A night after the Big Ten recognized four Ohio State defenders as among the conference's best, a quartet of players on the other side of the ball received similar recognition.
Quarterback J.T. Barrett, center Pat Elflein, guard Billy Price and H-back Curtis Samuel all are unanimous first-team All-Big Ten performers, the conference announced on Big Ten Network. Samuel made the first team as a wide receiver.
Barrett, Elflein, Price and Samuel are four of six Buckeyes on first or second teams. Running back Mike Weber and left tackle Jamarco Jones made the media and coaches' second-team.
Barrett is second in the Big Ten with 24 touchdowns passes and only threw five interceptions while leading Ohio State to an 11-1 record. He completed 214-of-346 passes for 2,428 yards and ran 194 times for 847 yards and nine touchdowns in his redshirt junior campaign. Barrett's 33 total touchdowns led the Big Ten.
Elflein is the linchpin on Ohio State's offensive line, a redshirt senior center and captain with Barrett who is an unquestioned team leader. He is a finalist for the Outland Trophy, given to college football's top interior lineman. The Buckeyes are ranked first in the Big Ten in scoring at 42.7 points per game, first in the league in rushing yards per game with 258.3 and first in total offense at 479.5 yards per game. Don't look far past Elflein—the 2016 Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year—as to why.
The same could be said for Samuel, the only player in college football this season to have at least 700 rushing and 700 receiving yards. His 65 receptions for 822 yards and seven touchdowns either lead or are tied for the team lead. Samuel's 704 rushing yards are third on the team behind Barrett and running back Mike Weber. He also has eight rushing touchdowns. In all, Samuel has 1,546 all-purpose yards this season, second only to Penn State's Saquon Barkley for the Big Ten crown in that category. Barkley has 1,563.
Weber made second-team All-Big Ten as voted on by the coaches and media. He also was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year on Wednesday.
Price earned third-team honors a season ago but like Elflein is an integral part to everything the Buckeyes do offensively, one of two returning starters up front heading into the season.
Wide receiver Noah Brown received honorable mention recognition from the Big Ten's media.
