All-Big Ten Team 2015: Ohio State tops Michigan State for most first-team picks
The AP released their All-Big Ten first and second team selections on Monday and the Ohio State Buckeyes led the way with seven first-team picks.
Michigan State is the Big Ten champion after beating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the conference championship game, but they don’t lead the conference in first-team selections, according to the Associated Press.
The Spartans did lead the way with four on AP All-Big Ten team, including quarterback Connor Cook. He was joined by offensive lineman Jack Conklin, Jack Allen and receiver Allen Burbridge.
Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott was the preseason favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, but he’ll have to settle for being a first-team selection, joined by UAB transfer Jordan Howard who excelled in his first year at Indiana.
What’s surprising is the Wisconsin Badgers didn’t get a first-team offensive lineman, but considering their injury-marred year, maybe it’s not so surprising.
Michigan tight end Jake Butt was a second-team All-American but a first-team selection here after being the top target for the Wolverines.
Offense
QB — Connor Cook, Michigan State, 6-4, 220, Sr.
RB — Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State, 6-0, 225, Jr.
RB —Jordan Howard, Indiana, 6-1, 230, Jr.
T — Jack Conklin, Michigan State, 6-6, 325, Jr.
T— Taylor Decker, Ohio State, 6-8, 315, Sr.
G — Pat Elflein, Ohio State, 6-3, 300, Jr.
G — Jordan Walsh, Iowa, 6-4, 290, Sr.
C — Jack Allen, Michigan State, 6-2, 296, Sr.
WR — Aaron Burbridge, Michigan State, 6-1, 208, Sr.
WR —Alex Erickson, Wisconsin, 6-0, 197, Sr.
TE — Jake Butt, Michigan, 6-6, 250, Jr.
All-purpose — Will Likely, Maryland, 5-7, 175, Jr.
PK — Griffin Oakes, Indiana, 5-10, 200, So.
Ohio State has four on the first-team defense to lead all teams and have a player on all three levels of the defense. Joey Bosa and Adolphus Washington represent half of the defensive line while Penn State’s duo Carl Nassib and Auston Johnson round out the front four.
Joe Schobert and Anthony Walker are underrated nationally in comparison to Joshua Perry but they all have something in common. They’re the first-team linebackers.
The secondary sees Thorpe winner Desmond King represent Iowa on the first-team along with Jourdan Lewis, Vonn Bell and Michael Caputo to round out the secondary.
Defense
E — Joey Bosa, Ohio State, 6-6, 275, Jr.
E — Carl Nassib, Penn State, 6-7, 272, Sr.
T — Adolphus Washington, Ohio State, 6-4, 290, Sr.
T — Austin Johnson, Penn State, 6-4, 323, Jr.
LB — Joe Schobert, Wisconsin, 6-2, 236, Sr.
LB — Anthony Walker, Northwestern, 6-1, 235, So.
LB — Joshua Perry, Ohio State, 6-4, 254, Sr.
CB — Desmond King, Iowa, 5-11, 200, Jr.
CB — Jourdan Lewis, Michigan, 5-10, 175, Jr.
S — Vonn Bell, Ohio State, 5-11, 205, Jr.
S — Michael Caputo, Wisconsin, 6-1, 206, Sr.
P — Sam Foltz, Nebraska, 6-1, 200, Jr.