Small-Town Value: Numerous A-As Came From Smaller Hometowns Than Happ

Ethan Happ, an All-American for Wisconsin last season, came from an obscure hometown (Milan, IL) with small population (5,100). But there are a striking number of major-college All-Americans who came from significantly smaller outposts. Flyover-country hamlets offering little more than a part-time post office and gas station supplied the following standouts from municipalities with populations fewer than 1,000:

All-American Pos. Major College A-A Year(s) Hometown Population
James Anderson G Oklahoma State 2010 Junction City, AR 705
Forrest "Whitey" Baccus G Southern Methodist 1935 Estelline, TX 190
Frankie Baumholtz F Ohio University 1941 Midvale, OH 655
R. Gale Bishop F-C Washington State 1943 Sumas, WA 710
Tom Burleson C North Carolina State 1973 and 1974 Newland, NC 720
Bob Burrow C Kentucky 1955 and 1956 Wells, TX 925
A.W. Davis F Tennessee 1965 Rutledge, TN 830
Evan Eschmeyer C Northwestern 1999 New Knoxville, OH 760
Pat Garrity F Notre Dame 1998 Monument, CO 690
Joe Gibbon F Mississippi 1957 Hickory, MS 670
Gary Gray G Oklahoma City 1967 Fort Cobb, OK 760
Jimmy Hagan C Tennessee Tech 1959 Glendale, KY 300
Charles Halbert C West Texas State 1942 House, NM 120
Bob Harris C Oklahoma A&M 1949 Linden, TN 750
Kirk Haston F-C Indiana 2001 Lobelville, TN 915
Don Hennon G Pittsburgh 1958 and 1959 Wampum, PA 665
Bailey Howell F-C Mississippi State 1958 and 1959 Middleton, TN 595
Dick Ives F Iowa 1945 Diagonal, IA 360
Paul Judson G Illinois 1956 Hebron, IL 785
Dean Kelley G Kansas 1953 McCune, KS 530
Henry "Bud" Koper F-G Oklahoma City 1964 Rocky, OK 240
Paul Lindemann C Washington State 1941 Cowiche, WA 425
Karl Malone F Louisiana Tech 1985 Summerfield, LA 370
E. "Branch" McCracken F Indiana 1930 Monrovia, IN 860
Ryan Minor F Oklahoma 1995 and 1996 Hammon, OK 865
Phillip "Red" Murrell F Drake 1958 Linneus, MO 420
Willie Murrell F Kansas State 1964 Taft, OK 490
Otto Porter Jr. F Georgetown 2013 Morley, MO 697
Bryant Reeves C Oklahoma State 1994 and 1995 Gans, OK 345
Jack Smiley G Illinois 1943 Waterman, IL 945
Ray Steiner G St. Louis 1952 Bland, MO 660
John Stroud F Mississippi 1980 Myrtle, MS 400
Terry Teagle G-F Baylor 1982 Broaddus, TX 190
Gary Thompson G Iowa State 1957 Roland, IA 710
Jack Tingle F Kentucky 1947 Bedford, KY 835
Gene Tormohlen C Tennessee 1959 Holland, IN 685
Carlyle "Blackie" Towery C Western Kentucky 1940 and 1941 Shady Grove, KY 100
Kenny Walker F Kentucky 1985 and 1986 Roberta, GA 860
Waldo Wegner C Iowa State 1935 Everly, IA 350
Murray Wier G-F Iowa 1948 Grandview, IA 475
Win Wilfong F Memphis State 1957 Puxico, MO 830