ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 12, 1996 TAG: 9612120054
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
UVA'S RONDE BARBER and Rafael Garcia and Tech's Cornell Brown earn AP honors.
Florida's Danny Wuerffel, the most efficient passer in NCAA history, and a pair of 2,000-yard runners - Iowa State's Troy Davis and Texas Tech's Byron Hanspard - made The Associated Press All-America football team Wednesday.
Virginia Tech defensive end Cornell Brown and Virginia kicker Rafael Garcia were named to the second team and Virginia cornerback Ronde Barber was named to the third team.
Wuerffel directed the third-ranked Gators to a fourth straight SEC championship and a rematch against No. 1 Florida State in the Sugar Bowl. The senior completed 207-of-360 passes for 3,625 yards and led the nation with 39 touchdown passes.
Davis was the nation's top rusher with 2,185 yards as he became the first player in NCAA history to run for 2,000-plus yards in two seasons. Hanspard was right behind with 2,084 yards and 14 TDs, marking the first time two players amassed 2,000 yards in the same season.
Brown led Virginia Tech with eight sacks and 19 quarterback hurries in eight games. The senior from Lynchburg had 32 tackles and 26 assists.
Garcia, a senior who kicked for George Washington-Danville as an exchange student from Spain, made 21 of 27 field-goal attempts while breaking the school record of 20 field goals he set last year. Garcia also converted all 33 of his extra-point kicks.
Barber, a junior from Roanoke who often was overshadowed by his twin brother and teammate, running back Tiki Barber, had three interceptions and tied for the team lead in passes broken up with five. He joins former UVa offensive tackle Jim Dombrowski as one of two three-time first-team All-ACC selections in school history.
Also recognized were Florida State defensive ends Peter Boulware and Reinard Wilson, who spearheaded the Seminoles' third-ranked defense, which allowed 229.5 yards per game.
Along with Wuerffel, the Gators had wide receiver Reidel Anthony and No.2 Arizona State had offensive lineman Juan Roque and linebacker Derrick Rodgers. Michigan had linebacker Jarrett Irons and defensive back Charles Woodson, while Colorado had offensive lineman Chris Naeole and linebacker Matt Russell. Wyoming's Marcus Harris, the NCAA's all-time leading receiver with 4,518 yards, was named at wide receiver. Pat Fitzgerald of Texas is the tight end and the all-purpose player is Kevin Faulk of LSU.
Joining Naeole and Roque on the offensive line are Orlando Pace of Ohio State and Benji Olson of Washington. K.C. Jones of Miami is the center. Completing the offense is North Carolina State kicker Marc Primanti. Northwestern linebacker Pat Fitzgerald and Kansas State defensive back Chris Canty were named to the defensive unit. Boulware, Wilson and Rodgers are joined along the line by Nebraska's Grant Wistrom.
The other linebacker is Canute Curtis of West Virginia.
The secondary features freshman Dre' Bly of North Carolina, Kevin Jackson of Alabama, Canty and Woodson.
The punter is San Diego State's Noel Prefontaine, second in the nation with a 46.54-yard average on 48 punts.
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) R. Barber. color.by CNB