ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 7, 1995 TAG: 9512070058
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS AND STAFF REPORTS
Virginia Tech defensive lineman Cornell Brown, who led Virginia Tech to a nine-game winning streak and a berth in the Sugar Bowl, made The Associated Press' All-American football team Wednesday.
Brown had 103 tackles, including 14 sacks and 11 other stops behind the line, for the nation's top-rated run defense.
Brown's first-team AP selection makes the Lynchburg native a consensus All-America pick. The junior defensive end has made four teams, having been chosen first team by the Football News, American Football Coaches Association and Football Writers Association of America in addition to the wire-service team.
A player who makes at least four of the seven nationally recognized All-America teams is a consensus choice.
Brown, the Big East Football Conference defensive player of the year, also was named the national defensive player of the year by Football News and is one of five finalists for the Football Writers' defensive player of the year honor, presented by the Charlotte (N.C.) Touchdown Club.
Brown's defensive-line teammate, senior J.C. Price, made the AP's All-America third team.
Brown's selection makes him the fourth consensus All-America choice in Tech history, following the late Frank Loria at defensive back in 1967, defensive end Bruce Smith in '84 and center Jim Pyne, the Hokies' only unanimous All-America honoree, two seasons ago.
Virginia defensive back Percy Ellsworth made the second team.
Tommie Frazier, who led top-ranked Nebraska to its third straight undefeated regular season, also made the team along with rushing champion Troy Davis of Iowa State and scoring leader Eddie George of Ohio State.
Frazier directed an option attack that averaged a nation-leading 52 points per game. The versatile quarterback passed for 17 touchdowns and ran for 14 scores for the defending national champions.
Davis, who ran for 2,010 yards, is the fifth runner in NCAA history to gain more than 2,000 yards in a season.
George led Division I-A with 24 touchdowns and was fifth in rushing with 152 yards per game.
Along with George, the Buckeyes had wide receiver Terry Glenn and offensive lineman Orlando Pace. Frazier was joined by Cornhuskers center Aaron Graham and defensive lineman Jared Tomich.
Tight end Marco Battaglia of Rutgers led everyone at his position in receptions (69), receiving yards (894) and touchdowns (10).
The all-purpose player is Leeland McElroy of Texas A&M, who rushed for 1,122 yards, caught 25 passes for 379 yards, returned nine kicks for 208 yards and scored 16 touchdowns.
Joining Pace and Graham on the offensive line are Jonathan Ogden of UCLA, Jason Odom of Florida and Heath Irwin of Colorado.
Rounding out the offense is place-kicker Michael Reeder of Texas Christian.
The defense is led by Arizona lineman Tony Bruschi, the only repeater from last year's team.
Also on the defensive line are Tomich, Virginia Tech's Brown and Marcus Jones of North Carolina.
The linebackers are Pat Fitzgerald of Northwestern, Kevin Hardy of Illinois, Ray Lewis of Miami and Zach Thomas of Texas Tech.
The secondary features Greg Myers of Colorado State, Chris Canty of Kansas State and Lawyer Milloy of Washington. Punter Brad Maynard of Ball State led the nation with a 46.5-yard average.
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN/Staff. Brown was the leader of a Techby CNBdefense that ranked among the nation's best. color.