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Walter Camp Football Foundation 2007 All-America Notebook

A Little History

• This is the 118th edition of the Walter Camp All-America team – the nation’s oldest All-America team. Twenty-five players are selected to the first team by the 119 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors.
• From 1892 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. Guy will receive the Walter Camp “Alumnus of the Year” award on January 12, 2008.
• In 1975, the first placekicker (Chris Bahr, Penn State) was selected.
• In 2001, the first kick returner (Herb Haygood, Michigan State) was picked.

Conference Info

Eight different conferences were represented on the 2007 Walter Camp All-America First Team. The Big 12 Conference and the Southeastern Conference each had the most 1st team selections with six. The Big Ten had four selections, while the Pac 10 had three.

• Twenty different schools had at least one representative on the First Team. Arkansas had the most selections with three, while USC, Kansas and LSU each had two.
• The last time LSU had two first team selections was 1997 (Chad Kesler, P, and Alan Faneca, OL).
• With two first team selections, it is the 16th time since 1966 that USC has had multiple honorees. In fact, it is the fourth time in the last five years (with 2006 the exception – just one first team honoree).

Streaking

• The longest current streak of having a Walter Camp First Team All-America selection is Texas (8 straight years – 2000 to 2007). Ohio State is next with seven years (2001-2007) and USC six (2002-2007). The all-time longest streak is Notre Dame, 18 years (1964 to 1981).

Good to See You Again

There are three repeat Walter Camp All-Americans – James Laurinaitis (LB, Ohio State), Jake Long (OL, Michigan) and Darren McFadden (RB, Arkansas).

• Jake Long is the first Michigan offensive lineman to repeat as Walter Camp All-American since Greg Skrepanek (1990 and 1991).
• James Laurinaitis is the third Ohio State linebacker to be a two-time Walter Camp All-American, joining A.J. Hawk (2004 and 2005) and Tom Cousineau (1977 and 1978).
• Darren McFadden is the first Arkansas player to repeat as a Walter Camp All-American since defensive lineman Billy Ray Smith (1981 and 1982) and third overall. McFadden is the first SEC running back to repeat since Herschel Walker (1980, 1981 and 1982).

More Darren

Darren McFadden is the first Arkansas player to earn Walter Camp Player of the Year honors. He is the first SEC running back to win the award since 1985 (Bo Jackson, Auburn).

Rock Chalk Jayhawk

Kansas has two First Team All-Americans in 2007, ending a 34-year period without an honoree. The last KU player to earn Walter Camp All-America honors was quarterback David Jaynes (1973). Prior to that, former Jayhawk running back Gale Sayers was a two-time honoree (1963 and 1964).

Moving Up

• Two players selected to the 2007 First Team – Travis Beckum (TE, Wisconsin) and Sam Baker (OL, USC) – were Second Team selections in 2006.
  
  • Honored Again: Three players named to the 2007 Second Team - Ray Rice (RB, Rutgers), Mike Hart (RB, Michigan) and Durant Brooks (P, Georgia Tech) – were named to the 2006 Second Team.
  • Second Team Notable: Utah State kick returner Kevin Robinson was named to the 2007 Second Team. He is the first Aggie since 1969 (Phil Olsen, defensive end) to be recognized as a Camp All-American.

A Fresh(man) Face

Wide receiver Michael Crabtree (Texas) is the fourth freshman to earn Walter Camp All-America honors. Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma - 2004), Dre Bly (DB, North Carolina – 1997) and Herschel Walker (RB, Georgia – 1980) have also been honored during their first collegiate seasons.

Notables From the State of Florida

Central Florida (Kevin Smith, RB) and South Florida (George Selvie, DE) each earned their first-ever Walter Camp All-America selections. Smith, the nation’s leading rusher, is also the second Conference USA running back to be honored by Walter Camp in the last three years (DeAngelo Williams, Memphis – 2005). Tim Tebow is the first Florida quarterback selected since 2001 when Rex Grossman was honored.

More Notables from Around the Nation

• Antoine Cason is the first Arizona player honored since 1998 (Chris McAllister, DB).
• John Sullivan is the first New Mexico player honored since 1999 (Brian Urlacher, LB).
• Kevin Huber is the first Cincinnati player honored since 2000 (Jonathan Ruffin, PK)

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