Erickson, Marz lead All-Big Ten honorees for UW offense

Photo by: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Erickson, Marz lead All-Big Ten honorees for UW offense

December 01, 2015 | Football

Former walk-on receiver Erickson earns first-team all-conference nod

MADISON, Wis. – Led by first-team selection Alex Erickson, the Wisconsin football team on Tuesday added a pair of honorees from its offense to the list of Badgers earning All-Big Ten recognition.

Erickson was named a first-team All-Big Ten selection in a vote of media members covering the conference and was a second-team choice by the league's coaches. He's joined on the list of All-Big Ten honorees by senior LT Tyler Marz, who was a second-team pick of the media and a third-team selection by the coaches.

Erickson has averaged 77.0 receiving yards per game, ranking third in the Big Ten. The Badgers' leading receiver with 924 yards, he needs 76 more in UW's bowl game to become the fourth player in school history with a 1,000-yard receiving season.

Among Big Ten players, only Michigan State's Aaron Burbridge (75) has caught more passes than Erickson, who has tallied 72 grabs on the year and needs six more to match UW's single-season school record of 78.

Both of Wisconsin's first-team All-Big Ten selections began their careers as walk-ons. In addition to Erickson, senior OLB Joe Schobert was a consensus first-team selection on defense and was named Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year.

Marz was honored as the anchor of an offensive line beset by injuries. In last Saturday's regular-season finale, he shared starter's duties with four redshirt freshmen. He has started 39 consecutive games at left tackle, dating back to 2013, and will play in the 50th game of his career in UW's bowl game.

Marz was honored for the third-consecutive year after being an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 2013 and 2014. He also is expected to earn his fourth Academic All-Big Ten award.

Also Tuesday, sophomore TE Troy Fumagalli earned consensus honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition after finishing the regular season as UW's fourth-leading receiver with 26 catches for 277 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt freshman OL Michael Deiter, who has started all 12 games while logging time at both guard and center for the Badgers, earned honorable mention from the media.

Including the defensive players named Monday, the Badgers produced a total of 12 All-Big Ten honorees.

Wisconsin's 2015 All-Big Ten Selections
• OLB Vince Biegel (3rd, consensus)
• S Michael Caputo (2nd, consensus)
• OL Michael Deiter (honorable mention, media)
• ILB T.J. Edwards (honorable mention, coaches)
• WR Alex Erickson (1st, media; 2nd, coaches)
• TE Troy Fumagalli (honorable mention, consensus)
• CB Darius Hillary (honorable mention, coaches)
• S Tanner McEvoy (honorable mention, consensus)
• LT Tyler Marz (2nd, media; 3rd, coaches)
• DE Chikwe Obasih (honorable mention, media)
• OLB Joe Schobert (1st, consensus)
• CB Sojourn Shelton (honorable mention, media)