1978 All-America college football team
The 1978 All-America college football 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 1978. The National Collegiate Athletic Association recognizes four selectors as "official" for the 1978 season. They are: the American Football Coaches Association based on the input of more than 2,000 voting members; the Associated Press selected based on the votes of sports writers at AP newspapers; the Football Writers Association of America selected by the nation's football writers; and the United Press International selected based on the votes of sports writers at UPI newspapers. Other selectors included Football News, the Newspaper Enterprise Association, The Sporting News, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Offense
Receivers
Emanuel Tolbert, SMU- Kirk Gibson, Michigan State
- Gordon Jones, Pittsburgh
- Jerry Butler, Clemson
- Junior Miller, Nebraska
- Dave Petzke, Northern Illinois
Tight ends
Kellen Winslow, Missouri- Mark Brammer, Michigan State
Tackles
Keith Dorney, Penn St.Kelvin Clark, Nebraska- Jeff Toews, Washington
- Matt Miller, Colorado
- Robert Dugas, LSU
- Anthony Muñoz, USC
- Greg Kolenda, Arkansas
- Craig Wolfley, Syracuse
Guards
Pat Howell, USC Greg Roberts, Oklahoma- Joe Bostic, Clemson
- Pete Inge, San Diego State
- Steve Lindquist, Nebraska
- Brad Budde, USC
- Doug Panfil, Tulsa
Centers
Dave Huffman, Notre Dame Jim Ritcher, North Carolina St.- Dwight Stephenson, Alabama
- Robert Shaw, Tennessee
- Chuck Brown, Houston
Quarterbacks
Chuck Fusina, Penn St.- Rick Leach, Michigan
- Jack Thompson, Washington State
- Steve Dils, Stanford
- Steve Fuller, Clemson
Running backs
Billy Sims, Oklahoma Charles Alexander, LSU Charles White, USC Ted Brown, North Carolina State- Eddie Lee Ivery, Georgia Tech
- Darrin Nelson, Stanford
- Willie McClendon, Georgia
- Obie Graves, Cal State Fullerton
- James Hadnot, Texas Tech
- Joseph H. Holland, Cornell
Defense
Defensive ends
Al Harris, Arizona St. Hugh Green, Pittsburgh- Don Smith, Miami
- George Andrews, Nebraska
- Don Blackmon, Tulsa
- Willie Jones, Florida State
- John Adams, LSU
- Chuck Schott, Army
Defensive tackles
Mike Bell, Colorado St. Bruce Clark, Penn St. Marty Lyons, Alabama- Matt Millen, Penn State
- Dan Hampton, Arkansas
- Jimmy Walker, Arkansas
- Mike Stensrud, Iowa State
- Ken Kremer, Ball State
Middle guards
- Reggie Kinlaw, Oklahoma
- Manu Tuiasosopo, UCLA
- Ardis McCann, Louisiana Tech
Linebackers
Jerry Robinson, UCLA Tom Cousineau, Ohio State Bob Golic, Notre Dame- Ken Fantetti, Wyoming
- Barry Krauss, Alabama
- George Cumby, Oklahima
- John Corker, Ohlahoma State
- Daryl Hunt, Oklahoma
- Michael Jackson, Washington
- Joe Norman, Indiana
- Jack Lazor, Kent State
- Frank Manumaleuga, San Jose State
Defensive backs
Johnnie Johnson, Texas Kenny Easley, UCLA Jeff Nixon, Richmond- Lawrence Johnson, Wisconsin
- Henry Williams, San Diego St.
- Rick Sanford, South Carolina
- Pete Harris, Penn State
- Don Bessillieu, Georgia Tech
- Jeff Delaney, Pittsburgh
- Lovie Smith, Tulsa
- Russ Calabrese, Missouri
- Tim Smith, Oregon State
- Vaughn Lusby, Arkansas
- Jason Coloma, Brigham Young
- Nesby Glasgow, Washington
- Joe Restic, Notre Dame
Special teams
Kickers
- Matt Bahr, Penn State
- Tony Franklin, Texas AM
Punters
- Russell Erxleben, Texas
- Joe Restic, Notre Dame
Key
Bold – Consensus All-American- -1 – First-team selection
- -2 – Second-team selection
- -3 – Third-team selection
Official selectors
- AFCA – American Football Coaches Association, selected by 2,100 voting members for Kodak
- AP – Associated Press
- FWAA – Football Writers Association of America
- UPI – United Press International
Other selectors
- FN – Football News
- NEA – Newspaper Enterprise Association
- TSN – The Sporting News
- WC – Walter Camp Football Foundation