Big Ten 2009 All-Offensive Team: A Glimpse at the Conference's Best

Any time that "all time," "best of," or "all team" articles are published, authors set themselves up for intense scrutiny.

The beautiful aspect of writing about sports is one of subjectivity; it's how the author perceives the topic, making the writing interesting, thought-provoking, and unique.

If everyone had the same opinion, reading the cornucopia of articles that are available would be a mundane, tedious process.

With that being said, let's get to the nitty-gritty, MY 2009 Big Ten All-Offensive Squad.

Offensive Line: Penn State

Does this really need an explanation? 

Quarterback: Darryl Clark (Sr.), Penn State  

The Nittany Lion signal-caller has led his team to another impressive 10-win season, doing so with finesse and vigor.

JoePa's senior sensation is coming off the best season in his illustrious career in Happy Valley, and he certainly deserves the moniker of "best quarterback in the Big Ten."

Clark has piled up consistent numbers by the truckload in 2009 and has been the anchor for Paterno's offensive unit.

He's racked up 2,787 yards through the air, was ranked fourth in total yards in the conference, thrown for 23 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions, all while completing almost 62 percent of his passes.  

Clark's most impressive game stat-wise was the derailment of Michigan State in the annual "Land Grant Trophy" battle: 310 yards passing, 70 percent completion rate, four touchdowns, and no interceptions in the 42-14 mangling he served to Sparty in East Lansing. 

Every great quarterback needs receivers, and good ones at that. The Big Ten was chock-full of great ball catching talent this year, so let's take a look who made my list.

Wide Receiver: Nick Toon (So.) Wisconsin

Nick Toon may have not had the "numbers," but he sure has the athleticism.

Toon will play on Sundays; he's that good. He made circus catches the norm, catching balls other receivers wouldn't even bother going after. Ask the Michigan Wolverines' secondary, they'll affirm this one for me.

Toon tallied 49 receptions for 713 yards (fourth in the Big Ten) and four touchdowns, averaging 14.6 yards per catch. Nick Toon will be an elite receiver in the Big Ten for years to come. He possesses the hands, the vision, and the balance necessary to be a corner's nightmare. 

Did I mention this guy can catch?

Wide Receiver: Keith Smith (Jr.) Purdue

The Junior out of Ft. Hood, Texas, is the real deal, folks.

Smith has amassed over 1,000 yards receiving (1,100). His sure-handedness and monster strength are just a couple attributes Purdue's top wide out has.

The only receiver in the Big Ten to go over a thousand yards on the year, Smith has averaged over 12 yards per catch while collecting six touchdowns.

Keith had six 100-plus-yard games, pulling down seven-plus receptions in eight games this year.

Smith gave the Spartan secondary all they could handle with 15 catches and 152 yards in a shoot-out in West Lafayette a couple of weeks ago. Purdue came up short, as Michigan State's All-American kicker Brett Swenson sealed the deal for MSU, 40-37.

It's too bad Purdue fans won't get another year of the Elliott-Smith Airshow, but it was good while it lasted. The air in Ross-Ade can breath a little easier now.  

Wide Receiver: Blair White (Sr.) Michigan State

The former walk-on turned captain has emerged as a playmaker for the green and white in the last two years.

Blair White has made a career of impossible catches and timely receptions, and is one of the hardest working players in college football.

Although White's season totals may not impress on the level that Smith and Toon's do, Blair was there when Sparty needed him. 

White had 186 yards receiving against Northwestern, his biggest game statistically, but his breathtaking hook and ladder play ALMOST toppled the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes.

White's touchdown total is tops among receivers in the conference with eight, and he averaged 13.7 yards per catch to boot.

With 876 yards on 64 grabs, playing on Sundays is in White's future.

Tight End: Tony Moeaki (Sr.) Iowa

Tony Moeaki missed five games in 2009, and was part of the feel-good story of the year in the Big Ten—Iowa's undefeated streak. 

Moeaki was a reliable target for Ricky Stanzi, and he's without a doubt the dominant tight end in the Big Ten. He has what you look for in a tight end: 6'4'', 250 lbs, great hands, and PHYSICAL.

Moekaki's big game was the 30-28 victory over the visiting Wolverines, a game where he caught two balls for touchdowns, averaged 17.5 yards a catch against the maize and blue, and went for over 100 yards on six grabs.

Tony Moeaki is a next-level tight end. Despite his spotty senior year, he still earned himself a spot on this list due to what he DID while he was HEALTHY. 

The Big Ten boasts quality talents in the backfield, here are my choices.

Running Back: Evan Royster (Jr.) Penn State

Royster is one of only two running backs in the Big Ten to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark, the other being Wisconsin's John Clay.

Royster sliced and juked his way for six touchdowns on about six yards per carry in '09. When you factor in that he was one of JoePa's go-to guys on offense, then you've got one heck of a ball carrier.

The running back's 1,104 yards were second in the Big Ten. He scampered downfield for over 100 yards six times, often displaying breakaway speed.

Think about the "it" factor that is so commonly used when describing athletes.

Evan Royster has "it." He makes defenders miss and has those all-important high gears, burners, whatever you call them—he's fast.

Running Back: John Clay (So.) Wisconsin

What can you say about Clay?

This man was a workhorse for the Badgers in 2009.

Clay carried the ball an astonishing 241 more times than any other running back in the Big Ten this year. He's this year's Javon Ringer and tirelessly put the Badgers offense on his back game after game. 

Clay averaged just over five yards per carry, bulldozing his way for 1,244 yards while hitting paydirt 13 times! 

Ron Dayne would be proud.

Perhaps the most underrated, underappreciated, and just overlooked position in football is the kicker.

Yes, contrary to popular belief, they're football players, too.

This was my easiest choice. I've had the pleasure of seeing the nation's best kicker hit field goal after field goal for years —the incomparable Brett Swenson.

Kicker: Brett Swenson (Sr.) Michigan State

Brett led the conference in scoring, averaged over seven points a game, and became Michigan State's all-time leading scorer in his magnificent senior session.

That's what I call going out with a bang, Mr. Swenson. Who could imagine a better way to end their college career? I certainly can't.

I have a feeling that this year won't be the last we see of Brett Swenson, as he's got a cannon for a leg.

Brett tied his career long of 52 yards twice in the same game and led the Big Ten in field goals made (tied with two others). He even managed to outscore Wisconsin's John Clay.

Brett Swenson is one of the most prolific kickers in recent memory. As far as that's concerned, he comes from right lineage.

Michigan State has produced some of the college game's greatest kickers. Does the name Morten Andersen ring a bell?

X-Factor/All purpose: Keshawn Martin (So.) Michigan State

The X-factor can be debated for hours.

But I'm going to get this one out of the way; it's Michigan State's Keshawn Martin.

Martin is the most electrifying player in the Big Ten, possibly in the country.

Put Martin in as a receiver, give him the ball on an end around, or let him throw it (he was a high school quarterback), he can do it all.

Martin racked up over 1,000 all-purpose yards in his sophomore campaign, was fifth in the conference in punt return average, and third in kick returns.

The sophomore will be making Spartan fans say "How in the hell did he do that?" for two more years, while burning your favorite Big Ten team's defense on big play after big play.