MINNEAPOLIS -- Another eight-win season meant plenty of individual honors for members of the Gophers football team.
Tight end Maxx Williams and punter Peter Mortell both were named the top players at their position and also earned All-Big Ten First Team honors. Williams, who is also a finalist for the Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end, won the Kwalick-Clark Award as the top tight end in the Big Ten. His 29 catches, 471 receiving yards and seven touchdown receptions were all tops on Minnesota this season.
Mortell led the Big Ten in punting this year, averaging 45.5 yards per punt in 12 games. His numbers were good enough to earn him the Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year award. Mortell was voted All-Big Ten First Team by both the coaches and media.
Three other Gophers made All-Big Ten First Team lists. Cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun -- whose four interceptions lead Minnesota -- was voted in by the coaches, and was a second-team selection by the media. Offensive lineman Zac Epping and linebacker Damien Wilson both made the All-Big Ten First Team as voted on by the media. The coaches had Epping and Wilson on the All-Big Ten Second Team.
Running back David Cobb, who set a new Gophers single-season rushing record in Saturday's loss to Wisconsin, earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors from both the media and coaches. Cornerback Eric Murray was voted All-Big Ten Second Team by the coaches.
Five different players earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention: defensive tackle Cameron Botticelli (media and coaches); offensive lineman Josh Campion (media and coaches); defensive end Theiren Cockran (media and coaches); Murray (media); and center Tommy Olson (coaches and media).
Minnesota finished the regular season 8-4 and now awaits word on which bowl game it will play in. The Gophers are 0-2 in bowl games under Jerry Kill.
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