1979 All-America college football team
The 1979 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 1979. The National Collegiate Athletic Association recognizes four selectors as "official" for the 1979 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
Ken Margerum, Stanford- Art Monk, Syracuse
- Johnny "Lam" Jones, Texas
- Rick Beasley, Appalachian State
- Jackie Flowers, Florida State
- Wayne Baumgardner, Wake Forest
- Steve Coury, Oregon State
Tight ends
Junior Miller, Nebraska- Mark Brammer, Michigan State
- Dave Young, Purdue
- Mark Geisler, Ohio
- Benjie Pryor, Pittsburgh
Tackles
Greg Kolenda, Arkansas Jim Bunch, Alabama- Tim Foley, Notre Dame
- Melvin Jones, Houston
- Stan Brock, Colorado
- Steve McKenzie, Purdue
- Irv Pankey, Penn State
- Ray Snell, Wisconsin
- Herman Parker, Long Beach State
Guards
Brad Budde, USC Ken Fritz, Ohio State- Mike Brock, Alabama
- Pete Inge, San Diego State
- George Stewart, Arkansas
- Mark Jones, Missouri
- Mark Goodspeed, Nebraska
- Wayne Inman, East Carolina
- Craig Wolfley, Syracuse
Centers
Jim Ritcher, North Carolina State- Dwight Stephenson, Alabama
- Ray Donaldson, Georgia
Quarterbacks
Marc Wilson, Brigham Young- Art Schlichter, Ohio State
- Paul McDonald, USC
Running backs
Charles White, USC Billy Sims, Oklahoma- George Rogers, South Carolina
- James Brooks, Auburn
- James Hadnot, Texas Tech
- Dennis Mosley, Iowa
- Jarvis Redwine, Nebraska
- Joe Cribbs, Auburn
- Freeman McNeil, UCLA
Defense
Defensive ends
Hugh Green, Pittsburgh- Curtis Greer, Michigan
- Jacob Green, Texas A&M
- Rick Antle, Oklahoma State
- E. J. Junior, Alabama
- John Adams, LSU
- Rush Brown, Ball State
- Gerry Gluscic, Indiana State
- Bob Kohrs, Arizona State
Defensive tackles
Steve McMichael, Texas Bruce Clark, Penn State Jim Stuckey, Clemson- Hosea Taylor, Houston
- Rulon Jones, Utah State
- Doug Martin, Washington
- Cleveland Crosby, Arizona
- Dino Mangiero, Rutgers
Middle guards
Ron Simmons, Florida State- Ken Loushin, Purdue
- Kerry Weinmaster, Nebraska
- George Mays, Army
Linebackers
George Cumby, Oklahoma Mike Singletary, Baylor Ron Simpkins, Michigan- Dennis Johnson, USC
- Otis Wilson, Louisville
- David Hodge, Houston
- Dan Bass, Michigan State
- Lance Mehl, Penn State
- Otis Wilson, Louisville
- Tom Boyd, Alabama
- Bob Crable, Notre Dame
Defensive backs
Kenny Easley, UCLA Johnnie Johnson, Texas Roland James, Tennessee- Don McNeal, Alabama
- Mark Haynes, Colorado
- Derrick Hatchett, Texas
- Lovie Smith, Tulsa
- Darrol Ray, Oklahoma
- Mike Guess, Ohio State
- Willie Teal, LSU
- Mark Lee, Washington
- Roynell Young, Alcorn State
- Vince Skillings, Ohio State
- Monk Bonasorte, Florida State
- Dennis Smith, USC
Special teams
Kickers
Dale Castro, Maryland- Ish Ordonez, Arkansas
Punters
Jim Miller, Ole Miss- Mike Smith, Wyoming
- Ken Naber, Stanford