2011 All-American Teams: Breaking Down the Best and Worst at Skill Positions

Ever wonder what the ultimate college football team for 2011 would look like?

Why, it would look like the 2011 AP All-American Team, of course. It was revealed on Wednesday, and naturally it features the absolute best of the best at every position. 

If you're looking for big names, then the All-American Team is for you, my friend. Greats like Robert Griffin III, Trent Richardson, Justin Blackmon and Tyrann Mathieu all made the cut, and they are joined by myriad other stars who dazzled us all during the 2011 season.

However, for everything the AP got right, it got one thing wrong, especially at the skill positions. Let's go ahead and break it down.

Quarterbacks

First Team: Robert Griffin III, Baylor

Second Team: Andrew Luck, Stanford

Third Team: Matt Barkley, USC

What the AP Got Right

Part of me wants to whine and complain that the AP chose RG3 over best-quarterback-ever Andrew Luck, but it was the right choice.

RG3 was next to flawless under center for the Bears this season, piling up video game numbers and making Baylor nationally relevant for the first time in a long time. He got a Heisman Trophy for his efforts, so making him a First-Team All-American is the least the AP could do.

What the AP Got Wrong

It's pretty lame that Houston's Case Keenum didn't make the cut. Say what you will about him being a "system" quarterback, but over 5,000 yards passing and 45 touchdowns is pretty damn impressive.

He's going to go into the books as one of the most prolific college quarterbacks of all time, and he didn't even make the cut on the All-American team.

Running Backs

First Team: Montee Ball (Wisconsin) and Trent Richardson (Alabama)

Second Team: LaMichael James (Oregon) and David Wilson (Virginia Tech)

Third Team: Ronnie Hillman (San Diego State) and Bobby Rainey (Western Kentucky)

What the AP Got Right

No argument at the top. Ball and Richardson were both Heisman finalists, a tell-tale indication that they were the two best running backs in the nation in 2011.

Ball led the nation in rushing with 1,759 yards and 32 touchdowns, and Richardson torched SEC defenses for 1,583 yards and 20 touchdowns. They deserve to be first-teamers.

What the AP Got Wrong

I think it would have been cool if Oklahoma State's Joseph Randle had gotten some love.

He rushed for over 1,100 yards and finished fourth in the country with 23 rushing touchdowns. That's pretty good when you consider the fact he was playing in a very pass-heavy Cowboys offense.

Wide Receivers

First Team: Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State) and Robert Woods (USC)

Second Team: Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma) and Kendall Wright (Baylor)

Third Team: Jordan White (Western Michigan) and Patrick Edwards (Houston)

What the AP Got Right

Some are going to have a problem with Ryan Broyles making the cut seeing as how he tore his ACL and missed Oklahoma's final three games, but I'm okay with it.

Broyles was on his way to having another fantastic season before he got hurt, and he ended up with pretty good numbers anyway. In about eight-and-a-half games, he pulled in 83 receptions for 1,157 yards and 10 touchdowns. That's pretty impressive.

What the AP Got Wrong

Why no love for Washington State's Marquess Wilson? He caught 82 passes for 1,388 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, and it's worth repeating that he did this for Washington State. The Cougars had a pretty decent passing attack this season, but Wilson didn't have much help around him. Mike Leach is going to love him. 

Cornerbacks

First Team: Morris Claiborne (LSU) and Tyrann Mathieu (LSU)

Second Team: David Amerson (North Carolina State) and Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama)

Third Team: Nigel Malone (Kansas State) and Brodrick Brown (Oklahoma State)

What the AP Got Right

That LSU has the top two cornerbacks in the nation should tell you something about the Tigers defense, and both Claiborne and Mathieu are totally deserving of First Team honors. Claiborne is probably the best cover corner in the country, and Mathieu can do pretty much everything, hence the reason he was a Heisman finalist.

What the AP Got Wrong

I'm surprised not to see Nebraska's Alfonzo Dennard included on the list. He's one of the better cover corners in the nation and a hot NFL draft prospect.

Voters must have overlooked him because he didn't intercept any passes this season. Kinda makes me worry that stats are the only things that matter when these teams are decided.

Safeties

First Team: Mark Barron (Alabama) and Bacarri Rambo (Georgia)

Second Team: Markelle Martin (Oklahoma State) and Antonio Allen (South Carolina)

Third Team: Josh Bush (Wake Forest) and George Iloka (Boise State)

What the AP Got Right

Once again, there's no argument at the top. Barron was a major difference-maker for Alabama's stifling defense this season, and Rambo was a key part of a Georgia defense that got better and better as the season went along. I'm perfectly fine with the other selections as well, particularly Markelle Martin.

What the AP Got Wrong

The AP probably could have given some consideration to Alabama free safety Robert Lester, as he quietly had a good season playing alongside Mark Barron. Other than that, I'm drawing blanks. Good picks here.

All-Purpose Players

First Team: Sammy Watkins, Clemson

Second Team: Joe Adams, Arkansas

Third Team: Tavon Austin, West Virginia

What the AP Got Right

I like that the AP found a way to show Sammy Watkins some love. The freshman had a fine year catching the ball, and he also chipped in running the ball and returning kicks and a few punts. He basically did everything Dabo Swinney asked him to do, and he did it well.

What the AP Got Wrong

The AP had a chance to show Taveon Rogers of New Mexico State some love here, and it didn't. He had over 1,000 yards receiving in 2011, and he added over 1,300 yards and three touchdowns on kickoff returns.