Career touchdown leader Montee Ball of Wisconsin was selected the Big Ten’s top running back for the second straight year and was a first-team all-conference pick by both the coaches and media.
The announcement Monday came two days after he became the NCAA’s all-time leader in touchdowns. He set the record with his 79th TD when he scored on a 17-yard run Saturday against Penn State.
With 1,528 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns this season, it was hardly a surprise that the coaches and media both picked Ball. They also went with conference rushing leader Le’Veon Bell of Michigan State (1,648 yards), but they were split at quarterback.
The media went with Ohio State’s Braxton Miller and the coaches choosing Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez. Miller got the top QB award.
The coaches and media also agreed on the top receivers, going with Penn State’s Allen Robinson and Wisconsin’s Jared Abbrederis at receiver.
Rounding out the first team on offense for the coaches was Penn State’s Matt Stankiewitch at center; Michigan’s Patrick Omameh, Nebraska’s Spencer Long and Penn State’s John Urschel at guard; Michigan’s Taylor Lewan and Wisconsin’s Rick Wagner at tackle; Jacob Pedersen of Wisconsin at tight end; and Northwestern’s Jeff Budzien at kicker.
On defense, the coaches went with Ohio State’s Johnathan Hankins and John Simon along with Jordan Hill of Penn State and Purdue’s Kawann Short on the line; Michigan State’s Max Bullough, Penn State’s Michael Mauti and Wisconsin’s Chris Borland at linebacker; Iowa’s Micah Hyde, Michigan State’s Johnny Adams and Darqueze Dennard along with Ohio State’s Bradley Roby at defensive back; and Michigan State’s Mike Sadler at punter.
Rounding out the first-team picks on offense by the media was Wisconsin’s Travis Frederick at center; Long and Ohio State’s Andrew Norwell at guard; Lewan and Wagner at tackle; Penn State’s Kyle Carter at tight end; and Nebraska’s Brett Maher at kicker.
On defense, the media selected Nebraska’s Eric Martin, Simon, Hill and Short on the line; Ohio State’s Ryan Shazier, Mauti and Wisconsin’s Mike Taylor at linebacker; Hyde, Nebraska’s Daimion Stafford; Ohio State’s Travis Howard and Roby at defensive back; and Michigan’s Will Hagerup at punter.
Other individual award winners were Robinson (receiver), Pedersen (tight end), Lewan (offensive lineman), Simon (defensive lineman), Mauti (linebacker), Hyde (defensive back), Maher (kicker) and Hagerup (punter).
2012 All-Big Ten Conference Football Team as Selected by Conference Coaches
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE SECOND TEAM
Taylor Martinez, Nebraska Quarterback Braxton Miller, Ohio State
Le’Veon Bell, Michigan State Running Back Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska*
Montee Ball, Wisconsin Running Back Venric Mark, Northwestern*
Carlos Hyde, Ohio State*
Allen Robinson, Penn State Receiver Kenny Bell, Nebraska
Jared Abbrederis, Wisconsin Receiver Corey Brown, Ohio State
Matt Stankiewitch, Penn State Center James Ferentz, Iowa
Patrick Omameh, Michigan* Guard Ryan Groy, Wisconsin#
Spencer Long, Nebraska* Guard
John Urschel, Penn State*
Taylor Lewan, Michigan Tackle Hugh Thornton, Illinois
Rick Wagner, Wisconsin Tackle Jeremiah Sirles, Nebraska
Jacob Pedersen, Wisconsin Tight End Dion Sims, Michigan State
Jeff Budzien, Northwestern Kicker Brett Maher, Nebraska
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE SECOND TEAM
Johnathan Hankins, Ohio State Line Mike Buchanan, Illinois*
John Simon, Ohio State Line Adam Replogle, Indiana*
Jordan Hill, Penn State Line Craig Roh, Michigan*
Kawann Short, Purdue Line Eric Martin, Nebraska*
Baker Steinkuhler, Nebraska*
Max Bullough, Michigan State Linebacker Will Compton, Nebraska
Michael Mauti, Penn State Linebacker Ryan Shazier, Ohio State
Chris Borland, Wisconsin Linebacker Gerald Hodges, Penn State
Micah Hyde, Iowa Defensive Back Jordan Kovacs, Michigan
Johnny Adams, Michigan State Defensive Back Daimion Stafford, Nebraska
Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State Defensive Back Christian Bryant, Ohio State
Bradley Roby, Ohio State Defensive Back Ricardo Allen, Purdue
Mike Sadler, Michigan State Punter Brett Maher, Nebraska
HONORABLE MENTION: ILLINOIS: Akeem Spence; INDIANA: Ted Bolser; Dan Feeney; Cody Latimer; Jason Spriggs; IOWA: C.J. Fiedorowicz; Anthony Hitchens; Mike Meyer; Matt Tobin; MICHIGAN: J.T. Floyd; Jeremy Gallon; Brendan Gibbons; Will Hagerup; Roy Roundtree; Jake Ryan; MICHIGAN STATE: Denicos Allen; William Gholston; Isaiah Lewis; Chris McDonald; Marcus Rush; MINNESOTA: Michael Carter; NEBRASKA: Ben Cotton; Ciante Evans; Justin Jackson; P.J. Smith; NORTHWESTERN: Ibraheim Campbell; Brian Mulroe: Tyler Scott; Patrick Ward; OHIO STATE: C.J. Barnett; Travis Howard; Corey Linsley; Jack Mewhort; Andrew Norwell; PENN STATE: Adrian Amos; Deion Barnes; Kyle Carter; Mike Farrell; Matt McGloin; Stephon Morris; PURDUE: Antavian Edison; Josh Johnson; Cody Webster; WISCONSIN: Beau Allen; Marcus Cromartie; Travis Frederick; David Gilbert; Ethan Hemer; Drew Meyer; Devin Smith; Dezmen Southward; Mike Taylor.
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees:Nathan Scheelhaase, ILL; Nicholas Sliger, IND; James Vandenberg, IOWA; Jordan Kovacs, MICH; Keith Mumphery, MSU; Mike Rallis, MINN; Rex Burkhead, NEB; Demetrius Fields, NU; Zach Boren, OSU; Jordan Hill, PSU; Robert Maci, PUR; Shelton Johnson, WIS.
Unanimous selection in all caps * Additional honorees due to ties
#Second team reduced by one due to additional first-team honoree
2012 All-Big Ten Conference Football Team as Selected by Media
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE SECOND TEAM
Braxton Miller, Ohio State Quarterback Taylor Martinez, Nebraska
Le’Veon Bell, Michigan State Running Back Venric Mark, Northwestern
Montee Ball, Wisconsin Running Back Carlos Hyde, Ohio State
Allen Robinson, Penn State Receiver Cody Latimer, Indiana
Jared Abbrederis, Wisconsin Receiver Kenny Bell, Nebraska
Travis Frederick, Wisconsin Center Matt Stankiewitch, Penn State
Spencer Long, Nebraska Guard Brian Mulroe, Northwestern
Andrew Norwell, Ohio State Guard John Urschel, Penn State
Taylor Lewan, Michigan Tackle Jeremiah Sirles, Nebraska
Rick Wagner, Wisconsin Tackle Jack Mewhort, Ohio State
Kyle Carter, Penn State Tight End Dion Sims, Michigan State
Brett Maher, Nebraska Kicker Jeff Budzien, Northwestern
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE SECOND TEAM
Eric Martin, Nebraska Line Adam Replogle, Indiana
John Simon, Ohio State Line William Gholston, Michigan State
Jordan Hill, Penn State Line D.L. Wilhite, Minnesota
Kawann Short, Purdue Line Johnathan Hankins, Ohio State
Ryan Shazier, Ohio State Linebacker Jake Ryan, Michigan
Michael Mauti, Penn State Linebacker Max Bullough, Michigan State
Mike Taylor, Wisconsin Linebacker Gerald Hodges, Penn State
Micah Hyde, Iowa Defensive Back Johnny Adams, Michigan State
Daimion Stafford, Nebraska Defensive Back Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State
Travis Howard, Ohio State Defensive Back Josh Johnson, Purdue
Bradley Roby, Ohio State Defensive Back Devin Smith, Wisconsin
Will Hagerup, Michigan Punter Mike Sadler, Michigan State
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