Anthony Walker named first team All-Big Ten by Associated Press; Jackson, VanHoose, Vitale on second team

Northwestern sophomore linebacker Anthony Walker was honored as a first-team All-Big Ten player by the Associated Press Tuesday.

The AP selection is the latest on a growing list of postseason honors for Walker. He was named a third-team All-American by the AP on Sunday, and last week, was named a second team All-American by Sports Illustrated. He also made the official All-Big Ten first team.

Walker led Northwestern's defense to new heights from his middle linebacker position in 2015. In his first full year as a starter, the Wildcats ranked 11th nationally in total defense, 7th in scoring defense and 4th in S&P+, an advanced metric.

Walker had an outstanding individual season as well. The Miami, Fla. native finished tied for second in the country with 19.5 tackles for loss, and racked up 113 total tackles.

Walker was the only Northwestern player named to the AP All-Big Ten first team, but three other Northwestern players were also honored. Running back Justin Jackson, superback Dan Vitale and cornerback Nick VanHoose were all named to the second team.

Here are the complete teams:

FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB -€” Connor Cook, Michigan State, 6-4, 220, Sr.

RB -€” Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State, 6-0, 225, Jr.

RB - €”Jordan Howard, Indiana, 6-1, 230, Jr.

T -€” Jack Conklin, Michigan State, 6-6, 325, Jr.

T -€” Taylor Decker, Ohio State, 6-8, 315, Sr.

G -€” Pat Elflein, Ohio State, 6-3, 300, Jr.

G -€” Jordan Walsh, Iowa, 6-4, 290, Sr.

C - Jack Allen, Michigan State, 6-2, 296, Sr.

WR -€” Aaron Burbridge, Michigan State, 6-1, 208, Sr.

WR - €”Alex Erickson, Wisconsin, 6-0, 197, Sr.

TE -€” Jake Butt, Michigan, 6-6, 250, Jr.

All-purpose -€” Will Likely, Maryland, 5-7, 175, Jr.

PK -€” Griffin Oakes, Indiana, 5-10, 200, So.

Defense

E -€” Joey Bosa, Ohio State, 6-6, 275, Jr.

E -€” Carl Nassib, Penn State, 6-7, 272, Sr.

T -€” Adolphus Washington, Ohio State, 6-4, 290, Sr.

T -€” Austin Johnson, Penn State, 6-4, 323, Jr.

LB - Joe Schobert, Wisconsin, 6-2, 236, Sr.

LB -€” Anthony Walker, Northwestern, 6-1, 235, So.

LB - Joshua Perry, Ohio State, 6-4, 254, Sr.

CB - Desmond King, Iowa, 5-11, 200, Jr.

CB -€” Jourdan Lewis, Michigan, 5-10, 175, Jr.

S -€” Vonn Bell, Ohio State, 5-11, 205, Jr.

S - Michael Caputo, Wisconsin, 6-1, 206, Sr.

P - Sam Foltz, Nebraska, 6-1, 200, Jr.

SECOND TEAM

Offense

QB -€” C.J. Beathard, Iowa, 6-2, 209, Jr.

RB -€” Justin Jackson, Northwestern, 5-11, 190, So.

RB -€” Saquon Barkley, Penn State, 5-11, 222, Fr.

T -€” Jason Spriggs, Indiana, 6-7, 305, Sr.

T - €”Tyler Marz, Wisconsin, 6-7, 325, Sr.

G -€” Brian Allen, Michigan State, 6-2, 298, So.

G -€” Dan Feeney, Indiana, 6-4, 310, Jr.

C -€” Austin Blythe, Iowa, 6-3, 290, Sr.

WR -€” Jordan Westerkamp, Nebraska, 6-0, 195, Jr.

WR -€” Chris Godwin, Penn State, 6-1, 208, So.

TE -€” Dan Vitale, Northwestern, 6-2, 235, Sr.

All-purpose -€” Jabrill Peppers, Michigan, 6-1, 208, So.

PK -€” Drew Brown, Nebraska, 5-11, 180, So.

Defense

E -€” Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State, 6-5, 250, Sr.

E -€” Yannick Ngakoue, Maryland, 6-2, 255, Jr.

T -€” Malik McDowell, Michigan State, 6-6, 275, So.

T -€” Maliek Collins, Nebraska, 6-2, 300, Jr.

LB -€” Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State, 6-2, 240, So.

LB - €”Josey Jewell, Iowa, 6-2, 230, So.

LB -€” Darron Lee, Ohio State, 6-2, 235, So.

CB -€” Will Likely, Maryland, 5-7, 175, Jr.

CB - €”Nick VanHoose, Northwestern, 6-0, 190, Sr.

S -€” Jabrill Peppers, Michigan, 6-1, 208, So.

S -€” Clayton Fejedelem, Illinois, 6-1, 195, Sr.

P -€” Cameron Johnston, Ohio State, 5-11, 195, Jr.