After every coach has been polled and every sportswriter has made his choice, there remains one man with the decisive voice. He is the pro scout. Others may nominate, but he must choose. Necessarily dispassionate, professionally unimpressed with headlines, he must assess a boy's football worth and back his judgment with money. So advised by those who decide which of Saturday's heroes will play next year for Sunday's paycheck, TIME'S choice for All-America:
End: Sam Williams, 27, Michigan State; 6 ft. 5 in., 220 lbs. Senior. Major: restaurant management. Drafted by the Los Angeles Rams back in 1956 on the strength of his play while serving a hitch in the Navy; so hefty and formidable on defense that opponents run plays away from him whenever possible.
End: Gilbert Leroy ("Buddy") Dial, 21, Rice; 6 ft. 1 in., 180 lbs. Senior. Major: physical education. Not notably fast but extraordinarily shifty and sure-handed on offense; blossomed this year on defense, piled up end sweeps, helped his team hold Army's famed halfbacks Anderson and Dawkins to 19 yds. rushing in 14 carries. The pros like him, but feel he must add a good deal of weight to withstand the inevitable pounding a player gets in the big time.
Tackle: Bill Leeka, 20, U.C.L.A.; 6 ft. 1 in., 210 lbs. Senior. Major: business education. Considered a "real sleeper" by pro scouts, lost chance for many All-Americas because of eligibility restrictions that allowed him to play in only five games. Likes to grin at opponents at game's start, offer to shake hands, saying: "Let's be civilized while we can, shall we?" May forgo pro football for career in movies.
Tackle: Jim Marshall, 20, Ohio State; 6 ft. 3 in., 222 lbs. Junior. Major: physical education. Fine blocker, fast-reacting on defense, has speed enough to outrun many backs, performed an incredible feat for a lineman against Purdue by running for two touchdowns with a blocked punt and an intercepted pass; a probable high pro choice next year.
Guard: John Guzik, 22, Pittsburgh; 6 ft. 3 in., 230 lbs. Senior. Major: business administration. Was the star of one of the most rugged lines in college football this year. Has the size and agility to make a tremendous linebacker for any pro defensive unit; drafted last year by Los Angeles Rams.
Guard: Roger Duone ("Zeke") Smith, 21, Auburn; 6 ft. 2 in., 215 lbs. Junior. Major: education. Alert, fast, hard charger; eyed as another good pro linebacker, considered by some scouts the best lineman in the U.S.
Center: Walter Jackson ("Jackie") Burkett, 21, Auburn; 6 ft. 4 in., 220 lbs. Junior. Major: forestry. Superb blocker with good speed, built in classic mold of pro-type middle guard; sure to be eagerly sought despite occasionally troublesome shoulder injury.
Quarterback: Joe Kapp, 20, California; 6 ft. 2 in., 205 lbs. Senior. Major: physical education. Football's best running quarterback; a slick ball handler, he put California in the Rose Bowl almost singlehanded; called his plays with rare perception, executed them with extraordinary finesse and poise.
Halfback: Billy Cannon, 21, Louisiana State; 6 ft. 1 in., 197 lbs. junior. Major: pre-dentistry. Still a year away from pro draft but already considered fast, powerful, brilliant enough to move into starting halfback spot on most any pro team.