The first major All-American honors have been announced, and the Alabama Crimson Tide are the darlings of coaches across America.
Four Tide players — running back Mark Ingram, OL Mike Johnson, LB Rolando McClain and DB Javier Arenas — were named to the first-team American Football Coaches Association All-American squad.
All told, seven SEC players were named to the 25-person team. The Big 12 was next with six players, including three from Texas — quarterback Colt McCoy, OL Chris Hall and DB Earl Thomas.
Perhaps the two most glaring absences from the team, at least at first glance and without much thought, are Alabama defensive lineman Terrence Cody and Iowa offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga.
Below is the AFCA first team in its entirety:
OFFENSE
WR Golden Tate, Notre DameWR Mardy Gilyard, CincinnatiTE Dennis Pitta, BYUOL Mike Johnson, AlabamaOL Russell Okung, Oklahoma StC Chris Hall, Texas OL Trent Williams, Oklahoma OL Mike Iupati, Idaho QB Colt McCoy, Texas RB Mark Ingram, Alabama RB Toby Gerhart, Stanford
DEFENSEDL Ndamukong Suh, NebraskaDL Jerry Hughes, TCUDL Jared Odrick, Penn St.DL Derrick Morgan, Georgia TechDL Brian Price, UCLALB Rolando McClain, AlabamaLB Greg Jones, Michigan St.DB Eric Berry, TennesseeDB Joe Haden, FloridaDB Javier Arenas, AlabamaDB Earl Thomas, Texas
SPECIALISTSP Drew Butler, GeorgiaPK Kai Forbath, UCLAAP C.J. Spiller, Clemson
What’s up with that defensive alignment? Are they playing the Oklahoma 52?
Nice to see an Idaho guy on the squad.
I love Terrence Cody, but if they were only going to name two of our players to the defensive unit, they picked the right two.
Good for McCoy! But someone must have had to rush columnist Mike Bianchi–who’s written that the world should revel in the miraculous journey of Tebow, the greatest QB to ever play the game–to the hospital. Hope he’ll survive.
Terrence Cody is the most overrated player since Andre Woodson – and at least Woodson had productive numbers…
If you think I’m nuts, when you watch the SEC championship this Saturday, forget the play – focus on just him (when he is actually on the field, that is)… You don’t need to be a trained scout to see that he is not a good football player.
Danielson said in the middle of the LSU game that he was surprised when Saban told him he was worried about LSU running between the tackles… This should have been a big red flag to the entire country that maybe Cody (and McClain for that matter) aren’t all the media would like to think they are.
“You don’t need to be a trained scout to see that he is not a good football player.”
Yes, that’s correct. Because actual trained scouts seem to have all reached the conclusion he is indeed a good football player that will be drafted in the first round.
I know Oklahoma’s having a down year but to overlook Gerald McCoy on the DL is brainless. A year from now when this list is exposed for its rediculous nature, we’ll look back & laugh. Some of us anyway.
Great catch on Gerald McCoy.
Earl Thomas is a joke. The guy looked like a scrub at times against A&M. Mark Barron led the SEC in INTs and his D is ranked 1 or 2 in the nation. It is a crime that Thomas is a finalist for the Thorpe and not Arenas. Case Keenum should have been the QB.
rolltide – and who would those “scouts” be?
and the moral-authority is correct – mccoy should be on this list.
at least they got trent williams and mike iupati right – nice to see the idaho kid getting his just due.
@jliskiew …
I hope you’re right that Saban is signaling the country there’s some problem with McClain. Yessiree, I really hope you’re right. Hope you’re so right that he decides not to come out because no one will want him–though I don’t expect that will happen. But maybe, just maybe, he’ll sit in the first round long enough for the Steelers to get him. Yep, let’s hope every pro scout caught that invisible signal but ours–who I trust are not that stupid–’cause I’d give just about anything to wind up with Rolando McClain.
Umm, why is Golden Tate there, but Danario Alexander (Mizzou) not? Mardy Gilyard should definitely be and is, but tell me what receiver put up better numbers than Danario. Plus he played on a team with a winning record.
How is Rolando McClain on the team and Brandon Spikes is not? McClain is a great LB, but Spikes is every bit as good — if you watch the UF defense, you can see how good he is and how integral he is to the defenses. But, Deb, I’m a partisan!
@tampalawyer …
I’m a little partisan, too! McClain brings a few extras to the table. That’s why I want him in Pittsburgh. Nick runs a pro-style defense and Pittsburgh’s zone-blitz schemes are very complicated. McClain isn’t just a good linebacker, he’s a smart one who helps in defensive signal-calling. But shhh, don’t tell the pro scouts. According to jliskiew, they think he’s overrated just like Mt. Cody
@Deb — well, I am with you about Cody. I watched him in a couple games this year and actually does pursue laterally better than you might think for a 350+ tackle. He will be a star in the NFL.