With all but a handful of games, championship and otherwise, left in the 2012 regular season book, its time for the All-American lists to start rolling out.
One of the first to do so is also one of the most prestigious. Selected annually since 1945, the American Football Coaches’ Association All-American team is the only such squad voted on exclusively by coaches.
The 2012 edition of the AFCA All-American team is headlined by a bit of surprise, with Clemson’s Tajh Boyd named as the squad’s quarterback over the likes of Heisman front-runner Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M, Kansas State’s Collin Klein, Georgia’s Aaron Murray and myriad others. It’s hard to argue with Boyd’s selection, though, as the junior is currently fourth in the country in passing efficiency (168.5), 12th in yards (3,550) and tied for sixth in touchdown passes (34). he’s also tied for 10th in interceptions with 13, so there’s that.
Tigers offensive lineman Dalton Freeman joined his teammate on the team, making Clemson one of three schools with two players apiece along with Stanford (tight end Zach Ertz, offensive lineman David Yankey) and Texas A&M (offensive lineman Luke Joeckel, defensive lineman Damontre Moore). Alabama led all schools with three players: offensive lineman Chance Warmack, linebacker C.J. Mosley and defensive back Dee Milliner.
Conference-wise, the SEC led all leagues with eight players selected, followed by the Pac-12’s six, the ACC’s four and the Big 12’s three. The Big Ten, Mountain West and WAC each had one player apiece named to the squad.
Wisconsin running back Montee Ball and Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones were the only 2011 All-Americans to repeat this season.
Below is the complete 2012 AFCA All-American team:
OFFENSE
WR Marqise Lee USC
WR Terrance Williams Baylor
TE Zach Ertz Stanford
OL Chance Warmack Alabama
OL Luke Joeckel Texas A&M
C Dalton Freeman Clemson
OL Jonathan Cooper North Carolina
OL David Yankey Stanford
QB Tajh Boyd Clemson
RB Kenjon Barner Oregon
RB Montee Ball Wisconsin
DEFENSE
DL Jadeveon Clowney South Carolina
DL Bjoern Werner Florida State
DL Damontre Moore Texas A&M
DL Will Sutton Arizona State
LB Manti Te’o Notre Dame
LB Jarvis Jones Georgia
LB C.J. Mosley Alabama
DB Eric Reid LSU
DB Dee Milliner Alabama
DB Jordan Poyer Oregon State
DB Phillip Thomas Fresno State
SPECIALISTS
P Ryan Allen Louisiana Tech
PK Quinn Sharp Oklahoma State
AP Tavon Austin West Virginia