College Football Awards: All-America Teams Being Released Left And Right

Following up on his Heisman Award, Robert Griffin III now has a first-team AP All America on his resume. The Baylor quarterback beat out the likes of Stanford's Andrew Luck (second team) and USC's Matt Barkley to earn the top honors. Griffin ended the season as the nation's top-rated passer (192.3), was fourth in touchdown passes (36) and sixth in passing yards (3,998).

Houston Case Keenum, who led the nation in both touchdown passes and passing yards, was not named an All-America. That was somewhat indicative of the situation at other positions, as the first-team offense and defense were made up entirely of players from so-called BCS schools and just four players from non-BCS schools made the second team.

Unsurprisingly, Alabama and LSU, who will meet in the National Championship Game, had the most players named to the first teams. Alabama led the way with four players (two on offense and two on defense), while LSU had three players (all on defense)

FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE

Quarterback - Robert Griffin III, junior, 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, Baylor.

Running backs - Montee Ball, junior, 5-11, 210, Wisconsin; Trent Richardson, junior, 5-11, 224, Alabama.

Tackles - Barrett Jones, senior, 6-5, 311, Alabama; Matt Kalil, junior, 6-7, 295, Southern California.

Guards - David DeCastro, senior, 6-5, 310, Stanford; Kevin Zeitler, senior, 6-4, 318, Wisconsin.

Center - David Molk, senior, 6-2, 286, Michigan.

Wide receivers - Justin Blackmon, junior, 6-1, 215, Oklahoma State; Robert Woods, sophomore, 6-1, 180, Southern California.

Tight end - Dwayne Allen, junior, 6-4, 255, Clemson.

All-purpose player - Sammy Watkins, freshman, 6-1, 180, Clemson.

Kicker - Randy Bullock, senior, 5-9, 212, Texas A&M.

DEFENSE

Ends - Melvin Ingram, senior, 6-2, 276, South Carolina; Whitney Mercilus, junior, 6-4, 265, Illinois.

Tackles - Devon Still, senior, 6-5, 310, Penn State; Jerel Worthy, junior, 6-3, 310, Michigan State.

Linebackers - Luke Kuechly, junior, 6-3, 237, Boston College; Jarvis Jones, sophomore, 6-3, 241, Georgia; Dont'a Hightower, junior, 6-4, 260, Alabama.

Cornerbacks - Morris Claiborne, junior, 6-0, 185, LSU; Tyrann Mathieu, sophomore, 5-9, 175, LSU.

Safeties - Mark Barron, senior, 6-2, 218, Alabama; Bacarri Rambo, junior, 6-0, 218, Georgia.

Punter - Brad Wing, freshman, 6-3, 184, LSU.

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SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE

Quarterback - Andrew Luck, junior, Stanford.

Running backs - LaMichael James, junior, Oregon; David Wilson, junior, Virginia Tech.

Tackles - Jonathan Martin, senior, Stanford; Nate Potter, senior, Boise State.

Guards -Will Blackwell, senior, LSU; Austin Pazstor, senior, Virginia.

Center - Peter Konz, junior, Wisconsin.

Wide receivers - Ryan Broyles, senior, Oklahoma; Kendall Wright, senior, Baylor.

Tight end - Tyler Eifert, junior, Notre Dame.

All-purpose player - Joe Adams, senior, Arkansas.

Kicker - Caleb Sturgis, junior, Florida.

DEFENSE

Ends - Frank Alexander, senior, Oklahoma; Vinny Curry, senior, Marshall.

Tackles - Joe Vellano, junior, Maryland; Derek Wolfe, senior, Cincinnati.

Linebackers - Courtney Upshaw, senior, Alabama; Lavonte David, senior, Nebraska; Manti Teo, junior, Notre Dame.

Cornerbacks - David Amerson, sophomore, North Carolina State; Dre Kirkpatrick, junior, Alabama.

Safeties - Markelle Martin, senior, Oklahoma State; Antonio Allen, senior, South Carolina.

Punter - Ryan Allen, junior, Louisiana Tech.

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THIRD TEAM

Quarterback - Matt Barkley, junior, Southern California.

Running backs - Ronnie Hillman, sophomore, San Diego State; Bobby Rainey, senior, Western Kentucky.

Tackles - Levy Adcock, senior, Oklahoma State; Cordy Glenn, senior, Georgia.

Guards - Ryan Miller, senior, Colorado; Gabe Ikard, sophomore, Oklahoma.

Center - Grant Garner, senior, Oklahoma State.

Wide receivers - Jordan White, senior, Western Michigan; Patrick Edwards, senior, Houston.

Tight end - Coby Fleener, senior, Stanford.

All-purpose player - Tavon Austin, junior, West Virginia.

Kicker - Quinn Sharp, junior, Oklahoma State.

DEFENSE

Ends - Sam Montgomery, sophomore, LSU; Andre Branch, senior, Clemson.

Tackles - John Simon, junior, Ohio State; Fletcher Cox, junior, Mississippi State.

Linebackers - Tank Carder, senior, TCU; Sammy Brown, senior, Houston; Emmanuel Acho, senior, Texas.

Cornerbacks - Nigel Malone, junior, Kansas State; Brodrick Brown, junior, Oklahoma State.

Safeties - Josh Bush, senior, Wake Forest; George Iloka, senior, Boise State.

Punter - Shawn Powell, senior, Florida State.

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AP All-America team selection panel:

Bob Asmussen, Champaign (Ill.) News-Gazette; Greg Auman, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times; Robert Cessna, Bryan-College Station (Texas) Eagle; Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman; Seth Emerson, The Macon (Ga.) Telegraph and Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer; Erik Gee, KNML-AM Albuquerque, N.M.; Eric Hansen, South Bend (Ind.) Tribune; Mike Herndon Press-Register. Mobile, Ala.; Joshua Kendall, The State, Columbia, S.C.; Rob Long, CBS Radio 105.7 Baltimore; Dave Matter, Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune; Sam McKewon, Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald; Dave Reardon, Honolulu Star-Advertiser; Kyle Ringo, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colo.; Keith Sargeant, Home News Tribune, Somerville, N.J.; John Shinn, The Norman (Okla.) Transcript.

College football All-America team season deluges on, with five media outlets releasing dream squads as of late. We've already got the Walter Camp team and the FWAA and AFCA lists, and now it's time to see what some others think. It's always time to see what others think!

Here are Sports Illustrated's, CBS Sports', Scout's, ESPN's [slideshow alert] and Pro Football Weekly's [auto-video alert].

SBNation.com's own All-America Team will be out later in the week, but we're currently spread across the country due to meetings and such, you see, and cannot complete our lists without staring each other in the eye and dueling. How badly do you want to list Kendall Wright at wide receiver, compadre?

Why yes, it is astounding that LSU Tigers punter Brad Wing's name appears on not even half of these lists. Seems to be one of the easiest choices in the nation, if you ask me.

As expected, junior quarterback Robert Griffin III of the Baylor Bears is your 2011 Heisman Trophy winner. The 77th winner of college football's most famous award and the first in Baylor's history, he beat Andrew Luck, Trent Richardson, Montee Ball and Tyrann Mathieu.

Here, to help explain to the straggling non-believers why Griffin deserved the honor, is Mark C. Moore of the new (and great!) Baylor Bears blog Our Daily Bears:

Robert Griffin III deserves the Heisman Trophy because he was, by any measure, the most outstanding player in college football this year.

In leading Baylor to a 9-3 record and No. 12 ranking in the BCS, Griffin amassed over 4,500 total yards and 45 touchdowns, broke the NCAA single-season record for passing efficiency (192.3 for Griffin this year), and led the country in yards per pass attempt. Baylor's offense ranked No. 1 in the country according to Football Outsider's FEI, while most rankings had our defense in the 100s.

No player means more to his team or to his community than Robert Griffin, who played his best in Baylor's biggest games (particularly against OU and UT late in the season). He delivered constant excitement and led his team to heights we've never seen before. He deserves the Heisman.

Griffin's season concludes in the Alamo Bowl against the Washington Huskies.

For more on Baylor's first-ever Heisman Trophy, visit Baylor Bears blog Our Daily Bears. For more college football, stick with SB Nation's college football news hub. For more, stay tuned to our 2011 Heisman Trophy stream, and here are the year's other college football awards winners.

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck won his second award of the night, picking up the Maxwell Award over Trent Richardson and Kellen Moore. Earlier, Luck was named the Walter Camp Player of the Year. He becomes the second Stanford quarterback to win the Maxwell award, joining Jim Plunkett.

Andrew Luck finished fifth in the nation in quarterback rating (167.5) and fifth in touchdown passes (36), but those don't really do him justice. In fact, his overall numbers are slightly down from 2010, when he really burst onto the scene. Luck's 2011 was one of simple sustained excellence. Luck threw at least two touchdowns in every game he played and only threw two interceptions in a game once.

Kellen Moore ended the season with 41 touchdown passes, second in the nation only to Case Keenum. He also threw for 3,507 yards and coughed up a mere seven interceptions. Moore was a Heisman finalist in 2010 with similar numbers (3,845 yards, 35 touchdowns and six interceptions).

RB Trent Richardson had led the Alabama Crimson Tide with 1,583 rushing yards, which was the sixth most in the country. He rushed for 20 touchdowns, which was the fifth best total. He was also the fourth highest scorer in the nation, finding the endzone a total of 23 times.

The Maxwell Award is a "most outstanding player" award and is generally reserved for offensive players. Quarterbacks have won the award every year since 2003. Cameron Newton won the 2010 award and Tim Tebow won the previous two Maxwell Awards, making him only the second player to win the award twice.

SB Nation's 2011 college football awards stream will have the winners of each college football award, because it's a college football awards stream.

The 2011 college football awards ceremony was tonight, with the winners being presented with their respective awards. Here's a run down of who won what award:

Davey O'Brien Award (best quarterback):

WINNER: Robert Griffin III, Baylor

Griffin wins the award for the nation's best quarterback in a bit of a surprise. Griffin is believed to have made a late surge for the Heisman Trophy and winning the nation's best quarterback is a good sign of that.

Maxwell Award Winner (most outstanding player):

WINNER: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Luck took the award over Kellen Moore and Trent Richardson. It was his second award of the night.

Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player):

WINNER: Tyrann Mathieu, DB, LSU

While Mathieu plays a variety of positions on the LSU defense, he simply has a nose for the football and big plays.

Biletnikoff Award (best wide receiver):

WINNER: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

For the second year in a row, Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon wins the award for the nation's best wide receiver. Earlier, it was reported that Blackmon will be heading to the NFL Draft in April, so he can't win it for a third time.

RAY GUY AWARD (best punter):

WINNER: Ryan Allen, Louisiana Tech

Allen finished the season averaging 46.3 yards per punt and had the most punts down inside the 20 and 10-yard line. Ryan Allen is the first player in Louisiana Tech history to win the Ray Guy Award. 

Lou Groza Award (best kicker):

WINNER: Randy Bullock, Texas A&M

Bullock made the most field goals (25) in college football this season. Randy Bullock is the first Texas A&M kicker to win the Lou Groza Award

Doak Walker Award (best running back):

WINNER: Trent Richardson, Alabama

Trent Richardson is the first running back in school history to win the Doak Walker Award, and no that isn't a typo. Mark Ingram won the Heisman Trophy two seasons ago, but did not win the Doak Walker Award.

Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back):

WINNER: Morris Claiborne, LSU

For the second season in a row, an LSU defensive back wins the award for the best defensive back in the country.

Coach Of The Year:

WINNER: Les Miles, LSU

The Mad Hatter once again has his team in the National Title game and looking to go undefeated to win his second National Title.

SB Nation's 2011 college football awards stream will have the winners of each college football award, because it's a college football awards stream.

The winner of the 2011 Doak Walker award is Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

Trent Richardson had led the Alabama Crimson Tide to the National Title game. His 1,583 rushing yards were the sixth most in the country. He rushed for 20 touchdowns, which was the fifth best total. He was also the fourth highest scorer in the nation, finding the endzone a total of 23 times.

Richardson beat out some stiff competition.

LaMichael James has powered the Oregon Ducks all season. On 222 carries, he ran for 1,646 yards and 17 touchdowns. His 7.4 YPG average is a good yard higher than Montee Ball's. On the flip side, he ran for almost half as many touchdowns.

In 13 games this season, Montee Ball has carried the ball 275 times for 1,759 yards, which is the best in the Big Ten and the entire FBS. Not only that, but Ball's 32 rushing touchdowns are the most by a skill player in major college football by six scores. His 6.4 yards per carry is second in the nation among RBs with 200+ carries.

James took home the award last year, as part of a high-octane Oregon Ducks offense. Of the last 15 winners of the award, only three have gone on to win the Heisman Trophy as the best player in the nation: Reggie Bush in 2005, Ron Dayne in 1999 and Ricky Williams in 1998.

The award itself is named after former SMU running back, defensive back and place kicker Ewell Doak Walker. He would win the Heisman in 1948 while leading the Mustangs to an 8-1-1 record, eventually going on to a Hall of Fame career with the Detroit Lions.

SB Nation's 2011 college football awards stream will have the winners of each college football award, because it's a college football awards stream.

The winner of the 2011 Fred Biletnikoff Award is Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon. After an incredible sophomore season including 111 receptions and 20 receiving touchdowns, Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon outdid himself in 2011 bringing in a Big-12 leading 113 receptions and 15 receiving touchdowns.

Blackmon was up against some stiff competition with senior Ryan Broyles returning for his senior season after a 2010 season that included 131 receptions, 1622 receiving yards, and 14 receiving touchdowns. Broyles was on pace to put up similar numbers before he injured his knee in a Nov. 5 game against Texas A&M. Despite only playing in nine games, the 5’10" receiver still managed to catch 83 balls for 1,157 receiving yards in ten touchdowns. He is still fourth in the nation in receiving yards per game with 128.6 ypg.

Sophomore Robert Woods started out the 2011 season with a bang in USC’s 19-17 victory vs. Minnesota. He recorded 17 receptions for 177 yards and three receiving touchdowns. Woods finished with a Pac-12 leading 111 receptions and 15 touchdowns. Woods is the first USC wide receiver to be named a Biletnikoff finalist since Dwayne Jarrett was in 2005.

SB Nation's 2011 college football awards stream will have the winners of each college football award, because it's a college football awards stream.

The winner of the 2011 Chuck Bednarik Award is LSU's Tyrann Mathieu, affectionately known as the "Honey Badger" by many. LSU Tigers' Tyrann Mathieu leads one of the best defenses in the nation with 70 tackles and has forced six fumbles while recovering five. He also has a pair of interceptions. He just seemed to have a knack for the football no matter what position he played.

In 2010, the Bednarik went to Mathieu's former teammate Patrick Peterson of LSU. Peterson now suits up for the Arizona Cardinals. The Bednarik award is given every year to the nation's top defensive player. LSU is tied for the second most Bednarik awards by a school, with Penn State leading the way having a player selected four times for the prestegious award.

SB Nation's 2011 college football awards stream will have the winners of each college football award, because it's a college football awards stream.

Baylor Bears quarterback Robert Griffin III is the 2011 Davey O'Brien Award winner. Griffin led the Bears to a 9-3 record putting up outstanding numbers as a quarterback. Griffin at one point deep into the season had more touchdowns than incompletions. For the season, Griffin amassed 3,998 passing yards with 36 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also added 9 rushing touchdowns. He had a key signature game in the Bears upset of the Oklahoma Sooners that saw him pass for 479 yards and four touchdowns.

The Davey O'Brien Award was established in 1981 in honor of former Texas Christian University quarterback Davey O'Brien. In one of the best seasons ever by a college player, O'Brien took home the Heisman, Maxwell and Walter Camp awards in 1938, becoming the first player ever to do so.

SB Nation's 2011 college football awards stream will have the winners of each college football award, because it's a college football awards stream.

The 2011 Walter Camp All-American team has been announced via press release. The team is headlined by Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck on offense and LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu on defense. The team is chosen by head coaches and sports information directors of 120 FBS schools. The Alabama Crimson Tide led the way with four players on the team, followed up by Stanford with three players. LSU, who will meet Alabama in the National Title game has just two players selected, both in the defensive backfield.

Walter Camp 2011 All-American First Team Offense

QB Andrew Luck, Stanford # Sr. Houston, TX 6-4 235
RB LaMichael James, Oregon * Jr. Texarkana, TX 5-9 195
RB Trent Richardson, Alabama Jr. Pensacola, FL 5-11 224
WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State * Jr. Ardmore, OK 6-1 215
WR Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma * Sr. Norman, OK 5-10 188
TE Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame Jr. Fort Wayne, IN 6-6 249
OL David DeCastro, Stanford Sr. Bellevue, WA 6-5 310
OL Barrett Jones, Alabama Jr. Memphis, TN 6-5 311
OL Matt Kalil, USC Jr. Corona, CA 6-7 295
OL Jonathan Martin, Stanford Sr. Los Angeles, CA 6-6 304
C David Molk, Michigan Sr. Lemont, IL 6-2 286
PK Randy Bullock, Texas A&M Sr. Klein, TX 5-9 212

Walter Camp 2011 All-American First Team Defense

DL Whitney Mercilus, Illinois Jr. Akron, OH 6-4 265
DL Devon Still, Penn State Sr. Wilmington, DE 6-5 310
DL Melvin Ingram, South Carolina Sr. Hamlet, NC 6-2 276
DL Jerel Worthy, Michigan State Jr. Huber Heights, OH 6-3 310
LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College * Jr. Cincinnati, OH 6-3 237
LB Dont'a Hightower, Alabama Jr. Lewisburg, TN 6-4 260
LB Jarvis Jones, Georgia Soph. Columbus, GA 6-3 241
DB Morris Claiborne, LSU Jr. Shreveport, LA 6-0 185
DB Mark Barron, Alabama Sr. Mobile, AL 6-2 218
DB Tyrann Mathieu, LSU Soph. New Orleans, LA 5-9 175
DB David Amerson, North Carolina State Soph. Greensboro, NC 6-3 194
P Shawn Powell, Florida State Sr. Rome, GA 6-4 235
KR Tyler Lockett, Kansas State Fr. Tulsa, OK 5-11 170

Walter Camp 2011 All-American Second Team Offense

QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor Jr. Copperas Cove, TX 6-2 220
RB Montee Ball, Wisconsin Jr. Wentzville, MO 5-11 210
RB Bobby Rainey, Western Kentucky Sr. Griffin, GA 5-8 205
WR Robert Woods, USC Soph. Carson, CA 6-1 180
WR Jordan White, Western Michigan Sr. Cleveland, OH 6-0 215
TE Orson Charles, Georgia Jr. Tampa, FL 6-3 241
OL Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State Sr. Claremore, OK 6-6 322
OL Nate Potter, Boise State Sr. Boise, ID 6-6 295
OL Ryan Miller, Colorado Sr. Littleton, CO 6-8 295
OL Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin Sr. Waukesha, WI 6-4 315
C William Vlachos, Alabama Sr. Birmingham, AL 6-1 294
PK Caleb Sturgis, Florida Jr. St. Augustine, FL 5-11 183

Walter Camp 2011 All-American Second Team Defense

DL Frank Alexander, Oklahoma Sr. Baton Rouge, LA 6-4 255
DL Vinny Curry, Marshall Sr. Neptune, NJ 6-4 263
DL Andre Branch, Clemson Sr. Richmond, VA 6-5 260
DL Joe Vellano, Maryland Jr. Rexford, NY 6-2 285
LB Manti Te'o, Notre Dame Jr. Laie, HI 6-2 255
LB Lavonte David, Nebraska Sr. Miami, FL 6-1 225
LB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama Sr. Eufaula, AL 6-2 265
DB Bacarri Rambo, Georgia Jr. Donalsonville, GA 6-0 218
DB Matt Daniels, Duke Sr. Fayetteville, GA 6-1 210
DB Nigel Malone, Kansas State Jr. Manteca, CA 5-10 176
DB Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt Sr. Elko, GA 6-0 188
P Ryan Allen, Louisiana Tech Jr. Salem, OR 6-2 215
KR Joe Adams, Arkansas Sr. Little Rock, AR 5-11 190

SB Nation's 2011 college football awards stream will have the winners of each college football award, because it's a college football awards stream.

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck was named the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award winner Thursday.

Luck is the first Stanford quarterback since Jim Plunkett in 1970 to receive the award. He is also the eighth Pac-12 player to earn top billing.

He beat out Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, Houston quarterback Case Keenum, Alabama running back Trent Richardson and LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu.

Luck, who is a finalist for tonight's Davey O'Brien and Maxwell Awards, led the Pac-12 and ranked fifth nationally with a 167.50 pass efficiency rating. He threw for Stanford single-season record 35 touchdowns, had nine interceptions and completed 70 percent of his passes.

As if he hasn't already won enough, Luck was also named CoSIDA's Academic All-American of the Year for Football, carrying a 3.48 GPA as an architectural design major.

SB Nation's 2011 college football awards stream will have the winners of each college football award, because it's a college football awards stream.

The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award will be presented to LSU head coach Les Miles as a part of The Home Depot College Football Awards Thursday evening on ESPN.

In his seventh season at LSU, Les Miles led the Tigers to a 13-0 record for the first time in school history.  The Tigers have amassed 41 conference wins since Miles' first season in 2005, which is more than any other SEC school. LSU's current 8-0 record in league play was recently capped with a decisive 42-10 victory over Georgia, clinching Miles second SEC Championship with the Tigers.

The Tigers are currently preparing to play the Alabama Crimson Tide for the National Championship on January 9, which would be Miles' second since arriving in LSU and the Tigers' third in the past decade.

SB Nation's 2011 college football awards stream will have the winners of each college football award, because it's a college football awards stream.

LSU Tigers defensive coordinator John Chavis has been named the 2011 Broyles Award winner, proclaiming him the nation's top assistant. He has a chance to become the third straight winner of the award to win the national title, following Kirby Smart and Gus Malzahn in 2009 and 2010 respectively. And you know how omens tend to turn out for Les Miles.

LSU finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in scoring defense, No. 2 in total defense, No. 3 in rushing defense, No. 8 in passing defense, No. 11 in sacks, and No. 5 in interceptions. They finished behind Bama in all of the first four categories, but played a significantly tougher schedule that included Oregon, Georgia, and West Virginia.

Chavis, to media after the event:

It's a great honor. It's the highest in our profession as an assistant coach. And, to me, it represents the full body of work. It's what our football team has done, what our defensive staff, our entire staff, what our head coach has done. It represents the entire body and I'm proud of those young men that I have an opportunity to work with each day ... I understand my responsibility to them and certainly hope I'm upholding that part of it as well.    

The other nominees: Arkansas Razorbacks offensive coordinator Garrick McGee, who's since taken over the UAB Blazers, Wisconsin Badgers offensive coordinator Paul Chryst, who's been connected to the Illinois Fighting Illini and Kansas Jayhawks jobs, Michigan Wolverines offensive coordinator Greg Mattison, and Alabama Crimson Tide linebackers coach Sal Sunseri.

SB Nation's 2011 college football awards stream will have the winners of each college football award, because it's a college football awards stream.

Stay tuned here for notes on each of the winners of 2011's college football awards, which will be announced on a show airing 9 p.m. ET Thursday night on ESPN. As with bowl game pairings, sometimes these sorts of things make themselves known before they're announced on TV. 

All 11 awards are rendered completely worthless by the Ray Guy Award's omission of LSU Tigers punter Brad Wing, but this is the sort of very important thing that will get us one day closer to bowl season, so let's all try to get through it.

Rule of thumb: it's just like watching the Grammys. If a rap album is nominated for Album of the Year, it's probably gonna win Rap Album of the Year.

The list of nominees for each award:

SB Nation's 2011 college football awards stream will have the winners of each college football award, because it's a college football awards stream.

The Alabama Crimson Tide have the nation's best defense. Before the season, the collection of talent looked to be so dominant that NCAA 12's Bama defense was actually just as good as the All-SEC defense. That's neither here nor there, and is kind of a ramble. Courtney Upshaw and Dont'a Hightower have both been nominated for the 2011 Butkus Award, which goes to the nation's best linebacker, is what I'm saying.

Also joining the Tide two: Jarvis Jones of the Georgia Bulldogs, Lavonte David, Manti Te'o of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and Luke Kuechly of the Boston College Eagles.

Kuechly leads the nation in tackles, and is closing in on the ACC career record. David is 12th with 114, and Te'o ranks No. 26 with 103. Jones has made his mark via disruption, posting 18.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. The other two guys' credentials? They start for Alabama. That'll do.