1987 College Football All-America Team

The 1987 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams in 1987. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recognizes five selectors as "official" for the 1987 season. They are: (1) the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA); (2) the Associated Press (AP) selected based on the votes of sports writers at AP newspapers; (3) the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA); (4) the United Press International (UPI) selected based on the votes of sports writers at UPI newspapers; and (5) the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WC). Other notable selectors included Football News the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), Scripps Howard (SH), and The Sporting News (TSN).

Consensus All-Americans
The following charts identify the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans for the year 1987 and displays which first-team designations they received.

Quarterbacks

 * Don McPherson, Syracuse (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
 * Troy Aikman, UCLA (CFHOF) (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-2)
 * Steve Taylor, Nebraska (AP-3, FN)

Running backs

 * Lorenzo White, Michigan State (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH)
 * Craig Heyward, Pittsburgh (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, SH, TSN)
 * Gaston Green, UCLA (AFCA, UPI-2, WC, FN, NEA-1)
 * Bobby Humphrey, Alabama (AP-3, WC, NEA-2, TSN)
 * Thurman Thomas, Oklahoma State (CFHOF) (AP-1, UPI-2)
 * Lydell Carr, Oklahoma (NEA-1 [FB])
 * Eric Metcalf, Texas (AP-2)
 * Jamie Morris, Michigan (NEA-2)
 * Mel Bratton, Miami (FL) (NEA-2 [FB])
 * Blair Thomas, Penn State (AP-3)

Wide receivers

 * Tim Brown, Notre Dame (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1 [return specialist], FWAA [KR/WR], UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
 * Wendell Davis, LSU (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, FN, SH, TSN)
 * Sterling Sharpe, South Carolina (CFHOF) (AP-3, FWAA, UPI-2, TSN)
 * Ernie Jones, Indiana (AP-1)
 * Marc Zeno, Tulane (AP-1, UPI-2)
 * Guy Liggins, San Jose State (AP-2)
 * Michael Irvin, Miami (FL) (NEA-2)
 * Terance Mathis, New Mexico (AP-3)

Tight ends

 * Keith Jackson, Oklahoma (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-2, SH)
 * Pat Carter, Florida State (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-1, TSN)
 * Ferrell Edmunds, Maryland (AP-3)

Centers

 * Nacho Albergamo, LSU (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, SH, TSN)
 * Chuck Lanza, Notre Dame (AP-2, UPI-2, FN, NEA-1)
 * Jake Young, Nebraska (NEA-2)
 * Matt Wilson, Texas A&M (AP-3)

Offensive guards

 * Mark Hutson, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH)
 * Randall McDaniel, Arizona State (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-2, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, SH)
 * John Phillips, Clemson (AP-2, NEA-1)
 * Steve Wisniewski, Penn State (TSN)
 * Harry Galbreath, Tennessee (AP-3, UPI-2, NEA-2, TSN)
 * Larry Rose, Alabama (NEA-2)
 * Eric Andolsek, LSU (AP-3)

Offensive tackles

 * Dave Cadigan, USC (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
 * Jumbo Elliot, Michigan (AFCA, FWAA, UPI-1, WC)
 * John McCormick, Nebraska (AFCA, AP-1 [OG], UPI-2 [OG], FN)
 * Paul Gruber, Wisconsin (UPI-2, NEA-1, TSN)
 * Stacy Searels, Auburn (AP-1, FN)
 * Dave Richards, UCLA (SH)
 * Greg Johnson, Oklahoma (AP-2, UPI-2, NEA-2)
 * Tony Mandarich, Michigan State (AP-2, FN)
 * Louis Cheek, Texas A&M (AP-3)
 * Pat Tomberlin, Florida State (AP-3, NEA-2)

Defensive linemen

 * Chad Hennings, Air Force (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1 [DT], FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1 [DT], SH, TSN)
 * Danny Stubbs, Miami (AFCA, AP-1 [DT], FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1 [DE], SH, TSN)
 * Tracy Rocker, Auburn (CFHOF) (AP-3 [DT], FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, SH)
 * Ted Gregory, Syracuse (UPI-1, FWAA, FN, NEA-1 [NG], TSN)
 * Neil Smith, Nebraska (AP-2 [DT], NEA-1 [DT], TSN)
 * Tony Cherico, Arkansas (AFCA, UPI-2, SH)
 * Broderick Thomas, Nebraska (AP-2, UPI-2, WC, NEA-1 [DE])
 * Michael Dean Perry, Clemson (FWAA, UPI-2, NEA-2 [DT])
 * Darrell Reed, Oklahoma (AP-1 [DE], UPI-2, FN, NEA-2 [DE])
 * Mark Messner, Michigan (AP-2 [DT], TSN)
 * Roy Hart, South Carolina (AP-2 [NG])
 * Burt Grossman, Pittsburgh (NEA-2 [DE])
 * Carlton Bailey, North Carolina (NEA-2 [NG])
 * Kyle Rappold, Colorado (AP-3 [NG])

Linebackers

 * Chris Spielman, Ohio State (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
 * Aundray Bruce, Auburn (AFCA [DL], UPI-1, WC, NEA-2, SH, TSN)
 * Dante Jones, Oklahoma (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-2, SH)
 * John Roper, Texas A&M (AP-1 [DE], FWAA, UPI-2)
 * Ken Norton Jr. UCLA (AP-3, UPI-1, WC, FN, TSN)
 * Paul McGowan, Florida State (AP-1, FN, NEA-1)
 * Kurt Crain, Auburn (AP-1)
 * Marcus Cotton, USC (NEA-1)
 * Chris Gaines, Vanderbilt (AFCA, AP-2)
 * Clifford Charlton, Florida (TSN)
 * Ezekial Gadson, Pittsburgh (FWAA)
 * Carnell Lake, UCLA (AP-2)
 * Ned Bolcar, Notre Dame (AP-2, NEA-2)
 * Van Waiters, Indiana (AP-3, UPI-2)
 * Bill Romanowski, Boston College (AP-2)
 * Jethro Franklin, Fresno State (AP-3)
 * John Brantley, Georgia (NEA-2)
 * Pete Curkendall, Penn State (AP-3 [DT])
 * George Mira Jr., Miami (FL) (AP-3)
 * Galand Thaxton, Wyoming (AP-3)

Defensive backs

 * Bennie Blades, Miami (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
 * Deion Sanders, Florida State (CFHOF) (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
 * Rickey Dixon, Oklahoma (AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, SH)
 * Chuck Cecil, Arizona (AFCA, AP-2, UPI-1, WC, FN)
 * Donnell Woolford, Clemson (AFCA)
 * Todd Krumm, Michigan State (UPI-2, SH)
 * Jarvis Williams, Florida (WC)
 * Gordon Lockbaum, Holy Cross (NEA-1)
 * Louis Oliver, Florida (AP-3, UPI-2, TSN)
 * Mickey Pruitt, Colorado (AP-2, TSN)
 * Brad Edwards, South Carolina (AP-3, UPI-2)
 * David Vickers, Oklahoma (AP-2)
 * Riccardo Ingram, Georgia Tech (UPI-2, NEA-2)
 * Terry McDaniel, Tennessee (NEA-2)
 * Gary Richard, Pittsburgh (NEA-2)
 * Kip Corrington, Texas A&M (AP-3)

Placekickers

 * David Treadwell, Clemson (AFCA, AP-1, UPI-1, WC, FN, NEA-1, SH, TSN)
 * Marty Zendejas, Nevada-Reno (FWAA)
 * Gary Gussman, Miami (OH) (AP-2)
 * Derek Schmidt, Florida State (AP-3, UPI-2, NEA-2)

Punters

 * Tom Tupa, Ohio State (AFCA, AP-1, FWAA, UPI-1, WC, NEA-1, SH)
 * Scott Tabor, California (AP-3, NEA-2, TSN)
 * Barry Helton, Colorado (AP-2)
 * Greg Montgomery, Michigan State (UPI-2, FN)

Returners

 * Tim Brown, Notre Dame (CFHOF) (AP-1, FWAA [KR/WR])
 * Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State (AP-2, TSN)
 * Alan Grant, Stanford (AP-3)

Key

 * Bold – Consensus All-American
 * -1 – First-team selection
 * -2 – Second-team selection
 * -3 – Third-team selection
 * CFHOF = College Football Hall of Fame inductee

Official selectors

 * AFCA – American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), selected by the members of the AFCA for the Kodak All-America team
 * AP – Associated Press
 * FWAA – Football Writers Association of America
 * UPI – United Press International
 * WC – Walter Camp Football Foundation, selected by the nation's college coaches and sports information directors

Other selectors

 * FN – Football News
 * NEA – Newspaper Enterprise Association, the NEA/World Almanac team, "chosen by a sports panel representing the World Almanac, its 140 co-sponsoring newspapers and its publisher"
 * TSN – The Sporting News
 * SH – Scripps Howard