Foote Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year

PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- University of Michigan senior inside linebacker Larry Foote (Detroit, Mich./Pershing HS) was named the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year as the Big Ten Conference announced its football all-conference teams and individual honors today (Tuesday, Dec. 4). Foote led a group of four Wolverines who collected All-Big Ten first-team accolades, four others that received second-team honors and another eight players that were listed as honorable mention.

Foote

In addition to his selection as the conference's Defensive Player of the Year by both the coaches and media, Foote earned All-Big Ten first-team accolades for the second straight season. He was named to both the coaches and media ballots after earning a first-team nod from the coaches and a second-team selection by the media last year.

Senior wide receiver Marquise Walker (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger HS), the Wolverines' Most Valuable Player, joined Foote as the only other Wolverine to earn All-Big Ten first-team selection on both the coaches and media ballots. Senior left guard Jonathan Goodwin (Columbia, S.C./Lower-Richland HS) was named to the first team by the media and collected second-team honors from the coaches. Senior/junior Dan Rumishek (Addison, Ill./Addison Trail HS) received a first-team nod from the media, while gaining honorable mention recognition from the coaches.

Senior/junior outside linebacker Victor Hobson (Mt. Laurel, N.J./St. Joseph's Prep, Pa.) was selected second team by both the coaches and media after garnering honorable mention recognition last year. Senior placekicker Hayden Epstein (Cardiff, Calif./Torrey Pines HS) and senior cornerback Todd Howard (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook HS) were named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches, while junior/sophomore defensive end Shantee Orr (Detroit, Mich./Denby HS) received second-team accolades from the media.

Fifth-year senior inside linebacker and co-captain Eric Brackins (Pigeon Forge, Tenn./Gatlinburg-Pittman HS), Epstein (as a punter), junior/sophomore left tackle Tony Pape (Clarendon Hills, Ill./Hinsdale South HS), senior/junior left guard Dave Petruziello (Mentor, Ohio/Lake Catholic HS) and fifth-year senior tight end Billy Seymour (Granger, Ind./Penn HS) earned honorable mention recognition on both the coaches and media ballots.

Fifth-year senior center Kurt Anderson (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South HS), junior tailback B.J. Askew (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain HS), junior safety Charles Drake (Los Angeles, Calif./Westchester HS), senior/junior safety Cato June (Washington, D.C./Anacostia HS), Orr and Rumishek collected honorable mention from the coaches. Howard was also named honorable mention by the media.

2001 All-Big Ten Conference Teams
As Selected by the Conference Coaches

OFF.	FIRST TEAM	SECOND TEAM
QB	Antwaan Randle El, Indiana	Kurt Kittner, Illinois
RB	Anthony Davis, Wisconsin	Ladell Betts, Iowa
RB	Levron Williams, Indiana	Jonathan Wells, Ohio State
WR	Lee Evans, Wisconsin	Brandon Lloyd, Illinois
WR	Marquise Walker, Michigan	Ron Johnson, Minnesota
C	LeCharles Bentley, Ohio State	Luke Butkus, Illinois
OG	Jay Kulaga, Illinois	Enoch DeMar, Indiana
OG	Eric Steinbach, Iowa	Jonathan Goodwin, Michigan
OT	Tony Pashos, Illinois	Ben Johnson, Wisconsin
OT	Tyson Walter, Ohio State	David Porter, Iowa
TE	Mark Anelli, Wisconsin Chris Baker, Michigan State (tie)     Ben Utecht, Minnesota (tie)
PK	Travis Dorsch, Purdue	Hayden Epstein, Michigan

DEF.	FIRST TEAM	SECOND TEAM
DL	Akin Ayodele, Purdue	Mike Collins, Ohio State
DL	Wendell Bryant, Wisconsin	Napoleon Harris, Northwestern
DL	Jimmy Kennedy, Penn State	Aaron Kampman, Iowa
DL	Matt Mitrione, Purdue	Josh Shaw, Michigan State
LB	Larry Foote, Michigan	Kevin Bentley, Northwestern
LB	Nick Greisen, Wisconsin	Joe Cooper, Ohio State
LB	Josh Thornhill, Michigan State	Victor Hobson, Michigan
DB	Mike Doss, Ohio State	Todd Howard, Michigan
DB	Mike Echols, Wisconsin	Bobby Jackson, Illinois
DB	Bob Sanders, Iowa	Derek Ross, Ohio State
DB	Eugene Wilson, Illinois	Stuart Schweigert, Purdue
P	Travis Dorsch, Purdue	Andy Groom, Ohio State

HONORABLE MENTION: Illinois -- Muhammad Abdullah, Peter Christofilakos, Steve Fitts, Brandon Moore, Christian Morton, Jerry Schumacher; Indiana -- Bobby Brandt, Kris Dielman, Joe Gonzalez, A.C. Myler, Anthony Oakley, Craig Osika, Kemp Rasmussen, Dominique Smith, Justin Smith; Iowa -- Fred Barr, Dallas Clark, Colin Cole, Kahlil Hill, Nate Kaeding, Bruce Nelson, Derrick Pickens; Michigan -- Kurt Anderson, B.J. Askew, Eric Brackins, Charles Drake, Hayden Epstein, Cato June, Shantee Orr, Tony Pape, Dave Petruziello, Dan Rumishek, Bill Seymour; Michigan State -- T.J. Duckett, Herb Haygood, Craig Jarrett, Broderick Nelson, Charles Rogers, Thomas Wright; Minnesota -- Jack Brewer, Derek Burns, Jack Kuppe, Tellis Redmon, Greg White; Northwestern -- Austin King, Zak Kustok, Kunle Patrick, Jeff Roehl, Billy Silva, Mike Souza, J.J. Strandring; Ohio State -- Tim Anderson, Darrion Scott, Matt Wilhelm; Penn State -- John Gilmore; Purdue -- Gilbert Gardner, Landon Johnson, Tim Stratton; Wisconsin -- Al Johnson.

Offensive Player of the Year: Antwaan Randle El, Quarterback, Indiana
Offensive Lineman of the Year: LeCharles Bentley, Center, Ohio State
Defensive Player of the Year: Larry Foote, Linebacker, Michigan
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Wendell Bryant, Defensive Tackle, Wisconsin
Freshman of the Year: Anthony Davis, Running Back, Wisconsin

2001 All-Big Ten Conference Teams
As Selected by the Conference Media

OFF.	FIRST TEAM	SECOND TEAM
QB	Antwaan Randle El, Indiana	Kurt Kittner, Illinois
RB	Anthony Davis, Wisconsin	T.J. Duckett, Michigan State
RB	Levron Williams, Indiana*	Jonathan Wells, Ohio State
WR	Lee Evans, Wisconsin	Brandon Lloyd, Illinois
WR	Marquise Walker, Michigan	Charles Rogers, Michigan State
C	LeCharles Bentley, Ohio State	Luke Butkus, Illinois
OG	Jonathan Goodwin, Michigan	Enoch DeMar, Indiana
OG	Jay Kulaga, Illinois	Eric Steinbach, Iowa
OT	Tony Pashos, Illinois	Ben Johnson, Wisconsin
OT	Tyson Walter, Ohio State	David Porter, Iowa
TE	Tim Stratton, Purdue	Chris Baker, Michigan State
PK	Travis Dorsch, Purdue	Peter Christofilakos, Illinois

DEF.	FIRST TEAM	SECOND TEAM
DL	Akin Ayodele, Purdue	Napoleon Harris, Northwestern
DL	Wendell Bryant, Wisconsin*	Jimmy Kennedy, Penn State
DL	Aaron Kampman, Iowa	Matt Mitrione, Purdue
DL	Dan Rumishek, Michigan	Shantee Orr, Michigan
LB	Larry Foote, Michigan	Victor Hobson, Michigan
LB	Nick Greisen, Wisconsin	Jerry Schumacher, Illinois
LB	Josh Thornhill, Michigan State	Justin Smith, Indiana
DB	Jack Brewer, Minnesota	Mike Echols, Wisconsin
DB	Mike Doss, Ohio State	Christian Morton, Illinois
DB	Stuart Schweigert, Purdue	Derek Ross, Ohio State
DB	Eugene Wilson, Illinois	Bob Sanders, Iowa
P	Travis Dorsch, Purdue	Andy Groom, Ohio State

* denotes unanimous first team selection

HONORABLE MENTION: Illinois -- Muhammad Abdullah, Steve Fitts, Bobby Jackson, Brandon Moore; Indiana -- Bobby Brandt, Joe Gonzalez, A.C. Myler, Anthony Oakley, Craig Osika, Kemp Rasmussen; Iowa -- Fred Barr, Ladell Betts, Dallas Clark, Colin Cole, Nate Kaeding, Derrick Pickens; Michigan -- Eric Brackins, Hayden Epstein, Todd Howard, Tony Pape, Dave Petruziello, Bill Seymour; Michigan State -- Herb Haygood, Craig Jarrett, Broderick Nelson, Josh Shaw; Minnesota -- Ron Johnson, Jack Kuppe, Tellis Redmon, Greg White; Northwestern -- Kevin Bentley, Jeff Roehl, Mike Souza, J.J. Strandring; Ohio State -- Tim Anderson, Mike Collins, Joe Cooper, Donnie Nickey, Matt Wilhelm; Penn State -- Anthony Adams, Bruce Branch, John Gilmore, Bryant Johnson; Purdue -- Shaun Phillips; Wisconsin -- Mark Anelli, Al Johnson.

Offensive Player of the Year: Antwaan Randle El, Quarterback, Indiana
Defensive Player of the Year: Larry Foote, Linebacker, Michigan
Freshman of the Year: Anthony Davis, Running Back, Wisconsin
Dave McClain Coach of the Year: Ron Turner, Illinois (unanimous)

Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423