2011 Preseason All-Big Ten Team

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Aug 16, 2011

2011 Preseason All-Big Ten Team

Denard Robinson

In 2010 "Shoelace" became the first player in NCAA history to rush for 1,500 yards and pass for 2,500 in a season. Robinson may be fresher in '11 as the Wolverines go from a spread to a tight formation.

Montee Ball

The 5-11, 214-pound Ball averaged 155.4 yards over the Badgers' last five games of 2010, including 132 against TCU in the Rose Bowl.

Edwin Baker

Possessing strength and breakaway speed, the 5-9, 208-pound Baker is the Spartans' steadiest back. He gained at least 90 yards in seven games last season, finishing with 1,201 (a 5.8 average per carry).

Damarlo Belcher

As a junior Belcher led the Big Ten in receptions (78) and averaged 69.3 receiving yards a game. The imposing 6-5 Belcher could see more downfield opportunities in new coach Kevin Wilson's aerial offense.

Jeremy Ebert

Teaming with QB Dan Persa, the 6-foot, 195-pound Ebert had 62 receptions and averaged 15.8 yards per catch. Six of his eight touchdowns covered at least 20 yards.

Kyler Reed

The 6-3, 230-pound Reed ranked third on the Huskers last season with 22 catches, including a school tight-end-record eight for touchdowns. He figures to gain an even more prominent role in new coordinator Tim Beck's offense.

Riley Reiff

A starter in 21 straight games, the South Dakota native will join linemate Markus Zusevics to form one of the league's most formidable tackle tandems. He's already being projected as an NFL first-rounder.

Kevin Zeitler

The 6-4, 317-pound Zeitler is the elder statesmen of the Badgers' perennially stout offensive line. He has started 22 games over the past two seasons.

Michael Brewster

The 6-5, 305-pound Brewster will contend for the Rimington Award, given to the nation's top center, after being a finalist in '10.

Joel Foreman

A fourth-year starter, Foreman will anchor an inexperienced line. He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten last season.

Jeff Allen

Allen, who has 34 straight starts, helped the Illini tie a school record for points per game (32.5) and to produce 246.1 yards per game on the ground.

Nathan Williams

With 89 tackles (including 201/2 for loss) in his career, the 6-3, 255-pound Williams figures to emerge as an even more important playmaker with the departure of seven starters from last year's defense.

Jared Crick

A 2010 first-team All-America selection, the 6-6, 285-pound Crick could be one of the nation's most dominant interior linemen. He racked up 70 tackles last season, a team-high 17 of them for loss.

Mike Martin

Martin, who has 108 career tackles, should be devastating roaming the interior in new coordinator Greg Mattison's aggressive 4-3 scheme.

Vince Browne

The 6-5, 265-pound Browne earned second-team All--Big Ten honors last year, when he had 151/2 tackles for loss (third in the conference).

Lavonte David

David was the team's defensive MVP in 2010, and his 152 tackles (he had 15 or more thrice) were 22 more than any other Big 12 defender in '10. At 6-1 he has added 12 pounds, to 225, to prepare for the Big Ten's power backs.

Chris Borland

Back from a shoulder injury, the 2009 Freshman All-America led the Badgers that season with five forced fumbles and three recoveries.

Michael Mauti

The Nittany Lions' top linebacker will move from the outside to the middle, giving the quick, athletic Mauti a chance to shine even brighter.

Alfonzo Dennard

Having played the past two years alongside decorated Huskers cornerback Prince Amukamara, Dennard is a proven lockdown defender (seven pass breakups, 30 tackles) who finally has the spotlight to himself.

Trenton Robinson

The 5-10, 195-pound free safety excels in pass coverage. As a junior he had four interceptions (fourth in the Big Ten), eight pass breakups and 12 passes defended to go along with 76 tackles, his career high.

Antonio Fenelus

A game-changer: In 2010 the 5-9, 193-pound Fenelus intercepted four passes, including a career-long return of 32 yards for a TD against Purdue.

Shaun Prater

Best when the stakes are highest, Prater (who started 12 games in 2010) made a crucial fourth-quarter pick against Ohio State and had a career-high nine solo tackles in Iowa's Insight Bowl win over Missouri.

Carson Wiggs

Wiggs may have the strongest leg in the country. He set a Boilermakers record in 2009 with a 59-yard field goal and owns Purdue's career field goal percentage mark (71.5 percent). In 2010 he averaged 65.2 yards on kickoffs, 11 of which resulted in touchbacks.

Brad Nortman

Nortman averaged 42.7 yards a kick last season (including a career-long 76-yarder against Austin Peay), but his most memorable play was a nonpunt: a successful 11-yard fake in the Rose Bowl.

Troy Stoudemire

The dazzling 5-10, 195-pound cornerback-special teams whiz needs just 190 more yards to break the NCAA career kick-return record of 3,118. Last year he had a 90-yarder against Illinois.

Keshawn Martin

An explosive all-purpose threat, Martin led the Big Ten last season with a 14.3-yard average on punt returns and ripped off the Spartans' first punt return for a touchdown (74 yards against Wisconsin) since 2002.

2011 Preseason All-Big Ten Team