2016 Big Ten Football All-Conference Team
The 2016 campaign brought a stunning result in the Big Ten, but the all-conference team reflects most of what we expected.
A pair of programs dominated the list, and it won't come as a surprise which two those were. Five of the remaining 12 member schools placed a player on the All-Big Ten squad.
Statistical output, value to team and performance against top competition were considered. Production in the conference championship game was included in the final stats.
Don't see someone you thought was deserving? Head to the comments section and add your thoughts there.
Quarterback
1 of 9
Trace McSorley, Penn State
At the end of September, the idea Penn State would win the Big Ten was nothing short of laughable. The Nittany Lions had lost twice, including a 49-10 smackdown at the hands of Michigan.
But Trace McSorley had other plans.
Led by their sophomore quarterback, the Nittany Lions settled into first-year coordinator Joe Moorhead's offense. McSorley threw 21 touchdowns and just three picks during the team's nine-game winning streak.
He finished the pre-bowl season with 3,360 yards (14th nationally), 25 touchdowns (T-25th) and a 156.6 rating (14th). McSorley added 352 yards and six scores on the ground.
Running Backs
2 of 9
Curtis Samuel, Ohio State
As an H-back—a running back/receiver hybrid—Curtis Samuel could be considered a wideout. However, we're listing the junior as a running back. Either way, he'd be a first-teamer.
Samuel occupied a central role for Ohio State, which earned its second trip to the College Football Playoff in three years.
He tallied 704 yards and eight touchdowns on 91 carries, as well as 822 yards and seven scores on 65 receptions—the second-most in the conference. Nobody in the Big Ten averaged more yards from scrimmage than Samuel (127.2).
Note: Corey Clement (Wisconsin) would be the choice had we elected to list Samuel as a wide receiver.
Saquon Barkley, Penn State
McSorley's efficiency was crucial, but Penn State wouldn't have bounced back without Saquon Barkley.
A true sophomore, he collected 1,302 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. Barkley also caught 23 passes for 347 yards and three scores, reaching the end zone in 11 of 13 outings.
Barkley's 126.8 yards from scrimmage per game ranked second in the Big Ten and 24th nationally.
Wide Receivers
3 of 9
Austin Carr, Northwestern
The runaway choice for Big Ten Receiver of the Year, Austin Carr put together the definition of a breakout season.
Although Northwestern managed just a 6-6 record, the senior paced the Big Ten with 84 receptions, 1,196 yards and 12 scores. No other receiver topped 1,000 yards, and only Purdue's DeAngelo Yancey also caught double-digit touchdowns.
Each number in Carr's stat line is 15th or better in the country. He'll have an excellent chance to pad those numbers in the Pinstripe Bowl against Pitt, which has the nation's second-worst pass defense.
Amara Darboh, Michigan
Jehu Chesson and Jake Butt often received the most hype, but Amara Darboh was the primary target for Michigan's offense.
A sure-handed senior, Darboh reeled in 52 passes for 826 yards and seven touchdowns. He topped the 100-yard mark twice and finished with 40-plus yards in 10 of 12 games.
Darboh's streak of 32-straight games with at least one reception is the fourth-longest run in school history.
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Tight End
4 of 9
Mike Gesicki, Penn State
Butt deserves his status as a top NFL prospect at the position, but Mike Gesicki's season edged the Michigan standout's.
Among tight ends, Gesicki finished fourth in the Football Bowl Subdivision and 11th in the Big Ten with 668 receiving yards. He snagged 47 passes and scored four times, all of which were career-high marks.
The junior set records for the most catches and receiving yards by a tight end in Penn State history.
Offensive Line
5 of 9
Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin
There aren't many players with better stories than Ryan Ramczyk. Four years ago, he took a break from football. After opening his college career at UW-Stevens Point, Ramczyk transferred to Madison.
And the Badgers were fortunate to have him. Ramczyk—whose draft stock has soared to a Day 2 lock at worst—was the top performer of an offensive line that helped Corey Clement average more than 100 rushing yards.
Dan Feeney, Indiana
Indiana had a very Indiana-like season, sticking with Nebraska, Penn State and Michigan, yet falling short and narrowly reaching a bowl game. But the Hoosiers could always rely on Dan Feeney.
The senior played both right guard and right tackle, leading the way for a 1,000-yard rusher in Devine Redding. Feeney will also hear his name called in the 2017 NFL draft.
Pat Elflein, Ohio State
The 2016 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, Pat Elflein is a key reason Ohio State overcame massive roster turnover to reach the CFP. While Elflein was a steady force up front, his leadership was also crucial for the young team.
"He's one of the best teammates I've ever had," quarterback J.T. Barrett said, according to Land of 10's Ben Axelrod. "That's just solely because he cares about the people."
Billy Price, Ohio State
If Billy Price elects to enter the NFL draft, the race to be the first offensive guard selected may come down to him and Feeney.
Behind Elflein and Price, Ohio State ended the pre-bowl season as the Big Ten's No. 1 offense in both total rushing yards and yards per carry. In the meantime, Price may receive an All-American nod.
Erik Magnuson, Michigan
Michigan's offensive line faltered in key moments, but Erik Magnuson was the most consistent player.
Largely thanks to Magnuson holding down the edge, the Wolverines surrendered just 18 sacks all season. Like the rest of the first-teamers, Magnuson should be an early round NFL draft pick.
Defensive Line
6 of 9
Taco Charlton, Michigan
Despite missing two games, Taco Charlton deserves all of the accolades he'll receive. The senior was outstanding in 2016.
Charlton recorded 11.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks—the latter of which tied for the third-highest clip in the Big Ten. In addition to 37 total tackles from his defensive end spot, he tallied six QB hurries.
Jaleel Johnson, Iowa
Michigan's Ryan Glasgow and Minnesota's Steven Richardson were tough to contain. Jaleel Johnson was overwhelming.
The 6'4", 310-pound tackle notched 54 total stops, including 10 behind the line of scrimmage, and 7.5 sacks. Johnson chipped in three QB hurries and two pass breakups for the Hawkeyes.
Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State
Tyquan Lewis has a nose for the quarterback. He collected 7.5 sacks, five QB hurries and three forced fumbles en route to being named Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year.
"I love that guy," head coach Urban Meyer said, per Bill Landis of Cleveland.com. "He raises the level of play of those around him. He's actually a very good player now."
Chris Wormley, Michigan
Michigan's two losses can't be pinned on the defensive line. Chris Wormley often flanked Charlton, but the senior could also move inside if necessary. Wormley was a star in 2016.
He posted 38 total tackles, accumulating 8.5 in the backfield with 5.5 sacks. Wormley—who also blocked two kicks on special teams—tallied four QB hurries for the nation's No. 2 defense.
Linebackers
7 of 9
T.J. Watt, Wisconsin
Entering the season, he was basically known for being J.J.'s brother. Three months later, T.J. Watt should be an independent name.
Opposing quarterbacks might've had nightmares about the standout edge-rusher, who notched 14.5 tackles for loss with 10.5 sacks and 12 hurries. Watt had 59 tackles and one interception, which he returned 17 yards for a touchdown.
Josey Jewell, Iowa
Iowa wouldn't have put together its turnaround without Johnson and Josey Jewell. He racked up 114 tackles—the second-most in the Big Ten—eight pass breakups, five hurries and one forced fumble.
And Jewell recently gave the Hawkeyes great news. According to Chad Leistikow of the Des Moines Register, the middle linebacker said he will likely return to Iowa next season.
Tegray Scales, Indiana
The Big Ten was loaded with productive outside linebackers. But just one defender in the country had more solo tackles than Tegray Scales, who gathered 87 of 116 total stops on his own.
Scales also amassed 20.5 tackles for loss with five sacks, four hurries, two pass breakups and a pick-six.
Secondary
8 of 9
Jourdan Lewis, Michigan
The Wolverines didn't rush Jourdan Lewis onto the field, so he missed three games due to an undisclosed pulled muscle. But when the senior returned, nobody could throw on him.
Because he was such a lockdown defender, box-score stats don't tell the whole story. Still, Lewis snagged two interceptions and broke up 10 passes, becoming Michigan's all-time leader in the latter category. His 10 PBU ranked seventh in the Big Ten.
Malik Hooker, Ohio State
We might as well start calling Malik Hooker the master of the pick-six. The redshirt sophomore intercepted a conference-high six passes and returned three of them to the house.
Hooker recently said that "right now" he fully intends on returning for 2017, per Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch. But after a season with 67 tackles and those six interceptions, nobody should ridicule Hooker if he changes his mind and heads to the NFL.
Desmond King, Iowa
The biggest compliment a quarterback can give to a cornerback is not throwing at him. It happened to Desmond King.
Opponents learned their lesson in 2015, when King intercepted eight passes. This year, the senior's numbers dropped because he wasn't targeted as often. Nevertheless, King shined in run support and totaled 53 tackles, adding seven breakups and two picks.
Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State
OK: heads for Marshon Lattimore, tails for Gareon Conley. Both of Ohio State's corners were outstanding, but we're going with Lattimore for the last first-team spot.
The redshirt sophomore snagged four interceptions and broke up nine passes, collecting 38 tackles and scoring one defensive touchdown. Lattimore could be a Day 1 pick if he declares for the draft.
Specialists
9 of 9
Tyler Davis, Penn State
Penn State surrendered two blocked kicks. Otherwise, Tyler Davis didn't miss anything all season long.
Davis, who walked on two years ago, connected on 22 field goals and 55 extra points. His 40-yard field goal against Minnesota forced overtime and saved Penn State's season. That victory sparked the team's winning streak and run to the Big Ten crown.
Cameron Johnston, Ohio State
The value of a punter is regularly overlooked. Nobody in the Big Ten can even compare to Cameron Johnston.
Ohio State's Aussie-style specialist boomed his 49 kicks at a conference-leading average of 46.2 yards. Michigan's Kenny Allen ranked second at 42.6 yards per punt, nearly four yards back. Johnston finished the pre-bowl season at fourth nationally.
Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
Since King earned a place as a first-team corner, we need the No. 2 choice. Peppers will slide into the list.
On punts, the Swiss Army knife led the Big Ten with a 14.8-yard average—which also ranked fifth nationally—and returned one for a touchdown. Peppers notched a 26-yard average on kickoffs.
All recruiting information via Scout. Stats from cfbstats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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