at guard. The center position is filled by Chuck Bednarik from Penn, and the tight end role is taken by Brock Bowers from Georgia, who is recognized for his performance in 2023.
On the defensive front, the ends consist of Hugh Green from Pittsburgh and Randy White from Maryland. The tackles are represented by Ndamukong Suh from Nebraska and Bronko Nagurski from Minnesota. Linebackers include Dick Butkus from Illinois, Derrick Thomas from Alabama, and Chris Spielman from Ohio State. The secondary comprises cornerbacks Charles Woodson from Michigan and Deion Sanders from Florida State, along with safeties Ronnie Lott from Southern California and Ed Reed from Miami.
Specialists also received recognition with kicker Sebastian Janikowski from Florida State and punter Tory Taylor from Iowa rounding out the list. However, the selection has sparked discussions regarding omissions, including the exclusion of famous athletes such as Anthony Munoz, widely regarded as one of the greatest offensive linemen, and Ray Guy, the only punter ever selected in the first round of an NFL Draft, who was not recognized due to the lack of punter inclusion in the AP All-America teams before 1981.
The second team featured talented players such as DeVonta Smith and Desmond Howard as wide receivers, along with a mix of recognized names across other positions, demonstrating the depth of talent present in college football over the years. With a careful reflection on players' collegiate careers and achievements, this retrospective honors the legacy of legends that have shaped the game and provided fans with unforgettable moments in college football history.
