Athlon's 2011 Pre-Season All-Big Ten Team

[knapplc]

It'll come as no shock that our three-headed monster on defense has placed in Athlon's first team All-Big Ten Defense. Frankly, any publication that doesn't have Crick, David and Dennard in their first team isn't worth the electrons they pushed around to create it.

Only one first-teamer on offense. This is a problem that Beck needs to fix.

Here are the first teams:

First-team Offense

QB Denard Robinson, Michigan

RB Edwin Baker, Michigan State

RB Montee Ball, Wisconsin

WR Jeremy Ebert, Northwestern

WR Derek Moye, Penn State

TE Kyler Reed, Nebraska

C Mike Brewster, Ohio State

OL Jeff Allen, Illinois

OL Joel Foreman, Michigan State

OL Riley Reiff, Iowa

OL Ricky Wagner, Wisconsin

First-team Defense

DL Vince Browne, Northwestern

DL Jared Crick, Nebraska

DL John Simon, Ohio State

DL Jerel Worthy, Michigan State

LB Lavonte David, Nebraska

LB Michael Mauti, Penn State

LB Mike Taylor, Wisconsin

CB Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska

CB Shaun Prater, Iowa

S Brian Peters, Northwestern

S Trenton Robinson, Michigan State

No special teamers on the first or second string. Rex made second-string on offense, and overall we had seven first- and second-teamers.

Only Sparty had more first teamers on offense and defense than Nebraska, with five. That comes courtesy of kick-return specialist Keshawn Martin, a blazer who finished 11th in the nation in punt returns last year and 84th overall in all-purpose rushing yards. Sparty had two first-teamers on offense and two on defense. It'll be interesting to see how we match up with that.

LINK

 

[RedDenver]

I think tOSU only having 1 first-teamer on offense and 1 on defense is especially noteworthy. This could end up being a really down year for them.

 

[Hercules]

Martinez or Burkhead might have a shot at getting on the offensive team. I'm more worried about the lack of potential on the offensive line.

 

[kchusker_chris]

Wasn't Prater a Husker commit for a while?

 

[The Maudfather]

I'd take Persa over Robinson any day.

 

[hskerholic]

Wasn't Prater a Husker commit for a while?

He and his twin brother were recruited during the 2007 Callahan debacle he might have been a commit for a while but left when the season went down hill.

 

[PaulCrewe]

I'd take Persa over Robinson any day.

Amen Brotha

 

[corncraze]

I'd take Persa over Robinson any day.

I wouldn't... Robinson can do it all and it's that simple.

 

[NUance]

Wisconsin has an OL guy on the first team, another on the second team, and another on the third team. Plus first team RB Montee Ball. I'm just sayin...

 

[mnhusker]

Martinez or Burkhead might have a shot at getting on the offensive team. I'm more worried about the lack of potential on the offensive line.

Overall I don't like that fact that we are not in the top third (is that a thirdtile?) when it comes to depth overall. I think lack of development on the offensive side of the ball (in the past) is to blame for this. I hope this changes in the future. I think that your point on oline depth fits in with my overall thoughts. Lets hope the extra asst for the line and the new o-coord can fix this problem.

 

[bshirt]

Martinez or Burkhead might have a shot at getting on the offensive team. I'm more worried about the lack of potential on the offensive line.

Lack of potential? Seriously? Sure, they're young.....but no potential?

I think barring injury Tmart/Rex easily get in this year as they're both money. With our defense shutting down the Big10 offenses we'll have lots & lots of chances to learn Beck's system this year and should progress in a somewhat linear fashion. Having Carnes and three greased lightning freshmen rbs backing them up helps boatloads too.

Heh, sorry Hercules.....the kool-aid is overwhelming me. :koolaid2: :koolaid2: :koolaid2:

 

[SnowBigRed]

Michigan State with 5 first teamers? Is this legit? I know nothing about MSU I guess.

 

[epocSoN]

I agree with all the picks and omits from Nebraska. They did a good job here.

 

[knapplc]

Michigan State with 5 first teamers? Is this legit? I know nothing about MSU I guess.

They went 11-2 last year and shared the Big Ten title, and they return seven starters on offense and six on defense. So it's probably mostly legit.

 

[Hercules]

Martinez or Burkhead might have a shot at getting on the offensive team. I'm more worried about the lack of potential on the offensive line.

Lack of potential? Seriously? Sure, they're young.....but no potential?

I think barring injury Tmart/Rex easily get in this year as they're both money. With our defense shutting down the Big10 offenses we'll have lots & lots of chances to learn Beck's system this year and should progress in a somewhat linear fashion. Having Carnes and three greased lightning freshmen rbs backing them up helps boatloads too.

Heh, sorry Hercules.....the kool-aid is overwhelming me. :koolaid2: :koolaid2: :koolaid2:

I think there's a lack of potential for the offensive line to very good this year. We have some potential down the road, but I think our potential for this year looks no different than the past few seasons.