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1956 Little All-America college football team

{{short description|American college football all-star team}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

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The 1956 Little All-America college 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 1956, the AP selected three teams of 11 players each, with no separate defensive platoons.{{cite news|title=Little All-American Headed By Runners|newspaper=The Knoxville Journal|date=December 6, 1956|page=15|author=Bob Hoobing|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88740211/little-all-american-headed-by-runners/|via=Newspapers.com}}

Senior back William Rhodes of Western State (Colorado) rushed for 1,200 yards on 130 carries. His total of 327 yards against Adam State set a single-game college football record. His career average of 8.49 yards per carry was the highest in college football history, and his career total of 4,294 rushing yards ranked second best in college football history.

Another senior back, Larry Houdek of Kansas Wesleyan, rushed for 1,432 yards and 19 touchdowns (114 points) on 168 carries. He also passed for two touchdowns.

James "Jimmy" Stehlin of Brandeis University, tallied 1,566 yards of total offense on 1,155 passing yards and 411 rushing yards.

Running back Nate Clark, an African American from Benton Harbor, Michigan, led Hillsdale College to its second consecutive undefeated season and was named to the first team for the second consecutive year.

Others receiving first-team honors for the second consecutive year were end Charles Schultz of Alfred, tackle Vince Vidas of Drexel, and guard Steve Myhra of North Dakota.

First team

class="wikitable"
Position

! Player

! Team

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan="4" | B

| James Stehlin

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Brandeis Judges}} | Brandeis

style="text-align:center;"

| Nate Clark

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Hillsdale Chargers}} | Hillsdale

style="text-align:center;"

| Larry Houdek

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes}} | Kansas Wesleyan

style="text-align:center;"

| William Rhodes

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Western Colorado Mountaineers}} | Western State (CO)

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan="2" | E

| Charles Schultz

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Alfred Saxons}} | Alfred

style="text-align:center;"

| Milton Robichaux

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Trinity Tigers}} | Trinity (TX)

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan="2" | T

| Don Owens

! Style = {{NCAA secondary color cell|Southern Miss Golden Eagles}} | Mississippi Southern

style="text-align:center;"

| Vincent Vidas

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Drexel Dragons}} | Drexel

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan="2" | G

| Steve Myhra

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|North Dakota Fighting Sioux}} | North Dakota

style="text-align:center;"

| Bob Mitchell

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Puget Sound Loggers}} | Puget Sound

style="text-align:center;"

| C

| William Earp

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Emory and Henry Wasps}} | Emory & Henry

Second team

class="wikitable"
Position

! Player

! Team

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan="4" | B

| Bill Englehardt

! Style = {{NCAA secondary color cell|Omaha Mavericks}} | Omaha

style="text-align:center;"

| Jim Podoley

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Central Michigan Chippewas}} | Central Michigan

style="text-align:center;"

| Al Frazier

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Florida A&M Rattlers}} | Florida A&M

style="text-align:center;"

| Whizzer White

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Westminster Titans}} | Westminster (PA)

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan="2" | E

| Steve Junker

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Xavier Musketeers}} | Xavier

style="text-align:center;"

| James Cox

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Cal Poly Mustangs}} | Cal Poly

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan="2" | T

| George Kurker

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Tufts Jumbos}} | Tufts

style="text-align:center;"

| Ron Warzeka

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Montana State Bobcats}} | Montana State

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan="2" | G

| Arden Ray

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Lenoir–Rhyne Bears}} | Lenoir–Rhyne

style="text-align:center;"

| Charles Froehle

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Saint John's Johnnies}} | St. John's (MN)

style="text-align:center;"

| C

| Hall Whitley

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas}} | Texas A&I

Third team

class="wikitable"
Position

! Player

! Team

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan="4" | B

| Bobby Grisham

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Sam Houston Bearkats}} | Sam Houston State

style="text-align:center;"

| Dick Jamieson

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Bradley Braves}} | Bradley

style="text-align:center;"

| Terry Sweeney

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders}} | Middle Tennessee

style="text-align:center;"

| Larry Thomson

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Air Force Falcons}} | Air Force

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan="2" | E

| George Benedict

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Springfield Pride}} | Springfield (MA)

style="text-align:center;"

| Albert Hill

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Widener Pride}} | Penn Military

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan="2" | T

| Lyle Slater

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Millikin Big Blue}} | Millikin

style="text-align:center;"

| George Rice

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Wofford Terriers}} | Wofford

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan="2" | G

| John McMurry

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Whittier Poets}} | Whittier

style="text-align:center;"

| Wixie Robinson

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Pepperdine Waves}} | Pepperdine

style="text-align:center;"

| C

| Lee Glenn

! Style = {{NCAA color cell|Sewanee Tigers}} | Sewanee

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Little All-America college football teams}}

Little All-America college football team

Little All-America college football team

Category:Little All-America college football teams