Vanderbilt All-Americans (Part 2)

Vanderbilt All-Americans (Part 2)

9/15/2005

by Bill Traughber

This is part two of Vanderbilt’s football All-Americans. You can see part one by clicking here.

George Deiderich (1958) – The Vanderbilt guard was selected a First Team All-American by AP, Look Magazine, the Football Writers Association and the nation’s coaches. Deiderich played on both sides of the line but excelled on defense. The athlete set a one-time track record in the 120-yard hurdles with a time of 14:46. He also played in the CFL for two seasons with Montreal.

Chip Healy (1968) – The linebacker earned First Team All-American honors by Central Press and Second Team by The Sporting News. The St. Louis Cardinals, in the 1968 draft, selected Healy where he played for two seasons. As a sophomore, Healy was First Team All-SEC.

Bob Asher (1969) – Asher was named First Team All-American by AP and NEA as a senior. The offensive tackle played in the College All-Star game, the Senior Bowl, the North-South game and the Canadian American Bowl. During his three years of eligibility at Vanderbilt, Asher played in every game. While playing for the Dallas Cowboys, he played in the 1971 Super Bowl.

Barry Burton (1974) – The Hillsboro High School graduate was named a First Team All-American by Football News. Burton was also named to the First Team All-SEC. The receiver was dangerous on the end-around and was also used as a punter. In 1974, Burton hauled in 22 passes for 378 yards while running the ball on 31 attempts for 307 yards.

Preston Brown (1979) – The fleet flanker was a Third Team All-American and a First Team All-SEC selection. Brown led the Commodore in receiving in 1979 with 52 catches for 786 yards and three touchdowns. He had a professional career with New England, Jets and Cleveland. Brown finished his professional career in the USFL with the Memphis Showboats.

Allama Matthews (1982) – The Commodore tight end was named a First Team All-American by The Football News. The Atlanta Touchdown Club named Matthews their 1982 Offensive Lineman-of-the-Year. Matthews led the SEC in receiving in 1982 with 61 catches for 787 yards and 14 touchdowns. The 14 touchdowns set an SEC record at that time. The feat does remain a Vanderbilt single-season record.

Matthews finished his career with 114 catches for 1, 544 yards and 18 TDs. The 114 catches rank him ninth all-time at Vanderbilt and the 18 touchdowns are second. Matthews later played three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.

Jim Arnold (1982) – Arnold was selected to six All-American teams in 1982 as a punter. When Arnold left Vanderbilt, he established an SEC record with 12, 171 punting yards. Arnold recorded a 43.9 yards per kick average for his college career. He once booted a 79-yarder at Ole Miss. Arnold had a long NFL career with Kansas City, Detroit and Miami.

Chuck Scott (1983) – Scott caught 70 passes in 1983 to tie an NCAA record for most receptions by a tight end. He was named by The Sporting News as a First Team All-American and set the Commodore team record with 20 career touchdown receptions. Scott played three seasons in the NFL with the Rams and Dallas.

Leonard Coleman (1983) – Coleman was a First Team All-American by the Gannett News Service and AP made him a Third Teamer. He was rated as the top cornerback by professional scouts in 1983. Coleman holds the Commodore’s record for most interceptions in a career (15) and in a single-season (8). His three interceptions in 1980 against Chattanooga tied a school record. As a professional player, Coleman played in the USFL and with NFL members Indianapolis and San Diego.

Ricky Anderson (1984) – As a walk-on punter/place-kicker, Anderson would in four years earn All-American honors. Anderson was a consensus First Team All-American and All-SEC selection leading the nation in punting in 1984 (48.2 Avg.). The feat broke the NCAA record held by Reggie Roby of Iowa. Anderson holds the school record for the longest punt (82 yards) and is second on the all-time scoring list with 192 points.)

Chris Gaines (1987) – Gaines was a Nashville-native that was selected by the nation’s coaches as a First Team Kodak All-American. The linebacker set an SEC single-season record for tackles with 214. Gaines once collected a school record 37 tackles against Tulane.

Gaines was named MVP in the Blue-Gray Bowl recording 18 tackles in the Gray’s 12-10 victory. The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame named him the Tennessee Amateur Athlete-of-the-Year. Gaines played two years in the NFL and was once an assistant coach at Vanderbilt.

Boo Mitchell (1988) – The receiver was a Third Team All-American and All-SEC selection. In 1988, Mitchell secured a team record 1,213 yards in receiving on 78 receptions with five touchdowns. Mitchell’s 2,964 career-receiving yards is a school record.

Bill Marinangel (1996) – The athletic punter was named by The Sporting News their First Team All-American selection. In 1996, Marinangel led the nation in punting with a 46.6 average. Marinangel holds the Vanderbilt record for the longest run in school history and it came from his punting position. In a game against Alabama, Marinangel faked a punt and scampered 81 yards downfield passing the dazed Tide’s special team.

Jamie Duncan (1997) – Duncan was a First Team American by the Football Writers Association and the American Football Coaches Association. He also made the Second Team All-American teams from Football News and AP. The linebacker concluded his Commodore career with 425 tackles and was named the SEC Defensive Player-of-the-Year by the Mobile Press Register.

Jamie Winborn (1999) – After leading the SEC in tackles (141) in 1999 for the second straight year, Winborn was a Football News All-American. Winborn led the team for tackles for a loss (23) and his best statistic game came against South Carolina with 20 tackles and two sacks.

Next week read about Vanderbilt’s game against Bethel in 1912 that scored the most points (105) in a Commodore football game.

If you have any comments or suggestions you can contact Bill Traughber via e-mail WLTraughber@aol.com.