Gophers Kill Named Big Ten Coach Of The Year

Rosemont, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced the five remaining postseason individual award winners on Tuesday night, including honorees from the Gophers, Buckeyes and Badgers. Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon was named the Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year. Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa and quarterback J.T. Barrett were tabbed as the Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player and Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year, respectively. Minnesota’s Jerry Kill was named the Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year by his peers and Dave McClain Coach of the Year by the media.

Gordon is the fifth Badger running back to collect Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year laurels, along with Montee Ball (2011), John Clay (2009), Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne (1999) and Brent Moss (1993). The Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year, Gordon has amassed a Big Ten and school record 2,260 rushing yards, breaking the mark of 2,109 yards set by Dayne in 1996. Gordon leads the nation with 200.9 all-purpose yards per game, 188.3 rushing yards per game and 26 rushing touchdowns.

Bosa is the ninth Buckeye to receive the conference’s top defensive award, and the second in the past three seasons after John Simon claimed the honor in 2012. Bosa, who was named the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year, leads the Big Ten with 13.5 sacks and 20.0 tackles for loss and is tied for the conference lead with four forced fumbles.

Barrett is the eighth Buckeye to be named Freshman of the Year, and first since fellow signal caller Braxton Miller claimed the award in 2011. The Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year, Barrett set the Big Ten record for most touchdowns responsible for in a season, accounting for 45 touchdowns, including 34 passing scores and 11 rushing touchdowns.

Kill claims his first Big Ten Coach of the Year laurel, and just the second for a Minnesota mentor since 1972, as Glen Mason was honored in 1999. Kill has guided Minnesota to back-to-back seasons of eight or more wins for the first time since 2002 and 2003. Five Minnesota players earned first-team All-Big Ten status this season, including Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year Peter Mortell and Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year Maxx Williams.

For more information on the Big Ten’s enhanced football awards program, and to read more about the trophy namesakes, visit bigten.org.

 Big Ten Football Award Honorees and Trophy Namesakes

Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award: Brian Griese, Michigan

Named for Minnesota’s Tony Dungy and Indiana’s Anthony Thompson

Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award: Mike Hopkins, Illinois

Named for Michigan’s Gerald Ford and Iowa’s Nile Kinnick

Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year: Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin

Named for Northwestern’s Otto Graham and Ohio State’s Eddie George

Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year: Joey Bosa, Ohio State

Named for Minnesota’s Bronko Nagurski and Michigan’s Charles Woodson

Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year: J.T. Barrett, Ohio State

Named for Minnesota’s Darrell Thompson and Indiana’s Antwaan Randle El

Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year (coaches vote): Jerry Kill, Minnesota

Named for Ohio State’s Woody Hayes and Michigan’s Bo Schembechler

Dave McClain Coach of the Year (media vote): Jerry Kill, Minnesota

Named for Wisconsin’s Dave McClain

Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year: J.T. Barrett, Ohio State

Named for Purdue’s Bob Griese and Drew Brees

Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year: Tony Lippett, Michigan State

Named for Wisconsin’s Pat Richter and Michigan’s Desmond Howard

Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year: Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin

Named for Wisconsin’s Alan Ameche and Ron Dayne

Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year: Maxx Williams, Minnesota

Named for Penn State’s Ted Kwalick and Iowa’s Dallas Clark

Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year: Brandon Scherff, Iowa

Named for Nebraska’s Dave Rimington and Ohio State’s Orlando Pace

Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year: Joey Bosa, Ohio State

Named for Michigan State’s Bubba Smith and Penn State’s Courtney Brown

Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year: Mike Hull, Penn State

Named for Illinois’ Dick Butkus and Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald

Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year: Kurtis Drummond, Michigan State

Named for Ohio State’s Jack Tatum and Purdue’s Rod Woodson

Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year: Brad Craddock, Maryland

Named for Wisconsin’s Jim Bakken and Michigan State’s Morten Andersen

Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year: Peter Mortell, Minnesota

Named for Illinois’ Dike Eddleman and Michigan State’s Brandon Fields