AP All American Team Football: Alabama and the SEC Top the First Team All American List

The Associated Press announced its annual All-American teams today. The Southeastern Conference had the most players named to the first All American team with 11, including six Alabama players. Heisman winner Mark Ingram was a unanimous first-team selection, as was linebacker Rolando McClain. Defensive tackle Terrence "Mount" Cody was selected for the second consecutive season. Cornerback Javier Arenas, guard Michael Johnson and kicker Leigh Tiffin rounded out the list of Crimson Tide players who were first-teamers.

 

Also included from the SEC on the first team were: Tennessee's safety Eric Berry, South Carolina linebacker Eric Norwood, Georgia punter Drew Butler. Florida, who had six players make the three All American teams, touted cornerback Joe Haden and tight end Aaron Hernandez as first-teamers as well.

How did the rest of the Heisman contenders fare? Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, the Heisman runner-up, and Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who finished fourth in Heisman voting, were also unanimous first-team All-America selections.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy was the All-American quarterback, selected to the first team by the AP college football poll voters. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was a second-team selection (Boise State's Kellen Moore was the third-team selection at quarterback).

The Big 12 was the conference runner-up for first team selections with seven. Amongst that seven were three of the five offensive linemen --- Oklahoma State's Russell Okung and Oklahoma's Trent Williams and Baylor's J.D. Walton at center. Rounding out the offensive line was Idaho guard Mike Iuapti.

Notre Dame's Golden Tate (perfect name for a Notre Dame player) and Texas' Jordan Shipley were the first team wide receivers. Explosive Clemson running back C.J. Spiller was named to the first team as an all-purpose player.

The Horned Frogs (TCU) defense that I spoke so eloquently about in an earlier article had only one representative: first team defensive end Jerry Hughes. Georgia Tech's Derrick Morgan joined him at defensive end on the first team.

The Big Ten had only one player on the first team and that was Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones.

The All American selections proved to be a family affair as well. Florida's twin brother offensive linemen, Mike and Maurkice Pouncey, were selected to the second team; Oregon State receiver James Rodgers made the second team as an all-purpose player while his brother, Jacquizz, was a third-team pick at running back.

For the complete list of all three All American teams, go to: Rivals.com