Best Of The Best: AP Selects Its All-Time All-America College Football Teams
Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 02:28PM NYSJ Sports-Entertainment Business News Service
August 14, 2025: The Associated Press has unveiled its All-Time All-America First and Second Teams as part of the news organization’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of honoring the top players in college football.
Since 1925, nearly 2,000 men have been named AP First-Team All-Americans.
Of the 25 players on the First Team, five won the Heisman Trophy, including Johnny Rodgers (1972), Herschel Walker (1982), Barry Sanders (1988), Charles Woodson (1996-97) and Tim Tebow (2007); and 21 are in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Two others are nominated for induction in 2026 and two are not eligible because they are not yet ten years removed from their college careers.
A panel of 12 AP sports writers who cover college football selected the all-time team. For a player to qualify, he must have been an AP First-Team All-American at least once.
“For anyone named an AP All-America, the honor has immediate cachet,” John Heisler, who worked in media relations at Notre Dame for 41 years and is the author of 11 books on the Irish’s football history, said via AP.
“If anyone received multiple All-America honors, it always seemed like the AP recognition would be at the top of the list.”
First Team Offense
QB: Tim Tebow, Florida, 2007
Running backs: Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State, 1988; Herschel Walker, Georgia, 1980-81-82
Wide receivers: Randy Moss, Marshall, 1997; Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh, 2003
Tackles: Orlando Pace, Ohio State, 1995-96; Bill Fralic, Pittsburgh, 1982-83-84
Guards: John Hannah, Alabama, 1972; Jim Parker, Ohio State, 1956
Center: Chuck Bednarik, Penn, 1947-48
Tight end: Brock Bowers, Georgia, 2023
Kicker: Sebastian Janikowski, Florida State, 1998-99
All-purpose: Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska, 1972
First Team Defense
Ends: Hugh Green, Pittsburgh, 1978-79-80; Randy White, Maryland, 1974
Tackles: Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska, 2009; Bronko Nagurski, Minnesota, 1929
Linebackers: Dick Butkus, Illinois, 1964; Derrick Thomas, Alabama, 1988; Chris Spielman, Ohio State, 1986-87
Cornerbacks: Charles Woodson, Michigan, 1996-97; Deion Sanders, Florida State, 1987-88
Safeties: Ronnie Lott, Southern California, 1980; Ed Reed, Miami, 2000-01
Punter: Tory Taylor, Iowa, 2023
See the full First and Second All-America Teams here.
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