Big Ten coaches honor Persa

FROM THE MORNING CALL

Though his season ended abruptly following a fluke injury, Dan Persa made an impression on the Big Ten. The coaches voted the Northwestern quarterback first-team all-conference, recognizing a season that likely will produce more awards.

Persa, a Liberty High graduate, was named the first-team quarterback over Wisconsin's Scott Tolzien (second team) and Michigan's Denard Robinson (honorable mention). However, the coaches did name Robinson the Big Ten offensive player of the year. Conference media named Persa to the second team behind Robinson.

Offensive guard Stefen Wisniewski was Penn State's only player on the coaches' first team. Wisniewski on Monday also was named a first-team all-American by the American Football Coaches Association.

Persa, a redshirt sophomore, had a prolific season at Northwestern, accounting for 24 of the team's 29 touchdowns in the 10 games he played. The last one, a 20-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter, lifted the Wildcats to a 21-17 victory over Iowa.


After the play, Persa sustained a ruptured Achilles, which ended his season. Northwestern lost its final two games to end the regular season 7-5.

Persa finished second in the conference in total offense (310 per game) and passing yards (258.1) and fourth in pass efficiency (159.0 rating). He threw 15 touchdown passes, against four interceptions, and completed 73.5 percent of his passes, second in the league behind Tolzien. Persa is the fifth Northwestern quarterback to earn all-Big Ten honors and first since Brett Basanez in 2005.

Wisniewski led Penn State, earning first-team honors for the second consecutive year. He was the first-team center last year and a second-team guard in 2008.

The coaches voted running back Evan Royster and defensive tackle Ollie Ogbu to the second team. The media voted Wisniewski second team.

The coaches awarded honorable mentions to offensive tackle Quinn Barham, linebacker Chris Colasanti, cornerback D'Anton Lynn and receiver Derek Moye. Additional media honorable mentions went to safety Drew Astorino, defensive tackle Devon Still and kicker Collin Wagner.

Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan was named the defensive player and lineman of the year. Wisconsin running back James White was the freshman of the year, and Michigan State's Mark Dantonio the coach of the year.

http://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-bigten-football-20101129,0,7995338.story