Wolverines Big Winners in All-Conference Honors

Three Michigan Wolverines took home player of the year awards and a number of others were All-conference selections by both the Big Ten Coaches and Media.

Michigan senior Braylon Edwards was named the Big Ten's Offensive player of the year today, adding another prestigious honor to his already impressive tally. That award makes him the second straight Wolverine to receive the distinction, with former Michigan runningback Chris Perry taking it home last year. Edwards' three consecutive 1000-yard seasons (including a career high 1221 this year), is an achievement never matched by any other Big Ten pass-catcher. He led the conference in receiving yards, yards per game (111.0), and receptions per game (7.91) on his way to being named a repeat member of the Big Ten All Conference First team. The Biletnikoff and Maxwell Award finalist is the only unanimous selection to the First Team by both the coaches and the media.

Braylon's fellow offensive star, Michael Hart, was rewarded for his stellar campaign in his initial season as a Wolverine by being named the Big Ten's freshman of the year. The diminutive back from upstate New York burst onto the seen to lead the league in rushing after receiving limited carries in the first two games of the season. Hart, who ranks tenth nationally with 124.7 yards rushing per game, became the first freshman in UM history to top 1000 yards (1372) and the first player in UM history to rush for three consecutive 200 yard games. Like Edwards, he too was named to the conference's first team by both the coaches and the media.

Rounding out the Maize and Blue's trifecta of player of the year award recipients is fifth-year lineman, David Bass. The senior co-captain switched from guard to center early in the year, but that did nothing to diminish his customary level of performance. Because of that, he was honored as the Big Ten's offensive lineman of the year. He was also named to the league's first team by the coaches. The media, however, named him to the second team. This marks the third consecutive year in which he has been recognized as a first team all-league performer. That makes him only the second lineman in UM history to do so (Steve Hutchinson received the honor four consecutive years and was the last Wolverine trenchman to be named offensive lineman of the year).

Other Wolverines named to the all conference first team by the coaches AND media were Tim Massaquoi, Marlin Jackson, and Ernest Shazor. Matt Lentz, Adam Stenavich, and Gabe Watson were first team selections by the coaches, but not by the media. Second team honorees were Jason Avant, Jake Long, and Lamarr Woodley by the coaches and David Baas, Matt Lentz, Adam Stenavich, and Gabe Watson by the media.

For the mgoblue.com release, click here.
For the official Big Ten release click here.

The complete list of award recipients can be found below.

All-Big Ten Conference Football Team (Coaches)

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Braylon Edwards, Michigan
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR: David Baas, Michigan
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Erasmus James, Wisconsin
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR: Erasmus James, Wisconsin
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: MICHAEL HART, Michigan

FIRST TEAM	OFFENSE	SECOND TEAM
DREW TATE, Iowa	Quarterback	Kyle Orton, Purdue
MICHAEL HART, Michigan	Running Back	Noah Herron, Northwestern
LAURENCE MARONEY, Minnesota	Running Back	Anthony Davis, Wisconsin
Braylon Edwards, Michigan*	Receiver	JASON AVANT, Michigan
Taylor Stubblefield, Purdue	Receiver	SANTONIO HOLMES, Ohio State
GREG ESLINGER, Minnesota (tie) David Baas, Michigan (tie)	Center	None
Matt Lentz, Michigan	Guard	MARK SETTERSTROM, Minnesota
Dan Buenning, Wisconsin	Guard	Jonathan Clinkscale, Wisconsin
Adam Stenavich, Michigan	Tackle	JAKE LONG, Michigan (tie)
Rian Melander, Minnesota	Tackle	Sean Poole, Michigan State ZACH STRIEF, Northwestern (tie)
Tim Massaquoi, Michigan	Tight End	Jason Randall, Michigan State
Mike Nugent, Ohio State	Kicker	Dave Rayner, Michigan State
FIRST TEAM	DEFENSE	SECOND TEAM
Matt Roth, Iowa*	Line	Jonathan Babineaux, Iowa
GABE WATSON, Michigan	Line	Luis Castillo, Northwestern
Anttaj Hawthorne, Wisconsin	Line	Simon Fraser, Ohio State
Erasmus James, Wisconsin	Line	TAMBA HALI, Penn State
CHAD GREENWAY, Iowa	Linebacker	LAMARR WOODLEY, Michigan
ABDUL HODGE, Iowa	Linebacker	TIM MCGARIGLE, Northwestern
A.J. HAWK, Ohio State	Linebacker	PAUL POSLUSZNY, Penn State
Marlin Jackson, Michigan	Defensive Back	Kelvin Hayden, Illinois
Ernest Shazor, Michigan	Defensive Back	NATE SALLEY, Ohio State
Jim Leonhard, Wisconsin	Defensive Back	ALAN ZEMAITIS, Penn State
Scott Starks, Wisconsin	Defensive Back	BERNARD POLLARD, Purdue
STEVE WEATHERFORD, Illinois	Punter	BRANDON FIELDS, Michigan State

* Denotes unanimous First Team selection
Players in ALL CAPS have 2005 eligibility

HONORABLE MENTION: ILLINOIS: Bucky Babcock, Duke Preston, PIERRE THOMAS; INDIANA: Herana-Daze Jones, KYLE KILLION, Courtney Roby; IOWA: ANTWAN ALLEN, David Bradley, Sean Considine, Tony Jackson, JOVON JOHNSON, MIKE JONES, Peter McMahon, KYLE SCHLICHER, CLINTON SOLOMON; MICHIGAN: LEON HALL, CHAD HENNE, Lawrence Reid, GARRETT RIVAS; MICHIGAN STATE: Jason Harmon, Ronald Stanley, DREW STANTON, William Whitticker; MINNESOTA: MARION BARBER III, Ukee Dozier, Darrell Reid, MATT SPAETH; NORTHWESTERN: BRETT BASANEZ, MARK PHILMORE, Dominique Price, Matt Ulrich; OHIO STATE: Dustin Fox, TED GINN, JR, QUINN PITCOCK, ASHTON YOUBOTY; PENN STATE: Andrew Guman, JEREMY KAPINOS; PURDUE: CHARLES DAVIS, RAY EDWARDS, GEORGE HALL, ANTHONY SPENCER, BRANDON VILLARREAL; WISCONSIN: BRETT BELL, OWEN DANIELS, Jason Jefferson, DONOVAN RAIOLA, DONTEZ SANDERS, JOE THOMAS, Jonathan Welsh, BRANDON WILLIAMS.

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All-Big Ten Conference Football Team (Media)

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Braylon Edwards, Michigan
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Erasmus James, Wisconsin
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: MICHAEL HART, Michigan
DAVE McCLAIN COACH OF THE YEAR: Kirk Ferentz, Iowa

FIRST TEAM	OFFENSE	SECOND TEAM
Kyle Orton, Purdue	Quarterback	DREW TATE, Iowa
MICHAEL HART, Michigan	Running Back	Noah Herron, Northwestern
LAURENCE MARONEY, Minnesota	Running Back	Anthony Davis, Wisconsin
Braylon Edwards, Michigan*	Receiver	Courtney Roby, Indiana
Taylor Stubblefield, Purdue	Receiver	CLINTON SOLOMON, Iowa
GREG ESLINGER, Minnesota	Center	David Baas, Michigan
MARK SETTERSTROM, Minnesota	Guard	Matt Lentz, Michigan
Dan Buenning, Wisconsin	Guard	William Whitticker, Michigan State
Sean Poole, Michigan State	Tackle	Adam Stenavich, Michigan
Rian Melander, Minnesota	Tackle	ZACH STRIEF, Northwestern
Tim Massaquoi, Michigan	Tight End	CHARLES DAVIS, Purdue
Mike Nugent, Ohio State	Kicker	Dave Rayner, Michigan State
FIRST TEAM	DEFENSE	SECOND TEAM
Jonathan Babineaux, Iowa	Line	GABE WATSON, Michigan
Matt Roth, Iowa	Line	Darrell Reid, Minnesota
Anttaj Hawthorne, Wisconsin	Line	Luis Castillo, Northwestern
Erasmus James, Wisconsin*	Line	TAMBA HALI, Penn State
CHAD GREENWAY, Iowa	Linebacker	KYLE KILLION, Indiana
TIM MCGARIGLE, Northwestern	Linebacker	ABDUL HODGE, Iowa
A.J. HAWK, Ohio State	Linebacker	PAUL POSLUSZNY, Penn State
Marlin Jackson, Michigan	Defensive Back	Kelvin Hayden, Illinois
Ernest Shazor, Michigan	Defensive Back	Herana-Daze Jones, Indiana
Ukee Dozier, Minnesota	Defensive Back	ALAN ZEMAITIS, Penn State
Jim Leonhard, Wisconsin	Defensive Back	Scott Starks, Wisconsin
BRANDON FIELDS, Michigan State	Punter	STEVE WEATHERFORD, Illinois

* Denotes unanimous First Team selection
Players in ALL CAPS have 2005 eligibility

HONORABLE MENTION: IOWA: ANTWAN ALLEN, Sean Considine, ED HINKEL, Tony Jackson, JOVON JOHNSON, MIKE JONES, Tyler Luebke, Peter McMahon, KYLE SCHLICHER; MICHIGAN: LEON HALL, CHAD HENNE, JAKE LONG, Patrick Massey, Lawrence Reid, GARRETT RIVAS, LAMARR WOODLEY; MICHIGAN STATE: Jason Harmon, CHRIS MORRIS, Jason Randall, Ronald Stanley, DREW STANTON; MINNESOTA: MARION BARBER III, MATT SPAETH, ERNIE WHEELWRIGHT; NORTHWESTERN: BRETT BASANEZ, Matt Ulrich, Marvin Ward; OHIO STATE: Dustin Fox, Simon Fraser, TED GINN, JR, SANTONIO HOLMES, NICK MANGOLD, QUINN PITCOCK, NATE SALLEY, ASHTON YOUBOTY; PENN STATE: Andrew Guman; PURDUE: RAY EDWARDS, GEORGE HALL, BERNARD POLLARD, ANTHONY SPENCER, BRANDON VILLARREAL; WISCONSIN: Jonathan Clinkscale, OWEN DANIELS, Jason Jefferson, DONOVAN RAIOLA, DONTEZ SANDERS, JOE THOMAS, Jonathan Welsh, BRANDON WILLIAMS, MARK ZALEWSKI.