Molk Named Top Offensive Lineman to Headline Big Ten Awards
11/28/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 28, 2011
PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- Fifth-year senior center David Molk (Lemont, Ill./Lemont Township) of the University of Michigan football team was named the recipient of the inaugural Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year award, the Big Ten Conference announced on Monday (Nov. 28) during a live unveiling of its 2011 football awards on the Big Ten Network.
Molk headlined the Wolverines' four All-Big Ten honorees, earning first team on the coaches' ballot and second team from the media. Senior defensive tackle Mike Martin (Redford, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) was a second-team selection in both polls, while junior quarterback Denard Robinson (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach) earned second-team media honors and junior/sophomore offensive tackle Taylor Lewan (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral) earned a second-team coaches selection.
Molk is an All-Big Ten first team honoree by the coaches for the second year in a row. He was a second-team honoree by the media in 2010. Molk made his 25th consecutive start in U-M's victory over Ohio State last Saturday (Nov. 26). He has 41 career starts.
Lewan has started 21 of the last 22 games at left tackle, including 14 in a row. Lewan also earned honorable mention from the media.
Molk and Lewan paved the way for the U-M offense that ranked second in the Big Ten in both scoring (34.2 points per game) and rushing (235.7 yards per game). The U-M front allowed 15 sacks, which tied for second fewest in the conference.
Martin also earned All-Big Ten second team from the coaches in 2010. In 2011, he set career highs for tackles (54) and sacks (3) while notching 5.5 tackles-for-loss. Martin anchored a U-M defense that was second in the Big Ten in rush defense (129.1 yards per game) and first in red zone defense (68.6 percent). The Michigan defense ranked first in conference-only play in rush defense (115.6 yards per game) and third-down percentage (31 of 103 attempts, 30.1 percent).
Robinson led the Big Ten in total offense (268.2 yards per game) for the second year in a row, becoming the first player to do so since Drew Brees from 1998-2000. His 1,163 yards rushing were fifth in the conference. He also passed for 2,056 yards; his 171.3 yards per game passing ranked fifth. Robinson tied a career high with 18 passing touchdowns while rushing for a career-best 16 touchdowns. He earned honorable mention from the Big Ten coaches.
Senior/junior safety Jordan Kovacs (Curtice, Ohio/Clay) was named the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient for the Michigan program.
Eight other Wolverines received honorable mention in one or both of the votes:
LB Kenny Demens (coaches/media)
CB J.T. Floyd (coaches/media)
WR Junior Hemingway (coaches)
TE Kevin Koger (coaches/media)
S Jordan Kovacs (media)
DE Craig Roh (media)
RB Fitzgerald Toussaint (coaches/media)
DE Ryan Van Bergen (coaches/media)
Contact: Justin Dickens (734) 763-4423
