Big Ten Conference football individual awards


Coaches and media of the Big Ten Conference award the following individual honors at the end of each football season. In addition, the Chicago Tribune awards the Chicago Tribune Silver Football to the most valuable football player of the conference.

General

Player of the Year

Sanctioned by Associated Press and United Press International ; replaced with separate offensive and defensive selections in 1990.
SeasonPlayerTeam
1982 [Big Ten Conference football season|1982]Anthony CarterWRMichigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]
1983Don ThorpDTIllinois Fighting Illini football team|Illinois]
1984Keith ByarsRBOhio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]
1985Chuck LongQBIowa Hawkeyes football team|Iowa]
1985Lorenzo WhiteRBMichigan State Spartans football team|Michigan State]
1986Jim HarbaughQBMichigan
1987Lorenzo White RBMichigan State
1987Ernie JonesWRIndiana Hoosiers football team|Indiana]
1988Anthony ThompsonRBIndiana
1989Anthony Thompson RBIndiana

Graham–George Offensive Player of the Year

''Selected by coaches and media. In 2011, the award was renamed the Graham–George Offensive Player of the Year Award in honor of Northwestern halfback Otto Graham and Ohio State running back Eddie George.''

Nagurski–Woodson Defensive Player of the Year

''Selected by coaches and media. In 2011, the award was renamed the Nagurski–Woodson Award in honor of Minnesota tackle Bronko Nagurski and Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson.''

Thompson–Randle El Freshman of the Year

''Selected by coaches and media. In 2011, the award was renamed the Thompson–Randle El Freshman of the Year Award in honor of Minnesota running back Darrell Thompson and Indiana quarterback Antwaan Randle El.''

Dave McClain / Hayes–Schembechler Coach of the Year

''From 1986 through 2010, this award was dedicated in honor of Dave McClain, who served as the Wisconsin Badgers head coach from 1978 to 1985. Recipients were selected by the media. The coaches selected a separate award from 1982 to 1991. When the coaches resumed selecting a coach of the year in 2011, it was named for the first two recipients of the Big Ten Coach of the year, Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes, as the Hayes–Schembechler coach of the year.''

Ford–Kinnick Leadership Award

The award is named in honor of Michigan center Gerald Ford and Iowa halfback Nile Kinnick.
SeasonPlayerTeamTenure
2011Archie GriffinRBOhio State1972–1975
2012Jon RunyanOTMichigan1992–1995
2013Gene WashingtonWRMichigan State1964–1966
2014S. Hopkins|Mike Hopkins]SIllinois1987–1991
2015Brian GrieseQBMichigan1993–1997
2016Reggie McKenzieGMichigan1969–1971
2017Troy VincentCBWisconsin1988–1991
2018Antwaan Randle ElQBIndiana1997–2001
2019Doug SchlerethDEIndiana1985–1988
2020Napoleon HarrisLB/DENorthwestern1998–2001
2021Pat RichterEWisconsin1960–1962
2022Ron GuentherGIllinois1965–1966
2023Richard CoachysQB/SIndiana1965–1966
2024Russell WilsonQBWisconsin2011
2025Jack CampbellLBIowa2019–2022

Dungy–Thompson Humanitarian Award

The award is named in honor of Minnesota quarterback Tony Dungy and Indiana running back Anthony Thompson.
SeasonPlayerTeamTenure
2011George TaliaferroHBIndiana1945, 1947–1948
2012Chris SpielmanLBOhio State1984–1987
2013Drew BreesQBPurdue1997–2000
2014Brian GrieseQBMichigan1993–1997
2015John ShinskyDTMichigan State1970–1973
2016Trent GreenQBIndiana1988–1992
2017Chad GreenwayLBIowa2001–2005
2018Jake WoodOTWisconsin2001–2004
2019J. J. WattDEWisconsin2008–2010
2020Vincent SmithRBMichigan2009–2012
2021Malcolm JenkinsS/NBOhio State2005–2008
2022Nate SudfeldQBIndiana2012–2015
2023Dick ButkusC/LBIllinois1962–1964
2024Madieu WilliamsSMaryland2001–2003
2025Will ShieldsGNebraska1989–1992

Offensive

Griese–Brees Quarterback of the Year

Award started in 2011, named in honor of Purdue's Bob Griese and Drew Brees.
SeasonPlayerTeam
2011Russell WilsonWisconsin Badgers football team|Wisconsin]
2012Braxton MillerOhio State
2013Braxton Miller Ohio State
2014J. T. BarrettOhio State
2015Connor CookMichigan State
2016J. T. Barrett Ohio State
2017J. T. Barrett Ohio State
2018Dwayne HaskinsOhio State
2019Justin FieldsOhio State
2020Justin Fields Ohio State
2021C. J. StroudOhio State
2022C. J. Stroud Ohio State
2023J. J. McCarthyMichigan
2024Dillon GabrielOregon Ducks football team|Oregon]
2025Fernando MendozaIndiana

Ameche–Dayne Running Back of the Year

Award started in 2011, named in honor of Wisconsin's Alan Ameche and Ron Dayne.
SeasonPlayerTeam
2011Montee BallWisconsin
2012Montee Ball Wisconsin
2013Carlos HydeOhio State
2014Melvin GordonWisconsin
2015Ezekiel ElliottOhio State
2016Saquon Barkley2016 [Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]
2017Saquon Barkley Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]
2018Jonathan TaylorWisconsin
2019Jonathan Taylor Wisconsin
2020Mohamed IbrahimMinnesota
2021Kenneth Walker IIIMichigan State
2022Blake CorumMichigan
2023Blake Corum Michigan
2024Kaleb JohnsonIowa
2025Emmett JohnsonNebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]

Richter–Howard Receiver of the Year

Award began in 2011 and is named in honor of Wisconsin's Pat Richter and Michigan's Desmond Howard.
SeasonPlayerTeam
2011Marvin McNuttIowa
2012Allen RobinsonPenn State
2013Allen Robinson Penn State
2014Tony LippettMichigan State
2015Aaron BurbridgeMichigan State
2016Austin CarrNorthwestern
2017D. J. MooreMaryland Terrapins football team|Maryland]
2018Rondale MoorePurdue Boilermakers football team|Purdue]
2019Rashod BatemanMinnesota
2020Ty FryfogleIndiana
2021David BellPurdue
2022Marvin Harrison Jr.Ohio State
2023Marvin Harrison Jr. Ohio State
2024Jeremiah SmithOhio State
2025Jeremiah Smith Ohio State

Kwalick–Clark Tight End of the Year

Award began in 2011 and is named in honor of Penn State's Ted Kwalick and Iowa's Dallas Clark.
SeasonPlayerTeam
2011Drake DunsmoreNorthwestern
2012Jacob PedersenWisconsin
2013Devin FunchessMichigan
2014Maxx WilliamsMinnesota
2015Jake ButtMichigan
2016Jake Butt Michigan
2017Troy FumagalliWisconsin
2018T. J. HockensonIowa
2019Brycen HopkinsPurdue
2020Pat FreiermuthPenn State
2021Austin AllenNebraska
2022Sam LaPortaIowa
2023Cade StoverOhio State
2024Tyler WarrenPenn State
2025Kenyon SadiqOregon

Rimington–Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year

''Selected by Big Ten radio broadcasters until 1991; selected by coaches since. In 2011, the award was renamed the Rimington–Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year Award, in honor of Nebraska center Dave Rimington and Ohio State offensive tackle Orlando Pace.''

Defensive

Smith–Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year

''Selected by Big Ten radio broadcasters until 1991; selected by coaches since. In 2011, the award was renamed the Smith–Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year Award in honor of Michigan State defensive end Bubba Smith and Penn State defensive end Courtney Brown.''

Butkus–Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year

Award started in 2011, named in honor of Illinois' Dick Butkus and Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald.
SeasonPlayerTeam
2011Lavonte DavidNebraska
2012Michael MautiPenn State
2013Chris BorlandWisconsin
2014Mike HullPenn State
2015Joe SchobertWisconsin
2016Jabrill PeppersMichigan
2017Josey JewellIowa
2018Devin Bush Jr.Michigan
2019Micah ParsonsPenn State
2020Paddy FisherNorthwestern
2021Leo ChenalWisconsin
2022Jack CampbellIowa
2023Tommy EichenbergOhio State
2024Jay HigginsIowa
2025Arvell ReeseOhio State

Tatum–Woodson Defensive Back of the Year

Award started in 2011, named in honor of Ohio State safety Jack Tatum and Purdue cornerback Rod Woodson.
SeasonPlayerTeam
2011Alfonzo DennardCBNebraska
2012Micah HydeCBIowa
2013Darqueze DennardCBMichigan State
2014Kurtis DrummondSMichigan State
2015Desmond KingCBIowa
2016Jourdan LewisCBMichigan
2017Josh JacksonCBIowa
2018Amani HookerSIowa
2019Antoine Winfield Jr.SMinnesota
2020Shaun WadeCBOhio State
2021Riley MossCBIowa
2022Devon WitherspoonCBIllinois
2023Cooper DeJeanCBIowa
2024Caleb DownsSOhio State
2025Caleb Downs SOhio State

Special teams

Bakken–Andersen Kicker of the Year

Named in honor of Wisconsin's Jim Bakken and Michigan State's Morten Andersen.
SeasonPlayerTeam
2011Brett MaherNebraska
2012Brett Maher Nebraska
2012Jeff BudzienNorthwestern
2013Jeff Budzien Northwestern
2014Brad CraddockMaryland
2015Griffin OakesIndiana
2016Emmit CarpenterMinnesota
2017Griffin Oakes Indiana
2018Chase McLaughlinIllinois
2019Keith DuncanIowa
2020Connor CulpNebraska
2021Jake MoodyMichigan
2022Jake Moody Michigan
2023Dragan KesichMinnesota
2024Dominic ZvadaMichigan
2025Nico RadicicIndiana

Eddleman–Fields Punter of the Year

Named in honor of Illinois' Dwight Eddleman and Michigan State's Brandon Fields.
SeasonPlayerTeam
2011Brett MaherNebraska
2012Will HagerupMichigan
2013Cody WebsterPurdue
2014Peter MortellMinnesota
2015Sam FoltzNebraska
2016Cameron JohnstonOhio State
2017Ryan AndersonRutgers Scarlet Knights football team|Rutgers]
2018Will HartMichigan
2019Blake HayesIllinois
2020Tory TaylorIowa
2021Jordan StoutPenn State
2022Bryce BaringerMichigan State
2023Tory Taylor Iowa
2024Eddie CzaplickiUSC Trojans football team|USC]
2025Ryan EckleyMichigan State

Rodgers–Dwight Return Specialist of the Year

Named in honor of Nebraska's Johnny Rodgers and Iowa's Tim Dwight.
SeasonPlayerTeam
2015William LikelyMaryland
2016Jabrill PeppersMichigan
2017Saquon BarkleyPenn State
2018Ihmir Smith-MarsetteIowa
2019Javon LeakeMaryland
2020Aron CruickshankRutgers
2021Charlie JonesIowa
2022Jaylin LucasIndiana
2023Cooper DeJeanIowa
2024Kaden WetjenIowa
2025Kaden Wetjen Iowa