Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and five Alabama teammates are on the The Associated Press All-America team — more than any other school.
Continuing a week of “firsts” for one of college football’s most storied programs, the Crimson Tide had never put more than four players on the first team in a season.
Ingram, of course, is the school’s first Heisman winner.
Joining the sophomore running back on the first team are junior middle linebacker Rolando McClain — like Ingram, a unanimous choice — senior defensive lineman Terrence Cody, who made the team a year ago, senior left guard Mike Johnson, senior cornerback Javier Arenas and senior placekicker Leigh Tiffin.
Sophomore safety Mark Barron made the third team, giving the Tide seven AP All-Americans.
Texas was next with six overall, including quarterback Colt McCoy, receiver Jordan Shipley and safety Earl Thomas on the first team. Longhorns kicker Hunter Lawrence, center Chris Hall and linebacker Sergio Kindle were on the third team.
Alabama and Texas will play Jan. 7 in the BCS national championship game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
“It is a great honor to be named a first-team AP All-American,” Arenas said Tuesday afternoon. “I think having six Alabama players on the first team says a lot about all of the players on our entire roster.
“... You aren’t going to have six guys make first-team All-American unless your team is playing at a high level week in and week out. It’s a credit to our entire team and our coaching staff. Good things are going to happen on an individual level if you take care of the team goals first.”
SEC runner-up Florida also had six players make the three teams, including first-teamers Aaron Hernandez at tight end and Joe Haden at cornerback.
The Gators put quarterback Tim Tebow, center Maurkice Pounce, twin brother and guard Mike Pouncey, and linebacker Brandon Spikes on the second team.
The SEC was the most represented conference on the first team, with 11 players, including Tennessee safety Eric Berry, South Carolina linebacker Eric Norwood and Georgia punter Drew Butler. The Big 12 was next with seven first-teamers.
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