The 1981 All-America teams
9 selectors named All-America teams for 1981; the NCAA counts 4 of them toward its consensus team. Bold names are consensus All-Americans. The consensus team is on the 1981 season page.
Selectors the NCAA recognizes
AFCA
American Football Coaches Association
- WRAnthony Carter, Michigan
- TETim Wrightman, UCLA
- OTTerry Crouch, Oklahoma
- OGSean Farrell, Penn State
- OGRoy Foster, USC
- OGKurt Becker, Michigan
- CDave Rimington, Nebraska
- QBJim McMahon, BYU
- QBDan Marino, Pittsburgh
- RBMarcus Allen, USC
- RBHerschel Walker, Georgia
- RBDarrin Nelson, Stanford
- DEBilly Ray Smith Jr., Arkansas
- DEJimmy Williams, Nebraska
- DTKenneth Sims, Texas
- DTGlen Collins, Mississippi State
- DTHarvey Armstrong, SMU
- LBBob Crable, Notre Dame
- LBJeff Davis, Clemson
- LBSal Sunseri, Pittsburgh
- DBTommy Wilcox, Alabama
- DBFred Marion, Miami (Fla.)
- DBSteve Cordle, Fresno St
AP
Associated Press
First team
- WRAnthony Carter, Michigan
- WRJulius Dawkins, Pittsburgh
- TETim Wrightman, UCLA
- OTTerry Tausch, Texas
- OTEd Muransky, Michigan
- OGSean Farrell, Penn State
- OGKurt Becker, Michigan
- CDave Rimington, Nebraska
- QBJim McMahon, BYU
- RBMarcus Allen, USC
- RBHerschel Walker, Georgia
- DEBilly Ray Smith Jr., Arkansas
- DEAndre Tippett, Iowa
- DTKenneth Sims, Texas
- DTJeff Gaylord, Missouri
- MGTim Krumrie, Wisconsin
- LBBob Crable, Notre Dame
- LBSal Sunseri, Pittsburgh
- LBJohnie Cooks, Mississippi State
- DBMike Richardson, Arizona State
- DBTommy Wilcox, Alabama
- DBTerry Kinard, Clemson
- KGary Anderson, Syracuse
- PReggie Roby, Iowa
Second team
- WRCedric Jones, Duke
- WRJim Sandusky, UNLV
- TERodney Holman, Tulane
- OTTerry Crouch, Oklahoma
- OTMaceo Fifer, Houston
- OTTootie Robbins, East Carolina
- OGRoy Foster, USC
- CEmil Boures, Pittsburgh
- QBDan Marino, Pittsburgh
- RBButch Woolfolk, Michigan
- RBEric Dickerson, SMU
- DEJimmy Williams, Nebraska
- DERusty Guilbeau, McNeese State
- DTLester Williams, Miami (Fla.)
- DTFletcher Jenkins, Washington
- MGGeorge Achica, USC
- LBJeff Davis, Clemson
- LBRicky Young, Oklahoma State
- LBMarcus Marek, Ohio State
- DBFred Marion, Miami (Fla.)
- DBJohnny Jackson, Air Force
- DBMatt Vanden Boom, Wisconsin
- KEddie Garcia, SMU
- PBucky Scribner, Kansas
Third team
- WRStanley Washington, TCU
- WRTom Rogers, Colgate
- TEMark Raugh, West Virginia
- OTKeith Uecker, Auburn
- OTHarvey Salem, California
- OGSteve Korte, Arkansas
- OGGerry Raymond, Boston College
- CMike Baab, Texas
- QBReggie Collier, Southern Mississippi
- RBDarrin Nelson, Stanford
- RBRich Diana, Yale
- KMorten Andersen, Michigan State
FWAA
Football Writers Association of America
- WRAnthony Carter, Michigan
- WRStanley Washington, TCU
- OTTerry Crouch, Oklahoma
- OGSean Farrell, Penn State
- OGRoy Foster, USC
- OGDave Drechsler, North Carolina
- CDave Rimington, Nebraska
- QBJim McMahon, BYU
- RBMarcus Allen, USC
- RBHerschel Walker, Georgia
- RBRich Diana, Yale
- DEBilly Ray Smith Jr., Arkansas
- DEAndre Tippett, Iowa
- DEDavid Galloway, Florida
- DESteve Clark, Utah
- DTKenneth Sims, Texas
- LBJeff Davis, Clemson
- LBSal Sunseri, Pittsburgh
- LBJohnie Cooks, Mississippi State
- DBMike Richardson, Arizona State
- DBTerry Kinard, Clemson
- DBJohnny Jackson, Air Force
- KBruce Lahay, Arkansas
- PRohn Stark, Florida State
UPI
United Press International
First team
- WRAnthony Carter, Michigan
- TETim Wrightman, UCLA
- OTTerry Tausch, Texas
- OTEd Muransky, Michigan
- OGSean Farrell, Penn State
- OGRoy Foster, USC
- CDave Rimington, Nebraska
- QBJim McMahon, BYU
- RBMarcus Allen, USC
- RBHerschel Walker, Georgia
- RBCurt Warner, Penn State
- DEBilly Ray Smith Jr., Arkansas
- DEAndre Tippett, Iowa
- DTKenneth Sims, Texas
- DTLester Williams, Miami (Fla.)
- MGTim Krumrie, Wisconsin
- LBBob Crable, Notre Dame
- LBJeff Davis, Clemson
- LBChip Banks, USC
- DBTommy Wilcox, Alabama
- DBFred Marion, Miami (Fla.)
- DBMatt Vanden Boom, Wisconsin
- KMorten Andersen, Michigan State
- PReggie Roby, Iowa
Second team
- WRSteve Bryant, Purdue
- TEMark Raugh, West Virginia
- OTTerry Crouch, Oklahoma
- OTKen Dallafior, Minnesota
- OTLee Nanney, Clemson
- OGKurt Becker, Michigan
- CEmil Boures, Pittsburgh
- QBDan Marino, Pittsburgh
- RBDarrin Nelson, Stanford
- RBButch Woolfolk, Michigan
- RBDwayne Crutchfield, Iowa State
- DEJimmy Williams, Nebraska
- DEDavid Galloway, Florida
- DTJeff Gaylord, Missouri
- DTEddie Weaver, Georgia
- MGPat Dean, Iowa
- LBSal Sunseri, Pittsburgh
- LBJohnie Cooks, Mississippi State
- LBMarcus Marek, Ohio State
- DBMike Richardson, Arizona State
- DBVann McElroy, Baylor
- DBJim Bob Harris, Alabama
- KDanny Miller, Miami (Fla.)
- PRohn Stark, Florida State
Other selectors
Football News
First team
- WRAnthony Carter, Michigan
- TETim Wrightman, UCLA
- OTTerry Tausch, Texas
- OTJim Covert, Pittsburgh
- OGSean Farrell, Penn State
- OGKurt Becker, Michigan
- CDave Rimington, Nebraska
- QBJim McMahon, BYU
- RBMarcus Allen, USC
- RBHerschel Walker, Georgia
- RBButch Woolfolk, Michigan
- DEBilly Ray Smith Jr., Arkansas
- DEAndre Tippett, Iowa
- DTKenneth Sims, Texas
- DTLester Williams, Miami (Fla.)
- MGTim Krumrie, Wisconsin
- LBBob Crable, Notre Dame
- LBJeff Davis, Clemson
- LBJohnie Cooks, Mississippi State
- DBTommy Wilcox, Alabama
- DBVann McElroy, Baylor
- DBPaul Sorensen, Washington State
- KDanny Miller, Miami (Fla.)
- PReggie Roby, Iowa
Second team
- WRPerry Tuttle, Clemson
- WRStanley Washington, TCU
- OTTerry Crouch, Oklahoma
- OTEd Muransky, Michigan
- OTKeith Uecker, Auburn
- OGDave Drechsler, North Carolina
- CDan Mackie, Arizona State
- RBCurt Warner, Penn State
- RBDarrin Nelson, Stanford
- RBEric Dickerson, SMU
- DEJimmy Williams, Nebraska
- DEDavid Galloway, Florida
- DEMike Pitts, Alabama
- DTHarvey Armstrong, SMU
- DTJeff Bryant, Clemson
- LBRicky Young, Oklahoma State
- LBMarcus Marek, Ohio State
- LBChet Parlavecchio, Penn State
- DBFred Marion, Miami (Fla.)
- DBJim Burroughs, Michigan State
- DBKevin Potter, Missouri
- KMorten Andersen, Michigan State
- PRohn Stark, Florida State
Gannett News Service
- WRAnthony Carter, Michigan
- WRLindsay Scott, Georgia
- TEJamie Williams, Nebraska
- OTJohn Meyer, Arizona State
- OTDon Mosebar, USC
- OGSean Farrell, Penn State
- OGKurt Becker, Michigan
- CDave Rimington, Nebraska
- QBJim McMahon, BYU
- RBMarcus Allen, USC
- RBHerschel Walker, Georgia
- DEBilly Ray Smith Jr., Arkansas
- DEAndre Tippett, Iowa
- DTKenneth Sims, Texas
- DTRick Bryan, Oklahoma
- MGGeorge Achica, USC
- LBBob Crable, Notre Dame
- LBJohnie Cooks, Mississippi State
- LBMark Stewart, Washington
- LBKirk Hamon, Pacific
- DBJohn Krimm, Notre Dame
- DBPaul Sorensen, Washington State
- DBRick Woods, Boise State
- DBPaul Lankford, Penn State
- KMorten Andersen, Michigan State
- PRohn Stark, Florida State
NEA
Newspaper Enterprise Association
First team
- WRAnthony Carter, Michigan
- WRPerry Tuttle, Clemson
- TETim Wrightman, UCLA
- OTJohn Meyer, Arizona State
- OTJim Covert, Pittsburgh
- OGSean Farrell, Penn State
- OGKurt Becker, Michigan
- CBrad Edelman, Missouri
- QBDan Marino, Pittsburgh
- RBMarcus Allen, USC
- RBHerschel Walker, Georgia
- DEBilly Ray Smith Jr., Arkansas
- DEJimmy Williams, Nebraska
- DTKenneth Sims, Texas
- DTLester Williams, Miami (Fla.)
- MGEmanuel Weaver, South Carolina
- LBJohnie Cooks, Mississippi State
- LBTom Boyd, Alabama
- DBTerry Kinard, Clemson
- DBJohn Krimm, Notre Dame
- DBRay Horton, Washington
- DBPaul Sorensen, Washington State
- KBruce Lahay, Arkansas
- PRohn Stark, Florida State
Second team
- WRSteve Bryant, Purdue
- WRLindsay Scott, Georgia
- TEPat Beach, Washington State
- OTEd Muransky, Michigan
- OTLuis Sharpe, UCLA
- OGRoy Foster, USC
- OGMike Munchak, Penn State
- CDave Rimington, Nebraska
- QBJim McMahon, BYU
- QBArt Schlichter, Ohio State
- RBDarrin Nelson, Stanford
- RBEric Dickerson, SMU
- DEAndre Tippett, Iowa
- DESteve Clark, Utah
- DTGlen Collins, Mississippi State
- DTFletcher Jenkins, Washington
- MGTim Krumrie, Wisconsin
- LBChip Banks, USC
- LBRobert Brown, Virginia Tech
- LBMike Merriweather, Pacific
- DBMike Richardson, Arizona State
- DBJohnny Jackson, Air Force
- DBMike Kennedy, Toledo
- DBKen Thomas, San Jose State
- KMorten Andersen, Michigan State
- PMaury Buford, Texas Tech
Sporting News
The Sporting News
- WRAnthony Carter, Michigan
- WRPerry Tuttle, Clemson
- TEPat Beach, Washington State
- OTTerry Tausch, Texas
- OTLuis Sharpe, UCLA
- OGSean Farrell, Penn State
- OGRoy Foster, USC
- CBrad Edelman, Missouri
- QBDan Marino, Pittsburgh
- RBMarcus Allen, USC
- RBHerschel Walker, Georgia
- DEBilly Ray Smith Jr., Arkansas
- DTKenneth Sims, Texas
- DTLester Williams, Miami (Fla.)
- DTGlen Collins, Mississippi State
- LBBob Crable, Notre Dame
- LBJohnie Cooks, Mississippi State
- LBChip Banks, USC
- DBMike Richardson, Arizona State
- DBJohn Krimm, Notre Dame
- DBRodney Lewis, Nebraska
- DBJim Burroughs, Michigan State
- KMorten Andersen, Michigan State
- PRohn Stark, Florida State
Walter Camp
Walter Camp Football Foundation
- WRAnthony Carter, Michigan
- TETim Wrightman, UCLA
- OTTerry Tausch, Texas
- OTBubba Paris, Michigan
- OGSean Farrell, Penn State
- OGRoy Foster, USC
- CDave Rimington, Nebraska
- QBDan Marino, Pittsburgh
- RBMarcus Allen, USC
- RBHerschel Walker, Georgia
- RBCurt Warner, Penn State
- DEBilly Ray Smith Jr., Arkansas
- DEJimmy Williams, Nebraska
- DTKenneth Sims, Texas
- DTLester Williams, Miami (Fla.)
- MGTim Krumrie, Wisconsin
- LBBob Crable, Notre Dame
- LBChip Banks, USC
- LBTom Boyd, Alabama
- DBMike Richardson, Arizona State
- DBTommy Wilcox, Alabama
- DBVann McElroy, Baylor
- KMorten Andersen, Michigan State
- PReggie Roby, Iowa
From Wikipedia’s 1981 All-America article (CC BY-SA 4.0): each player’s selectors as the article lists them, named from its key. A selector with one team has no team number.