LINDY'S ALL CONFERENCE TEAMS

Lindy’s announces its 2013 All-Big Ten Teams

Lindyssports.com Staff

August 25, 2013 at 11:10 am.

Nov 24, 2012; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller (5) runs for a first down in the third quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium. Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Talent Abounds for Buckeyes, Now Free From NCAA Ban

Not long after beating Michigan in the 2012 season finale, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer was asked if his 12-0 Buckeyes deserved to be ranked as the top team in the country. “I’m not going to get into the ‘what ifs,’” he told reporters. “You can’t control what you can’t control.”

Oh, but now Meyer and his Buckeyes do have control.

No longer under the NCAA’s thumb for wrongs committed under the previous regime, this year’s Buckeyes can compete again for the very biggest prizes.

“Well, you know, it is Ohio State,” said Illinois coach Tim Beckman.

The Buckeyes are loaded. It’s an overused term in college football, but it may not do justice in describing the depth of talent on this roster.

Braxton Miller may be the finest dual-threat quarterback in the country; he certainly has the finest receiving corps in the conference, and the Buckeyes secondary … well, let’s just say opposing quarterbacks will lose plenty of sleep over this bunch. Top to bottom, the Buckeyes have it. Again, loaded (and then some).

But if the Big Ten has a team to stop Meyer’s bunch, perhaps it’s their good friends from Ann Arbor.

Devin Gardner is ready to put his stamp on this program, and he has the playmakers and protection to help him. The loss of linebacker Jake Ryan to offseason knee surgery was a devastating blow to the defense, but the Wolverines, too, are loaded with talent. And the Big Game this year will take place in the Big House.

Wisconsin has represented the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl for three straight years, yet — same as is true heading into every season — no one believes they’ll get it done another year. “They’re a little underappreciated,” said Indiana’s Kevin Wilson.

New Badgers coach Gary Andersen hopes to keep things mostly the same in Madison, and he inherits the conference’s (and arguably nation’s) best backfield to help him.

Michigan State’s defense could be as good as Ohio State’s, especially at linebacker and defensive back. And while the offense has much to prove, no one questions Mark Dantonio’s ability to contend; through six seasons, Dantonio has a better winning percentage than legendary Duffy Daugherty.

Nebraska and Penn State? Yep, they’ll be there, lunch buckets in hand. Both have been devastated by departures in the past year, but when has graduation or injury ever kept the Cornhuskers or Nittany Lions down?

And then there is Northwestern, which suffered very few key losses from their 10-win season of a year ago. Kain Colter and Venric Mark are back to lead the offense, with Tyler Scott and Ibraheim Campbell to lead the defense. Plus, Pat Fitzgerald’s bunch is always disciplined and prepared.

But can Northwestern really contend in a year in which Ohio State and Michigan are in top form? In this conference — arguably the most balanced in the country … sure, why not?

OFFENSE – FIRST TEAM OFFENSE – SECOND TEAM OFFENSE – THIRD TEAM
QB Braxton Miller Jr. Ohio State QB Taylor Martinez Sr. Nebraska QB Devin Gardner Jr. Michigan
RB Carlos Hyde Sr. Ohio State RB Venric Mark Sr. Northwestern RB Mark Weisman Jr. Iowa
RB Ameer Abdullah Jr. Nebraska RB Melvin Gordon So. Wisconsin RB Stephen Houston Sr. Indiana
WR Kenny Bell Jr. Nebraska WR Allen Robinson Jr. Penn State WR Jeremy Gallon Sr. Michigan
WR Jared Abbrederis Sr. Wisconsin WR Philly Brown Sr. Ohio State WR Devin Smith Jr. Ohio State
TE Jacob Pedersen Sr. Wisconsin TE Devin Funchess So. Michigan TE Kyle Carter So. Penn State
OL Taylor Lewan Sr. Michigan OL Jeremiah Sirles Sr. Nebraska OL Brandon Scherff Jr. Iowa
OL Spencer Long Sr. Nebraska OL Austin Blythe So. Iowa OL Corey Linsley Sr. Ohio State
OL John Urschel Sr. Penn State OL Brandon Vitabile Jr. Northwestern OL Fou Fonoti Sr. Michigan State
OL Andrew Norwell Sr. Ohio State OL Jack Mewhort Sr. Ohio State OL Dan Feeney So. Indiana
OL Ryan Groy Sr. Wisconsin OL Travis Jackson Jr. Michigan State OL Michael Schofield Sr. Michigan
AP Venric Mark Sr. Northwestern AP Jared Abbrederis Sr. Wisconsin AP Akeem Hunt Jr. Purdue
K Jeff Budzien Sr. Northwestern K Brendan Gibbons Sr. Michigan K Mike Meyer Sr. Iowa
DEFENSE – FIRST TEAM DEFENSE – SECOND TEAM DEFENSE – THIRD TEAM
DL Deion Barnes So. Penn State DL Adolphus Washington So. Ohio State DL Noah Spence So. Ohio State
DL Beau Allen Sr. Wisconsin DL Marcus Rush Jr. Michigan State DL Bruce Gaston Sr. Purdue
DL Tyler Scott Sr. Northwestern DL Ryan Russell Jr. Purdue DL Jason Ankrah Sr. Nebraska
DL Ra’Shede Hageman Sr. Minnesota DL DaQuan Jones Sr. Penn State DL Ethan Hemer Sr. Wisconsin
LB Ryan Shazier Jr. Ohio State LB James Morris Sr. Iowa LB Chi Chi Ariguzo Jr. Northwestern
LB Chris Borland Sr. Wisconsin LB Damien Proby Sr. Northwestern LB Anthony Hitchens Sr. Iowa
LB Max Bullough Sr. Michigan State LB Denicos Allen Sr. Michigan State LB Glenn Carson Sr. Penn State
DB Bradley Roby Jr. Ohio State DB Ricardo Allen Sr. Purdue DB Isaiah Lewis Sr. Michigan State
DB Darqueze Dennard Sr. Michigan State DB C.J. Barnett Sr. Ohio State DB Christian Bryant Sr. Ohio State
DB Ibraheim Campbell Jr. Northwestern DB Dezmen Southward Sr. Wisconsin DB Malcolm Willis Sr. Penn State
DB Ciante Evans Sr. Nebraska DB Blake Countess Jr. Michigan DB Thomas Gordon Sr. Michigan
P Mike Sadler Jr. Michigan State P Will Hagerup Sr. Michigan P Drew Meyer So. Wisconsin

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