Big Ten Conference football individual awards

Coaches and media of the Big Ten Conference award the following individual honors at the end of each football season. In addition, the Chicago Tribune awards the Chicago Tribune Silver Football to the most valuable football player of the conference.

General

Player of the Year

Sanctioned by Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI); replaced with separate offensive and defensive selections in 1990.

Graham–George Offensive Player of the Year

Selected by coaches and media. In 2011, the award was renamed the Graham–George Offensive Player of the Year Award in honor of Northwestern halfback Otto Graham and Ohio State running back Eddie George.

Nagurski–Woodson Defensive Player of the Year

Selected by coaches and media. In 2011, the award was renamed the Nagurski–Woodson Award in honor of Minnesota tackle Bronko Nagurski and Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson.

Thompson–Randle El Freshman of the Year

Selected by coaches and media. In 2011, the award was renamed the Thompson–Randle El Freshman of the Year Award in honor of Minnesota running back Darrell Thompson and Indiana quarterback Antwaan Randle El.

Dave McClain / Hayes–Schembechler Coach of the Year

From 1986 through 2010, this award was dedicated in honor of Dave McClain, who served as the Wisconsin Badgers head coach from 1978 to 1985. Recipients were selected by the media. The coaches selected a separate award from 1982 to 1991. When the coaches resumed selecting a coach of the year in 2011, it was named for the first two recipients of the Big Ten Coach of the year, Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes, as the Hayes–Schembechler coach of the year.

Ford–Kinnick Leadership Award

The award is named in honor of Michigan center Gerald Ford and Iowa halfback Nile Kinnick.

Dungy–Thompson Humanitarian Award

The award is named in honor of Minnesota quarterback Tony Dungy and Indiana running back Anthony Thompson.

All-conference teams

Offensive

Griese–Brees Quarterback of the Year

Award started in 2011, named in honor of Purdue's Bob Griese and Drew Brees.

Ameche–Dayne Running Back of the Year

Award started in 2011, named in honor of Wisconsin's Alan Ameche and Ron Dayne.

Richter–Howard Receiver of the Year

Award began in 2011 and is named in honor of Wisconsin's Pat Richter and Michigan's Desmond Howard.

Kwalick–Clark Tight End of the Year

Award began in 2011 and is named in honor of Penn State's Ted Kwalick and Iowa's Dallas Clark.

Rimington–Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year

Selected by Big Ten radio broadcasters until 1991; selected by coaches since. In 2011, the award was renamed the Rimington–Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year Award, in honor of Nebraska center Dave Rimington and Ohio State offensive tackle Orlando Pace.

Defensive

Smith–Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year

Selected by Big Ten radio broadcasters until 1991; selected by coaches since. In 2011, the award was renamed the Smith–Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year Award in honor of Michigan State defensive end Bubba Smith and Penn State defensive end Courtney Brown.

Butkus–Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year

Award started in 2011, named in honor of Illinois' Dick Butkus and Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald.

Tatum–Woodson Defensive Back of the Year

Award started in 2011, named in honor of Ohio State safety Jack Tatum and Purdue cornerback Rod Woodson.

Special teams

Bakken–Andersen Kicker of the Year

Named in honor of Wisconsin's Jim Bakken and Michigan State's Morten Andersen.

Eddleman–Fields Punter of the Year

Named in honor of Illinois' Dwight Eddleman and Michigan State's Brandon Fields.

Rodgers–Dwight Return Specialist of the Year

Named in honor of Nebraska's Johnny Rodgers and Iowa's Tim Dwight.

See also

• Chicago Tribune Silver Football

Notes and references