Big Ten Reveals All-Conference Selections, Individual Honors for Defense, Special Teams
With the 2023 Big Ten regular season in the books, it's time to hand out some accolades. Tuesday, the conference revealed the All-Big Ten teams for defense and special teams.
Additionally, the league recognized individual award winners for defense and special teams. It also announced the 2023 winner of the Coach of the Year honor.
Individual Award Winners (Defense, Special Teams)
Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Year
Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois: Newton proved to be a disruptor along the defensive line for Illinois all season long. He finished the year with 52 tackles, 8.5 sacks, four blocked kicks/punts, two pass break-ups and a forced fumble. For his efforts, Newton was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year, as well as the conference's Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Coach of the Year (Media and Coaches)
David Braun, Northwestern: Somehow, Braun took a situation doomed for failure and turned it into a success. Despite no head coaching experience — or any experience at the FBS level — the interim coach got Northwestern to a seven-win season and bowl eligibility. He's also the permanent leader of the Wildcats moving forward.
Linebacker of the Year
Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State: Eichenberg was all over the field for the Buckeyes in 2023, racking up 82 tackles, including 2.5 for loss. The linebacker was the best player on a defense that ranked second nationally in points allowed and third in yards allowed. He did all that in 10 games, missing two games late in the season due to an arm injury.
Defensive Back and Specialist of the Year
Cooper DeJean, Iowa: The most versatile player on the list, DeJean proved to be one of the best defensive backs and specialists in the conference this season. He's taking home some hardware because of it. On the defensive side, DeJean piled up 41 stops, five pass break-ups and two interceptions for the Hawkeyes. As a punt returner, he accounted for 241 yards and a touchdown on 21 attempts. DeJean also missed two games due to injury.
Kicker of the Year
Dragan Kesich, Minnesota: Kesich was as close to automatic as you can get for a college kicker. He converted on 22-of-26 field goal tries for the Golden Gophers and was a perfect 24-of-24 on PAT attempts. Kesich was responsible for 47 touchbacks on 56 kickoffs, usually putting Minnesota's defense in great position.
Punter of the Year
Tory Taylor, Iowa: Who else would this honor go to? Taylor totaled 3,766 yards on 79 punts this season, averaging 47.7 yards per boot. He pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 29 times and often had teams starting a drive from within the shadow of their goalposts. Taylor was a big reason why the Hawkeyes were Big Ten West champions.
All-Big Ten Defensive Teams (Coaches)
First Team
- DL: Jer'Zhawn Newton, Illinois
- DL: Mason Graham, Michigan
- DL: JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
- DL: Chop Robinson, Penn State
- LB: Jay Higgins, Iowa
- LB: Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
- LB: Abdul Carter, Penn State
- DB: Cooper DeJean, Iowa
- DB: Will Johnson, Michigan
- DB: Tyler Nubin, Minnesota
- DB: Denzel Burke, Ohio State
Second Team
- DL: Kenneth Grant, Michigan
- DL: Kris Jenkins, Michigan
- DL: Adisa Isaac, Penn State
- DL: Nic Scourton, Purdue
- LB: Aaron Casey, Indiana
- LB: Junior Colson, Michigan
- LB: Bryce Gallagher, Northwestern
- DB: Tarheeb Still, Maryland
- DB: Mike Sainristil, Michigan
- DB: Dillon Thieneman, Purdue
- DB: Kalen King, Penn State
Third Team
- DL: Michael Hall, Ohio State
- DL: Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
- DL: Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
- DL: Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
- LB: Ruben Hyppolite II, Maryland
- LB: Mike Barrett, Michigan
- LB: Luke Reimer, Nebraska
- DB: Rod Moore, Michigan
- DB: Johnny Dixon, Penn State
- DB: Daequan Hardy, Penn State
- DB: Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin
All-Big Ten Defensive Teams (Media)
First Team
- DL: Jer'Zhawn Newton, Illinois
- DL: Adisa Isaac, Penn State
- DL: JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
- DL: Chop Robinson, Penn State
- LB: Jay Higgins, Iowa
- LB: Aaron Casey, Indiana
- LB: Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
- DB: Cooper DeJean, Iowa
- DB: Will Johnson, Michigan
- DB: Tyler Nubin, Minnesota
- DB: Mike Sainristil, Michigan
Second Team
- DL: Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
- DL: Kris Jenkins, Michigan
- DL: Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
- DL: Nic Scourton, Purdue
- LB: Abdul Carter, Penn State
- LB: Junior Colson, Michigan
- LB: Bryce Gallagher, Northwestern
- DB: Sebastian Castro, Iowa
- DB: Denzel Burke, Ohio State
- DB: Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin
- DB: Kalen King, Penn State
Third Team
- DL: Keith Randolph Jr., Illinois
- DL: Joe Evans, Iowa
- DL: Mason Graham, Michigan
- DL: Kenneth Grant, Michigan
- LB: Nick Jackson, Iowa
- LB: Xander Mueller, Northwestern
- LB: Steele Chambers, Ohio State
- DB: Tarheeb Still Maryland
- DB: Josh Proctor, Ohio State
- DB: Dillon Thieneman, Purdue
- DB: Ricardo Hallman, Wisconsin
All-Big Ten Special Teams (Coaches)
First Team
- K: Dragan Kesich, Minnesota
- P: Tory Taylor, Iowa
- RS: Cooper DeJean, Iowa
Second Team
- K: James Turner, Michigan/Jayden Fielding, Ohio State
- P: Ryan Eckley, Michigan State
- RS: Daequan Hardy, Penn State
Third Team
- K: Drew Stevens, Iowa/Alex Felkins, Penn State
- P: Tommy Doman, Michigan
- RS: Tyrone Tracy Jr., Purdue
All-Big Ten Special Teams (Media)
First Team
- K: Dragan Kesich, Minnesota
- P: Tory Taylor, Iowa
- RS: Cooper DeJean, Iowa
Second Team
- K: Alex Felkins, Penn State
- P: Ryan Eckley, Michigan State
- RS: Daequan Hardy, Penn State
Third Team
- K: Jai Patel, Rutgers
- P: James Evans, Indiana
- RS: Jaylin Lucas, Indiana
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