The Football Writers Association of America announced their 75th Anniversary All-America Team this morning, and former NC State Center Jim Ritcher was on the Third Team. Ritcher is one of three ACC players to ever win the Outland Award, given annually to the nations best offensive lineman. He won this award back in 1979, when he bulldozed the Wolfpack to their last ACC championship. Ritcher was a 2-time 1st team All-American, and his #51 was retired on February 8, 1987.
Ritcher was taken in the 1st round of the NFL Draft, and went on to have a 16-year career in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and the Atlanta Falcons. He played in the Pro Bowl in 1992 and 1993, and was an All-Pro selection in 1986, 1988, and 1990. Ritcher played in 4 Super Bowls with the Bills, and played more games in a Bills jersey than any player in the history of the team (225). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
Jim Ritcher is the only representative of NC State on the FWAA 75th Anniversary All-America Team.
75th All-America Team by Conference
1) Big Ten Conference 19
2) Atlantic Coast Conference 15
3) Southeastern Conference 13
4) Big 12 Conference 10
5) Pac-12 Conference 7
6) Conference USA 3
6) Independents 3
8) American Athletic Conference 2
9) Ivy League 1
9) Mountain West Conference 1
9) Southwestern Athletic Conference 1
ACC Players on 75th All-America Team
1st Team
Larry Fitzgerald – WR – Pitt
Ted Hendricks – DE – Miami
Deion Sanders – DB – FSU
2nd Team
Tony Dorsett – RB – Pitt
Fred Biletnikoff – WR – FSU
Mike Ditka – TE – Pitt
Bill Fralic – OL – Pitt
Hugh Green – DE – Pitt
Bruce Smith – DE – Virginia Tech
Luke Kuechly – LB – Boston College
Ed Reed – S – Miami
3rd Team
Calvin Johnson – WR – Georgia Tech
Jim Ritcher – C – NC State
Dre’ Bly – DB – UNC
Rohn Stark – P – FSU
