Sooners can now boast more unanimous All-Americans than anyone else
By Eric Bailey Tulsa World Dec 13, 2017
Oklahoma is now the best of the best when it comes to producing unanimous All-Americans.
On Wednesday, OU’s tradition-rich football program made history when quarterback Baker Mayfield, tight end Mark Andrews and offensive tackle Orlando Brown were named first-team All-Americans by the American Football Coaches Association.
Oklahoma now has 35 players who have been named unanimous All-Americans, more than any other school. OU leapt Notre Dame, which now has 34 after offensive lineman Quenton Nelson captured the award.
The NCAA recognizes five lists for consideration as either a consensus or unanimous All-American: The Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, the Walter Camp Football Foundation, the Sporting News and the AFCA.
It’s the first time in school history OU has three offensive players named unanimous first-team All-Americans in the same season.
It has been a special awards season for Oklahoma, highlighted by Mayfield’s Heisman Trophy win last weekend.
Numerous All-America lists recently have been released, and the only surprise has been when an OU player has been left off the sheet.
Oklahoma’s last unanimous All-American was wide receiver Dede Westbrook, who captured the honor last season. Before then, it hadn’t happened since 2004.
OU’s big year was 2003, when five players were unanimous All-Americans — Tommie Harris (defensive tackle), Teddy Lehman (linebacker), Antonio Perkins (return specialist), Derrick Strait (defensive back) and Jason White (quarterback). This season marks only the second time OU has produced more than two unanimous All-Americans.
OU has 24 first-team All-American selections since the 2000 national championship season.
It’s a big difference from the decade leading into the current century.
Between 1989-1999 (11 seasons), OU only had two first-team All-Americans — linebacker Joe Bowden (1991) and defensive end Cedric Jones (1995).
Oklahoma’s unanimous first-team All-Americans
1951: Jim Weatherall (tackle)
1956: Jerry Tubbs (center)
1967: Granville Liggins (nose tackle)
1969: Steve Owens (running back)
1971: Greg Pruitt (running back)
1972: Greg Pruitt (running back)
1973: Lucious Selmon (nose tackle)
1974: Rod Shoate (linebacker); Joe Washington (running back)
1975: Lee Roy Selmon (defensive tackle)
1976: Mike Vaughan (tackle)
1977: Zac Henderson (defensive back)
1978: Greg Roberts (guard); Billy Sims (running back)
1979: George Cumby (linebacker); Billy Sims (running back)
1983: Rick Bryan (defensive tackle)
1985: Brian Bosworth (linebacker)
1986: Brian Bosworth (linebacker); Keith Jackson (tight end)
1987: Mark Hutson (guard); Keith Jackson (tight end)
1988: Anthony Phillips (guard)
2001: Roy Williams (defensive back)
2003: Tommie Harris (defensive tackle); Teddy Lehman (linebacker); Antonio Perkins (return specialist); Derrick Strait (defensive back); Jason White (quarterback)
2004: Jammal Brown (tackle); Adrian Peterson (running back)
2016: Dede Westbrook (wide receiver)
2017: Mark Andrews (tight end); Orlando Brown (offensive tackle); Baker Mayfield (quarterback)
Schools with the most unanimous All-Americans
1. Oklahoma;35
2. Notre Dame;34
3. Ohio State;33
4. Alabama;32
5. USC;27
