NEW YORK -- Peyton Manning, the Tennessee quarterback who led the Volunteers to the Southeastern Conference title, and a pair of game-breakers -- Michigan's Charles Woodson and Marshall's Randy Moss -- were selected to The Associated Press' All-America team on Tuesday.

Peyton Manning tops AP's All-America list. Is the Heisman Trophy next? (Reuters)

Manning, who opted to play his senior season rather than jump to the NFL, directed the third-ranked Vols to an 11-1 record and Orange Bowl matchup against No. 2 Nebraska, with a possible national title on the line. The 6-foot-5, 222-pound son of former quarterback Archie Manning completed 287 of 477 passes for 3,819 yards and 36 touchdowns.

"It's a great honor to be named to the All-America team," Manning, the Vols' first AP All-America quarterback, said. "It's the team everyone talks about and I'm proud to be part of it."

WOODSON, THE WOLVERINES cornerback/receiver/punt returner, may have been the nation's most exciting player this season. He had seven interceptions and four touchdowns -- two on pass receptions, one on a 33-yard reverse and the other a 78-yard punt return against Ohio State.

Moss, the flashy wide receiver for the Thundering Herd, set an NCAA record with 25 touchdown catches this season, including three in last week's 41-14 win over Toledo in the Mid-American Conference title game. The 6-5, 210-pound sophomore caught 90 passes for 1,647 yards -- an average of 18.3 yards per catch.

Also making the team were a trio of North Carolina defenders -- end Greg Ellis, linebacker Brian Simmons and cornerback Dre' Bly. The threesome helped the Tar Heels finish with the nation's second ranked defense, behind Michigan.

ELLIS HAD 17 TACKLES FOR LOSSES AND NINE sacks, while Simmons chipped in with 119 tackles and three sacks and Bly added five interceptions.

Nebraska also placed three players on the team -- guard Aaron Taylor and defensive linemen Grant Wistrom and Jason Peter. Wistrom had 17 tackles for losses, 8{ sacks and forced three fumbles, while Peter had six sacks and two fumble recoveries.

Three schools -- Florida State, LSU and Washington -- each placed two players on the AP team.

The running backs were Ricky Williams of Texas and Curtis Enis of Penn State. Williams, despite playing for a 4-7 team, led the nation in rushing with 1,893 yards on 279 carries. He also had 25 touchdowns and led the nation in scoring with 152 points. Enis ran for 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also caught 25 passes for 215 yards.

Joining Moss at wideout was Florida's Jacquez Green, who caught 61 passes for 1,024 yards and nine TDs. The tight end was Alonzo Mayes of Oklahoma State, who missed the Cowboys' final four games with a separated shoulder after catching 29 passes for 424 yards and seven TDs.

JOINING TAYLOR ALONG THE OFFENSIVE LINE were LSU's Alan Faneca, Washington's Benji Olson and UCLA's Chad Overhauser. Olin Kreutz of Washington was the center.

Tim Dwight of Iowa was the all-purpose player. The 5-9, 185-pound senior, returned three punts for TDs and led the nation with a 19.4-yard average on 19 returns. He also caught 39 passes for 653 yards and eight TDs and completed 2 of 2 passes for 86 yards and a TD.

Completing the offense was Kansas State placekicker Martin Gramatica, who hit on 19 of 20 field goals and 37 of 38 extra points.

The defense has an Atlantic Coast Conference flavor, with end Andre Wadsworth and linebacker Sam Cowart of Florida State and linebacker Anthony Simmons of Clemson joining the three Carolina players. The other linebacker was Ohio State's Andy Katzenmoyer.

Wadsworth, the ACC's player of the year, led the nation with 19 sacks, while Cowart, who was out last season with a knee injury, led the Seminoles with 116 tackles.

ANTHONY SIMMONS LED THE ACC WITH 137 tackles -- 20 for losses -- added six sacks and caused two fumbles.

Katzenmoyer had a team-high 93 tackles -- 11 for losses -- two interceptions and a blocked punt in helping the Buckeyes to a 10-2 record.

The other defensive backs were Donovin Darius of Syracuse and Brian Lee of Wyoming. Darius, the Big East's defensive player of the year, had seven interceptions, while Lee led the nation with eight interceptions, one for a touchdown.

The punter was LSU's Chad Kessler, who led the nation with a 50.3-yard average on 39 punts.

Bly, who last season became only the fifth freshman to make the AP All-America team, was one of four repeaters from the '96 team. The others were Woodson, Wistrom and Olson.