KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (FWAA) – The nation's leading rusher, Nevada's Chance Kretschmer, is one of many stars highlighting the inaugural FWAA Freshman All-America Team.
The team was chosen by a panel of FWAA members representing each conference. The panel submitted nominations over the course of the season and an Internet vote by the panel was held position by position accordingly.
Division I-A players competing in their first year of college football were eligible.
The panel members were: Randy Holtz, Rocky Mountain News; Adam Thompson, Denver Post; Mike Vega, Boston Globe; Ron Higgins, Memphis Commercial Appeal; Greg Doyel, Charlotte Observer; Bob Condotta, Tacoma News-Tribune; Angelique Chengalis, Detroit News; Doug Zaleski, Muncie Star-Press; Neal Farmer, Houston Chronicle, and Mike Griffith, of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
| 2001 FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM | |||
| OFFENSE | |||
| Pos. | Player, School | Ht. | Wt. |
| QB | Ben Roethlisberger, Miami (Ohio) | 6-5 | 209 |
| RB | Anthony Davis, Wisconsin | 5-8 | 189 |
| RB | Chance Kretschmer, Nevada | 6-2 | 220 |
| WR | Taylor Stubblefield, Purdue | 6-1 | 168 |
| WR | Kelley Washington, Tennessee | 6-3 | 215 |
| WR | Reggie Williams, Washington | 6-4 | 215 |
| C | Vince Carter, Oklahoma | 6-3 | 265 |
| G | Justin Smiley, Alabama | 6-3 | 295 |
| G | Claude Terrell, New Mexico | 6-3 | 320 |
| T | Shawn Andrews, Arkansas | 6-6 | 330 |
| T | Logan Mankins, Fresno State | 6-4 | 290 |
| DEFENSE | |||
| Pos. | Player, School | Ht. | Wt. |
| DL | Shaun Cody, USC | 6-5 | 255 |
| DL | Tommie Harris, Oklahoma | 6-3 | 275 |
| DL | Vince Wilfork, Miami | 6-2 | 338 |
| LB | Justin Beriault, Ball State | 6-3 | 190 |
| LB | Derrick Johnson, Texas | 6-4 | 215 |
| LB | Robert Rodriguez, UTEP | 6-1 | 230 |
| LB | Bradley Vance, Minnesota | 6-1 | 211 |
| CB | *Lawrence Richardson, Arkansas | 5-10 | 174 |
| CB | Matt Ware, UCLA | 6-3 | 199 |
| SS | Mitch Meeuwsen, Oregon State | 6-2 | 209 |
| FS | Marvin Godbolt, TCU | 5-11 | 195 |
| SPECIALISTS | |||
| Pos. | Player, School | Ht. | Wt. |
| K | Dusty Mangum, Texas | 5-11 | 175 |
| P | Tony Yelk, Iowa State | 6-0 | 201 |
| KR | Chad Owens, Hawaii | 5-8 | 175 |
| PR | Charles Frederick, Washington | 6-0 | 190 |
| *Richardson is listed as a sophomore, but because he was a partial qualifier in 2000 he can regain his first year of eligibility by graduating on time. | |||