CFN All-Big 10 team

[bucknut11]

Smith gets the nod over Basanez for second-team QB. Interesting move there. The Big10 was loaded with LBs.

ohio

Big Ten Player of the Year
Michael Robinson, QB Penn State
The stats weren't out-of-this-world, but Michael Robinson's leadership, clutch play, and running ability helped take Penn State from good to elite. He finished ninth in the Big Ten in rushing with 11 touchdowns, and threw 16 touchdown passes.

Defensive Player of the Year
A.J. Hawk, LB Ohio State
Iowa's Chad Greenway, and Penn State's Paul Posluszny and Tamba Hali all would be defensive players of the year in just about any other league, but Hawk lived up to all the hype with his steady, sometimes spectacular play finishing the year with 109 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, an interception and two forced fumbles.

Coach of the year - Joe Paterno, Penn State
Best Big Ten game - Sep 24 - Minn. 42 ... Purdue 35 2OT
Worst Big Ten game - Oct. 22 - Penn State 63 ... Illinois 10
Freshman of the year - Northwestern RB Tyrell Sutton
Best Performance - Oct. 8. Northwestern RB Tyrell Sutton ran 29 times for 244 yards and three touchdowns and caught two passes for nine yards and a score in the 51-48 win over Wisconsin. Wildcat LB Tim McGarigle made 25 tackles.
Biggest Surprise: Penn State. Everyone thought Penn State would be a bowl team thanks to its defense, but no one had a clue the offense would be as efficient as it was leading the way to the Big Ten title and within a fingernail of the national championship.
Biggest Disappointment: Purdue. With everyone returning on defense, no Ohio State or Michigan on the schedule, and an explosive offense, this was Purdue's year to take the Big Ten by storm. Not only didn't it happen, but the Boilermakers didn't go to a bowl game in one of the most puzzling collapses this season.


<table id="table28" border="0" width="702"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="350">Offense
QB - Michael Robinson, Sr. Penn State
RB - Brian Calhoun, Jr. Wisconsin
RB - Laurence Maroney, Jr. Minnesota
WR - Jason Avant, Sr. Michigan
WR - Santonio Holmes, Jr. Ohio State
TE - Matt Spaeth, Jr. Minnesota
OL - Greg Eslinger, Sr. Minnesota
OL - Mark Setterstrom, Sr. Minnesota
OL - Adam Stenavich, Sr. Michigan
OL - Zach Strief, Sr. Northwestern
OL - Joe Thomas, Jr. Wisconsin
PK - Josh Houston, Sr. Ohio State
KR - Ted Ginn Jr., Soph. Ohio State</td> <td valign="top" width="350">Defense
DL - Tamba Hali, Sr. Penn State
DL - Mike Kudla, Sr. Ohio State
DL - Rob Ninkovich, Sr. Purdue
DL - Gabe Watson, Sr. Michigan
LB - Chad Greenway, Sr. Iowa
LB - A.J. Hawk, Sr. Sr. Ohio State
LB - Paul Posluszny, Jr. Penn State
DB - Jovon Johnson, Sr. Iowa
DB - Calvin Lowery, Sr. Penn State
DB - Ashton Youboty, Jr. Ohio State
DB - Alan Zemaitis, Sr. Penn State
P - Ken DeBauche, Soph. Wisconsin
PR - Brandon Williams, Sr. Wisconsin</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table id="table30" border="0" cellspacing="3" height="510" width="697"><tbody><tr> <td rowspan="4" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="504" valign="top" width="323">Top 30 players regardless of position
Based on the season the player had
1. QB Michael Robinson, Sr. Penn State
2. LB A.J. Hawk, Sr. Ohio State
3. RB Laurence Maroney, Jr. Minnesota
4. LB Chad Greenway, Sr. Iowa
5. LB Paul Posluszny, Jr. Penn State
6. RB Brian Calhoun, Jr. Wisconsin
7. QB Troy Smith, Jr. Ohio State
8. QB Brett Basanez, Sr. Northwestern
9. RB Tyrell Sutton, Fr. Northwestern
10. DE Tamba Hali, Sr. Penn State
11. RB Albert Young, Soph. Iowa
12. LB Tim McGarilgle, Sr. Northwestern
13. LB Abdul Hodge, Sr. Iowa
14. C Greg Eslinger, Sr. Minnesota
15. CB Alan Zemaitis, Sr. Penn State
16. DT Gabe Watson, Sr. Michigan
17. OT Joe Thomas, Jr. Wisconsin
18. QB Drew Stanton, Sr. Michigan State
19. WR Jason Avant, Sr. Michigan
20. CB Ashton Youboty, Jr. Ohio State
21. WR Santonio Holmes, Jr. Ohio State
22. LB Bobby Carpenter, Sr. Ohio State
23. WR Dorien Bryant, Soph. Purdue
24. WR James Hardy, Fr. Indiana
25. SS Calvin Lowry, Sr. Penn State
26. TE Matt Spaeth, Jr. Minnesota
27. CB Jovon Johnson, Sr. Iowa
28. S Nate Salley, Sr. Ohio State
29. QB Drew Tate, Jr. Iowa
30. QB Chad Henne, Jr. Michigan</td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="127" valign="top" width="185">Top Quarterbacks
1. M. Robinson, PSU
2. Troy Smith, Ohio St
3. Brett Basanez, NW
4. Drew Stanton, MSU
5. Drew Tate, Iowa</td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="127" valign="top" width="186">Top Running Backs
1. L. Maroney, Minnesota
2. Brian Calhoun, Wisc.
3. Tyrell Sutton, NW
4. Albert Young, Iowa
5. Antonio Pittman, OSU</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="127" valign="top" width="185">Top Receivers
1. Jason Avant, Michigan
2. Santonio Holmes, OSU
3. Dorien Bryant, Purdue
4. James Hardy, Indiana
5. Brandon Williams, UW</td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="127" valign="top" width="186">Top Offensive Linemen
1. Greg Eslinger, Minn.
2. Joe Thomas, Wisc.
3. M. Setterstrom, Minn.
4. Adam Stenavich, Mich.
5. Zach Strief, Nwestern</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="128" valign="top" width="185">Top Defensive Linemen
1. Tamba Hali, Penn State
2. Gabe Watson, Mich.
3. Mike Kudla, Ohio St
4. Rob Ninkovich, Purd.
5. Ken Iwebema, Iowa</td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="128" valign="top" width="186">Top Linebackers
1. A.J. Hawk, Ohio St
2. Chad Greenway, Iowa
3. Paul Posluszny, PSU
4. Tim McGarigle, NW
5. Abdul Hodge, Iowa</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="128" valign="top" width="185">Top Defensive Backs
1. Alan Zemaitis, PSU
2. Ashton Youboty, OSU
3. Calvin Lowry, PSU
4. Jovon Johnson, Iowa
5. Nate Salley, OSU</td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="128" valign="top" width="186">Top Kickers
1. PK Josh Huston, OSU
2. PK K. Schlicher, Iowa
3. P Ken DeBauche, UW
4. P Steve Weaterhford, Ill
5. P Tyson Beattie, IU</td></tr></tbody></table>

[Dryden]

Not to suggest that Mel Kiper Jr's word should be taken as gospel, but Kiper has had Mangold ranked as the #1 senior C for the entire year, and Sims as the #2 senior G. This is in all of college football. I know Mason's Minnesota staff is producing some good O Linemen and 2,000 yard RBs, but Pittman cracked 1,200 thanks to Mangold and Sims and Co., and either, or both, should be in the Big-10 top five for the OL.

[LoKyBuckeye]

I'd take our game against scUM or the scUM/PSU game over the Minny/Purdue game as best game. The Minny/Purdue game was entertaining but it meant jack squat.

[BuckeyeKid789]

Mangold is definitely a top 5 lineman in the Big-10 and I believe he's projected as and early 2nd round to late 1st round draft pick.

[BuckeyeNation27]

Top 30 players regardless of position
Based on the season the player had
1. QB Michael Robinson, Sr. Penn State
2. LB A.J. Hawk, Sr. Ohio State

give me a break.

[crazybuckfan40]

Originally Posted by Dryden

Not to suggest that Mel Kiper Jr's word should be taken as gospel, but Kiper has had Mangold ranked as the #1 senior C for the entire year, and Sims as the #2 senior G. This is in all of college football. I know Mason's Minnesota staff is producing some good O Linemen and 2,000 yard RBs, but Pittman cracked 1,200 thanks to Mangold and Sims and Co., and either, or both, should be in the Big-10 top five for the OL.

Yeah I can't figure out why Mangold is not getting put on these lists.

[stowfan]

Maybe I'm biased, but I'm surprised only Hawk made the top 5 LBs.

[BuckeyeKid789]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeNation27

give me a break.

They're only saying that because Penn St. is this year's cinderella story. We all know who will have the better pro career barring injuries.

[BuckBackHome]

Can someone please explain to me how Carp is not in the top 5 LB's?!?

[JXC]

Just wait til Carp hits the NFL.

[BuckeyePride]

Originally Posted by BuckinMichigan

Can someone please explain to me how Carp is not in the top 5 LB's?!?

I'll take Carp anyday over any LBs in that list not from tOSU.

[Zurp]

I find this one funny:

Top Receivers
1. Jason Avant, Michigan
2. Santonio Holmes, OSU

Did Avant do ANYTHING all year? In the games that I watched (which, I admit, were very few), he didn't do much.

[Buckeye513]

Originally Posted by Zurp

I find this one funny:

Top Receivers
1. Jason Avant, Michigan
2. Santonio Holmes, OSU

Did Avant do ANYTHING all year? In the games that I watched (which, I admit, were very few), he didn't do much.

He averaged 6 catches and 85 yards a game. Michigan did pass the ball nearly 100 more times than Ohio State, which makes it a little bit difficult to compare Holmes and Avant stat wise, but 6 catches a game is pretty impressive.

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeKid789

They're only saying that because Penn St. is this year's cinderella story. We all know who will have the better pro career barring injuries.

I don't remember AJ ever having a bad game. I can think of multiple times when Robinson wasn't that great. Heck, Poslusny was better IMO than robinson.

[BuckeyePride]

Troy Smith would have had even better year (stats), if he had played season opener and half of texas game.

I Think they got the QBs in right order. Though, Robinson is not a top player in the Big Ten...AJ is by far. Pittman should be #4 or #3. Sutton didn't finish well.