1978_All-Big_Ten_Conference_football_team

1978 All-Big Ten Conference football team

1978 All-Big Ten Conference football team

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The 1978 All-Big Ten Conference football team consists of American football players chosen by various organizations for All-Big Ten Conference teams for the 1978 Big Ten Conference football season. The only player unanimously selected by the conference coaches as a first-team player was Michigan fullback Russell Davis. Michigan State flanker Kirk Gibson fell one point short of unanimity, and running back Marion Barber, Jr., fell two points short.[1]

Offensive selections

Quarterbacks

Quarterback Rick Leach
  • Rick Leach, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
  • Ed Smith, Michigan State (AP-2; UPI-2)

Running backs

  • Marion Barber, Jr., Minnesota (AP-1; UPI-1 [tailback])
  • Russell Davis, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1 [fullback])
  • Mike Harkrader, Indiana (AP-2, UPI-2 [tailback])
  • John Macon, Purdue (AP-2; UPI-2 [fullback])

Flankers/split ends

  • Kirk Gibson, Michigan State (AP-1 [flanker]; UPI-1 [wingback])
  • Eugene Byrd, Michigan State (AP-1 [wide receiver]; UPI-1 [split end])
  • Brad Reid, Iowa (AP-2 [wide receiver])
  • David Charles, Wisconsin (AP-2 [flanker]; UPI-2 [split end])
  • Ralph Clayton (UPI-2 [wingback])

Tight ends

Centers

  • Mark Heidel, Indiana (AP-1; UPI-1)
  • Steve Nauta, Michigan (AP-2; UPI-2)

Guards

  • Ken Fritz, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-1)
  • John Arbeznik, Michigan (AP-2 [tackle]; UPI-1)
  • Greg Bartnick, Michigan (AP-2, UPI-2)
  • Dale Schwan, Purdue (AP-2)
  • John LeFeber, Purdue (UPI-2)

Tackles

  • Jon Giesler, Michigan (AP-1 [guard]; UPI-1)
  • Jim Hinsley, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
  • Joe Robinson, Ohio State (AP-1)
  • Steve McKenzie, Purdue (AP-2, UPI-2)
  • Keith Ferguson, Ohio State (UPI-2)

Defensive selections

Defensive linemen

  • Curtis Greer, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
  • Melvin Land, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
  • Ken Loushin, Purdue (AP-1; UPI-1)
  • Keena Turner, Purdue (AP-1; UPI-1)
  • Kelton Dansler, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-2 [defensive end])
  • Stan Sytsma, Minnesota (AP-2; UPI-1)
  • Marcus Jackson, Purdue (AP-2; UPI-2 [defensive tackle])
  • Jerry Meter, Michigan (AP-2; UPI-2 [defensive end])
  • Dan Relich, Wisconsin (AP-2)
  • Jim Ronan, Minnesota (AP-2)
  • Byron Cato, Ohio State (UPI-2 [defensive tackle])
  • Doug Friberg, Minnesota (UPI-2 [defensive guard])

Linebackers

  • Tom Cousineau, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-1)
  • Joe Norman, Indiana (AP-1; UPI-1)
  • Ron Simpkins, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-2)
  • Dan Bass, Michigan State (AP-2)
  • Tom Rusk, Iowa (AP-2; UPI-2)
  • John Sullivan, Illinois (AP-2)

Defensive backs

  • Mike Jolly, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
  • Tom Graves, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-2)
  • Vince Skillings, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-2)
  • Keith Brown, Minnesota (UPI-1)
  • Mike Guess, Ohio State (UPI-1)
  • Mike Harden, Michigan (UPI-1)
  • Mark Anderson, Michigan State (AP-2; UPI-2)
  • Dave Abrams, Indiana (AP-2)
  • Pat Geegan, Northwestern (AP-2)
  • Lawrence Johnson, Wisconsin (UPI-2)

Special teams

Placekicker

  • Paul Rogind, Minnesota (AP-1; UPI-1)
  • Scott Sovereen, Purdue (AP-2)
  • Greg Willner, Michigan (UPI-2)

Punter

Key

AP = Associated Press[2]

UPI = United Press International, selected by the Big Ten Conference coaches[1]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Co-champs dominate all-Big Ten selections". The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL). November 30, 1978. p. B3.
  2. [2]
    "Leach leads All-Big Ten: Michigan, MSU dominate team". The Kokomo Tribune. December 7, 1978. p. 26.
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