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It is postseason awards time and the Big Ten started announcing its all-conference teams and individual awards this morning. Today we get the Defense and Special Teams, while tomorrow the Offensive All-Conference Teams will be announced. Finally, on Thursday the individual awards will go out.
Here are the defensive and special teams from both the coaches and media.
Big Ten All-Conference Teams: Defense and Special Teams
| Coaches Selections - Defense - Position | First Team | Second Team | Third Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coaches Selections - Defense - Position | First Team | Second Team | Third Team |
| Line | Rashan Gary - Michigan | Chase Winovich - Michigan | Kenny Willekes - Michigan State |
| Line | Maurice Hurst - Michigan | Sam Hubbard - Ohio State | Joe Gaziano - Northwestern |
| Line | Nick Bosa - Ohio State | Alec James - Wisconsin | Dre-Mont Jones - Ohio State |
| Line | Tyquan Lewis - Ohio State | Conor Sheehy - Wisconsin | Gelen Robinson - Purdue |
| Linebacker | Josey Jewell - Iowa | Tegray Scales - Indiana | Khaleke Hudson - Michigan |
| Linebacker | Devin Bush - Michigan | Jason Cabinda - Penn State | Joe Bachie - Michigan State |
| Linebacker | T.J. Edwards - Wisconsin | Garret Dooley - Wisconsin | Paddy Fisher - Northwestern |
| Defensive Back | Josh Jackson - Iowa | Lavert Hill - Michigan | Rashard Fant - Indiana |
| Defensive Back | Marcus Allen - Penn State | Godwin Igwebuike - Northwestern | Kyle Queiro - Northwestern |
| Defensive Back | D'Cota Dixon - Wisconsin | Denzel Ward - Ohio State | Jordan Fuller - Ohio State |
| Defensive Back | Nick Nelson - Wisconsin | Amani Oruwariye - Penn State | Derrick Tindal - Wisconsin |
| Coaches Selections - Special Teams | |||
| Position | First Team | Second Team | Third Team |
| Kicker | Girffin Oakes - Indiana | Rafael Gaglianone - Wisconsin | Sean Nuernberger - Ohio State |
| Punter | Ryan Anderson - Rutgers | Blake Gillikin - Penn State | Drue Chrisman - Ohio State |
| Return Specialist | Saquon Barkley - Penn State | DeAndre Thompkins - Penn State | Parris Campbell - Ohio State |
| Media Selections - Defense | |||
| Position | First Team | Second Team | Third Team |
| Line | Maurice Hurst - Michigan | Rashan Gary - Michigan | Anthony Nelson - Iowa |
| Line | Chase Winovich - Michigan | Joe Gaziano - Northwestern | Kenny Willekes - Michigan State |
| Line | Nick Bosa - Ohio State | Sam Hubbard - Ohio State | Shareef Miller - Penn State |
| Line | Tyquan Lewis - Ohio State | Alec James - Wisconsin | Conor Sheehy - Wisconsin |
| Linebacker | Tegray Scales - Indiana | Devin Bush - Michigan | Joe Bachie - Michigan State |
| Linebacker | Josey Jewell - Iowa | Khaleke Hudson - Michigan | Thomas Barber - Minnesota |
| Linebacker | T.J. Edwards - Wisconsin | Paddy Fisher - Northwestern | Garret Dooley - Wisconsin |
| Defensive Back | Josh Jackson - Iowa | Rashard Fant - Indiana | Josiah Scott - Michigan State |
| Defensive Back | David Dowell - Michigan State | Godwin Igwebuike - Northwestern | Kyle Queiro - Northwestern |
| Defensive Back | Denzel Ward - Ohio State | Marcus Allen - Penn State | Damon Webb - Ohio State |
| Defensive Back | Nick Nelson - Wisconsin | Amani Oruwariye - Penn State | D'Cota Dixon - Wisconsin |
| Media Selections - Special Teams | |||
| Position | First Team | Second Team | Third Team |
| Kicker | Girffin Oakes - Indiana | Rafael Gaglianone - Wisconsin | Sean Nuernberger - Ohio State |
| Punter | Ryan Anderson - Rutgers | Blake Gillikin - Penn State | Drue Chrisman - Ohio State |
| Return Specialist | Saquon Barkley - Penn State | Parris Campbell - Ohio State | DeAndre Thompkins - Penn State |
I have to say this is a travishmockery of justice. Purdue had the most improved defense in the entire country. Our rating by scoring margin improved from 117th (out of 128 schools) to 18th nationally. That 99 spot improvement is insane, yet it only warrants a Third Team mention for Gelen Robinson by the coaches. Markus Bailey and Ja’Whaun Bentley were robbed here, but at least they were honorable mention along with Danny Ezechukwu, Lorenzo Neal, and Jacob Theineman for the coaches. By the media Robinson, Bailey, Bentley, Ezechukwu, and Neal were joined by Josh Okonye and Da’Wan Hunte on the honorable mention list.
On special teams Purdue only got an honorable mention nod for Joe Schopper at punter by the media, probably because he has a better all-time completion percentage than Drew Brees though, going 2 for 2 for 44 yards.
So it is great to see guys on the honorable mention list, but players like Bailey and Bentley were robbed. Bailey should have been, at minimum, a second team pick. T.J. McCollum deserved at least an honorable mention as well.