MSU athletes honored with Big Ten awards

The Big Ten conference announced its annual football award winners Monday night and several MSU players were honored.

Swenson

Jones

Junior linebacker Greg Jones was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by the media, living up to his hype after he was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Jones leads the conference and is second in the nation in tackles, with 141, and has nine sacks. The junior captain also was named to the first team All-Big Ten by coaches and the media.

“I’m very happy to receive this honor, but it’s really a team award. The D-line did a great job this year, freeing up the linebackers to make plays,” he said. “That’s the way our system works, and that’s why I love it so much.”

Senior kicker Brett Swenson also was named first team all-Big Ten by coaches and the media. Swenson connected on 18-of-20 field goals this season and holds almost every MSU kicking record.

“Brett Swenson has had a remarkable career here at Michigan State, completely rewriting the record book,” head coach Mark Dantonio said. “You begin to appreciate what Brett has done here when you look at the great kickers who preceded him. … He was almost a unanimous selection as our team MVP, and that speaks volumes.”

Senior wide receiver Blair White was named to the All-Big Ten first team by media and the second team by the coaches.

The former walk-on and team captain led the team in catches (64), receiving yards (876) and touchdowns (eight).

“Blair White has had an outstanding senior season, and he’s very deserving of this recognition,” Dantonio said. “He has been a go-to receiver for us all year long, and he’s had a number of huge touchdown receptions. Blair is a sure-handed receiver who runs disciplined routes, so he breeds confidence in our quarterbacks.”

Senior center Joel Nitchman was named to second team All-Big Ten. Nitchman was a three-year starter at center.