PARK RIDGE, IL -- The Big Ten announced the 2010 All-Conference football teams and individual award winners as selected by the coaches and a media panel, with four different schools sharing the individual accolades.
Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year by coaches and media while Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan was selected as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by coaches and media and the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year by coaches. Wisconsin collected two individual accolades as offensive tackle Gabe Carimi was tabbed the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year by coaches and running back James White was honored as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year by coaches and media. Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio was named the Dave McClain Coach of the Year by the media.
Robinson is the eighth Wolverines’ standout to be named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and just the second Michigan quarterback to be selected along with Jim Harbaugh, who was honored in 1986. Other Wolverines to earn Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year accolades are wideouts Braylon Edwards (2004), Desmond Howard (1991) and Anthony Carter (1982) and running backs Chris Perry (2003), Tyrone Wheatley (1992) and Jon Vaughn (1990). Robinson is the seventh sophomore to be honored, joining a group of former second-year winners that includes Wisconsin running back John Clay (2009), Purdue quarterback Drew Brees (1998), Michigan running backs Wheatley (1992) and Vaughn (1990) and Michigan State running backs Tico Duckett (1990) and Lorenzo White (1985). Robinson is the first quarterback in NCAA history to rush and pass for more than 1,500 yards in a season. He leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally with 136.9 rushing yards per contest and his 1,643 yards on the ground are a new conference record for signal callers, shattering the previous mark of 1,270 yards set by Indiana’s Antwaan Randle El in 2000. Robinson also ranks among the top 20 nationally with a pass efficiency rating of 152.9, completing 155 of 250 passes for 2,316 yards. He has tallied 14 rushing touchdowns and 16 passing scores.
Kerrigan is the second Boilermaker to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year laurels and the first since defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina was honored by the media in 1992. The Boilermaker senior is also the first Purdue standout to collect Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year honors. He ranks among the top two nationally in sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles per game. Kerrigan leads the Big Ten and ranks second nationally with 1.04 sacks per game to total 12.5 sacks on the season. He tops the country with 2.17 tackles for loss per contest, good for 26.0 tackles for loss on the season, the seventh-best single-season total in Big Ten history. He is also tied for second in the nation with 0.42 fumbles forced per outing. His five forced fumbles this season boosted his career total to 14, matching the NCAA record and breaking the Big Ten record of 13 set by Illinois’ Simeon Rice (1992-95) and Iowa’s Bob Sanders (2000-03). Kerrigan ranks fifth on the team with 70 tackles, including 50 solo stops.
Carimi was named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year by the coaches to become the third Badger to be so honored, a group that includes tackle Chris McIntosh (1999) and guard Jeff Dellenbach (1984). Carimi was part of an offensive unit that led the Big Ten with 45.2 points and 242.2 rushing yards in conference games only. The Badgers are just the second team since at least 1936 to average more than 45 points in conference play after Penn State averaged 48.1 points per contest in 1994. In all games, Wisconsin leads the Big Ten and is tied for fourth nationally with 43.3 points per outing while also ranking among the top 20 nationally in rushing offense (12th) and total offense (18th).
White becomes the second straight Badger to garner Big Ten Freshman of the Year laurels after linebacker Chris Borland was honored last season. White is the seventh Wisconsin freshman to be honored by the conference, joining Borland, running backs P.J. Hill (2006), Anthony Davis (2001) and Ron Dayne (1996) and quarterbacks Brooks Bollinger (1999) and Tony Lowery (1987). White ranked fourth in conference play with 108.6 rushing yards per game. For all games, he led the Badgers with 1,029 rushing yards (93.5 yards per game) and averaged 7.0 yards per carry with 14 rushing touchdowns.
Dantonio earns his first Big Ten Coach of the Year honor after guiding Michigan State to a school-record 11 victories and a share of its first Big Ten Championship since 1990. The Spartans won their first eight games of the year to rise to No. 5 in the Bowl Championship Series standings, the highest ranking in program history. MSU concluded the year with an 11-1 overall record and a 7-1 mark in conference play to collect the seventh Big Ten title in school annals. Dantonio is the fifth Spartans mentor to be named Big Ten Coach of the Year, a group that includes John L. Smith (2003), George Perles (1987), Darryl Rogers (1977) and Denny Stolz (1974).
Among this year’s All-Big Ten first-team selections, 12 were members of the first or second team from a year ago, including nine first-team selections from 2009 who are on this year’s first team – Indiana wide receiver Tandon Doss, Iowa defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn and defensive back Tyler Sash, Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones, Ohio State offensive guard Justin Boren, Penn State offensive guard Stefen Wisniewski, Purdue defensive lineman Kerrigan and Wisconsin offensive tackle Carimi and offensive guard John Moffitt. Jones is a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection.
The Big Ten also recognized Sportsmanship Award honorees from each team. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These student-athletes must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Honorees for football are Tavon Wilson of Illinois, Tyler Replogle of Indiana, Ricky Stanzi of Iowa, Mark Moundros of Michigan, Kirk Cousins of Michigan State, Jon Hoese of Minnesota, Corbin Bryant of Northwestern, Bryant Browning of Ohio State, Brett Brackett of Penn State, Kerrigan of Purdue and Scott Tolzien of Wisconsin. These 11 student-athletes are now candidates for the Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award, as the conference office will honor one male and one female student-athlete from each institution at the end of the school year.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE SECOND TEAM
Dan Persa, Northwestern Quarterback Scott Tolzien, Wisconsin
Mikel Leshoure, Illinois Running Back Evan Royster, Penn State
Dan Herron, Ohio State Running Back John Clay, Wisconsin
Tandon Doss, Indiana* Receiver Marvin McNutt, Iowa#
Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Iowa* Receiver
Dane Sanzenbacher, Ohio State*
David Molk, Michigan Center Mike Brewster, Ohio State
Stefen Wisniewski, Penn State Guard Julian Vandervelde, Iowa
John Moffitt, Wisconsin Guard Justin Boren, Ohio State
Mike Adams, Ohio State Tackle Riley Reiff, Iowa
Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin Tackle D.J. Young, Michigan State
Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin Tight End Allen Reisner, Iowa
Dan Conroy, Michigan State Kicker Derek Dimke, Illinois
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE SECOND TEAM
Adrian Clayborn, Iowa Line Corey Liuget, Illinois
Cameron Heyward, Ohio State Line Karl Klug, Iowa
Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue Line Mike Martin, Michigan
J.J. Watt, Wisconsin Line Ollie Ogbu, Penn State
Greg Jones, Michigan State Linebacker Martez Wilson, Illinois
Ross Homan, Ohio State Linebacker Jeremiha Hunter, Iowa
Brian Rolle, Ohio State Linebacker Eric Gordon, Michigan State
Shaun Prater, Iowa Defensive Back Brett Greenwood, Iowa*
Tyler Sash, Iowa Defensive Back Johnny Adams, Michigan State*
Chimdi Chekwa, Ohio State Defensive Back Trenton Robinson, Michigan State*
Jermale Hines, Ohio State Defensive Back Chris L. Rucker, Michigan State*
Aaron Henry, Wisconsin*
Anthony Santella, Illinois Punter Aaron Bates, Michigan State
HONORABLE MENTION: ILLINOIS: Jeff Allen, Nate Bussey, Trulon Henry, Graham Pocic, Tavon Wilson;
INDIANA: Damarlo Belcher, James Brewer, Mitch Ewald; IOWA: Christian Ballard, Mike Daniels, Adam
Robinson, Ryan Donahue; MICHIGAN: Denard Robinson, Stephen Schilling; MICHIGAN STATE: Edwin Baker,
Kirk Cousins, Mark Dell, Joel Foreman, Charlie Gantt, Marcus Hyde, Jerel Worthy; MINNESOTA: D.J. Burris;
NORTHWESTERN: Drake Dunsmore, Jeremy Ebert, Brian Peters; OHIO STATE: Devin Barclay, DeVier Posey,
Terrelle Pryor, John Simon; PENN STATE: Quinn Barham, Chris Colasanti, D’Anton Lynn, Derek Moye;
PURDUE: Ricardo Allen, Dwayne Beckford, Carson Wiggs; WISCONSIN: Montee Ball, Niles Brinkley, Antonio
Fenelus, Peter Konz, Bill Nagy, Blake Sorensen, Mike Taylor, Ricky Wagner, Philip Welch, James White, Kevin
Zeitler.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Denard Robinson, Michigan
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR: Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR: Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: James White, Wisconsin
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees: Tavon Wilson, ILL; Tyler Replogle, IND; Ricky Stanzi, IOWA; Mark
Moundros, MICH; Kirk Cousins, MSU; Jon Hoese, MINN; Corbin Bryant, NU; Bryant Browning, OSU; Brett
Brackett, PSU; Ryan Kerrigan, PUR; Scott Tolzien, WIS.
* Additional honorees due to ties
# Second team reduced by one due to additional first-team honoree
