Braxton Miller’s historic season ended with multiple Big Ten accolades. On Monday, Miller was named the Big Ten’s quarterback of the year (Griese-Brees Award) and a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the media.
Braxton Miller was named the top QB in the B1G.“I saw all the immeasurable talents we look for,” Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said of Miller on Big Ten Network. “Great athleticism, he has a tremendous release and arm strength. Everything in our offense is quarterback based. To win a game, you can’t have a bad day at quarterback.”
Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez was the coaches’ first-team selection. Miller earned second-team honors.
Ohio State capped off a 12-0 season this past Saturday with a 26-21 win over archrival Michigan. Miller was the catalyst on offense, finishing the season with a single-season school-record 3,310 total yards. A Davey O'Brien finalist, Miller threw for 2,039 yards and 15 touchdowns. He completed nearly 60 percent of his passes.
But he was just as big a threat on the ground. Miller rushed for a team-high 1,271 yards, becoming Meyer's first 1,000-yard rusher in 11 seasons as a head coach. Miller rushed for an Ohio State quarterback record 186 yards against Nebraska. On the season, he had 13 rushing touchdowns. Miller averaged more than 275 total yards per game.
Left guard Andrew Norwell, selected by the media, was the only Ohio State offensive lineman on the first-team offensive line. He helped contribute to the 10th-best rushing attack in the country. The Buckeyes averaged 242 rushing yards per game. Ohio State scored 37 rushing touchdowns, fifth-most in the nation.
On defense, end John Simon was named the Smith-Brown defensive lineman of the year. He wasn't able to play on his Senior Day against Michigan, but that didn't diminish his production for the first 11 games. Simon led the conference with nine sacks. In his final game as a Buckeye, he tied a school record with four sacks at Wisconsin. Simon also tied a school record with five tackles for loss against Nebraska.
Simon was just the eighth two-time captain in program history and was singled out by Meyer repeatedly for his leadership qualities.
Linebacker Ryan Shazier and cornerbacks Travis Howard and Bradley Roby were all named first-team All-Big Ten by the media, while Simon, Roby and Johnathan Hankins were all honored on the coaches’ first-team.
Shazier finished with a team-high 115 tackles. That total was second in the conference, but he led the league in tackles for loss with 15. Howard intercepted a Big Ten best four interceptions, while Roby is second in the country with 19 passes defended. He broke up 17 passes, a school record, and intercepted two passes, including a pick-six against Nebraska. Roby is the only defensive player in the FBS to score touchdowns three different ways this season. He finished third on the team with 63 tackles. Hankins had 55 tackles, including four for loss and one sack on the season.
“Being named all-Big Ten just shows that hard work really does pay off,” Roby said. “I think I was having a pretty good year, but I am most happy that we won all of our games. That’s what makes you feel really good.”
Hankins was a second-team selection by the media. Shazier and safety Christian Bryant were second-team selections by the coaches. That's great news for Bryant, but think about this: The Big Ten's coaches, the esteemed and highly successful talent scouts that they are, think Ryan Shazier is – at best – the 4th-best linebacker in the conference. Let that sink in for a minute.
Running back Carlos Hyde was a second-team selection by both the coaches and the media. Wide receiver Corey Brown was on the coaches’ second-team and offensive lineman Jack Mewhort was a second-team selection by the media.
Coaches Honorable Mention: Safety C.J. Barnett, Howard, offensive linemen Corey Linsley, Mewhort and Norwell
Media Honorable Mention: Barnett, Brown, Bryant, offensive lineman Reid Fragel, Linsley and linebacker Etienne Sabino.
Zach Boren was Ohio State’s Sportsmanship Honoree.
“I am happy for all of the members of this team who are being honored, and also for their teammates, whose hard work helped these guys earn this Big Ten recognition,” Meyer said. “It is a tribute to the work ethic of both John Simon and Braxton Miller, coupled with the fact that they are both excellent football players, that they were named players of the year at their positions.”
Comments
Fascinating the differences between how the coaches and the media saw the different players, especially difference-makers like Shazier...
Congrats to a team full of men. What is sportsmanship honoree? And who got coach of the year? Or is it known yet? Come on urbs, get your own award. I feel he deserves one!
Bury me in my away jersey, with my buckeye blanket. A diehard who died young. Rip dad.
With the way voting has gone and their outright disdain for Urbz, no way he gets COTY. Even though he deserves it.
Coach of the Year - that must be the Ferentz Trophy
JLP36
Coach of the year is decided tomorrow on BTN at 7
Fat fingers and laziness are to blame for this down vote. Please someone up vote the man who knows the time? Sorry man! My bad.
Bury me in my away jersey, with my buckeye blanket. A diehard who died young. Rip dad.
The linebacker from Penn St. who was out for our game, (name escapes me) should have been all big 10 lb.
~Because we couldn't go for three~
Might that be the same Mauti that XBrax360 did some of his more famous runs on...?
I vote this is the official 11w nickname for Braxton
Enough to make a growed man cry.GO BUCKS!
I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then.
Well done, young Buckeyes. When Braxton's the second-best weapon on our team, we'll be absolutely lethal on offense.
"The revolution will be televised."
Ryan D. Shazier >>>>>>>> Michael Mauti, and it's not even close
"You win with people." - Woody Hayes
Shazier's sacks > Mauti's TFLs
How on earth did the coaches decide to put Miller and Shazier on second team? I am appalled. Literally appalled. Sickening.
October 20th: National Kenneth Guiton Day
Because both Miller and Shazier tore their teams apart.
Went to comment, but yours summed up my thoughts. A case could be made for Shazier to be national defensive player of the year... But he wasn't even named First Team Big Ten? Every one of those coaches that slighted him would take him over any defensive player on their roster.
As a former Offensive Lineman I think its pretty telling who the real leaders of this team were throught the year. All 5 starters received at least Honorabl-Mention recognition from either coaches or the media. Sure, give Braxton and Hyde the rightful praise they deserve. But these guys were the true leaders on the field!! They all played their tails off!! How lucky are we to have 4 of the 5 returning next season? For my money Ed Warriner should have been coach of the year for elevating the level of play for these 5 linemen to an unprecedented heighth.
“Right now, Michigan is not at the pinnacle of college football, and that’s all Urban Meyer cares about...He’s been there and knows what it takes to get there.”
Hats off to Ed Warriner, who is one of the best in the game.
http://megasportsnews.com/?p=40894
No doubt. I'm disappointed he didn't make the list of finalists for the award.
http://www.coachingsearch.com/home/1831-five-finalists-for-broyles-award-announced.html
What were the 3 ways Roby scored?
Blocked punt - Indiana, pick six - Nebraska, fumble recovery - Miami of Ohio.
If only Nebraska and OSU were to play one another, then maybe the coaches would be able to compare the QBs. Oh wait, nevermind. The coaches have no excuse.
there has been an anti-OSU bias for COY for years. Tired of hearing that any coach could win with their talent.... To win as many titles as we have in the last decade takes great coaching.
No offense to Fickell, but I think last season proved that just having the talent does not equate to a winning season, let alone an undefeated season. If Ferentz coached these Buckeyes, they'd be 8-4. But I agree, OSU winning COTY is a longshot in any year.
FWIW, I think I'd give COTY to BOB @ State Penn. While they didn't go undefeated, I think it was amazing what O'Brien was able to do in Happy Valley, given the turmoil and defections, and the general state of the program over the last ~5 years of the Paterno regime.
How does Roby not win db of the year, too? Hank 2nd team? Hopefully that provides them with some more motivation to come back!
It kind of seemed like they wanted most teams to get a trophy- and YOU get an award, and YOU get an award, and YOU get an award... or they Tressselized-no award for you, you are too young. Wait your turn youngun.
How in the heck does Hankins get 2nd team/media when he is projected as top 10 in the draft? Come back Big Hank and we'll show those mean sportswriters that they were wrong...please? Although I guess the case could be made that a good rookie year in the NFL would also say the same thing.
Hank might be the best interior defensive lineman eligible for the draft, but he is second team. I'm fine with supporting the team that's hated, more motivation to kick the sh*t out of everyone else
Cracks me up Braxton and Shazier aren't first team in the coaches poll Hankins isn't first team in the media poll. I would think those would be no brainer 1st teams. Braxton and Shazier were big ten players of the week how many weeks and I'm pretty sure Hankins has a ridiculous amount of tackles for an interior lineman.
Can't believe Roby and Howard were even mentioned. They were terrible. But Zack Boren should be given a special award like inspirational. Moving from offense to defense and playing so well was amazing.
Your either a troll or highly unintelligent. Either way you are incorrect sir
Methinks it is both.
Boxley
/theyseemetrollin'
October 20th: National Kenneth Guiton Day
Well I agree with you about Howard..besides those pics, he was mediocre most of the year. I've never seen a lack of talent in the Big Ten then i have this year..it's crazy.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
Did I miss something here? Miller wins B1G QB of the year, yet isn't selected to the 1st Team??? bunch of morons!!!
How is Manti Te'o in the Heisman conversation, yet Shazier isn't even top 4 in the B1G? Shazier has more tackles, TFLs, sacks and an Int return TD over Te'o, who has a lone advantage in interceptions. I'm not taking anything away from Te'o, as he is a great LB, but given the stats and the impact Shazier has had on our defense, I don't think he gets nearly enough credit. I bet he pulls a Laurinaitis and leads the team in tackles 3 years in a row.
...and Michigan still sucks.
I bet he does it 4 in a row. I have doubts that we lose juniors with Meyer at the helm
And don't forget the "heisman moments" that Shazier had. The goal line play at Wisconsin was one I will remember forever. He has the numbers and the flashy plays. Shazier is the biggest snub in my opinion.
The only thing that I can fathom is that it seems the media looked at this season's whole body of work whereas the coaches seem to have voted soley on the B1G portion & not the season as a whole. Otherwise, their votes look as if they are clueless as to what is actually happening out on the field. (Looking at you Choke & Bert).
“Right now, Michigan is not at the pinnacle of college football, and that’s all Urban Meyer cares about...He’s been there and knows what it takes to get there.”
i would sure like to know what they see to vote like that... thats ok though, "trophies are for ppl with self esteem issues" lol
mark may wins douchebag of the year... again
Shazier is by far the best LB in the B1G. He might be one of the better and more explosive LB's in the nation. Having said that, if you take a look at the coaches in the conference, this really isnt that surprising. Schmucks!
God damn that's a pretty f*cking good milkshake! I don't know if it's worth five dollars, but it's pretty f*cking good.
-Vincent Vega
Congrats to these guys! 7 players is quite an accomplishment!
Braxton, Shazier and Roby all exceeded my expectations this year. I expected Shazier to have the year he had this season in 2013..way ahead of schedule..kids a beast! Braxton keep working on those QB skills and you'll be the best player in the country.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
Also, the Simon haters need to eat a little crow. Yes he started the year slow and wasn't very consistent but the dude still made 1st team All-Big Ten and almost had better stats in 11 games this year then he had in 13 games last season.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
The overall lack of recognition is wrong, but fine with me. All the more to motivate and grow that chip on the shoulder this team has carried through once already. Guys like Shazier, Braxton, Mewhort, Norwell, etc. can use the coaches' snub against them next season.
On another note, Shazier may not have been a unanimous 1st-team All-B1G LB this year, but you can bet he'll be a leading candidate for the Butkus and Nagurski going into next season. The guy puts up really good defensive numbers, and that's while still learning the nuances of the LB position.
"What we do in life echoes in eternity"
I can almost understand coaches not giving Shazier his due -almost -as he really didn't blossom until Boren came over and the defensive staff started going back to basics with their guys. Not sure if he was trying to carry the entire LB load until Boren arrived and helped stabilize everything there (perhaps mentally and physically), but there certainly was a difference. That being said, he was a consistent terror after that and deserved better.
Amazing how the #1 scoring offense in the league did not have a single player named first team on the All B1G team. Urban really riled up the coaches this year, but honestly it has always been that way, even with Tressel's teams. Urban will not win COY in the B1G because of this, not by the coaches anyway. The oddest selection is Braxton is QB of the year, but 2nd team B1G - Go figure that one out.
As I agree with many here, there are many who were honored and that's great. However, I agree more with Stantmann here than anyone. How can you be the best QB...but be 2nd team all B1G QB...that makes no sense no matter if it's media or coaches voting. It's obviously "some" coaches voted against OSU players for no other reason than disdain for Urban (I'd add more coaches that weren't in that story too btw). That's the one and only reason I can fathom. Not only did this team get screwed out of a B1G championship game as well as a National Championship game (and even an AP NC as well) all because they're banned from post season, now they get screwed out of B1G awards as well. Preposterous IMO...
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
"I love football. I think it is most wonderful game in world and I despise to lose."
Woody Hayes 1913 - 1987
Congrats to the seven buckeyes that got recognition!
It's a shame on the snubs.
However, it just adds fuel to the fire.