PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Cincinnati, Louisville and West Virginia – which finished in a three-way tie for the BIG EAST title – joined Rutgers as schools that had individual winners of the BIG EAST postseason football honors as chosen by the league’s eight head coaches.
Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, while defensive tackle Derek Wolfe joined Rutgers linebacker Khaseem Greene as the BIG EAST Defensive Players of the Year. West Virginia wide receiver and return specialist Tavon Austin was tabbed as BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Year, while Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was the unanimous choice as BIG EAST Rookie of the Year. Cincinnati coach Butch Jones was tabbed by his counterparts as BIG EAST Coach of the Year.
The conference also announced the selections to its All-BIG EAST First and Second Teams, highlighted by Pead and Austin – the two unanimous selections to the first team.
Pead becomes the first Cincinnati player to be named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year and the fourth consecutive running back to earn the honor. Pead led the BIG EAST with 11 rushing touchdowns and was second in the conference in rushing, averaging 92.5 yards per game. He enters the postseason with 1,110 rushing yards and ranks second in the BIG EAST in scoring – first among non-kickers – with 84 points. Pead, who was unanimously chosen to the All-BIG EAST First Team, also had 36 receptions for 304 yards and three touchdowns. He ranked second in the BIG EAST in all-purpose yards, averaging 124.1 yards per game.
Wolfe is the first Cincinnati player to be named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year following a regular season in which he led the BIG EAST with 19.5 tackles for loss and had 9.5 sacks. He is the focal point of a Bearcat defense that limited opponents to just 92.7 rushing yards per game – good for second in the BIG EAST – and a league-low eight rushing touchdowns.
Greene likewise becomes the first Rutgers player to be chosen as BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. Greene finished the regular season with a BIG EAST-leading 127 tackles – 20 more than anyone else in the conference – while averaging 10.6 stops per game. He is the key man on a Scarlet Knight defense that leads the BIG EAST in total defense (311.5 yards per game) and scoring defense (18.8 points per game).
Austin is the third West Virginia player to earn BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Year honors, joining punter Todd Sauerbrun, who won in 1994, and cornerback Adam Jones, who was the 2004 selection. Austin was chosen to the All-BIG EAST First Team at two positions, getting the nod at wide receiver in addition to his unanimous selection at the return specialist spot. He leads the BIG EAST and is ranked second nationally in all-purpose yards (191.2 yards per game), is the league leader in punt returns (14.1 yards per return) and is second in the conference in kickoff returns (26.5 yards per return). Austin is the only BIG EAST player to return two kickoffs for touchdowns this season.
Bridgewater is the third Louisville player in the last four years to be named BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, joining a pair of teammates – running back Victor Anderson, who was selected in 2008, and safety Hakeem Smith, who was chosen last year. Bridgewater became Louisville’s starting quarterback in the fourth game of the season and led the Cardinals to five wins in their last six games to earn a share of the BIG EAST championship. He enters the postseason ranked third in the BIG EAST in pass efficiency rating (136.1) after throwing for 1,855 yards and 12 touchdowns in the regular season.
Jones becomes Cincinnati’s fourth BIG EAST Coach of the Year selection, joining three-time winner Brian Kelly. Jones engineered a five-win turnaround from last season, leading Cincinnati to a share of the BIG EAST championship and an appearance in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl after a 9-3 regular season. The Bearcats were picked fifth in the BIG EAST preseason media poll, but ended up earning a share of their third conference title in four years.
Connecticut kicker Dave Teggart, Connecticut defensive lineman Kendall Reyes and West Virginia cornerback Keith Tandy are the three repeat selections to the All-BIG EAST First Team.
2011 BIG EAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL AWARDSBIG EAST CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati (Sr., Columbus, Ohio)
BIG EAST CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati (Sr., Lisbon, Ohio)
Khaseem Greene, LB, Rutgers (Jr., Elizabeth, N.J.)
BIG EAST CONFERENCE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia (Jr., Baltimore, Md.)
BIG EAST CONFERENCE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville (Fr., Miami, Fla.)
BIG EAST CONFERENCE COACH OF THE YEAR
Butch Jones, Cincinnati
ALL-BIG EAST CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
WR, Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers,
WR, Tavon Austin, West Virginia
OT, Justin Pugh, Syracuse
OT, Don Barclay, West Virginia
OG, Randy Martinez, Cincinnati
OG, Art Forst, Rutgers
OG, Andrew Tiller, Syracuse
C, Moe Petrus, Connecticut
TE, Nick Provo, Syracuse
QB, Geno Smith, West Virginia
RB, Isaiah Pead *, Cincinnati
RB, Ray Graham, Pittsburgh
RB, Antwon Bailey, Syracuse
K, Dave Teggart, Connecticut
RS, Tavon Austin *, West Virginia
DEFENSE
Pos., Player, School
DL, Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati
DL, Kendall Reyes, Connecticut
DL, Chandler Jones, Syracuse
DL, Bruce Irvin, West Virginia
LB, JK Schaffer, Cincinnati
LB, Khaseem Greene, Rutgers
LB, Najee Goode, West Virginia
CB, Adrian Bushell, Louisville
CB, Keith Tandy, West Virginia
S, Drew Frey, Cincinnati
S, Hakeem Smith, Louisville
S, Jarred Holley, Pittsburgh
S, Duron Harmon, Rutgers
P, Pat O’Donnell, Cincinnati
* unanimous selection
ALL-BIG EAST CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Pos., Player, School
WR, Alec Lemon, Syracuse
WR, Stedman Bailey, West Virginia
OT, Alex Hoffman, Cincinnati
OT, Mike Ryan, Connecticut
OG, Desmond Wynn, Rutgers
OG, Jeremiah Warren,USF
C, Joe Madsen, West Virginia
QB, Zach Collaros, Cincinnati
TE, Ryan Griffin, Connecticut
RB, Lyle McCombs, Connecticut
RB, Darrell Scott, USF
K, Maikon Bonani, USF
RS, Jeremy Deering, Rutgers
DEFENSE
Pos., Player, School
DL, Trevardo Williams, Connecticut
DL, Chas Alecxih, Pittsburgh
DL, Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
DL, Ryne Giddins, USF
LB, Dexter Heyman, Louisville
LB, Max Gruder, Pittsburgh
LB, Marquis Spruill, Syracuse
CB, Dwayne Gratz, Connecticut
CB, Antwuan Reed, Pittsburgh
CB, Logan Ryan, Rutgers
CB, Kayvon Webster, USF
S, Jerrell Young, USF
S, Eain Smith, West Virginia
P, Cole Wagner, Connecticut
P, Justin Doerner, Rutgers
Additional players added to the All-BIG EAST teams due to ties in the voting
BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
1991 Gino Torretta, QB, Miami, Jr.
1992 Gino Torretta, QB, Miami, Sr. *
1993 Glenn Foley, QB, Boston College, Sr.
1994 Billy West, RB, Pittsburgh, So.
1995 Marco Battaglia, TE, Rutgers, Sr.
1996 Jim Druckenmiller, QB, Virginia Tech, Sr.; Donovan McNabb, QB, Syracuse, So.
1997 Donovan McNabb, QB, Syracuse, Jr.
1998 Donovan McNabb, QB, Syracuse, Sr.
1999 Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech, Fr.
2000 Antonio Bryant, WR, Pittsburgh, So.; Lee Suggs, RB, Virginia Tech, So.; Santana Moss, WR, Miami, Sr.
2001 William Green, RB, Boston College, Jr.; Ken Dorsey, QB, Miami, Jr.
2002 Ken Dorsey, QB, Miami, Sr.; Willis McGahee, RB, Miami, So.
2003 Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh, So.
2004 Rasheed Marshall, QB, West Virginia, Sr.
2005 Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville, So.
2006 Pat White, QB, West Virginia, So.
2007 Pat White, QB, West Virginia, Jr.
2008 Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut, Jr.
2009 Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh, Fr.
2010 Jordan Todman, RB, Connecticut, Jr. *
2011 Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati, Sr.
BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
1991 Darrin Smith, LB, Miami, Jr.; George Rooks, DT, Syracuse, Sr.
1992 Micheal Barrow, LB, Miami, Sr.
1993 Kevin Patrick, DE, Miami, Sr.
1994 Warren Sapp, DL, Miami, Jr.
1995 Cornell Brown, DE, Virginia Tech, Jr.
1996 Canute Curtis, DL, West Virginia, Sr.
1997 Donovin Darius, S, Syracuse, Sr.
1998 Corey Moore, DE, Virginia Tech, Jr.
1999 Corey Moore, DE, Virginia Tech, Sr.*
2000 Dan Morgan, LB, Miami, Sr.*
2001 Edward Reed, SS, Miami, Sr.; Dwight Freeney, DE, Syracuse, Sr.
2002 Dan Klecko, DL, Temple, Sr.
2003 Sean Taylor, FS, Miami, Jr.
2004 Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, Boston College, Jr.
2005 Elvis Dumervil, DE, Louisville, Sr.
2006 H.B. Blades, LB, Pittsburgh, Sr.
2007 George Selvie, DE, USF, So.
2008 Scott McKillop, LB, Pittsburgh, Sr.
2009 Greg Romeus, DE, Pittsburgh, Jr.; Mick Williams, DT, Pittsburgh, Sr.
2010 Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh, Sr.
2011 Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati, Sr.; Khaseem Greene, LB, Rutgers, Jr.
* - unanimous selection
BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
1991 Kevin Williams, RS, Miami, So.
1992 John Biskup, PK, Syracuse, Sr.
1993 Pat O’Neill, P/PK, Syracuse, Sr.
1994 Todd Sauerbrun, P, West Virginia, Sr. *
1995 Marvin Harrison, RS, Syracuse, Sr.
1996 Tremain Mack, RS, Miami, Sr.*
1997 Quinton Spotwood, KR, Syracuse, So. *
1998 Kevin Johnson, KR, Syracuse, Sr. *
1999 Shayne Graham, PK, Virginia Tech, Sr.
2000 Santana Moss, PR, Miami, Sr.*
2001 Phillip Buchanon, PR/KR, Miami, Jr.
2002 Andy Lee, P, Pittsburgh, Jr.; Nate Jones, KR, Rutgers, Jr.
2003 Andy Lee, P, Pittsburgh, Sr.; DeAngelo Hall, PR, Virginia Tech, Jr.
2004 Adam Jones, West Virginia, RS/DB, Jr.
2005 Willie Foster, Rutgers, RS/WR, Jr.
2006 Ean Randolph, USF, RS, Sr.
2007 Kevin Huber, P, Cincinnati, Jr.
2008 Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati, Jr.
2009 Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati, Sr.
2010 Lindsey Lamar, WR, USF, So.
2011 Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia, Jr.
BIG EAST ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1991 Tom Tumulty, LB, Pittsburgh
1992 Bruce Presley, RB, Rutgers
1993 Terrell Willis, RB, Rutgers
1994 Kenard Lang, DE, Miami
1995 Donovan McNabb, QB, Syracuse *
1996 Amos Zereoue, RB, West Virginia *
1997 Reggie Wayne, WR, Miami
1998 Joaquin Gonzalez, OT, Miami
1999 Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech
2000 Grant Wiley, LB, West Virginia
2001 Kevin Jones, RB, Virginia Tech
2002 Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh
2003 Chris Henry, WR, West Virginia
2004 Brian Toal, LB, Boston College
2005 Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia
2006 Matt Grothe, QB, USF
2007 LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh *
2008 Victor Anderson, RB, Louisville
2009 Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh *
2010 Hakeem Smith, S, Louisville
2011 Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville *
BIG EAST COACH OF THE YEAR
1991 Dennis Erickson, Miami*
1992 Dennis Erickson, Miami
1993 Don Nehlen, West Virginia*
1994 Dennis Erickson, Miami
1995 Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech*
1996 Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech
1997 Walt Harris, Pittsburgh
1998 Terry Shea, Rutgers
1999 Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech
2000 Butch Davis, Miami
2001 Larry Coker, Miami
2002 Larry Coker, Miami
2003 Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia*
2004 Walt Harris, Pittsburgh
2005 Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia
2006 Greg Schiano, Rutgers
2007 Brian Kelly, Cincinnati
2008 Brian Kelly, Cincinnati
2009 Brian Kelly, Cincinnati
2010 Randy Edsall, Connecticut; Charlie Strong, Louisville
2011 Butch Jones, Cincinnati
