Three Badgers named first-team all-Big Ten by AP
The Associated Press released its all-Big Ten team on Tuesday, and the Wisconsin Badgers were well-represented.
The Badgers' first-team honorees included: senior receiver Alex Erickson, senior linebacker Joe Schobert, and senior safety Michael Caputo.
Erickson led 9-3 Wisconsin in receiving, hauling in 72 catches for 924 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 12.8 yards per reception.
Schobert registered 76 total tackles this season, including 18.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. He also was credited with 14 quarterback hurries, and five forced fumbles.
Caputo produced 58 total tackles in 2015, to go along with a pair of interceptions.
Wisconsin also had a second-team honoree in tackle Tyler Marz, a 6-7, 325-pound senior who helped anchor his squad's offensive line.
Ohio State dominated The Associated Press All-Big Ten team, with seven players on the first team and running back Ezekiel Elliott voted the offensive player of the year.
Penn State defensive end Carl Nassib was picked as the defensive player of the year, Michigan safety Jabrill Peppers the newcomer of the year and Iowa's Kirk Ferentz was the overwhelming choice as coach of the year.
Elliott and Michigan State receiver Aaron Burbridge were the only unanimous first-team picks in voting by a panel of writers and broadcasters who cover the conference.
Elliott ran for a Big Ten-leading 139.3 yards a game, and his 19 rushing touchdowns are most in the conference and second nationally. Nassib walked on to Penn State in 2011, but his school-record 15.5 sacks lead the nation this year. Peppers was voted newcomer of the year after playing eight different positions at times for Michigan.
Ferentz led the Hawkeyes to a 12-0 regular season. That was a five-win improvement over 2014.
FIRST TEAM
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.
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.
SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB -- C.J. Beathard, Iowa, 6-2, 209, Jr.
RB -- Justin Jackson, Northwestern, 5-11, 190, So.
RB -- Saquon Barkley, Penn State, 5-11, 222, Fr.
T -- Jason Spriggs, Indiana, 6-7, 305, Sr.
T --Tyler Marz, Wisconsin, 6-7, 325, Sr.
G -- Brian Allen, Michigan State, 6-2, 298, So.
G -- Dan Feeney, Indiana, 6-4, 310, Jr.
C -- Austin Blythe, Iowa, 6-3, 290, Sr.
WR -- Jordan Westerkamp, Nebraska, 6-0, 195, Jr.
WR -- Chris Godwin, Penn State, 6-1, 208, So.
TE -- Dan Vitale, Northwestern, 6-2, 235, Sr.
All-purpose -- Jabrill Peppers, Michigan, 6-1, 208, So.
PK -- Drew Brown, Nebraska, 5-11, 180, So.
Defense
E -- Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State, 6-5, 250, Sr.
E -- Yannick Ngakoue, Maryland, 6-2, 255, Jr.
T -- Malik McDowell, Michigan State, 6-6, 275, So.
T -- Maliek Collins, Nebraska, 6-2, 300, Jr.
LB -- Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State, 6-2, 240, So.
LB --Josey Jewell, Iowa, 6-2, 230, So.
LB -- Darron Lee, Ohio State, 6-2, 235, So.
CB -- Will Likely, Maryland, 5-7, 175, Jr.
CB --Nick VanHoose, Northwestern, 6-0, 190, Sr.
S -- Jabrill Peppers, Michigan, 6-1, 208, So.
S -- Clayton Fejedelem, Illinois, 6-1, 195, Sr.
P -- Cameron Johnston, Ohio State, 5-11, 195, Jr.
Offensive Player of the Year
Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
Defensive Player of the Year
Carl Nassib, Penn State
Newcomer of the Year
Jabrill Peppers, Michigan.
Coach of the Year
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
