Perich among 3 Gophers to make First Team All-Big Ten, several others honored

Three Minnesota Golden Gophers football stars have been recognized among the best players in the conference this season.

On Tuesday, the Big Ten announced its end-of-the-season awards, with Aireontae Ersery, Cody Lindenberg and Koi Perich making First Team All-Big Ten. Ersery was also named the Offensive Lineman of the Year, the first time in nearly 20 years a Gopher has won that honor.

Perich, meanwhile, is the first Minnesota true freshman to earn First Team All-Big Ten honors since Darrell Thompson in 1986. He was also named to the Second Team as a returner.

The Esko native tallied five interceptions this season, the most on the team, plus 42 tackles and a forced fumble.

Lindenberg (First Team coaches, Second Team media) had a team-high 94 tackles to go with a sack, interception and six passes defended.

Justin Walley (coaches) was Minnesota's only other Second Team honoree as he totaled 42 tackles, a pair of interceptions and a team-best 10 pass deflections.

The Gophers named honorable mentions are:

• WR Daniel Jackson (coaches, media),
• RB Darius Taylor (coaches, media),
• OL Tyler Cooper (coaches, media),
• Walley (media),
• OL Quinn Carroll (media),
• LS Alan Soukup (coaches, media),
• K Dragan Kesich (media),
• P Mark Crawford (media),
• DL Anthony Smith (coaches, media),
• DL Danny Striggow (coaches, media),
• DL Jah Joyner (coaches, media),
• DL Jalen Logan-Redding (media),
• LB Maverick Baranowski (media), and
• DB Ethan Robinson (coaches, media).