Wisconsin's Clay chosen Big Ten top offensive player

11/24/2009

PARK RIDGE, Ill. — Wisconsin running back John Clay, who leads the Big Ten in rushing, was chosen Monday as the conference's offensive player of the year.

Clay, who has 1,224 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns with one game left in the regular season, was chosen in both the media and coaches' poll.

Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones (media vote) and Penn State defensive tackle Jared Odrick (coaches) shared the Big Ten defensive player of the year honors.

Coach of the Year went to Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, whose team finished 10-2 after a 9-0 start.

Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland was named freshman of the year.

Odrick was also chosen defensive lineman of the year and offensive lineman of the year went to Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga.

Jones, the Big Ten Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, leads the conference with nearly 12 tackles per game and also has nine sacks.

Odrick leads the Nittany Lions with six sacks and made 10 tackles for loss during the Nittany Lions' 10-win season. He is part of a Penn State defensive unit that ranks that ranks among the top 10 nationally in three statistical categories: scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense.

Ferentz was named coach of the year for a third time. He was also honored in 2002 and 2004.

Seven players repeated as first-round selections from 2008 — Jones, Odrick, Minnesota wide receiver Eric Decker, Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark, Nittany Lions' linebacker Navorro Bowman, Wisconsin tight end Garrett Graham and Michigan punter Zoltan Mesko.

Coaches balloting

First team

Offense

QB — Daryll Clark, Penn State

RB — Evan Royster, Penn State; John Clay, Wisconsin

WR — Blair White, Michigan State; Eric Decker, Minnesota.

C —Stefen Wisniewski, Penn State

G — Dace Richardson, Iowa; John Moffitt, Wisconsin

T — Bryan Bulaga, Iowa; Dennis Landolt, Penn State

TE — Tony Moeaki, Iowa

PK — Brett Swenson, Michigan State

Defense

L — Adrian Clayborn, Iowa; Brandon Graham, Michigan Line; Jared Odrick, Penn State; O'Brien Schofield, Wisconsin.

LB — Pat Angerer, Iowa; Greg Jones, Michigan State; Navorro Bowman, Penn State

DB — Tyler Sash, Iowa; Amari Spievey, Iowa; Brad Phillips, Northwestern; Kurt Coleman, Ohio State

P — Zoltan Mesko, Michigan Punter Jeremy Boone, Penn State OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: John Clay, Wisconsin OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR: Bryan Bulaga, Iowa DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jared Odrick, Penn State DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR: Jared Odrick, Penn State FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Chris Borland, Wisconsin

Media balloting

First team

Offense

QB — Daryll Clark, Penn State

RB — Evan Royster, Penn State; John Clay, Wisconsin

WR — Tandon Doss, Indiana; Keith Smith, Purdue

C — Stefen Wisniewski, Penn State

G — Justin Boren, Ohio State; John Moffitt, Wisconsin

T — Bryan Bulaga, Iowa; Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin

TE — Garrett Graham, Wisconsin

PK — Brett Swenson, Michigan State

Defense

L —Adrian Clayborn, Iowa; Brandon Graham, Michigan; Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue; O'Brien Schofield, Wisconsin

LB — Pat Angerer, Iowa; Greg Jones, Michigan State; Navorro Bowman, Penn State

DB — Tyler Sash, Iowa; Donovan Warren, Michigan; Sherrick McManis, Northwestern; Kurt Coleman, Ohio State

P -Zoltan Mesko, Michigan. OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: John Clay, Wisconsin DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Greg Jones, Michigan State FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Chris Borland, Wisconsin DAVE McCLAIN COACH OF THE YEAR: Kirk Ferentz, Iowa

Second team

Offense

Coaches' balloting

QB — Mike Kafka, Northwestern

RB — Brandon Saine, Ohio State; Ralph Bolden, Purdue

WR — Tandon Doss, Indiana; Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Iowa; Keith Smith, Purdue

C — Rafael Eubanks, Iowa; Joel Nitchman, Michigan State

G — Jon Asamoah, Illinois; Justin Boren, Ohio State

T — Rodger Saffold, Indiana; Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin

TE — Garrett Graham, Wisconsin

PK — Stefan Demos, Northwestern

Defense

L — Jammie Kirlew, Indiana; Thaddeus Gibson, Ohio State; Cameron Heyward, Ohio State; Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue

LB — A.J. Edds, Iowa; Ross Homan, Ohio State; Sean Lee, Penn State

DB — Donovan Warren, Michigan; Sherrick McManis, Northwestern; Brandon King, Purdue; Back David Pender, Purdue; Jay Valai, Wisconsin

P — Jeremy Boone, Penn State HONORABLE MENTION: ILLINOIS: Arrelious Benn, Mikel Leshoure, Juice Williams; INDIANA: Ben Chappell,Ray Fisher, Matt Mayberry; IOWA: Christian Ballard, Kyle Calloway, Ryan Donahue, Brett Greenwood, Karl Klug, Adam Robinson; MICHIGAN: Stephen Schilling; MICHIGAN STATE: Trevor Anderson, Joel Foreman, Chris L. Rucker, Jeremy Ware; MINNESOTA: Lee Campbell, Simoni Lawrence, Traye Simmons; NORTHWESTERN: Al Netter, Corey Wootton; OHIO STATE: Bryant Browning, Chimdi Chekwa; PENN STATE: Josh Hull, Andrew Quarless; PURDUE: Ken Plue, Carson Wiggs, Torri Williams; WISCONSIN: Chris Borland, Chris Maragos, Brad Nortman, Scott Tolzien, Nick Toon.

Media balloting

Second team

Offense

QB — Mike Kafka, Northwestern

RB — Brandon Saine, Ohio State; Ralph Bolden, Purdue

WR — Blair White, Michigan State; Zeke Markshausen, Northwestern

C — Rafael Eubanks, Iowa

G — Jon Asamoah, Illinois; Dace Richardson, Iowa

T — Kyle Calloway, Iowa; Dennis Landolt, Penn State

TE — Tony Moeaki, Iowa

PK — Stefan Demos, Northwestern

Defense

L — Jammie Kirlew, Indiana; Thaddeus Gibson, Ohio State; Cameron Heyward, Ohio State; Jared Odrick, Penn State

LB — Ross Homan, Ohio State; Josh Hull, Penn State; Sean Lee, Penn State

DB — Brett Greenwood, Iowa; Amari Spievey, Iowa; Brad Phillips, Northwestern; David Pender, Purdue

P — Jeremy Boone, Penn State

HONORABLE MENTION: ILLINOIS: Mikel Leshoure, Clay Nurse; INDIANA: Ray Fisher, Matt Mayberry, Greg Middleton, Rodger Saffold; IOWA: Ryan Donahue, Broderick Binns, A.J. Edds, Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Karl Klug, Daniel Murray, Adam Robinson, Ricky Stanzi; MICHIGAN: Stephen Schilling; MICHIGAN STATE: Trevor Anderson, Kirk Cousins, Joel Foreman, Charlie Gantt, Joel Nitchman, Chris L. Rucker; MINNESOTA: Lee Campbell, Eric Decker, Eric Ellestad, Nick Tow-Arnett, Traye Simmons; NORTHWESTERN: Al Netter, Corey Wootton; OHIO STATE: Bryant Browning, Terrelle Pryor, Doug Worthington; PENN STATE: Drew Astorino, Jack Crawford, D'Anton Lynn, Derek Moye, Ollie Ogbu, Andrew Quarless; PURDUE: Joey Elliott, Zach Jones, Brandon King, Mike Neal, Carson Wiggs, Torri Williams, Jared Zwilling; WISCONSIN: Chris Borland, Chris Maragos, Nick Toon, Jay Valai, J.J. Watt.