In order to be considered a unanimous All-American by the NCAA, a college football player needs to earn first-team needs from all five of the following organizations: the Associated Press, the American Football Coaches Association, the Football Writers Association of America, the Sporting News, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. With the release of the AFCA team Wednesday, a total of 14 players have been accorded unanimous All-American honors for the 2017 season.
Heading that pack, unsurprisingly, is Oklahoma quarterback and 2017 Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield. Since those five organizations were established as the criteria in 2002, Mayfield becomes the sixth quarterback to earn that honor, joining Louisville’s Lamar Jackson (2016), Oregon’s Marcus Mariota (2014), Texas’ Colt McCoy (2009), Ohio State’s Troy Smith (2006) and Oklahoma’s Jason White (2003). Prior to White, the last quarterback named a unanimous All-American was Charlie Ward of Florida State in 1993.
Of the 14 unanimous All-Americans this season -- there were the same number in 2016 -- exactly half came from Oklahoma (three), Iowa (two) and Texas (two).
Below are the remaining baker’s dozen (no pun intended) unanimous All-Americans:
- Oklahoma tight end Mark Andrews
- Oklahoma offensive lineman Orlando Brown Jr.
- North Carolina State defensive lineman Bradley Chubb
- Texas punter Michael Dickson
- Texas defensive back DeShon Elliott
- Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick
- Iowa defensive back Josh Jackson
- Iowa linebacker Josey Jewell
- Stanford running back Bryce Love
- Notre Dame offensive lineman Quenton Nelson
- Ohio State offensive lineman Billy Price
- Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith
- Oklahoma State wide receiver James Washington