Wisconsin Football: T.J. Watt highlights All-Big Ten defensive honors

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Watt was named to first team All Big Ten Defense on both the coaches and media ballot.

Shortly after Wisconsin Badgers head coach Paul Chryst was named Big Ten Coach of the Year by the coaches, five Badgers defensive players were named to All-Big Ten honors.

Junior linebacker T.J. Watt, the younger brother of former Wisconsin greats J.J. and Derek Watt, was voted to both first-team defensive squads by both the coaches and media. Watt led the team this year in tackles for loss (13.0) and has one of the two defensive touchdowns for the team when he took an interception back for a touchdown against Purdue.

Joining Watt on the linebacker front was Jabrill Peppers (Michigan) and Raekwon McMillan (Ohio State). Peppers was named Big Ten defensive player of the year.

The 2016 Second Team All-Big Ten Defense, as selected by #B1GFootball coaches. pic.twitter.com/ldiipIHFoz

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 29, 2016

Watt was not the only Badgers player to receive honors. Senior linebacker Vince Biegel was voted to second-team by the coaches and third-team by the media, despite missing several weeks due to injury this season. Defense back Sojurn Shelton was named to second-team by the coaches, but earned a first-team spot thanks to the media selections, joining Watt as the only two Wisconsin defensive players to earn a first-team accolade. Shelton currently has four interceptions on the year, including two in last week’s win again Minnesota.

Fellow defensive backs Leo Musso and D’Cota Dixon were named to third team honors by the media, Musso (5) and Dixon (4) were the two top interception leaders on the team this year along with Shelton. Senior defensive end Conor Sheehy was also named to All-Big Ten third team by the coaches.

Wisconsin currently ranks seventh in the nation on defense in total yards and third in points allowed per game.