Associated Press
Park Ridge, Ill. -- The Big Ten announced the 2010 All-Conference football teams and individual award winners as selected by the coaches and a media panel, with four different schools sharing the individual accolades.
Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year by coaches and media while Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan was selected as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by coaches and media and the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year by coaches.
Wisconsin collected two individual accolades as offensive tackle Gabe Carimi was tabbed the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year by coaches and running back James White was honored as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year by coaches and media. Michigan State's Mark Dantonio was named the Dave McClain Coach of the Year by the media.
Robinson is the eighth Wolverines' standout to be named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and just the second Michigan quarterback to be selected along with Jim Harbaugh, who was honored in 1986.
Other Wolverines to earn Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year accolades are wideouts Braylon Edwards (2004), Desmond Howard (1991) and Anthony Carter (1982) and running backs Chris Perry (2003), Tyrone Wheatley (1992) and Jon Vaughn (1990). Robinson is the seventh sophomore to be honored, joining a group of former second-year winners that includes Wisconsin running back John Clay (2009), Purdue quarterback Drew Brees (1998), Michigan running backs Wheatley (1992) and Vaughn (1990) and Michigan State running backs Tico Duckett (1990) and Lorenzo White (1985).
Robinson is the first quarterback in NCAA history to rush and pass for more than 1,500 yards in a season. He leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally with 136.9 rushing yards per contest and his 1,643 yards on the ground are a new conference record for signal callers, shattering the previous mark of 1,270 yards set by Indiana's Antwaan Randle El in 2000.
Robinson also ranks among the top 20 nationally with a pass efficiency rating of 152.9, completing 155 of 250 passes for 2,316 yards. He has tallied 14 rushing touchdowns and 16 passing scores.
Dantonio earns his first Big Ten Coach of the Year honor after guiding Michigan State to a school-record 11 victories and a share of its first Big Ten Championship since 1990.
"What it means is we have an outstanding football staff and program," Dantonio said. "It's not one person doing this. They put my name on that, but when I think of the time I spent when I was not here (following a heart attack early in the season), that's our staff doing that. When I look at all the different things our football players have done, that's our football team doing it.
"It means more to me as a program than as an individual. I'm very proud of our football program for it. I do think it points to this program moving in this (pointing upward) direction."
The Spartans won their first eight games of the year to rise to No. 5 in the Bowl Championship Series standings, the highest ranking in program history.
MSU concluded the year with an 11-1 overall record and a 7-1 mark in conference play to collect the seventh Big Ten title in school annals.
Dantonio is the fifth Spartans mentor to be named Big Ten Coach of the Year, a group that includes John L. Smith (2003), George Perles (1987), Darryl Rogers (1977) and Denny Stolz (1974).school-record
11 wins and a share of their first Big Ten championship since 1990.
Nov. 29, 2010
