Trenton Robinson Voted First Team Big Ten
CHICAGO (AP) — Wisconsin's Montee Ball made it unanimous Monday.
The Big Ten named the record-breaking running back the top player at his position and was the only player voted to the all-league first team by both the coaches and the media.
Nobody has scored more touchdowns in one season in league history than Ball, who has 34 heading into Saturday's first Big Ten championship game. The previous record of 27 was shared by Ohio State's Pete Johnson, Indiana's Anthony Thompson and Penn State's Ki-Jana Carter.
"He runs so hard. Every carry he gets you can tell what kind of work he does in the weight room, and you know every time he comes through the hole there's going to be a collision," Michigan State defensive back Trenton Robinson said on a conference call before the awards were announced. "He hits the hole hard every time and if you don't get him, he's going to keep on going."
Robinson was a first-team defense selection by the media.
The running back award is named after two Heisman Trophy-winning backs from Wisconsin, Alan Ameche and Ron Dayne.
But Ball wasn't the only big winner from Madison.
Wisconsin's Russell Wilson was chosen the Griese-Brees award winner as the Big Ten's top quarterback.
Not surprisingly, the No. 15 Badgers won the Leaders Division title and will face No. 11 Michigan State in Saturday's first Big Ten title game. Spartans quarterback Kirk Cousins was a second-team choice by the coaches, and Michigan's Denard Robinson was chosen for the second team by media. Michigan State offensive lineman Joel Foreman was a first-team choice by both the coaches and the media.
Wilson credited Wisconsin's offensive prowess to the play-calling.
"Coach (Paul) Chryst has a great mind, very, very intelligent," Wilson said, referring to Wisconsin's offensive coordinator. "But he has a way he does thing. He has a calmness to him but a competitive edge that you really cannot match. He understands the whys of college football and he's helped me continue to grow."
Conference newcomer Nebraska was a big winner in the awards announced Monday. Linebacker Lavonte David, defensive back Alfonzo Dennard and punter and kicker Brett Maher were voted the league's best at each of their respective positions.
Two more awards are scheduled to be announced Tuesday. Five more awards will be announced Wednesday.
The other individual award winners were Iowa's Marvin McNutt at receiver, Northwestern's Drake Dunsmore at tight end, Michigan center David Molk on the offensive line and Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still on the defensive line.
Molk was the coaches' first-team center for the second straight season. Iowa's Shaun Prater and Wisconsin's Antonio Fenelus both were repeat selections on the all-league first-team. Prater made it for the second straight year on coaches' ballots; Fenelus was chosen for the second straight year by the media.
The coaches voted six Badgers to the all-league first team and three to the second team. Wisconsin had eight players named to the media's all-conference first team and two more to the second team.
Michigan State had three players voted to the first team by both the coaches and the media. The media picked five Spartans to the second team, while the coaches chose six.
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