Northwestern University Athletics
Five 'Cats Recognized with Defensive All-Big Ten Honors
11/30/2021 11:03:00 AM | Football
ROSEMONT, Ill. — The Big Ten Conference's football coaches and media members have released their defensive all-league performers from the 2021 campaign. Northwestern senior linebacker Chris Bergin and sophomore safety Brandon Joseph headline a group of five defensive Wildcats that earned All-Conference honors.
In addition to Bergin and Joseph, defensive end Adetomiwa Adebawore and defensive backs A.J. Hampton, Jr. and Cameron Mitchell were recognized in the honorable mention category.
Bergin was voted a second team linebacker by the media and earned third team recognition from the coaches. He finished the regular season as the nation's leader in total (XXX) and solo tackles (84). His 84 solo stops were the most by a Wildcat in a single season since at least 2000. Bergin's 368 career tackles rank eighth all-time in program history.
Joseph was named to the media's second team and honorable mention by the coaches. He finished his sophomore season with a team-leading three interceptions and ranked third on NU's defense with 80 tackles. The College Station, Texas, native had four pass breakups and 1.5 tackles for loss. In the Indiana State game (9/11/21), Joseph racked up 111 punt return yards – first NU player to go over the century mark in a game since 2012.
2021 All-Big Ten Defensive Football Team
As selected by conference coaches
DEFENSE FIRST TEAM SECOND TEAM THIRD TEAM
Line Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan Zach VanValkenburg, Iowa Sam Okuayinonu, Maryland
Line Haskell Garrett, Ohio State Jacub Panasiuk, Michigan State Boye Mafe, Minnesota
Line Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State Tyreke Smith, Ohio State Zach Harrison, Ohio State
Line George Karlaftis, Purdue PJ Mustipher, Penn State Matt Henningsen, Wisconsin
Line Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin
Linebacker David Ojabo, Michigan Micah McFadden, Indiana Jack Campbell, Iowa
Linebacker Leo Chenal, Wisconsin JoJo Domann, Nebraska Chris Bergin, Northwestern
Linebacker Jack Sanborn, Wisconsin Ellis Brooks, Penn State Brandon Smith, Penn State
Defensive Back Dane Belton, Iowa Kerby Joseph, Illinois Denzel Burke, Ohio State
Defensive Back Riley Moss, Iowa Matt Hankins, Iowa Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn State
Defensive Back Dax Hill, Michigan Cam Taylor-Britt, Nebraska Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
Defensive Back Jaquan Brisker, Penn State Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State Caesar Williams, Wisconsin
DEFENSE HONORABLE MENTION
ILLINOIS: Sydney Brown, Owen Carney; IOWA: Jack Koerner, Noah Shannon; MARYLAND: Jakorian Bennett, Ami Finau; MICHIGAN: Chris Hinton, Josh Ross, Mazi Smith, D.J. Turner; MICHIGAN STATE: Quavaris Crouch, Xavier Henderson, Jacob Slade; MINNESOTA: Esezi Otomewo, Mariano Sori-Marin; NEBRASKA: Damion Daniels, Marquel Dismuke, Luke Reimer, Ben Stille, Deontai Williams; NORTHWESTERN: Adetomiwa Adebawore, A.J. Hampton, Brandon Joseph, Cameron Mitchell; OHIO STATE: Sevyn Banks, Cam Brown, Antwuan Jackson; PENN STATE: Tariq Castro-Fields, Jesse Luketa; PURDUE: Jaylan Alexander, Cam Allen, Branson Deen, Jalen Graham, Dedrick Mackey; RUTGERS: Olakunle Fatukasi, Julius Turner; WISCONSIN: Noah Burks, Nick Herbig, Faion Hicks, Isiah Mullens, Scott Nelson, Collin Wilder.
2021 All-Big Ten Defensive Football Team
As selected by conference media
DEFENSE FIRST TEAM SECOND TEAM THIRD TEAM
Line Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan Zach VanValkenburg, Iowa Jacob Slade, Michigan State
Line Haskell Garrett, Ohio State Jacub Panasiuk, Michigan State Tyreke Smith, Ohio State
Line Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State Boye Mafe, Minnesota Jesse Luketa, Penn State
Line George Karlaftis, Purdue Zach Harrison, Ohio State Matt Henningsen, Wisconsin
Linebacker Jack Campbell, Iowa Micah McFadden, Indiana Josh Ross, Michigan
Linebacker David Ojabo, Michigan Chris Bergin, Northwestern JoJo Domann, Nebraska
Linebacker Leo Chenal, Wisconsin Jack Sanborn, Wisconsin Olakunle Fatukasi, Rutgers
Defensive Back Kerby Joseph, Illinois Matt Hankins, Iowa Vincent Gray, Michigan
Defensive Back Dane Belton, Iowa Dax Hill, Michigan Brad Hawkins, Michigan
Defensive Back Riley Moss, Iowa Cam Taylor-Britt, Nebraska Xavier Henderson, Michigan State
Defensive Back Jaquan Brisker, Penn State Brandon Joseph, Northwestern Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State
DEFENSE HONORABLE MENTION
ILLINOIS: Sydney Brown, Owen Carney, Johnny Newton, Keith Randolph, Devon Witherspoon; INDIANA: Ryder Anderson, Jaylin Williams; IOWA: Seth Benson, Jack Koerner, Noah Shannon; MARYLAND: Jakorian Bennett, Nick Cross, Ami Finau, Jordan Mosley, Sam Okuayinonu; MICHIGAN: Chris Hinton, Mazi Smith, D.J. Turner; MICHIGAN STATE: Quavaris Crouch, Cal Haladay, Darius Snow; MINNESOTA: Jack Gibbens, Tyler Nubin, Esezi Otomewo, Mariano Sori-Marin; NEBRASKA: Damion Daniels, Luke Reimer, Ben Stille, Deontai Williams; NORTHWESTERN: Adetomiwa Adebawore, A.J. Hampton; OHIO STATE: Sevyn Banks, Cam Brown, Denzel Burke, Steele Chambers, Tommy Eichenberg, Antwuan Jackson, Bryson Shaw, Taron Vincent, Tyliek Williams; PENN STATE: Ellis Brooks, Ji'Ayir Brown, Tariq Castro-Fields, Curtis Jacobs, PJ Mustipher, Joey Porter Jr., Brandon Smith; PURDUE: Jaylan Alexander, Cam Allen, Branson Deen, Jalen Graham; RUTGERS: Christian Izien, Julius Turner; WISCONSIN: Keeanu Benton,Noah Burks, Nick Herbig, Faion Hicks, Isiah Mullens, Scott Nelson, Collin Wilder, Caesar Williams.
In addition to Bergin and Joseph, defensive end Adetomiwa Adebawore and defensive backs A.J. Hampton, Jr. and Cameron Mitchell were recognized in the honorable mention category.
Bergin was voted a second team linebacker by the media and earned third team recognition from the coaches. He finished the regular season as the nation's leader in total (XXX) and solo tackles (84). His 84 solo stops were the most by a Wildcat in a single season since at least 2000. Bergin's 368 career tackles rank eighth all-time in program history.
Joseph was named to the media's second team and honorable mention by the coaches. He finished his sophomore season with a team-leading three interceptions and ranked third on NU's defense with 80 tackles. The College Station, Texas, native had four pass breakups and 1.5 tackles for loss. In the Indiana State game (9/11/21), Joseph racked up 111 punt return yards – first NU player to go over the century mark in a game since 2012.
2021 All-Big Ten Defensive Football Team
As selected by conference coaches
DEFENSE FIRST TEAM SECOND TEAM THIRD TEAM
Line Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan Zach VanValkenburg, Iowa Sam Okuayinonu, Maryland
Line Haskell Garrett, Ohio State Jacub Panasiuk, Michigan State Boye Mafe, Minnesota
Line Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State Tyreke Smith, Ohio State Zach Harrison, Ohio State
Line George Karlaftis, Purdue PJ Mustipher, Penn State Matt Henningsen, Wisconsin
Line Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin
Linebacker David Ojabo, Michigan Micah McFadden, Indiana Jack Campbell, Iowa
Linebacker Leo Chenal, Wisconsin JoJo Domann, Nebraska Chris Bergin, Northwestern
Linebacker Jack Sanborn, Wisconsin Ellis Brooks, Penn State Brandon Smith, Penn State
Defensive Back Dane Belton, Iowa Kerby Joseph, Illinois Denzel Burke, Ohio State
Defensive Back Riley Moss, Iowa Matt Hankins, Iowa Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn State
Defensive Back Dax Hill, Michigan Cam Taylor-Britt, Nebraska Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
Defensive Back Jaquan Brisker, Penn State Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State Caesar Williams, Wisconsin
DEFENSE HONORABLE MENTION
ILLINOIS: Sydney Brown, Owen Carney; IOWA: Jack Koerner, Noah Shannon; MARYLAND: Jakorian Bennett, Ami Finau; MICHIGAN: Chris Hinton, Josh Ross, Mazi Smith, D.J. Turner; MICHIGAN STATE: Quavaris Crouch, Xavier Henderson, Jacob Slade; MINNESOTA: Esezi Otomewo, Mariano Sori-Marin; NEBRASKA: Damion Daniels, Marquel Dismuke, Luke Reimer, Ben Stille, Deontai Williams; NORTHWESTERN: Adetomiwa Adebawore, A.J. Hampton, Brandon Joseph, Cameron Mitchell; OHIO STATE: Sevyn Banks, Cam Brown, Antwuan Jackson; PENN STATE: Tariq Castro-Fields, Jesse Luketa; PURDUE: Jaylan Alexander, Cam Allen, Branson Deen, Jalen Graham, Dedrick Mackey; RUTGERS: Olakunle Fatukasi, Julius Turner; WISCONSIN: Noah Burks, Nick Herbig, Faion Hicks, Isiah Mullens, Scott Nelson, Collin Wilder.
2021 All-Big Ten Defensive Football Team
As selected by conference media
DEFENSE FIRST TEAM SECOND TEAM THIRD TEAM
Line Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan Zach VanValkenburg, Iowa Jacob Slade, Michigan State
Line Haskell Garrett, Ohio State Jacub Panasiuk, Michigan State Tyreke Smith, Ohio State
Line Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State Boye Mafe, Minnesota Jesse Luketa, Penn State
Line George Karlaftis, Purdue Zach Harrison, Ohio State Matt Henningsen, Wisconsin
Linebacker Jack Campbell, Iowa Micah McFadden, Indiana Josh Ross, Michigan
Linebacker David Ojabo, Michigan Chris Bergin, Northwestern JoJo Domann, Nebraska
Linebacker Leo Chenal, Wisconsin Jack Sanborn, Wisconsin Olakunle Fatukasi, Rutgers
Defensive Back Kerby Joseph, Illinois Matt Hankins, Iowa Vincent Gray, Michigan
Defensive Back Dane Belton, Iowa Dax Hill, Michigan Brad Hawkins, Michigan
Defensive Back Riley Moss, Iowa Cam Taylor-Britt, Nebraska Xavier Henderson, Michigan State
Defensive Back Jaquan Brisker, Penn State Brandon Joseph, Northwestern Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State
DEFENSE HONORABLE MENTION
ILLINOIS: Sydney Brown, Owen Carney, Johnny Newton, Keith Randolph, Devon Witherspoon; INDIANA: Ryder Anderson, Jaylin Williams; IOWA: Seth Benson, Jack Koerner, Noah Shannon; MARYLAND: Jakorian Bennett, Nick Cross, Ami Finau, Jordan Mosley, Sam Okuayinonu; MICHIGAN: Chris Hinton, Mazi Smith, D.J. Turner; MICHIGAN STATE: Quavaris Crouch, Cal Haladay, Darius Snow; MINNESOTA: Jack Gibbens, Tyler Nubin, Esezi Otomewo, Mariano Sori-Marin; NEBRASKA: Damion Daniels, Luke Reimer, Ben Stille, Deontai Williams; NORTHWESTERN: Adetomiwa Adebawore, A.J. Hampton; OHIO STATE: Sevyn Banks, Cam Brown, Denzel Burke, Steele Chambers, Tommy Eichenberg, Antwuan Jackson, Bryson Shaw, Taron Vincent, Tyliek Williams; PENN STATE: Ellis Brooks, Ji'Ayir Brown, Tariq Castro-Fields, Curtis Jacobs, PJ Mustipher, Joey Porter Jr., Brandon Smith; PURDUE: Jaylan Alexander, Cam Allen, Branson Deen, Jalen Graham; RUTGERS: Christian Izien, Julius Turner; WISCONSIN: Keeanu Benton,Noah Burks, Nick Herbig, Faion Hicks, Isiah Mullens, Scott Nelson, Collin Wilder, Caesar Williams.
Players Mentioned
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