imported>1ctinus: Adding short description: "Official list of the best college football players of 1973"

2024-02-08T18:24:43Z

Adding short description: "Official list of the best college football players of 1973"

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{{Short description|Official list of the best college football players of 1973}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{sidebar
| width = 25em
| title = 1973 College Football All-America Team
| headingstyle = border-top:#aaa 1px solid
| content1style = border-top:1px #aaa solid
| content1 = [[College Football All-America Team]]
| heading2 =
| content2 = [[1973 NCAA Division I football season]]
| heading3 =
| content3 =
| content4style = border-top:1px #aaa solid
| content4 = [[1971 College Football All-America Team|1971]] [[1972 College Football All-America Team|1972]] ← → [[1974 College Football All-America Team|1974]] [[1975 College Football All-America Team|1975]]
}}
The '''1973 College Football All-America team''' is composed of [[college football]] players who were selected as [[All-America]]ns by various organizations and writers that chose [[College Football All-America Team]]s in 1973. The [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) recognizes six selectors as "official" for the 1973 season. They are:<ref>{{cite web|title=Football Award Winners|publisher=[[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA)|year=2016|access-date=March 17, 2017|page=3|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/Awards.pdf}}</ref> (1) the [[American Football Coaches Association]] (AFCA) which selected its team for Kodak based on a vote of the nation's coaches;<ref name=AFCA/> (2) the [[Associated Press]] (AP) selected based on the votes of sports writers at AP newspapers;<ref name=AP/> (3) the [[Football Writers Association of America]] (FWAA) selected by the nation's football writers;<ref name=FW/> (4) the [[Newspaper Enterprise Association]] (NEA) selected based on the votes of sports writers at NEA newspapers;<ref name=NEA/> (5) the [[United Press International]] (UPI) selected based on the votes of sports writers at UPI newspapers;<ref name=UPI/> and (6) the [[Walter Camp Football Foundation]] (WC).

Five players are recognized by the NCAA as unanimous All-America selections. They are: (1) running back and 1973 [[Heisman Trophy]] winner [[John Cappelletti]] of [[1973 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]; (2) offensive tackle [[John Hicks (American football)|John Hicks]] of [[1973 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]]; (3) defensive end [[John Dutton (defensive lineman)|John Dutton]] of [[1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]]; (4) middle guard [[Lucious Selmon]] of [[1973 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]; and (5) linebacker [[Randy Gradishar]] of Ohio State.

==Consensus All-Americans==
The following chart identifies the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans for the year 1973 and displays which first-team designations they received.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="15%" | Name
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%" | Position
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%" | School
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7%" | Number<ref>This column lists the number of selectors choosing the player as a first-team All-American as follows: official selectors/other selectors/total selectors.</ref>
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" | Official
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%" | Other
|-align="left"
|[[John Cappelletti]]||Running back||[[1973 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]||6/3/9||AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC||FN, Time, TSN
|-align="left"
|[[John Dutton (defensive lineman)|John Dutton]]||Defensive end||[[1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]]||6/3/9||AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC||FN, Time, TSN
|-align="left"
|[[Randy Gradishar]]||Linebacker||[[1973 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]]||6/3/9||AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC||FN, Time, TSN
|-align="left"
|[[John Hicks (American football)|John Hicks]]||Offensive guard||Ohio State||6/3/9||AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC||FN, Time, TSN
|-align="left"
|[[Mike Townsend]]||Defensive back||[[1973 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]]||5/3/8||AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC||FN, Time, TSN
|-align="left"
|[[Lynn Swann]]||Wide receiver||[[1973 USC Trojans football team|USC]]||5/3/8||AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI||FN, Time, TSN
|-align="left"
|[[Lucious Selmon]]||Middle guard||[[1973 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]||6/1/7||AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC||FN
|-align="left"
|[[Bill Wyman (American football)|Bill Wyman]]||Center||[[1973 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]]||6/1/7||AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC||FN
|-align="left"
|[[Dave Gallagher (American football)|Dave Gallagher]]||Defensive end||[[1973 Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]]||5/2/7||AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, WC||Time, TSN
|-align="left"
|[[David Jaynes]]||Quarterback||[[Kansas Jayhawks football|Kansas]]||4/3/7||AFCA, AP, UPI, WC||FN, Time, TSN
|-align="left"
|[[Roosevelt Leaks]]||Running back||Texas||5/1/6||AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC||FN
|-align="left"
|[[Booker Brown]]||Offensive guard||USC||3/3/6||AFCA, FWAA, NEA||FN, Time, TSN
|-align="left"
|[[Dave Casper]]||Tight end||Notre Dame||5/0/5||AFCA, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WC||--
|-align="left"
|[[Richard Wood (American football)|Richard Wood]]||Linebacker||USC||4/1/5||AFCA, AP, UPI, WC||FN
|-align="left"
|[[Bill Yoest]]||Offensive tackle||[[1973 NC State Wolfpack football team|NC State]]||4/1/5||AP, FWAA, UPI, WC||FN
|-align="left"
|[[Buddy Brown (offensive guard)|Buddy Brown]]||Offensive tackle||[[1973 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]]||4/0/4||AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI||--
|-align="left"
|[[Rod Shoate]]||Linebacker||Oklahoma||3/1/4||AFCA, AP, NEA||FN
|-align="left"
|[[Artimus Parker]]||Defensive back||USC||3/1/4||AP, UPI, WC||Time
|-align="left"
|[[Dave Brown (cornerback)|Dave Brown]]||Defensive back||Michigan||3/0/3||AFCA, FWAA, UPI||--
|-align="left"
|[[Randy Rhino]]||Defensive back||Georgia Tech||3/0/3||AFCA, UPI, WC||--
|-align="left"
|[[Woody Green]]||Running back||[[1973 Arizona State Sun Devils football team|Arizona State]]||2/1/3||AFCA, WC||TSN
|-align="left"
|[[Kermit Johnson]]||Running back||[[1973 UCLA Bruins football team|UCLA]]||2/1/3||FWAA, NEA||FN
|-align="left"
|[[Tony Cristiani]]||Middle guard||[[Miami Hurricanes football|Miami (FL)]]||2/0/2||FWAA, WC||--
|}

== Offense ==

=== Receivers ===

* '''[[Lynn Swann]]''', USC (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, FN, Time, TSN)
* [[Wayne Wheeler (American football)|Wayne Wheeler]], Alabama (WC, FN, TSN)
* [[Danny Buggs]], West Virginia (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-2)
* [[John Holland (American football)|John Holland]], Tennessee State (Time)
* Hank Cook, New Mexico State (AP-3)
* [[Pat McInally]], Harvard (NEA-2)

=== Tight ends ===

* '''[[Dave Casper]]''', Notre Dame (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, WC)
* [[Andre Tillman]], Texas Tech (AP-1)
* [[J.V. Cain]], Colorado (NEA-2, Time, TSN)
* [[Randy Grossman]], Temple (AP-3)
* [[Paul Seal]], Michigan (UPI-2)

=== Tackles ===

* '''[[John Hicks (American football)|John Hicks]]''', Ohio St. (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, WC, FN, Time, TSN)
* '''[[Booker Brown]]''', USC (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, NEA-1 [OG], UPI-2 [OG], FN [OG], Time, TSN [OG])
* Daryl White, Nebraska (AFCA, AP-2, NEA-2 [OG], UPI-1, FN, TSN [OG])
* [[Steve Riley (American football)|Steve Riley]], USC (Time, TSN)
* Al Oliver, UCLA (NEA-1)
* [[Henry Lawrence (American football)|Henry Lawrence]], Florida A. & M (NEA-2 [OG], Time)
* Eddie Foster, Oklahoma (WC)
* [[Charlie Getty]], Penn State (AP-3, UPI-2 [OG])
* Jim O'Connor, Arizona (AP-3)

=== Guards ===

* '''[[Buddy Brown (offensive guard)|Buddy Brown]]''', Alabama (AFCA, AP-1 [OT], FWAA, UPI-1)
* '''[[Bill Yoest]]''', N.C. State (AP-1, FWAA, NEA-2 [OT], UPI-1, WC, FN)
* [[Tyler Lafauci]], LSU (AFCA, AP-1, NEA-1)
* [[Mark Markovich]], Penn State (AP-2, UPI-2)
* Dave Manning, Utah State (AP-2)
* Frank Pomarico, Notre Dame (UPI-2)
* [[Dave Lapham]], Syracuse (AP-3)
* Willie Viney, Pacific (AP-3)

=== Centers ===

* '''[[Bill Wyman (American football)|Bill Wyman]]''', Texas (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, WC, FN)
* [[Scott Anderson (American football)|Scott Anderson]], Missouri (AP-3, NEA-2, UPI-2, Time)
* [[Steve Corbett]], Boston College (TSN)
* Steve Taylor, Auburn (AP-2)

=== Quarterbacks ===

* '''[[David Jaynes]]''', Kansas (AFCA, AP-1, NEA-2, UPI-1, WC, FN, Time, TSN)
* [[Danny White]], Arizona State (AP-2, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-2)
* [[Jesse Freitas (American football, born 1951)|Jesse Freitas]], San Diego State (AP-3)

=== Running backs ===

* '''[[John Cappelletti]]''', Penn St. (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-1, WC, FN, Time, TSN)
* '''[[Roosevelt Leaks]]''', Texas (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, NEA-2, UPI-1, WC, FN)
* '''[[Woody Green]]''', Arizona St. (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-2, WC, TSN)
* '''[[Kermit Johnson]]''', UCLA (AP-2, FWAA, NEA-1, UPI-2, FN)
* [[Tony Dorsett]], Pittsburgh (AP-1, NEA-1, UPI-2)
* [[Bo Matthews]], Colorado (Time)
* [[Archie Griffin]], Ohio State (AP-2, NEA-2, UPI-1)
* [[Sonny Collins]], Kentucky (NEA-2)
* Dickey Morton, Arkansas (AP-3)
* [[Barty Smith]], Richmond (AP-3)
* [[Joe Washington]], Oklahoma (AP-3)

== Defense ==

=== Defensive ends ===

* '''[[John Dutton (defensive lineman)|John Dutton]]''', Nebraska (AP-1 [DT], UPI-1 [DT], NEA-1, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN [DT], Time, FN [DT])
* '''[[Dave Gallagher (American football)|Dave Gallagher]]''', Michigan (AP-1 [DT], NEA-1, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN [DT], Time)
* [[Van DeCree]], Ohio State (UPI-1, FN)
* [[Roger Stillwell (American football)|Roger Stillwell]], Stanford (UPI-1, FN)
* [[Pat Donovan (American football)|Pat Donovan]], Stanford (AP-1)
* [[Randy White (American football)|Randy White]], Maryland (AP-1)
* [[Fred McNeill]], UCLA (TSN)

=== Defensive tackles ===

* [[Ed "Too Tall" Jones|Ed Jones]], Tennessee State (NEA-1, TSN [DE], Time)
* [[Randy Crowder]], Penn State (UPI-1, FN)
* [[Bill Kollar]], Montana State (NEA-1, Time)
* Paul Vellano, Maryland (AFCA)
* Charlie Hall, Tulane (WC)

=== Middle guards ===

* '''[[Lucious Selmon]]''', Oklahoma (AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC, AFCA, FWAA, FN)
* '''[[Tony Cristiani]]''', Miami (FL) (WC, FWAA)

=== Linebackers ===

* '''[[Randy Gradishar]]''', Ohio St. (AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, Time, FN)
* '''[[Richard Wood (American football)|Richard Wood]]''', USC (AP-1, UPI-1, WC, AFCA, FN)
* '''[[Rod Shoate]]''', Oklahoma (AP-1, NEA-1, AFCA, FN)
* [[Ed O'Neil]], Penn State (WC, Time, TSN)
* [[Woodrow Lowe]], Alabama (NEA-1, FWAA)
* [[Warren Capone]], LSU (AFCA, FWAA)
* [[Waymond Bryant]], Tennessee State (TSN, Time)
* [[Cleveland Vann]], Oklahoma State (FWAA)

=== Defensive backs ===

* '''[[Mike Townsend]]''', Notre Dame (AP-1, UPI-1, NEA-1, WC, FWAA, TSN [S], Time, FN)
* '''[[Artimus Parker]]''', USC (AP-1, UPI-1, WC, Time)
* '''[[Dave Brown (cornerback)|Dave Brown]]''', Michigan (UPI-1, AFCA, FWAA)
* '''[[Randy Rhino]]''', Georgia Tech (UPI-1, WC, AFCA)
* [[Jimmy Allen (American football)|Jimmy Allen]], UCLA (AP-1, NEA-1)
* [[Jeris White]], Hawaii (TSN [CB], Time)
* [[Matt Blair]], Iowa St. (AFCA)
* John Moseley Missouri (FWAA)
* [[Bill Simpson (American football)|Bill Simpson]], Michigan State (TSN [CB])
* [[Carl Capria]], Purdue (TSN [S])
* Kenith Pope, Oklahoma (Time)
* Harry Harrison, Mississippi (NEA-1)
* [[Eddie Brown (safety)|Eddie Brown]], Tennessee (FN)
* Alvin Brown, Oklahoma State (FN)

== Special teams ==

=== Kickers ===

* Ricky Townsend, Tennessee (FWAA, NEA-2)
* [[Efren Herrera]], UCLA (TSN)
* [[Mike Lantry]], Michigan (FN)

=== Punters ===

* [[Chuck Ramsey (American football)|Chuck Ramsey]] Wake Forest, (FWAA, NEA-1 [K], Time, TSN)

=== Returners ===

* [[Steve Odom]], Utah (FWAA)

== Key ==
{{smalldiv|1=
* '''Bold''' – Consensus All-American<ref name=CAA>{{cite web|title=Football Award Winners|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)|year=2016|access-date=October 21, 2017|page=10|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/awards.pdf}}</ref>
* -1 – First-team selection
* -2 – Second-team selection
* -3 – Third-team selection
}}

===Official selectors===
{{smalldiv|1=
* AFCA – [[American Football Coaches Association]] chosen for Kodak<ref name=AFCA>{{cite news|title=Kodak Lists All-America Football Team|newspaper=Albuquerque Journal|date=December 8, 1973|page=C3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4243610/kodak_lists_all_america_football_team/}}</ref>
* AP – [[Associated Press]]<ref name=AP>{{cite news|title=The All-America Team|newspaper=Piqua Daily Call|date=December 4, 1973|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4242822/the_all_america_team/}}</ref>
* FWAA – [[Football Writers Association of America]]<ref name=FW>{{cite web|title=FWAA All-America Since 1944: The All-Time Team|editor=Ted Gangi|access-date=February 8, 2015|url=http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/awards/allamerica/alltime.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304073432/http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/awards/allamerica/alltime.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* NEA – [[Newspaper Enterprise Association]]<ref name=NEA>{{cite news|title=Pittsburgh freshman heads NEA All-America 11s|newspaper=The Times-Standard (Eureka, CA)|date=December 15, 1973|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4243171/pittsburgh_freshman_heads_nea_all/}}</ref>
* UPI – [[United Press International]]<ref name=UPI>{{cite news|title=UPI All-America|newspaper=Lebanon Daily News|date=December 6, 1973|page=57|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4242989/upi_all_america/}}</ref>
* WC – [[Walter Camp Football Foundation]]{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}
}}

===Other selectors===
{{smalldiv|1=
* FN – ''Football News''<ref name=FN>{{cite news|title=White, Dutton Football News All-Americans|newspaper=The Lincoln (NE) Star|date=November 20, 1973|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5703171/white_dutton_football_news/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=June 27, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* PFW – ''Pro Football Weekly''
* Time – ''Time'' Magazine
* TSN – ''The Sporting News''<ref>{{cite news|title=Sporting News Picks Switzer, Buckeyes' Hicks|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=December 13, 1973|page=6B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4244283/sporting_news_picks_switzer/}}</ref>
}}

==See also==
* [[1973 All-Big Eight Conference football team]]
* [[1973 All-Big Ten Conference football team]]
* [[1973 All-Pacific-8 Conference football team]]
* [[1973 All-SEC football team]]
* [[1973 All-Southwest Conference football team]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{1973 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{College Football All-America Teams}}

[[Category:1973 NCAA Division I football season|All-America Team]]
[[Category:College Football All-America Teams]]

1973 College Football All-America Team - Revision history

imported>1ctinus: Adding short description: "Official list of the best college football players of 1973"