Williams Repeats As All-American

Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams, college football's career rushing leader, and UCLA's record-setting quarterback Cade McNown were selected to The Associated Press' All-America team on Tuesday,

Williams, the Texas tailback who ran for 2,124 yards and 27 touchdowns, was the only repeater from last year's team. He finished his career with 6,279 yards, breaking Tony Dorsett's rushing record.

McNown led the Bruins on a 20-game winning streak before their national title hopes ended with a loss to Miami in the season finale. The left-hander threw for 3,130 yards and 23 touchdowns and set nearly every school single-season and career record.

Even in defeat, mcnown was spectacular, throwing for a school-record 513 yards, with five TD passes and a rushing TD, in the 49-45 loss to the Hurricanes. He finished third in the Heisman balloting.

Florida State had three players on the team, the most by any school, with wide receiver Peter Warrick, kicker Sebastian Janikowski and noseguard Corey Simon.

In a year loaded with record-setting quarterbacks, Kentucky's Tim Couch made the second team and Kansas State's Michael Bishop the third team.

The Atlantic Coast Conference was the top league, placing six players on the team, which consisted of 16 seniors, eight juniors and two sophomores.

Georgia's all-purpose star Champ Bailey made the team as a defensive back, although he did much more for the Bulldogs. Bailey had three interceptions and a fumble recovery, but also caught 47 passes for 744 yards and five TDs and averaged 21.8 yards per kickoff return.

UCLA quarterack Cade McNown threw for 3,130 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. (AP)

Boston college running back Mike Cloud, the nation's third-leading rusher with 1,726 yards and 14 TDs, joined Williams in the backfield. Cloud's rushing total were school and Big East Conference records.

Torry Holt of North Carolina State joined Warrick as the other wide receiver and Rufus French of Mississippi was tight end.

Holt set ACC records with 88 catches for 1,604 yards. The senior scored on a 68-yard punt return and a 63-yard reception in the Wolfpack's 24-7 upset of Florida State on Sept. 12. He averaged 145.8 yards receiving per game -- second in the nation.

Warrick caught 61 passes for 1,232 yards and 12 TDs, averaging 20.2 yards per catch. Holt and Warrick were threats on reverses and punt returns.

French caught 35 passes for 386 yards and two TDs, and was among the team's best blockers this season.

The offensive line averages 314.6 pounds. Craig Page of Georgia Tech was the center. The other linemen were Outland Trophy winner Kris Farris of UCLA, Aaron Gibson of Wisconsin, Rob Murphy of Ohio State and Matt Stinchcomb of Georgia.

Janikowski, who won the Groza Award, hit 27 of 32 field goal attempts and 42 of 43 extra points. He set an ACC scoring record with 123 points.

Kansas State's David Allen, who led the nation with a 22.1-yard punt return average, was the all-purpose player. He tied an NCAA record with four punt returns for TDs this season.

The defense was anchored by award-winning linebackers Chris Claiborne of Southern California and Dat Nguyen of Texas A&M.

Claiborne, the Butkus Award winner, led the Trojans with 107 tackles, five sacks and six interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

Nguyen, undersized for a linebacker at 5-foot-11 and 230 pounds, was a whirlwind all season. He averaged 11.3 tackles per game, including 20 stops for losses. The Lombardi Trophy winner also had four sacks, four forced fumbles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

The other linebackers were Al Wilson of Tennessee and Jeff Kelly of Kansas State. Wilson anchored a defense that allowed just 93.9 yards rushing per game. Kelly had 87 tackles -- 23 for losses -- with six sacks, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Bailey was joined in the secondary by Chris McAlister of Arizona, Antoine Winfield of Ohio State and Anthony Poindexter of Virginia.

Winfield won the Thorpe Award as the best defensive back, and was a big reason the Buckeyes were second in the nation in pass defense.

Joining Simon on the line were Tom Burke of Wisconsin, Anthony McFarland of LSU and Montae Reagor of Texas Tech. Burke led a defense that allowed 10.2 points -- tops in the nation.

Joe Kristosik of UNLV was the punter. He led the nation with a 46.2-yard average on 76 punts.

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