1973 Little All-America college football team
The 1973 Little All-America college football team, also known as the Small College All-America football team, is composed of college football players from small colleges and universities who were selected by the Associated Press (AP) as the best players at each position. For 1973, the AP selected three teams, each team having separate offensive and defensive platoons. Walter Payton, who went on to set NFL records for career rushing yards and touchdowns, was named to the second team as a running back. The first-team running backs were Billy "White Shoes  Johnson of Widener 1,496 rushing yards, 23 touchdowns), freshman Wilbert Montgomery of Abilene Christian (compiling a record 31 touchdowns in the regular season, 37 including post-season), and Mike Thomas of UNLV (1,741 rushing yards. Kim McQuilken of Lehigh was the first-team quarterback. He completed 62.5% of his passes for 2,603 yards and 19 touchdowns. Defensive end Ed Too Tall" Jones from Tennessee State stood out on the defensive squad and was the No. 1 pick in the 1974 NFL Draft.