2014 Walter Camp All-America Notebook – Walter Camp Football Foundation

This is the 125^th edition of the Walter Camp All-America team – the nation’s oldest All-America team. Twenty-six players have been selected to the first team by the 125 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors. In addition, 25 players have been selected to the Second Team.

2014 WCFF All-America Notebook

Walter Camp 2014 POY Marcus Mariota

A Little History

From 1889 to 1964, eleven players were selected.
In 1965, both offensive and defensive teams were picked.
In 1972, the first punter (Ray Guy, Southern Mississippi) was honored.
In 1975, the first placekicker (Chris Bahr, Penn State) was selected.
In 1998, the first-ever Second Team All-America team was recognized.
In 2001, the first kick returner (Herb Haygood, Michigan State) was picked.

Conference Info

Twenty different schools representing six conferences have players on the 2014 Walter Camp All-America First Team. The Southeastern Conference (5 schools), Atlantic Coast Conference (4 schools) and Pac-12 (4 schools) each had six players on the First Team. The Big Ten Conference had four players from four member schools. Florida State had the most First Team honorees with three, while Alabama, Utah and Oregon each had two.

Then and Now

Twenty different schools are represented on the 2014 Walter Camp All-America First Team – the 125^th honored in the name of the former Yale University football coaching legend. Of those 20 schools, Wisconsin has the honor of being the first represented on a Walter Camp All-American squad – tackle Bob Butler was recognized in 1912.

Good to See You Again

Two players – placekicker Robert Aguayo (Florida State) and defensive end Vic Beasley (Clemson) – are repeat First Team All-Americans.

Player of the Year Marcus Mariota

The 48^th recipient of the Walter Camp Player of the Year award, Oregon junior quarterback Marcus Mariota is the first Duck to win the prestigious honor. Mariota is the 16^th quarterback to earn the honor, and the eighth player from a Pac-12 school. Mariota and defensive back Ifo Ekpre-Olomu were first team All-Americans – the first time Oregon has had two First Team selections.

Class Distinction

Of the 25 First Team selections, 13 are seniors. There are seven juniors and five sophomores. On the Second Team, there are nine seniors, 10 juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen (both from the University of Florida – Dante Fowler, Jr. and Vernon Hargreaves III).

Streaking

Texas A&M and Florida State have had at least one Walter Camp First Team All-American in each of the last five years. It is the longest current streak. The all-time record belongs to Notre Dame (18 straight years, 1964 to 1981). After not having an All-American from 1999-2009, Texas A&M has had eight First Teamers in the last five years.

Big Time Backs from Big Ten

Two running backs from the Big Ten Conference – Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon and Indiana’s Tevin Coleman – were selected as First Team All-Americans. It is the fourth time since 1965 (the first year there were offensive and defensive teams selected) that the backfield hailed from the same conference.

1996 – Big 8 (Troy Davis, Iowa State and Byron Hanspard, Texas Tech)

2004 – Big 12 (Cedric Benson, Texas and Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma)

2008 – Big 10 (Javon Ringer, Michigan State and Shonn Greene, Iowa)

Lockett’s Back

Kansas State senior Tyler Lockett is a Second Team honoree at both wide receiver and kick returner. Lockett was a 2011 Walter Camp First Team All-American (kick returner). In addition, Lockett is the third player (all since 2009) to be a twice-honored Walter Camp All-American in the same year. Former Oregon star Cliff Harris was selected to the 2010 Second Team as a defensive back and kick returner. In 2009, former Clemson standout C.J. Spiller was also dually honored – Spiller was a First Team kick returner and Second Team running back.

The First Since…

Several schools are represented on the First Team All-American squad in some time.

UAB kick returner Jamarcus Nelson is the first Blazer to be honored.
Colorado State wide receiver Rashard Higgins is the first Ram to be honored since 1995 (defensive back Greg Myers).
Louisville defensive back Gerod Holliman is the first Cardinal honored on the First Team since 2005 (defensive end Elvis Dumervill).
Duke offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson is the first Blue Devil First Teamer since 1989 (wide receiver Clarkston Hines).
Washington linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha is the first Husky to be honored since 1997 (offensive linemen Olin Kreutz and Benji Olson).
Indiana running back Tevin Coleman is the first Hoosier First Team honoree since 1989 (running back Vaughn Dunbar).

Players of the Week

Each week during the regular-season, the Walter Camp Foundation recognizes a National Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week. Seven First and Second All-American members were recognized during the 2014 regular season. First Team All-Americans recognized included: Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright III (Oct. 26 and Nov. 30), Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper (Nov. 30), Louisville defensive back Gerod Holliman (Nov. 9) and Oregon quarterback and Player of the Year Marcus Mariota (Sept. 7). Second Team honorees included: TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin (Oct. 26) and UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks (Aug. 31).

Walter Camp Weekend is Jan. 15-17

The 2014 Walter Camp All-America team will be honored at the organization’s national awards banquet, presented by First Niagara Bank, on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven. In addition, the Foundation will recognize three individuals – broadcasting legend Verne Lundquist (Distinguished American), former Notre Dame and Pittsburgh Steeler standout running back Jerome Bettis (Man of the Year) and former Air Force All-American and Dallas Cowboy Chad Hennings (Alumnus of the Year) – with major awards.

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