2008 CFN All-America Teams

This year the All-America teams are coming out after the bowl season is over to be able to take the entire season into account. Who were the best players in America this year? From the surprising running backs to the star linemen, check out the 2008 CFN All-America Team.

2008 CFN All-America Offense

The Best Offensive Players

2008 CFN All-America Defense | 2008 CFN All-America Special Teams
2006 CFN All-America Team | 2007 CFN All-America Team

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 Quarterbacks

Honorable Mention
4. Graham Harrell, Sr. Texas Tech
5. Brian Johnson, Sr. Utah
6. Chase Clement, Sr. Rice
7. Case Keenum, Soph. Houston
8. Pat White, Sr. W. Virginia
9. Daryll Clark, Sr. Penn State
10. Colin Kaepernick, Soph. Nev.
11. Kellen Moore, RFr. Boise St
12. Nate Davis, Jr. Ball State
13. Chase Daniel, Sr. Missouri
14. Todd Reesing, Jr. Kansas
15. David Johnson, Sr. Tulsa
16. Robert Griffin, Fr. Baylor

Tim Tebow, Jr. Florida
192-of-298 (64%) for 2,746 yards and 34 TDs, 4 INTs, and he ran 176 times for 673 rushing yards, and 12 TDs
While Tebow might not have had the statistical year that he had in his Heisman-winning 2007 campaign, he was the better player. His call to arms after the Ole Miss loss has now become legendary, but that wasn't as important as his ability to carry the offense through the SEC Championship and in the clutch in the fourth quarter of the national title game. He threw two picks against the Sooners, but he had thrown 18 touchdown passes and no interceptions in his final six games before the title.

Second Team Colt McCoy, Jr. Texas
332-433 (77%)) for 3,859 yards and 34 TDs, 8 INT, and he ran 136 times for 561 yards and 11 touchdowns

Third Team Sam Bradford, Jr. Oklahoma
328-483 (68%) for 4,720 yards and 50 TDs, 8 INT (led the nation in passing efficiency), and he ran for five scores

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 Running Backs

Second Team
3. Javon Ringer, Sr. Michigan St
4. Jahvid Best, Soph. Cal
Third Team
5. MiQuale Lewis, Jr. Ball St
6. LeSean McCoy, Soph. Pitt.
Honorable Mention
7. Kendal Hunter, Soph. OSU
8. Knowshon Moreno, Soph. Ga
9. Jacquizz Rodgers, Fr. OSU
10. Jonathan Dwyer, Soph. GT
11. Beanie Wells, Jr. Ohio State
12. Gartrell Johnson, Sr. CSU
13. James Starks, Soph. Buffalo
14. Vai Taua, Soph. Nevada
15. Tyrell Fenroy, Sr. ULL

Donald Brown, Jr. Connecticut
367 carries for 2,083 yards and 18 TDs. 21 catches for 125 yards
Brown carried the woeful UConn offense, leading the nation in rushing with a 2,000-yard season. Despite being the focus of all 11 defensive players, he managed to hit the 100-yard mark in every game but two, rushing for 82 yards against West Virginia and 96 yards against South Florida. After saying he was coming back for his senior season, he chose to leave a year early following a 261-yard day against Buffalo in the International Bowl.

Shonn Greene, Jr. Iowa
307 carries for 1,850 yards and 20 TDs, and 8 catches for 49 yards
An $8 an hour warehouse worker a year ago, Greene got his academics right and became an Iowa legend as the only 100-yard rusher in every game on his way to the Doak Walker award. Ultra-consistent, he showed the toughness to pound the ball inside whenever needed, and the burst and breakaway speed to come up with the home runs when he got into the clear. As expected, he declared for the pros after rushing for 121 yards and three touchdowns against South Carolina.

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 Wide Receivers

Second Team
3. Jeremy Maclin, Soph. Missouri
4. Percy Harvin, Jr. Florida
Third Team
5. Austin Collie, Jr. BYU
6. Jarett Dillard, Sr. Rice
Honorable Mention
7. Naaman Roosevelt, Jr. Buffalo
8. Jamarko Simmons, Sr. WMU
9. Jeremy Maclin, Soph. Missouri
10. Mardy Gilyard, Soph. Cin
11. Kenny Britt, Jr. Rutgers
12. A.J. Green, Fr. Georgia
13. Hakeem Nicks, Jr. NC
14. Eric Decker, Jr. Minnesota
15. Derrick Williams, Sr. Penn St
16. Casey Fitzgerald, Sr. No. Tex

Dez Bryant, Soph. Oklahoma State
87 catches for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns, and he returned 17 kickoffs for 305 yards and two scores
Bryant burst onto the scene as one of the nation's top all-around offensive weapons, highlighted early by a nine-catch, 236-yard, three touchdown day, with a kickoff return for a score, in the win over Houston. He also scored three times against Troy and Texas A&M, but the knock on him became his inability to come up big in the big games, being held to 74 yards by Texas and 86 against Texas Tech. He answered that with a two touchdown day against Oklahoma and a 13-catch, 167-yard, one score day in the Holiday Bowl loss to Oregon.

Michael Crabtree, Soph. Texas Tech
97 catches for 1,165 yards and 19 touchdowns, 5 punt returns for 264 yards and 2 TDs
While it wasn't his 134-catch, 1,962-yard, 22 touchdown season of 2007, Crabtree was still good enough to get his second Biletnikoff award in a row. He was consistent, even through an ankle injury late in the year, but he made his big name on the one big catch to close out a ten-grab, 127-yard, one touchdown day in the big win over Texas.

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 Tight Ends

Honorable Mention
4. Dennis Pitta, Jr. BYU
5. Rob Gronkowski, Soph. Ariz
6. Garrett Graham, Jr. Wisconsin
7. D.J. Williams, Soph. Arkansas
8. Mark Hafner, Sr. Houston
9. Eddie Williams, Sr. Idaho
10. Jared Cook, Jr. South Carolina

Jermaine Gresham, Jr. Oklahoma
66 catches for 950 yards and 14 touchdowns
Other tight ends had more catches and were a bigger part of their respective offenses, but Gresham was the killer. He always seemed to come up with the big play to make offensive shootouts a blowout. He caught two touchdown passes in five games and went on a final stretch with ten scoring grabs in the final nine games.

Second Team Chase Coffman, Sr. Missouri
90 catches for 987 yards and 10 touchdowns

Third Team James Casey, Soph. Rice
111 catches for 1,329 yards and 13 touchdowns, and he ran 57 times for 241 yards and six scores

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 Offensive Linemen regardless of position

Second Team
6. C Alex Mack, Sr. Cal  
7. OT Phil Trautwein, Sr. Florida
8. C Max Unger, Sr. Oregon
9. OT Russell Okung, Jr. Ok St
10. OG Seth Olsen, Sr. Iowa

Third Team
11. OT Eugene Monroe, Sr. Va
12. OT Eben Britton, Sr. Arizona 
13. OT Trent Williams, Jr. Okla.
14. OT Dallas Reynolds, Sr. BYU
15. OT Ryan Stanchek, Sr. WV

OT Phil Loadholt, Sr. Oklahoma
A mountain of a blocker, he occupied the left side of the line with guard Duke Robinson to protect Sam Bradford's back. He was steady in pass protection and a punisher against the run, especially late in games, taking his game to another level after an All-America caliber 2007. He could've turned pro a year early, but now he has upped his stock even more.

OT Michael Oher, Sr. Ole Miss
An elite talent from day one, Oher chose to come back for his senior season, when he was projected to be a top 20 draft pick had he come out early, and the decision paid off big-time for himself as well as the Rebels. He helped key the resurgence of the Ole Miss program as the main blocker who kept QB Jevan Snead upright, while he was the one the offense worked behind on key running plays.

OG Duke Robinson, Sr. Oklahoma
Robinson was a CFN first team selection last year, and this season he was even better. His only flaw was a coaching staff that didn't use him and left tackle, Phil Loadholt, enough to pound away with the running game in the national title loss to Florida, but there's no arguing with the team's offensive production. This offense could run on anyone as well as bomb away, and it all stemmed from the best line in college football. Robinson anchored the middle.

OT Andre Smith, Jr. Alabama
The best left tackle in college football would've started for several NFL teams had he been allowed to leave school early. His worth was made all too apparent after he was suspended for the Sugar Bowl, allowing Utah defenders to have huge days by pouring over the left side. If you want to argue for a MVP award, it could be Smith considering the offense used him on every big running play, and he managed to erase everyone's top pass rusher.

C A.Q. Shipley, Sr. Penn State
This was a strong year for centers with Cal's Alex Mack and Oregon's Max Unger each among the best in America, but Shipley was the one who made the Penn State line sing and helped take the offense to a higher level. The Nittany Lions allowed 13 sacks on the year and were 17th in the nation in rushing. There were several other talented players up front, but it was Shipley who was the quarterback of the line.