2021 Big Ten Individual Award Winners
Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award: Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
Named for Minnesota’s Tony Dungy and Indiana’s Anthony Thompson
Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award: Pat Richter, Wisconsin
Named for Michigan’s Gerald Ford and Iowa’s Nile Kinnick
Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year: Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
Named for Minnesota’s Bronko Nagurski and Michigan’s Charles Woodson
Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year (coaches vote): Mel Tucker, Michigan State
Named for Ohio State’s Woody Hayes and Michigan’s Bo Schembechler
Dave McClain Coach of the Year (media vote): Mel Tucker, Michigan State
Named for Wisconsin’s Dave McClain
Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year: Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
Named for Michigan State’s Bubba Smith and Penn State’s Courtney Brown
Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year: Leo Chenal, Wisconsin
Named for Illinois’ Dick Butkus and Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald
Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year: Riley Moss, Iowa
Named for Ohio State’s Jack Tatum and Purdue’s Rod Woodson
Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year: Jake Moody, Michigan
Named for Wisconsin’s Jim Bakken and Michigan State’s Morten Andersen
Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year: Jordan Stout, Penn State
Named for Illinois’ Dike Eddleman and Michigan State’s Brandon Fields
Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year: Charlie Jones, Iowa
Named for Nebraska’s Johnny Rodgers and Iowa’s Tim Dwight
2021 All-Big Ten Football Team
As selected by Big Ten coaches
DEFENSE FIRST TEAM SECOND TEAM THIRD TEAM
Line Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan Zach VanValkenburg, Iowa Sam Okuayinonu, Maryland
Line Haskell Garrett, Ohio State Jacub Panasiuk, Michigan State Boye Mafe, Minnesota
Line Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State Tyreke Smith, Ohio State Zach Harrison, Ohio State
Line George Karlaftis, Purdue PJ Mustipher, Penn State Matt Henningsen, Wisconsin
Line* Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin
Linebacker David Ojabo, Michigan Micah McFadden, Indiana Jack Campbell, Iowa
Linebacker Leo Chenal, Wisconsin JoJo Domann, Nebraska Chris Bergin, Northwestern
Linebacker Jack Sanborn, Wisconsin Ellis Brooks, Penn State Brandon Smith, Penn State
Defensive Back Dane Belton, Iowa Kerby Joseph, Illinois Denzel Burke, Ohio State
Defensive Back Riley Moss, Iowa Matt Hankins, Iowa Ji’Ayir Brown, Penn State
Defensive Back Dax Hill, Michigan Cam Taylor-Britt, Nebraska Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
Defensive Back Jaquan Brisker, Penn State Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State Caesar Williams, Wisconsin
DEFENSE HONORABLE MENTION
ILLINOIS: Sydney Brown, Owen Carney; IOWA: Jack Koerner, Noah Shannon; MARYLAND: Jakorian Bennett, Ami
Finau; MICHIGAN: Chris Hinton, Josh Ross, Mazi Smith, D.J. Turner; MICHIGAN STATE: Quavaris Crouch, Xavier
Henderson, Jacob Slade; MINNESOTA: Esezi Otomewo, Mariano Sori-Marin; NEBRASKA: Damion Daniels, Marquel
Dismuke, Luke Reimer, Ben Stille, Deontai Williams; NORTHWESTERN: Adetomiwa Adebawore, A.J. Hampton,
Brandon Joseph, Cameron Mitchell; OHIO STATE: Sevyn Banks, Cam Brown, Antwuan Jackson; PENN STATE: Tariq
Castro-Fields, Jesse Luketa; PURDUE: Jaylan Alexander, Cam Allen, Branson Deen, Jalen Graham, Dedrick Mackey;
RUTGERS: Olakunle Fatukasi, Julius Turner; WISCONSIN: Noah Burks, Nick Herbig, Faion Hicks, Isiah Mullens, Scott
Nelson, Collin Wilder.
SPECIAL TEAMS FIRST TEAM SECOND TEAM THIRD TEAM
Kicker Jake Moody, Michigan Caleb Shudak, Iowa James McCourt, Illinois
Kicker* Noah Ruggles, Ohio State
Punter Jordan Stout, Penn State Bryce Baringer, Michigan State Blake Hayes, Illinois
Punter* Adam Korsak, Rutgers
Return Specialist* Charlie Jones, Iowa Jayden Reed, Michigan State AJ Henning, Michigan
Return Specialist* Jahan Dotson, Penn State
* – additional honorees due to ties
SPECIAL TEAMS HONORABLE MENTION
IOWA: Tory Taylor; MICHIGAN: Brad Robbins; OHIO STATE: Emeka Egbuka; PURDUE: Mitchell Fineran.
BIG TEN SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Tony Adams, ILL; Thomas Allen, IND; Zach VanValkenburg, IOWA; Anthony Pecorella, MD; Andrew Vastardis, MICH;
Connor Heyward, MSU; Tanner Morgan, MINN; Levi Falck, NEB; Joe Spivak, NU; Marcus Williamson, OSU; Sean
Clifford, PSU; Payne Durham, PUR; Noah Vedral, RU; Matt Henningsen, WIS.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
