Kalen DeBoer, head coach of the University of Washington Huskies, is the Walter Camp 2023 Football Bowl Subdivision Coach of Year. 

The Walter Camp Coach of Year is selected by the nation’s 131 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors.  DeBoer is the first coach from Washington and the fifth from the Pac-12 Conference to earn the award.

DeBoer has led the Huskies to the College Football Playoff, the most wins in program history, and the Pac-12 Championship.  Washington has posted a perfect 13-0 record this year and owns the nation’s longest active win streak at 20 games. No. 2 Washington (13-0) will face No. 3 Texas (12-1) in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 2024, in a College Football Playoff Semifinal.

Washington’s perfect 9-0 conference record made DeBoer only the second Pac-12 coach to reach that number, matching Chip Kelly, then at Oregon (and the Walter Camp Coach of Year), in 2010. Washington sealed its second all-time spot in the playoff with a 34-31 win over Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game, its second win over Oregon this season.  Washington is the only school with multiple wins over schools currently ranked in the top eight and is 5-0 against teams that were ranked in the AP Top 25 at the time of the game. The Huskies have excelled in close games, with their last nine games decided by 10 points or fewer.

Two Washington players – quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. (First Team) and wide receiver Rome Odunze (Second Team) – earned Walter Camp All-America honors in 2023.

The 49-year-old DeBoer is the first Washington coach to win 11 or more games in consecutive seasons and is now 24-2 in his two seasons at the school and 36-8 overall in four seasons as a Division I head coach, including a 12-6 record in two seasons at Fresno State. DeBoer has an overall 103-11 record as a collegiate head coach. In five seasons at Sioux Falls, his alma mater, from 2005-09, he was a remarkable 67-3 with three NAIA national titles.

As a student at Sioux Falls, DeBoer set records in both football and baseball. During his football career, he compiled 3,400 yards and 33 touchdowns on 234 career receptions – all school records at the time – and played on the 1996 NAIA Division II National Championship team, which beat Western Washington in the final. He also played baseball for the Cougars, batting .520 (still a school record) as a senior in 1998. His career average of .492 is still best in USF history as are his 37 career homers, and .944 slugging percentage.

A 1998 graduate of the University of Sioux Falls with a degree in secondary education, DeBoer and his wife, Nicole, are the parents of two daughters, Alexis and Avery.

Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation (www.waltercamp.org,@WalterCampFF) – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. 

The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s website, www.ncfaa.org

 

Walter Camp Coaches of the Year

2023 – Kalen DeBoer, Washington

2022 – Sonny Dykes, TCU

2021 – Luke Fickell, Cincinnati

2020 – Jamey Chadwell, Coastal Carolina

2019 – Ed Orgeron, LSU

2018 – Nick Saban, Alabama

2017 – Mark Richt, Miami

2016 – Mike MacIntyre, Colorado

2015 – Dabo Swinney, Clemson

2014 – Gary Patterson, TCU

2013 – David Cutcliffe, Duke

2012 – Brian Kelly, Notre Dame

2011 – Les Miles, LSU

2010 – Chip Kelly, Oregon

2009 – Gary Patterson, TCU

2008 – Nick Saban, Alabama

2007 – Mark Mangino, Kansas

2006 – Greg Schiano, Rutgers

2005 – Joe Paterno, Penn State

2004 – Tommy Tuberville, Auburn

2003 – Bob Stoops, Oklahoma

2002 – Kirk Ferentz, Iowa

2001 – Ralph Friedgen, Maryland

2000 – Bob Stoops, Oklahoma

1999 – Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech

1998 – Bill Synder, Kansas State

1997 – Lloyd Carr, Michigan

1996 – Bruce Snyder, Arizona State

1995 – Gary Barnett, Northwestern

1994 – Joe Paterno, Penn State

1993 – Terry Bowden, Auburn

1992 – Gene Stallings, Alabama

1991 – Bobby Bowden, Florida State

1990 – Bobby Ross, Georgia Tech

1989 – Bill McCartney, Colorado

1988 – Don Nehlen, West Virginia

1987 – Dick MacPherson, Syracuse

1986 – Jimmy Johnson, Miami

1985 – Fisher DeBerry, Air Force

1984 – Joe Morrison, South Carolina

1983 – Mike White, Illinois

1982 – Jerry Stovall, Louisiana State

1981 – Jackie Sherrill, Pittsburgh

1980 – Vince Dooley, Georgia

1979 – John Mackovic, Wake Forest

1978 – Warren Powers, Missouri

1977 – Lou Holtz, Arkansas

1976 – Frank R. Burns, Rutgers

1975 – Frank Kush, Arizona State

1974 – Barry Switzer, Oklahoma

1973 – Johnny Majors, Pittsburgh

1972 – Joe Paterno, Penn State

1971 – Bob Devaney, Nebraska

1970 – Bob Blackman, Dartmouth

1969 – Bo Schembechler, Michigan

1968 – Woody Hayes, Ohio State

1967 – John Pont, Indiana

 

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2023 Walter Camp All-America Teams

It is the 134th edition of the nation’s oldest college football All-America team.

Click here for a PDF of the news release

A Little History

This is the 134^th edition of the Walter Camp All-America team, the nation’s oldest college football All-America team.  Twenty-five players were selected to the first team by the 131 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors.  In addition, 25 players were selected to the Second Team.

 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

In all, 35 different schools from 10 conferences (including independents) were represented on the All-America First and Second Teams (a total of 50 players selected).  Overall, the Southeastern Conference has the most honorees (13; 4 first teamers and 9 second teamers), followed by the Big Ten Conference (11; 5 first teamers and 6 second teamers).  Georgia, Iowa and Notre Dame each have two First Team selections.   Alabama has three Second Team selections, while Ohio State has one First Team selection and two on the Second Team.

Good to See You Again

Six players on the 2023 Walter Camp All-America teams are repeat selections.  First Team selection Marvin Harrison, Jr. (Ohio State) was a First Team honoree in 2022.  2023 First Team selections Brock Bowers (Georgia), Joe Alt (Notre Dame) and Olumuyiwa Fashanu (Penn State) were Second Team honorees a year ago. Illinois’ Jer’Zhan Newtown is a repeat Second Team Walter Camp All-American, while Second Team running back Blake Corum (Michigan) was a First Team honoree last season.

Then and Now

Twenty-two different schools are represented on the 2023 Walter Camp All-America First Team.  Of the 22 schools, Michigan has the most storied tradition of placing members on the team. The Wolverines had their first selection in 1903, halfback William Heston.   This year, Michigan has two All-Americans (offensive lineman Zak Zinter and running back Blake Corum).   Since 1903, Michigan has had 84 Walter Camp All-Americans.

First Team Tidbits

• There are 22 different schools represented on the All-America First Team. The Big Ten has the most First Teamers (5), followed by the Southeastern Conference, Big 12 and Pac-12 (4 each).
• The Sun Belt Conference has three First Team All-Americans with first-time selections from James Madison (DL Jalen Green) and Old Dominion (LB Jason Henderson). Marshall kick returner Jayden Harrison is the Thundering Herd’s first Walter Camp All-American since 1997 (Randy Moss, WR).
• Iowa has the current longest streak of having a First Team All-American (2019 to present). Punter Tory Taylor and defensive back Cooper DeJean earned First Team honors in 2023.
• Notre Dame has two First Team All-Americans (OL Joe Alt, DB Xavier Watts). The Fighting Irish have had seven First Team selections in the last four seasons.
• WR Marvin Harrison is Ohio State’s first repeat Walter Camp All-American since Joey Bosa (2014-15).
• Omarion Hampton is North Carolina’s first Walter Camp First Team All-American since 2012 (OL Jonathan Cooper), and the first Tar Heel running back to be honored since 1970 (Don McCauley).
• Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu is the first Nittany Lion offensive lineman to earn Walter Camp First Team All-America honors since two-time recipient Jeff Hartings (1994-95).
• Georgia has had nine Walter Camp First Team All-Americans in the last five years, including two in 2023 (TE Brock Bowers and DB Malaki Starks).

 Class Distinction

Of the 25 First Team selections, 12 are juniors and 10 are seniors, while three are sophomores. On the Second Team (25 total selections), there are 14 juniors, nine seniors and one sophomore. There is also one freshman (USC kick returner Zachariah Branch, USC).

Walter Camp Weekend is March 15-16, 2024

The 2023 Walter Camp All-Americans will be honored at the Foundation’s annual Awards Weekend on March 15-16, 2024, in New Haven.

 

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

Pos.      Name, School                                       Hgt      Wgt.    Class            Hometown

WR      Marvin Harrison, Jr., Ohio State *          6-4       205       Jr.            Philadelphia, PA

WR      Malik Nabers, LSU                               6-0       200       Jr.            Youngsville, LA

TE        Brock Bowers, Georgia #                      6-4       240       Jr.            Napa, CA

OL       Joe Alt, Notre Dame #                           6-8       322       Jr.            North Oaks, MN

OL       Cooper Beebe, Kansas State                  6-4       335       Sr.            Kansas City, KS

OL       Zak Zinter, Michigan                             6-6       322       Sr.            North Andover, MA

OL       Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State #         6-6       317       Jr.            Waldorf, MD

C          Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon           6-3       320       Jr.            Draper, UT

QB       Michael Penix, Jr., Washington              6-3       213       Sr.            Tampa, FL

RB       Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State            6-1       211       Soph.            Fort Worth, TX

RB       Omarion Hampton, North Carolina         6-0       220       Soph.            Clayton, NC

PK       Graham Nicholson, Miami University    6-0       185       Jr.            Cincinnati, OH

 

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

Pos.      Name, School                                       Hgt      Wgt.    Class            Hometown

DL       Laiatu Latu, UCLA                               6-5       265       Sr.            Sacramento, CA

DL       Jalen Green, James Madison                  6-1       245       Sr.            Baltimore, MD

DL       Jonah Elliss, Utah                                 6-2       246       Jr.            Moscow, ID

DL       T’Vondre Sweat, Texas                         6-4       362       Sr.            Huntsville, TX

LB       Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M               6-3       230       Jr.            Covington, LA

LB       Payton Wilson, North Carolina State      6-4       238       Sr.            Hillsborough, NC

LB       Jason Henderson, Old Dominion            6-1       227       Jr.            Dingmans Ferry, PA

DB       Xavier Watts, Notre Dame                     5-11     204       Sr.            Omaha, NE

DB       Cooper DeJean, Iowa                            6-1       207       Jr.            Odebolt, IA

DB       Malaki Starks, Georgia                          6-1       205       Soph.            Jefferson, GA

DB       Beanie Bishop, West Virginia                5-10     184       Sr.            Louisville, KY

P          Tory Taylor, Iowa                                 6-4       232       Sr.            Melbourne, Australia

KR       Jayden Harrison, Marshall                     5-11     195       Jr.            Antioch, TN

 

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

Pos.      Name, School                                       Hgt      Wgt.    Class            Hometown

WR      Rome Odunze, Washington                   6-3       215       Jr.            Las Vegas, NV

WR      Malik Washington, Virginia                   5-8       194       Sr.            Lawrenceville, GA

TE        Dallin Holker, Colorado State                6-4       235       Jr.            Lehi, Utah

OL       JC Latham, Alabama                             6-6       360       Jr.            Oak Creek, WI

OL       Clay Webb, Jacksonville State               6-3       290       Jr.            Oxford, AL

OL       Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State                   6-6       334       Jr.            Tacoma, WA

OL       Luke Kandra, Cincinnati                       6-4       314       Jr.            Cincinnati, OH

C          Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia                     6-4       310       Jr.            New Orleans, LA

QB       Jayden Daniels, LSU                             6-4       210       Sr.            San Bernardino, CA

RB       Blake Corum, Michigan *                      5-8       213       Sr.            Marshall, VA

RB       Cody Schrader, Missouri                       5-9       214       Sr.        St. Louis, MO

PK       Jose Pizano, UNLV                               5-9       220       Sr.            Lehi, UT

 

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Pos.      Name, School                                       Hgt      Wgt.    Class            Hometown

DL       Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois #                    6-2       295       Jr..       St. Petersburg, FL

DL       Howard Cross III, Notre Dame              6-1       288       Sr.            Paramus, NJ

DL       Ashton Gillotte, Louisville                     6-3       270       Jr.            Boca Raton, FL

DL       Tyleik Williams, Ohio State                   6-2       290       Jr.            Manassas, VA

LB       Jay Higgins, Iowa                                 6-2       233       Sr.            Indianapolis, IN

LB       Dallas Turner, Alabama                         6-4       253       Jr.            Fort Lauderdale, FL

LB       Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma                   6-4       236       Jr.            Windermere, FL

DB       Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri               5-11     178       Jr.            Mobile, AL

DB       Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama              6-1       195       Jr.            Birmingham, AL

DB       Denzel Burke, Ohio State                      6-1       190       Jr.            Phoenix, AZ

DB       Tyler Nubin, Minnesota                         6-2       210       Sr.        St. Charles, IL

P          Matt Hayball, Vanderbilt                       6-1       187       Sr.            West Adelaide, Australia

KR       Zachariah Branch, USC                         5-10     175       Fr.            Las Vegas, NV

 

 

* – 2022 First Team Walter Camp All-America selection

# – 2022 Second Team Walter Camp All-America selection

 

Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.

The Walter Camp Football Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients.