Ohio State left tackle Taylor Decker and running back Ezekiel Elliott were two of 11 Big Ten players named All-Americans by the Football Writers Association of America Monday. Both Buckeyes earned second team recognition.
Five players from the conference were named to the first team: Indiana offensive lineman Jason Spriggs, Penn State defensive end Carl Nassib, Wisconsin linebacker Joe Schobert, Iowa defensive back Desmond King and Maryland punt returner Will Likely.
Decker earned first-team All-American honors from CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, Walter Camp and the Associated Press. Elliott was named to the second team by both the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated.
Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa, named a first team All-American by ESPN, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports and Walter Camp, did not make either team in the eyes of the FWAA.
Elliott led the Big Ten with 1,672 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns in 2015, the fulcrum of an offense that struggled at times to make explosive plays. Decker was the anchor to an offensive line that allowed the Buckeyes to lead the Big Ten with 241.9 rushing yards per game.
No. 7 Ohio State plays No. 8 Notre Dame New Year's Day at 1 p.m. in the Fiesta Bowl.
OFFENSE | DEFENSE | SPECIALISTS |
---|---|---|
QB: DESHAUN WATSON, CLEMSON | DL: CARL NASSIB, PENN STATE | K, KA'IMI FAIRBAIRN, UCLA |
RB: LEONARD FOURNETTE, LSU | DL: SHAQ LAWSON, CLEMSON | |
RB: DERRICK HENRY, ALABAMA | DL: MYLES GARRETT, TEXAS A&M | P: TOM HACKETT, UTAH |
RB: DALVIN COOK, FLORIDA STATE | DL: A'SHAWN ROBINSON, ALABAMA | PR: WILL LIKELY, MARYLAND |
WR: COREY COLEMAN, BAYLOR | LB: TYLER MATAKEVICH, TEMPLE | KR: CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY, STANFORD |
WR: JOSH DOCTSON, TCU | LB: JOE SCHOBERT, WISCONSIN | |
C: RYAN KELLY, ALABAMA | LB: REGGIE RAGLAND, ALABAMA | |
OL: JASON SPRIGGS, INDIANA | DB: JEREMY CASH, DUKE | |
OL: RONNIE STANLEY, NOTRE DAME | DB: VERNON HARGREAVES, FLORIDA | |
OL: SPENCER DRANGO, BAYLOR | DB: DESMOND KING, IOWA | |
OL: JOSHUA GARNETT, STANFORD | DB: SHAWUN LURRY, N. ILLINOIS |
OFFENSE | DEFENSE | SPECIALISTS |
---|---|---|
QB: BAKER MAYFIELD, OKLAHOMA | DL: ANDREW BILLINGS, BAYLOR | K: JADEN OBERKROM, TCU |
RB: ROYCE FREEMAN, OREGON | DL: SHILIQUE CALHOUN, MICHIGAN STATE | P: MICHAEL CARRIZOSA, SAN JOSE STATE |
RB: EZEKIEL ELLIOTT, OHIO STATE | DL: DEFOREST BUCKNER, OREGON | PR: CAMERON SUTTON, TENNESSEE |
WR: JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER, USC | DL: SHELDON DAY, NOTRE DAME | KR: EVAN BERRY, TENNESSEE |
WR: WILL FULLER, NOTRE DAME | LB: KENTRELL BROTHERS, MISSOURI | |
WR: ROGER LEWIS, BOWLING GREEN | LB: JAYLON SMITH, NOTRE DAME | |
C: JACK ALLEN, MICHIGAN STATE | LB: ERIC STRIKER, OKLAHOMA | |
OL: LANDON TURNER, NORTH CAROLINA | DB: EDDIE JACKSON, ALABAMA | |
OL: JACK CONKLIN, MICHIGAN STATE | DB: JALEN RAMSEY, FLORIDA STATE | |
OL: TYLER JOHNSTONE, OREGON | DB: JOURDAN LEWIS, MICHIGAN | |
OL: TAYLOR DECKER, OHIO STATE | DB: DARIAN THOMPSON, BOISE STATE |