Two Irish players were named to Sports Illustrated’s All-American teams, with linebacker Manti Te’o and kicker David Ruffer both named to the second team.
(This is the part of the entry where I apologize for the funky formatting of this post and also wonder what the All-American team would’ve looked like with Kyle Rudolph and Dayne Crist staying healthy (which would’ve helped Michael Floyd’s season) and then REALLY wonder what the All-American team would’ve looked like with Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate still around in South Bend. Ahh… what could have been, right?)
Here are SI’s All American choices:
First Team:
QB – Cam Newton, Auburn DE – Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson
RB – LaMichael James, Oregon DT – Nick Fairley, Auburn
RB – Jordan Todman, UConn DT – Stephen Paea, Oregon State
WR – Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma St. DE – Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
WR – Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma LB – Nate Irving, NC State
TE – Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin LB – Greg Jones, Michigan State
OL – Jordan Holmes, Oregon LB – Luke Kuechly, Boston College
OL – Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin CB – Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
OL – Rodney Hudson, Florida State S – Tejay Johnson, TCU
OL – Nate Solder, Colorado S – Quinton Carter, Oklahoma
OL – Lee Ziemba, Auburn CB – Patrick Peterson, LSU
K – Alex Henery, Nebraska R – Cliff Harris, Oregon
P – Chas Henry, Florida AP – Randall Cobb, Kentucky
Second Team:
QB – Andrew Luck, Stanford DE – J.J. Watt, Wisconsin
RB – Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma St. DT – Jared Crick, Nebraska
RB – Vai Taua, Nevada DT – Drake Nevis, LSU
WR – Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina DE – Dontay Moch, Nevada
WR – Juron Criner, Arizona LB – Lavonte David, Nebraska
TE – D.J. Williams, Arkansas LB – Von Miller, Texas A&M
OL – Jake Kirkpatrick, TCU LB – Manti Te’o, Notre Dame
OL – Derek Sherrod, Mississippi St. CB – Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech
OL – Caleb Schlauderaff, Utah S – Mark Barron, Alabama
OL – Anthony Castonzo, Boston College S – John Boyett, Oregon
OL – John Moffitt, Wisconsin CB – Keith Tandy, West Virginia
K – David Ruffer, Notre Dame R – Eric Page, Toledo
P – Aaron Bates, Michigan State AP – Damaris Johnson, Tulsa
No other Irish players were named to the Honorable Mention lists. (Which included 11 additional wide receivers.)