As we await the announcement of today's All-Big Ten offensive players, it's interesting to note how the number of Nebraska's all-conference players have dwindled since our initial years in the Big Ten.
Keep in mind that the conference from 2011-2014 had 12 teams (through 2013) and 14 teams (2014 only), and both the media and the coaches chose 22 offensive and defensive players for the first- and second-teams only. They also chose specialists. Beginning in 2015, the conference expanded to include third-team selections. Yesterday, we saw both sophomore cornerback DiCaprio Bootle and junior linebacker Mo Barry chosen to the third team.
By year, then, here are Nebraska's All-Big Ten Players, 2011-2017:
2011
Offfense
RB Rex Burkhead (1st team)
C Mike Caputo (2nd)
G Spencer Long (2nd)
Defense
LB Lavonte David (1st)
CB Alfonzo Dennard (1st
Special Teams
K Brett Maher (1st)
P Brett Maher (1st)
2012
Offense
QB Taylor Martinez (1st and 2nd)
RB Ameer Abdullah (2nd)
WR Kenny Bell (2nd)
G Spencer Long (1st)
T Jeremiah Sirles (2nd)
Defense
LB/DE Eric Martin (2nd)
DL Baker Steinkuhler (2nd)
LB Will Compton (2nd)
DB Daimion Stafford (2nd)
Special Teams
K Brett Maher (1st)
P Brett Maher (2nd)
2013
Offense
RB Ameer Abdullah (1st)
C Cole Pensick (2nd)
Defense
DE Randy Gregory (1st)
DB Stanley Jean-Baptiste (2nd)
DB Ciante Evans (2nd)
2014
Offense
RB Ameer Abdullah (2nd)
WR Kenny Bell (1st
Defense
DE Randy Gregory (1st)
DL Maliek Collins (2nd)
DB Nathan Gerry (2nd)
2015
Offense
WR Jordan Westerkamp (2nd)
OT Alex Lewis (2nd and 3rd)
Defense
DL Maliek Collins (2nd and 3rd)
Special Teams
K Drew Brown (2nd)
P Sam Foltz (1st)
2016
Offense
WR Jordan Westerkamp (3rd)
OT Nick Gates (3rd)
Defense
S Nathan Gerry (2nd and 3rd)
2017
Offense
WR Stanley Morgan (2nd)
WR JD Spielman (3rd)
Keep in mind that the conference from 2011-2014 had 12 teams (through 2013) and 14 teams (2014 only), and both the media and the coaches chose 22 offensive and defensive players for the first- and second-teams only. They also chose specialists. Beginning in 2015, the conference expanded to include third-team selections. Yesterday, we saw both sophomore cornerback DiCaprio Bootle and junior linebacker Mo Barry chosen to the third team.
By year, then, here are Nebraska's All-Big Ten Players, 2011-2017:
2011
Offfense
RB Rex Burkhead (1st team)
C Mike Caputo (2nd)
G Spencer Long (2nd)
Defense
LB Lavonte David (1st)
CB Alfonzo Dennard (1st
Special Teams
K Brett Maher (1st)
P Brett Maher (1st)
2012
Offense
QB Taylor Martinez (1st and 2nd)
RB Ameer Abdullah (2nd)
WR Kenny Bell (2nd)
G Spencer Long (1st)
T Jeremiah Sirles (2nd)
Defense
LB/DE Eric Martin (2nd)
DL Baker Steinkuhler (2nd)
LB Will Compton (2nd)
DB Daimion Stafford (2nd)
Special Teams
K Brett Maher (1st)
P Brett Maher (2nd)
2013
Offense
RB Ameer Abdullah (1st)
C Cole Pensick (2nd)
Defense
DE Randy Gregory (1st)
DB Stanley Jean-Baptiste (2nd)
DB Ciante Evans (2nd)
2014
Offense
RB Ameer Abdullah (2nd)
WR Kenny Bell (1st
Defense
DE Randy Gregory (1st)
DL Maliek Collins (2nd)
DB Nathan Gerry (2nd)
2015
Offense
WR Jordan Westerkamp (2nd)
OT Alex Lewis (2nd and 3rd)
Defense
DL Maliek Collins (2nd and 3rd)
Special Teams
K Drew Brown (2nd)
P Sam Foltz (1st)
2016
Offense
WR Jordan Westerkamp (3rd)
OT Nick Gates (3rd)
Defense
S Nathan Gerry (2nd and 3rd)
2017
Offense
WR Stanley Morgan (2nd)
WR JD Spielman (3rd)
