The Walter Camp All-American teams named on Thursday night listed who voters considered to be the nation’s top four running backs.

Three — Oregon’s LaMichael James, Alabama’s Trent Richardson and Wisconsin’s Montee Ball — are all either current or former Heisman Trophy finalists.

The other was WKU’s own Bobby Rainey.

The Toppers’ senior running back was named to the All-America second team by the 120 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors that vote for the award.

Rainey is the first WKU player to be named a Walter Camp All-American since the Toppers became a full FBS member in 2009, and the first overall for WKU since Buster Ashley was named to the I-AA team in 2004.

Rainey, who earned honorable mention All-American honors by SI.com in 2010, is now a two-time All-American.

The honor came just a day after Rainey, was named Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight year. 

Rainey broke WKU records for career and single-season rushing yards this season.

He rushed for 1,695 yards on 369 carries with 13 touchdowns in 2011, while catching 36 passes for 361 yards and four touchdowns.

Rainey currently leads the FBS in carries and ranks second in rushing yards.

The Griffin, Ga., native was named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week three times this season and was named WKU Team MVP at the Toppers’ year-end banquet on Sunday.

Rainey, along with WKU senior left tackle Wes Jeffries and sophomore middle linebacker Andrew Jackson, were named to the All-Sun Belt first team on Wednesday.

Jeffries, a former Warren Central High School standout, helped pave the way for Rainey’s season and ran for his first career touchdown in the Toppers’ season finale against Troy.

Jackson recorded 109 tackles in his first year as a starter, ranking second in the league only to Troy defensive back Brynden Trawick’s 123. He also tallied 17 tackles for loss, including 3.5 sacks, intercepted a pass and forced a fumble. 

Junior tight end Jack Doyle, junior right guard Adam Smith, senior cornerback Derrius Brooks and junior defensive end Quanterus Smith represented WKU on the All-Sun Belt second team.

Doyle caught 52 passes for 614 yards in 2011 — team highs in both categories.

Adam Smith started all 12 games for the Toppers, helping the team lead the Sun Belt in rushing yardage.

Brooks intercepted four passes, made 48 tackles and forced a fumble.

And Quanterus Smith had a team-high 6.5 sacks to go along with his 38 tackles, 11 of which came for loss.

Senior defensive ends Bo Adebayo and Jared Clendenin were named All-Sun Belt Honorable Mentions.

Adebayo recorded 31 tackles, including 8.5 for loss, and four sacks.

Meanwhile Clendenin, the team’s defensive captain, made 37 tackles, nine of which came for a loss and recorded 3.5 sacks in just nine games.

The Toppers’ nine all-Sun Belt selections were a high for the program since joining the league as a full member in 2009.