With the nation’s No. 1 defense residing in East Lansing, it was all but guaranteed the Spartans would make their presence known in the Big Ten football awards. Six members of the No. 10 MSU football team earned All-Big Ten first team honors from the coaches, the program’s highest amount since 1966 — the last time the Spartans claimed a national title.
Senior safety Isaiah Lewis, junior safety Kurtis Drummond and senior cornerback Darqueze Dennard were those named to the first team, taking up three of the four defensive back spots on the first team. Sophomore defensive end Shilique Calhoun, senior linebacker Max Bullough and junior punter Mike Sadler completed the Spartans’ showing on the first team.
However, Dennard and Calhoun were the biggest winners of the night, with Dennard winning the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year award and Calhoun taking home the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year.
“Placing five players on the Coaches’ All-Big Ten first-team defense speaks to the success of our entire unit as well as the coaching staff,” Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio said in a release. “Our defense did an outstanding job throughout the 12-game regular season, and we look forward to our biggest challenge of the season in Ohio State this weekend in Indianapolis.”
Senior offensive guard Blake Treadwell and senior linebacker Denicos Allen were named to the second team by the coaches and media. The coaches gave sophomore quarterback Connor Cook some love by naming him to the second team, while the media gave sophomore center Jack Allen second team honors.
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