1997 College Football All-America Team Explained

The 1997 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press (AP), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF), The Sporting News (TNS) and Football News (FN).

The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to such a list selected by football pioneer Walter Camp in the 1890s. The NCAA officially recognizes All-Americans selected by the AP, AFCA, FN, FWAA, TSN, and the WCFF to determine Consensus All-Americans.

Offense

Quarterback

Peyton Manning, Tennessee (AP-1, AFCA, FN, FWAA, WCFF)
Ryan Leaf, Washington State (AP-2, TSN)
Cade McNown, UCLA (AP-3)

Running backs

Ricky Williams, Texas (AP-1, AFCA-Coaches, FN, FWAA-Writers, WCFF, TSN)
Curtis Enis, Penn State (AP-1, FWAA-Writers, WCFF)
Skip Hicks, UCLA (AP-2, AFCA-Coaches, TSN)
Ron Dayne, Wisconsin (FN)
Ahman Green, Nebraska (AP-2)
Tavian Banks, Iowa (AP-3)
Fred Taylor, Florida (AP-3)

Wide receivers

Randy Moss, Marshall (AP-1, AFCA-Coaches, FN, FWAA-Writers, TSN, WCFF)
Jacquez Green, Florida (AP-1, FWAA, WCFF)
Jerome Pathon, Washington (AFCA)
Brian Alford, Purdue (AP-2, FN)
E. G. Green, Florida State (AP-2)
Troy Edwards, Louisiana Tech (AP-3)
Bobby Shaw, California (AP-3)

Tight end

Alonzo Mayes, Oklahoma State (AP-1, AFCA-Coaches, FWAA-Writers, WCFF, TSN)
Jerame Tuman, Michigan (AP-2, FN)
Rufus French, Ole Miss (AP-3)

Guards/tackles

Aaron Taylor, Nebraska (AP-1, AFCA-Coaches, FN, FWAA-Writers, Walter Camp, TSN)
Alan Faneca, LSU (AP-1, FN, FWAA-Writers, Walter Camp)
Kyle Turley, San Diego State (AP-2, AFCA-Coaches, FN, FWAA-Writers, TSN)
Chad Overhauser, UCLA (AP-1, FWAA-Writers, TSN)
Benji Olson, Washington (AP-1, Walter Camp)
Victor Riley, Auburn (AP-2, AFCA-Coaches)
Matt Stinchcomb, Georgia (AP-3, AFCA-Coaches)
Flozell Adams, Michigan State (AP-2, Walter Camp)
Rob Murphy, Ohio State (FN)
Tra Thomas, Florida State (AP-2)
Eric Anderson, Nebraska (AP-3)
Jim Bundren, Clemson (AP-3)
Kyle Murphy, Arizona State (AP-3)

Center

Olin Kreutz, Washington (AP-1, FN, WCFF, TSN)
Kevin Long, Florida State (AP-3, AFCA-Coaches)
Ben Fricke, Houston (AP-2, FWAA-Writers)

Defense

Linemen

Andre Wadsworth, Florida State (AP-1, AFCA-Coaches, FN, Walter Camp, TSN)
Grant Wistrom, Nebraska (AP-1, AFCA-Coaches, FWAA-Writers, Walter Camp, TSN)
Greg Ellis, North Carolina (AP-1, AFCA-Coaches, FN, Walter Camp)
Jason Peter, Nebraska (AP-1, FWAA-Writers, Walter Camp, TSN)
Glen Steele, Michigan (AP-2, AFCA-Coaches)
Jeremy Staat, Arizona State (AP-2, FWAA-Writers)
Lamanzer Williams, Minnesota (AP-3, FWAA-Writers)
Kailee Wong, Stanford (FN)
Jared DeVries, Iowa (AP-2)
Leon Bender, Washington State (AP-3)
Ed Chester, Florida (AP-3)
Henry Slay, West Virginia (AP-3)

Linebackers

Andy Katzenmoyer, Ohio State (AP-1, AFCA-Coaches, FN, FWAA-Writers, Walter Camp)
Sam Cowart, Florida State (AP-1, FN, FWAA-Writers, TSN)
Anthony Simmons, Clemson (AP-1, AFCA-Coaches, TSN)
Brian Simmons, North Carolina (AP-1, FN, Walter Camp)
Jamie Duncan, Vanderbilt (AP-2, AFCA-Coaches, FWAA-Writers)
Leonard Little, Tennessee (AP-2, Walter Camp)
Takeo Spikes, Auburn (AP-2, TSN)
Pat Tillman, Arizona State (AP-2, TSN)
Ron Warner, Kansas (FN)
Sam Sword, Michigan (AP-2)
Daryl Bush, Florida State (AP-3)
Kivuusama Mays, North Carolina (AP-3)
Ike Reese, Michigan State (AP-3)
Chris Gizzi, Air Force (AP-3)

Backs

Charles Woodson, Michigan (AP-1, AFCA-Coaches, FN, FWAA-Writers, Walter Camp, TSN)
Dré Bly, North Carolina (AP-1, FN, FWAA-Writers, Walter Camp)
Donovin Darius, Syracuse (AP-1, AFCA-Coaches, TSN)
Brian Lee, Wyoming (AP-1, FN, FWAA-Writers, Walter Camp)
Fred Weary, Florida (AP-2, AFCA-Coaches, FN, Walter Camp, TSN)
Antoine Winfield, Ohio State (AP-2, AFCA-Coaches, FWAA-Writers)
Anthony Poindexter, Virginia (TSN, AP-3)
Marcus Ray, Michigan (AP-2)
Shaun Williams, UCLA (AP-2)
Larry Atkins, UCLA (AP-3)
Kevin Williams, Oklahoma State (AP-3)
Patrick Surtain, Southern Mississippi (AP-3)

Specialists

Placekicker

Martín Gramática, Kansas State (AP-1, FN, FWAA-Writers, TSN)
Chris Sailer, UCLA (AP-2, AFCA-Coaches, WCFF)
Brad Palazzo, Tulane (AP-3)

Punter

Chad Kessler, LSU (AP-1, FN, WCFF, TSN)
Chris Sailer, UCLA (FWAA-Writers)
Shane Lechler, Texas A&M (AP-2)
John Baker, North Texas (AP-3)

All-purpose / kick returners

Tim Dwight, Iowa (AP-All-Purpose-1, AFCA-Coaches, FWAA-Writers, TSN)
Quinton Spotwood, Syracuse (AP-All-Purpose-2)
Kevin Faulk, LSU (AP-All-Purpose-3)

References

News: AP All-America Team. December 10, 1997. The Daily Times. 3D. December 20, 2023. Newspapers.com.
News: LSU names two Tigers All-America. November 13, 1997. The Daily Advertiser. 4C. December 20, 2023. Newspapers.com.
Web site: Gangi . Ted . Yonis. Josh. FWAA All-America Team. Football Writers Association of America. https://web.archive.org/web/20151227072543/http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/awards/allamerica/alltime.pdf . December 27, 2015 . live .
Web site: Football Award Winners. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. December 20, 2023. 15, 16.
News: College Football: TSN All American Teams. Sporting News. https://web.archive.org/web/20091004022647/http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/almanac/nfl/cfbamer.html. October 4, 2009.
Web site: All-America Teams. Walter Camp Football Foundation. https://web.archive.org/web/20120209021631/http://waltercamp.org/index.php/teams_and_awards/. February 9, 2012.