2007 CFN All-Big Ten Team & Top 30 Players

It was a better year for the Big Ten than many made it out to be, especially on defense, as Penn State LB Dan Connor leads the way for the 2007 CFN All-Big Ten Team. Also check out the Top 30 Players, Top Position Players, Players of the Year, and more.

2006 CFN All-Big Ten Team | 2007 CFN Preseason All-Big Ten Team

Big Ten Player of the Year

Dan Connor, LB Penn State
The latest "greatest Penn State linebacker ever," Connor might not have been Paul Posluszny, but he was consistently tremendous with eight double-digit tackle games, 136 stops on the year with seven sacks and 17 tackles for loss. He was at his best in the biggest games with 18 tackles against Ohio State, 12 against Wisconsin and 13 against Michigan State.

Offensive Player of the Year - Jake Long, OT Michigan
Through injuries to Chad Henne and Mike Hart, and with problems early on in the year with the rough start, Long was the one constant throughout the season. He might not have been spectacular like a Rashard Mendenhall or explosive like a James Hardy, but he came up with a strong senior year and proved why he'll likely be a top five draft pick.
 

2007 Collegefootballnews.com All-Big Ten Team

Offense QB - Todd Boeckman, Jr. OSU RB - Rashard Mendenhall, Jr. Ill. RB - Chris Wells, Soph. OSU WR - James Hardy, Jr. Indiana WR - Mario Manningham, Jr. Mich TE - Travis Beckum, Jr. Wisc. OL - Kirk Barton, Sr. OSU OL - Alex Boone, Jr. OSU OL - Jake Long, Sr. Michigan OL - Adam Kraus, Sr. Michigan OL - Martin O'Donnell, Sr. Illinois PK - Austin Starr, Jr. Indiana KR - Dorien Bryant, Sr. Purdue

Defense DL - Vernon Gholston, Soph. OSU DL - Maurice Evans, Soph. PSU DL - Greg Middleton, Soph. IU DL - Jonal Saint-Dic, Sr. MSU LB - Dan Connor, Sr. PSU LB - James Laurinaitis, Jr. OSU LB - J Leman, Sr. Illinois DB - Dominique Barber, Sr. Minn. DB - Jack Ikegwuonu, Jr. Wisc. DB - Malcolm Jenkins, Jr. OSU DB - Justin King, Jr. Penn State P - Justin Kucek, Jr. Minnesota PR - David Gilreath, Fr. Wisc.

Top 30 players regardless of position Based on the season the player had 1. LB Dan Connor, Sr. Penn State 2. OT Jake Long, Sr. Michigan 3. RB Rashard Mendenhall, Jr. Ill. 4. OT Kirk Barton, Sr. Ohio State 5. LB James Laurinaitis, Jr. OSU 6. LB J Leman, Sr. Illinois 7. LB Sean Lee, Jr. Penn State 8. WR James Hardy, Jr. Indiana 9. RB Chris Wells, Soph. Ohio St. 10. TE Travis Beckum, Jr. Wisconsin 11 DE Greg Middleton, Soph. Indiana 12. DE Vernon Gholston, Soph. OSU 13. DE Maurice Evans, Soph. PSU 14. LB Shawn Crable, Sr. Michigan 15. WR Mario Manningham, Jr. Mich 16. RB Mike Hart, Sr. Michigan 17. OT Alex Boone, Jr. Ohio State 18. QB Todd Boeckman, Jr. OSU 19. QB Juice Williams, Soph. Illinois 20. RB Javon Ringer, Jr. MSU 21. RB P.J. Hill, Jr. Wisconsin 22. OG Martin O'Donnell, Sr. Illinois 23. DE Jonal Saint-Dic, Sr. MSU 24. CB Justin King, Jr. Penn State 25. WR Devin Thomas, Jr. MSU 26. QB Kellen Lewis, Jr. Indiana 27. DT Mitch King, Jr. Iowa 28. CB Jack Ikegwuonu, Jr. Wisc. 29. CB Malcolm Jenkins, Jr. OSU 30. QB Curtis Painter, Sr. Purdue

Top Quarterbacks 1. Todd Boeckman, Ohio St 2. Juice Williams, Illinois 3. Kellen Lewis, Indiana 4. Curtis Painter, Purdue 5. C.J. Bacher, Northwestern Top Running Backs 1. Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois 2. Chris Wells, Ohio State 3. Mike Hart, Michigan 4. Javon Ringer, Michigan St 5. P.J. Hill, Wisconsin Top Wide Receivers 1. James Hardy, Indiana 2. Travis Beckum, Wisc. (TE) 3. Mario Manningham, Mich 4. Devin Thomas, Michigan St 5. Dorien Bryant, Purdue Top Offensive Linemen 1. Jake Long, Michigan 2. Kirk Barton, OSU 3. Alex Boone, OSU 4. Martin O'Donnell, Illinois 5. Adam Kraus, Michigan Top Defensive Linemen 1. Greg Middleton, Indiana 2. Vernon Gholston, Ohio State 3. Maurice Evans, Soph. PSU 4. Jonal Saint-Dic, MSU 5. Mitch King, Iowa Top Linebackers 1. Dan Connor, Penn State 2. James Laurinaitis, Ohio St 3. J Leman, Illinois 4. Sean Lee. Penn State 5. Shawn Crable, Michigan Top Defensive Backs 1. Justin King, Penn State 2. Jack Ikegwuonu, Wisconsin 3. Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio St 4. Dominique Barber, Minn. 5. Vontae Davis, Illinois Top Kickers 1. PK Austin Starr, Indiana 2. PK Taylor Mehlhaff, Wisc. 3. PK Jason Reda, Illinois 4. PK Kevin Kelly, Penn State 5. PK Ryan Pretorius, Ohio St

2006 CFN All-Big Ten Team | 2007 CFN Preseason All-Big Ten Team