LOCALIZE IT: AP is marking 100 years of All-America football teams. Find players with local ties

EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:

For 100 years, The Associated Press has honored the best of the best in college football with its annual All-America team.

Nearly 2,000 men — from Red Grange to Travis Hunter — have earned the distinction of AP All-American in a tradition that rivals the longest in the history of the game.

Notre Dame has had the most AP All-America players with 85 players since 1925. Other top teams include Alabama with 83 and Ohio State with 79 players and USC with 77 players. Texas has been the home state for the most All-Americans, with more than 250, and there have been a dozen players named first-team AP All-Americans three times.

To mark this anniversary, the AP is providing a package of content for you, including the ability to localize this storied annual milestone of each college football season. Specifically:

— AP has named an all-time All-America team after analyzing all the players over 100 years, dating to the first team in 1925.

— AP has provided a way for you to look for local players (by school, hometown or state) on these teams.

— AP is providing historical photos and graphics.

Please see AP’s full advisory on the package here. You can also contact Dave Zelio (dzelio@ap.org) with questions.

Included in this guide are story links, the all-time All-American list by state, a link to a searchable database with the All-American roster from 1925-2024, publishable sentences highlighting several schools, and embed codes for several graphics.

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READ AP’S STORIES

From Red Grange to Travis Hunter, the AP All-America team has been the ‘gold standard’ for a century

100 years of AP All-America football teams: Here’s who we think are the best of the best

How a quirk of wartime football led to an extra list of AP All-Americans during the 1940s

‘It’s legendary’ – AP All-America honor resonates for some of college football’s all-time greats

From quirks to legends: The evolution of AP All-America college football teams over 100 years

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FIND YOUR COMMUNITY: TOP 50 PLAYERS FROM THE LAST CENTURY

AP journalists analyzed players over the last century to come up with this all-time All-America team. The players are organized by state where they went to school and their hometown. Each line also includes whether they are first or second team, their position and the year they were on the All-America team.

ALABAMA

DeVonta Smith – Second Team, Wide receiver, Alabama (2020); Amite City, Louisiana

Derrick Thomas – First Team, Linebacker, Alabama (1988); Miami, Florida

John Hannah – First Team, Guard, Alabama (1972); Canton, Georgia

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ARKANSAS

Keith Jackson – Second Team, Tight end, Oklahoma (1986-87). Little Rock, Arkansas

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CALIFORNIA

Brock Bowers – First Team, Tight end, Georgia (2023); Napa, California

Jonathan Ogden – Second Team, Tackle, UCLA (1995); Washington, D.C.

Ronnie Lott – First Team, Safety, Southern California (1980); Albuquerque, New Mexico

Brad Budde – Second Team, Guard, Southern California (1979); Detroit, Michigan

Jerry Robinson – Second Team, Linebacker, UCLA (1976-78); San Francisco, California

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CONNECTICUT

John Smith – Second Team, Guard, Notre Dame (1927); Hartford, Connecticut

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FLORIDA

Tim Tebow – First Team, Quarterback, Florida (2007); Jacksonville, Florida

Bryant McKinnie – Second Team, Tackle, Miami (2001); Woodbury, New Jersey

Sebastian Janikowski – First Team, Kicker, Florida State (1998-99); Walbrzych, Poland

Warren Sapp – Second Team, Defensive tackle, Miami (1994); Orlando, Florida

Derrick Thomas – First Team, Linebacker, Alabama (1988); Miami, Florida

Deion Sanders – First Team, Cornerback, Florida State (1987-88); Fort Myers, Florida

Bennie Blades – Second Team, Safety, Miami (1986-87); Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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GEORGIA

Brock Bowers – First Team, Tight end, Georgia (2023); Napa, California

Champ Bailey – Second Team, Cornerback, Georgia (1998); Fort Campbell, Kentucky

John Hannah – First Team, Guard, Alabama (1972); Canton, Georgia

Jim Parker – First Team, Guard, Ohio State (1956); Macon, Georgia

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ILLINOIS

Dick Butkus — First Team, Linebacker, Illinois (1964); Chicago, Illinois

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INDIANA

John Smith – Second Team, Guard, Notre Dame (1927); Hartford, Connecticut

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IOWA

Tory Taylor – First Team, Punter, Iowa (2023); Melbourne, Australia

Reggie Roby – Second Team, Punter, Iowa (1981); Waterloo, Iowa

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KANSAS

Martin Gramatica – Second Team, Kicker, Kansas State (1997); Buenos Aires, Argentina

Barry Sanders – First Team, Running back, Oklahoma State (1988); Wichita, Kansas

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KENTUCKY

Champ Bailey – Second Team, Cornerback, Georgia (1998); Fort Campbell, Kentucky

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LOUISIANA

DeVonta Smith – Second Team, Wide receiver, Alabama (2020); Amite City, Louisiana

Tyrann Mathieu – Second Team, Cornerback, LSU (2011); New Orleans, Louisiana

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MARYLAND

Randy White – First Team, Defensive end, Maryland (1974); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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MICHIGAN

Desmond Howard – Second Team, Wide receiver, Michigan (1991); Cleveland, Ohio

Charles Woodson – First Team, Cornerback, Michigan (1996-97); Fremont, Ohio

Brad Budde – Second Team, Guard, Southern California (1979); Detroit, Michigan

Bubba Smith – Second Team, Defensive end, Michigan State (1966); Beaumont, Texas

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MINNESOTA

Larry Fitzgerald – First Team, Wide receiver, Pittsburgh (2003); Minneapolis, Minnesota

Bronko Nagurski – First Team, Defensive tackle, Minnesota (1929); Rainey River, Canada

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MISSISSIPPI

Hugh Green – First Team, Defensive end, Pittsburgh (1978-80); Natchez, Mississippi

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NEBRASKA

Ndamukong Suh – First Team, Defensive tackle, Nebraska (2009); Portland, Oregon

Dave Rimington – Second Team, Center, Nebraska (1981-82); Omaha, Nebraska

Johnny Rodgers – First Team, All-purpose, Nebraska (1972); Omaha, Nebraska

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NEW JERSEY

Bryant McKinnie – Second Team, Tackle, Miami (2001); Woodbury, New Jersey

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NEW MEXICO

Ronnie Lott – First Team, Safety, Southern California (1980); Albuquerque, New Mexico

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NORTH CAROLINA

Lawrence Taylor – Second Team, Linebacker, North Carolina (1980); Williamsburg, Virginia

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OHIO

Charles Woodson – First Team, Cornerback, Michigan (1996-97); Fremont, Ohio

Orlando Pace – First Team, Tackle, Ohio State (1995-96); Sandusky, Ohio

Desmond Howard – Second Team, Wide receiver, Michigan (1991); Cleveland, Ohio

Chris Spielman – First Team, Linebacker, Ohio State (1986-87); Canton, Ohio

Archie Griffin – Second Team, Running back, Ohio State (1974-75); Columbus, Ohio

Jim Parker – First Team, Guard, Ohio State (1956); Macon, Georgia

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OKLAHOMA

Barry Sanders – First Team, Running back, Oklahoma State (1988); Wichita, Kansas

Keith Jackson – Second Team, Tight end, Oklahoma (1986-87). Little Rock, Arkansas

Brian Bosworth – Second Team, Linebacker, Oklahoma (1985-86); Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Lee Roy Selmon – Second Team, Defensive tackle, Oklahoma (1975); Eufaula, Oklahoma

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OREGON

Ndamukong Suh – First Team, Defensive tackle, Nebraska (2009); Portland, Oregon

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PENNSYLVANIA

Larry Fitzgerald – First Team, Wide receiver, Pittsburgh (2003); Minneapolis, Minnesota

Bill Fralic – First Team, Tackle, Pittsburgh (1982-84); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Hugh Green – First Team, Defensive end, Pittsburgh (1978-80); Natchez, Mississippi

Randy White – First Team, Defensive end, Maryland (1974); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Chuck Bednarik – First Team, Center, Penn (1947-48); Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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TEXAS

Vince Young – Second Team, Quarterback, Texas (2005); Houston, Texas

Bubba Smith – Second Team, Defensive end, Michigan State (1966); Beaumont, Texas

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VIRGINIA

Bruce Smith – Second Team, Defensive end, Virginia Tech (1984); Norfolk, Virginia

Lawrence Taylor – First Team, Linebacker, North Carolina (1980); Williamsburg, Virginia

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WEST VIRGINIA

Randy Moss – First Team, Wide receiver, Marshall (1997); Rand, West Virginia

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WASHINGTON, D.C.

Jonathan Ogden – Second Team, Tackle, UCLA (1995); Washington, D.C.

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PLAYERS WITH INTERNATIONAL HOMETOWNS

Tory Taylor – First Team, Punter, Iowa (2023); Melbourne, Australia

Sebastian Janikowski – First Team, Kicker, Florida State (1998-99); Walbrzych, Poland

Martin Gramatica – Second Team, Kicker, Kansas State (1997); Buenos Aires, Argentina

Bronko Nagurski – First Team, Defensive tackle, Minnesota (1929); Rainey River, Canada

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FIND YOUR COMMUNITY: ALL-AMERICAN PLAYERS SINCE 1925

You can find the nearly 2,000 athletes named All-American players since 1925 in this searchable database. You can publish this searchable table using the relevant embed code found at the end of the guide.

The same information is in this spreadsheet. You can create temporary filters to sort by things like state or year. Click the Filters View icon, which is to the right of the Print icon, and click Create Filter View.

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OVER THE PAST HALF CENTURY (1974-2024), SOME NOTABLE BRAGGING RIGHTS

— Alabama has the most AP All-America linebackers with 12 players honored 14 times: Cornelius Bennett (1986), Derrick Thomas (1988), Keith McCants (1989), DeMeco Ryans (2005), Rolando McClain (2009), Dont’a Hightower (2011), Mark Barron (2011), C.J. Mosley (2012-13), Reggie Ragland (2015), Reuben Foster (2016), Will Anderson Jr. (2021-22) and Dallas Turner (2023).

— Alabama also has the most AP All-America defensive backs with 11 players honored 12 times: Tommy Wilcox (1981), Antonio Langham (1993), Kevin Jackson (1996), Javier Arenas (2009), DeMarcus “Dee” Milliner (2012), Landon Collins (2014), Minkah Fitzpatrick (2016-17), Deionte Thompson (2018), Patrick Surtain II (2020), Kool-Aid McKinstry (2023) and Terrion Arnold (2023)

— Colorado has the most All-America punters with four players honored five times: Barry Helton (1985-1986), Keith English (1988), Tom Rouen (1989) and Mark Mariscal (2002).

— BYU leads the nation with five AP first-team All-America quarterbacks: Marc Wilson (1979), Jim McMahon (1981), Steve Young (1983) and Ty Detmer (1990-91).

— Southern California has the most AP All-America running backs with five players honored seven times: Anthony Davis (1974), Ricky Bell (1975-76), Charles White (1978-79), Marcus Allen (1981) and Reggie Bush (2005).

— UCLA has the most All-America kickers with four players honored five times: John Lee (1984-1985), Bjorn Merten (1993), Justin Medlock (2006) and Ka’imi Fairbairn (2015).

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EMBED THESE GRAPHICS

The Associated Press marked the 100th anniversary of the AP All-America college football team in 2025 by naming an all-time team and offering you a chance to look through the storied names and programs. Since 1925, nearly 2,000 men have been named AP first-team All-Americans, one of the most prestigious honors a college football player can receive. The following digital embeds show the picks for All-America teams 1 and 2, a searchable table of all 2,000 players ever named an All-American, a chart of most All-Americans overall by team as well as a look at Oklahoma’s record for having the most All-Americans over four decades. These graphics are current as of Aug. 13, 2025 and will not update. Source: AP.

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The All-Time AP All-America First Team

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The All-Time AP All-America Second Team

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College football stars across the decades

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Schools with the most All Americans

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College teams with the most Associated Press All-Americans by decade

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