December 15, 1998

NEW YORK (AP) - Florida State had three players, the most by any school, on on the Associated Press' All-America team announced Tuesday. The Seminoles were represented by wide receiver Peter Warrick, kicker Sebastian Janikowski and noseguard Corey Simon.

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

Torry Holt of NC State joined Warrick as the other wide receiver.

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.

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.

The All-America team was selected by the following sports writers:

Andrew Bagnato (Chicago Tribune), Mark Blaudschun (Boston Globe), Chris Dufresne (Los Angeles Times), Alan Schmadtke (Orlando Sentinel), Bob Baum (AP Phoenix), Paul Newberry (AP Atlanta), Alan Robinson (AP Pittsburgh), Doug Tucker (AP Kansas City) and Richard Rosenblatt (AP college football writer).

1998 AP ALL-AMERICA TEAMS

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE
Quarterback - Cade McNown, UCLA, 6-1, 209, senior, West Linn, Ore.
Running backs - Mike Cloud, Boston College, 5-11, 201, senior, Portsmouth, R.I.; Ricky Williams, Texas, 6-0, 225, senior, San Diego.
Wide receivers - Torry Holt, North Carolina State, 6-2, 188, senior, Gibsonville, N.C.; Peter Warrick, Florida State, 6-0, 190, junior, Bradenton, Fla.
Tight End - Rufus French, Mississippi, 6-4, 250, junior, Amory, Miss.
Center - Craig Page, Georgia Tech, 6-3, 300, senior, Jupiter, Fla.
Guards-Tackles - Kris Farris, UCLA, 6-9, 310, junior, Mission Viejo, Calif.; Aaron Gibson, Wisconsin, 6-7, 372, senior, Indianapolis; Rob Murphy, Ohio State, 6-5, 300, junior, Cincinnati; Matt Stinchcomb, Georgia, 6-6, 291, senior, Lilburn, Ga.
Placekicker - Sebastian Janikowski, Florida State, 6-2, 255, sophomore, Daytona Beach, Fla.
All-Purpose - David Allen, Kansas State, 5-9, 185, sophomore, Liberty, Mo.

DEFENSE
Linemen - Tom Burke, Wisconsin, 6-4, 249, senior, Poplar, Wis.; Anthony McFarland, LSU, 6-1, 290, senior, Winnsboro, La.; Montae Reagor, Texas Tech, 6-4, 270, senior, Waxahachie, Texas; Corey Simon, Florida State, 6-4, 275, junior, Pompano Beach, Fla.
Linebackers - Chris Claiborne, Southern California, 6-3, 250, junior, Riverside, Calif.; Jeff Kelly, Kansas State, 6-0, 250, senior, LaGrange, Texas; Dat Nguyen, Texas A&M, 5-11, 230, senior, Rockport, Texas; Al Wilson, Tennessee, 6-0, 226, senior, Jackson, Tenn.
Backs - Champ Bailey, Georgia, 6-1, 186, junior, Folkston, Ga.; Chris McAlister, Arizona, 6-1, 206, senior, Pasadena, Calif.; Anthony Poindexter, Virginia, 6-1, 220, senior, Forest, Va.; Antoine Winfield, Ohio State, 5-9, 180, senior, Akron, Ohio.
Punter - Joe Kristosik, UNLV, 6-3, 220, junior, Las Vegas.

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE
Quarterback - Tim Couch, Kentucky.
Running backs - Autry Denson, Notre Dame; Devin West, Missouri.
Wide receivers - David Boston, Ohio State; Troy Edwards, Louisiana Tech.
Tight end - Sheldon Jackson, Nebraska.
Center - Grey Ruegamer, Arizona State.
Guards-Tackles - Brandon Burlsworth, Arkansas; Anthony Cesario, Colorado State; Jay Humphrey, Texas; Mike Rosenthal, Notre Dame.
Place-kicker - Martin Gramatica, Kansas State.
All-purpose - J.R. Redmond, Arizona State.

DEFENSE
Linemen - Ed Chester, Florida; Jason DeVries, Iowa; Pat Kerney, Virginia; Corey Moore, Virginia Tech.
Linebackers - LaVar Arrington, Penn State; Jevon Kearse, Florida; Mike Peterson, Florida; Mark Simoneau, Kansas State.
Backs - Larry Atkins, UCLA; Dre' Bly, North Carolina; Tyrone Carter, Minnesota; Damon Moore, Ohio State.
Punter - Josh Bidwell, Oregon.

THIRD TEAM

OFFENSE
Quarterback - Michael Bishop, Kansas State.
Running backs - Trung Canidate, Arizona; Ricky Williams, Texas Tech.
Wide receivers - Darnell McDonald, Kansas State; Travis McGriff, Florida.
Tight end - Ibn Green, Louisville.
Center - Eric de Groh, West Virginia.
Guards-Tackles - Ben Adams, Texas; Jon Jansen, Michigan; Yusuf Scott, Arizona; Jason Whitaker, Florida State.
Place-kicker - Nathan Villegas, Oregon.
All-purpose - Kevin Faulk, LSU.

DEFENSE
Linemen - Inoke Breckterfield, Oregon State; Rosevelt Colvin, Purdue; Kelly Gregg, Oklahoma; Adalius Thomas, Southern Mississippi.
Linebackers - JoJuan Armour, Miami (Ohio); Andy Katzenmoyer, Ohio State; Raynoch Thompson, Tennessee; Nate Webster, Miami.
Backs - Ralph Brown, Nebraska; Antwan Edwards, Clemson; Lloyd Harrison, North Carolina State; Daylon McCutcheon, Southern California.
Punter - Shane Lechler, Texas A&M.