A total of twelve IU football players were recognized Wednesday as the league office announced 2025 All-Big Ten honors for the defense and special teams.
Additionally, head coach Curt Cignetti repeated as the conference coach of the year after leading IU to a perfect 12-0 season.
IU put four defenders on the All-Big Ten first team: cornerback D’Angelo Ponds, linebacker Aiden Fisher, safety Louis Moore and defensive tackle Tyrique Tucker.
Safety Amare Ferrell and linebacker Rolijah Hardy made the second team, and linebacker Isaiah Jones made the third team.
Defensive ends Stephen Daley and Mikail Kamara both earned honorable mention.
On special teams, kicker Nico Radicic and long snapper Mark Langston both earned first team, and punt returner Jonathan Brady was named to the second team.
Radicic was also named the Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year.
The All-Big Ten offensive teams will be named on Thursday.
The back-to-back B1G Coach of the Year, @CCignettiIU. pic.twitter.com/Fk6pC7Vn8D
— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) December 3, 2025
The Big Ten’s full release follows.
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced its All-Big Ten defensive and special teams selections, as well as select individual award winners on Tuesday during B1G Today on the Big Ten Network. On Thursday, Dec. 4, at noon ET, the All-Big Ten offensive team selections, as well as the remaining individual award winners, will be announced on the network.
2025 All-Big Ten Football Team
As selected by Big Ten coaches
| DEFENSE | FIRST TEAM | SECOND TEAM | THIRD TEAM |
| Edge | Derrick Moore, Michigan | Gabe Jacas, Illinois | Teitum Tuioti, Oregon |
| Edge | Anthony Smith, Minnesota | Caden Curry, Ohio State | Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State |
| Interior | Tyrique Tucker, Indiana | Aaron Graves, Iowa | Rayshaun Benny, Michigan |
| Interior | Kayden McDonald, Ohio State | Bear Alexander, Oregon | A’Mauri Washington, Oregon |
| Linebacker | Aiden Fisher, Indiana | Rolijah Hardy, Indiana | Mac Uihlein, Northwestern |
| Linebacker | Arvell Reese, Ohio State | Jimmy Rolder, Michigan | Mani Powell, Purdue |
| Linebacker | Sonny Styles, Ohio State | Bryce Boettcher, Oregon | Mason Posa, Wisconsin |
| Defensive Back | Louis Moore, Indiana | Zach Lutmer, Iowa | TJ Hall, Iowa |
| Defensive Back | D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana | Jalen Huskey, Maryland | Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa |
| Defensive Back | Caleb Downs, Ohio State | Robert Fitzgerald, Northwestern | Zeke Berry, Michigan |
| Defensive Back | Dillon Thieneman, Oregon | Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State | Koi Perich, Minnesota |
| Defensive Back | Bishop Fitzgerald, USC | Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon | Jermaine Mathews, Ohio State |
DEFENSE HONORABLE MENTION
ILLINOIS: Dylan Rosiek, James Thompson Jr., Matthew Bailey, Miles Scott, Tomiwa Durojaiye, Torrie Cox Jr.; INDIANA: Amare Ferrell, Isaiah Jones, Mikail Kamara, Stephen Daley; IOWA: Karson Sharar, Koen Entringer, Max Llewellyn; MARYLAND: Cam Rice, Daniel Wingate, Dontay Joyner, Jamare Glasker, La’khi Roland; MICHIGAN: Brandyn Hillman, Ernest Hausmann, Jaishawn Barham, Jyaire Hill, TJ Metcalf; MICHIGAN STATE: Jordan Hall; MINNESOTA: Deven Eastern, Kerry Brown, Maverick Baranowski; NEBRASKA: Andrew Marshall, Ceyair Wright, Dasan McCullough, DeShon Singleton, Javin Wright; NORTHWESTERN: Josh Fussell, Michael Kilbane; OHIO STATE: Jaylen McClain, Kenyatta Jackson, Lorenzo Styles, Tywone Malone; OREGON: Jadon Canady, Matayo Uiagalalei; PENN STATE: A.J. Harris, Amare Campbell, King Mack, Zakee Wheatley, Zane Durant; PURDUE: Charles Correa, Tahj Ra-El; RUTGERS: Bo Mascoe, Jett Elad; UCLA: Andre Jordan Jr., Gary Smith III, JonJon Vaughns; USC: Anthony Lucas, Devan Thompkins, Eric Gentry, Kamari Ramsey; WASHINGTON: Alex McLaughlin; WISCONSIN: Christian Alliegro, Ricardo Hallman.
| SPECIAL TEAMS | FIRST TEAM | SECOND TEAM | THIRD TEAM |
| Kicker | Sean O’Haire, Maryland | Nico Radicic, Indiana | Ryon Sayeri, USC |
| Punter* | Ryan Eckley, Michigan State | Bryce McFerson, Maryland | Gabriel Nwosu, Penn State |
| Jack McCallister, Purdue | |||
| Return Specialist | Kaden Wetjen, Iowa | Jonathan Brady, Indiana | Kenneth Williams, Nebraska |
| Long Snapper | Mark Langston, Indiana | Luke Basso, Oregon | John Ferlmann, Ohio State |
SPECIAL TEAMS HONORABLE MENTION
ILLINOIS: Hank Beatty; IOWA: Drew Stevens; MICHIGAN: Dominic Zvada; MINNESOTA: Tom Weston; NEBRASKA: Jacory Barney Jr.; NORTHWESTERN: Jack Olsen, Luke Akers; OHIO STATE: Brandon Inniss, Jayden Fielding; OREGON: Atticus Sappington; PENN STATE: Nicholas Singleton, Ryan Barker; PURDUE: Spencer Porath; RUTGERS: Jai Patel; UCLA: Will Karoll; WASHINGTON: Denzel Boston; WISCONSIN: Vinny Anthony.
*Additional honorees due to ties
2025 All-Big Ten Football Team
As selected by conference media
| DEFENSE | FIRST TEAM | SECOND TEAM | THIRD TEAM |
| Edge | Gabe Jacas, Illinois | Derrick Moore, Michigan | Teitum Tuioti, Oregon |
| Edge | Caden Curry, Ohio State | Anthony Smith, Minnesota | Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State |
| Interior | Tyrique Tucker, Indiana | Aaron Graves, Iowa | Rayshaun Benny, Michigan |
| Interior | Kayden McDonald, Ohio State | Bear Alexander, Oregon | A’Mauri Washington, Oregon |
| Linebacker | Aiden Fisher, Indiana | Rolijah Hardy, Indiana | Isaiah Jones, Indiana |
| Linebacker | Arvell Reese, Ohio State | Jimmy Rolder, Michigan | Ernest Hausmann, Michigan |
| Linebacker | Sonny Styles, Ohio State | Bryce Boettcher, Oregon | Mac Uihlein, Northwestern |
| Linebacker* | Amare Campbell, Penn State | ||
| Defensive Back | D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana | Amare Ferrell, Indiana | TJ Hall, Iowa |
| Defensive Back | Caleb Downs, Ohio State | Louis Moore, Indiana | Zach Lutmer, Iowa |
| Defensive Back | Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State | Jalen Huskey, Maryland | Robert Fitzgerald, Northwestern |
| Defensive Back | Dillon Thieneman, Oregon | Zeke Berry, Michigan | Jaylen McClain, Ohio State |
| Defensive Back | Bishop Fitzgerald, USC | Koi Perich, Minnesota | Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon |
DEFENSE HONORABLE MENTION
ILLINOIS: Dylan Rosiek, James Thompson Jr., Juice Clarke, Matthew Bailey, Miles Scott, Tomiwa Durojaiye; INDIANA: Mikail Kamara, Stephen Daley; IOWA: Deshaun Lee, Jonah Pace, Karson Sharar, Max Llewellyn, Xavier Nwankpa; MARYLAND: Cam Rice, Daniel Wingate, Dontay Joyner, Jamare Glasker, Sidney Stewart, Zahir Mathis; MICHIGAN: Brandyn Hillman, Jaishawn Barham, Jyaire Hill, Trey Pierce; MICHIGAN STATE: Jordan Hall, Wayne Matthews; MINNESOTA: Kerry Brown, Maverick Baranowski; NEBRASKA: Andrew Marshall, Ceyair Wright,
| SPECIAL TEAMS | FIRST TEAM | SECOND TEAM | THIRD TEAM |
| Kicker | Nico Radicic, Indiana | Sean O’Haire, Maryland | Drew Stevens, Iowa |
| Punter* | Ryan Eckley, Michigan State | Bryce McFerson, Maryland | Tom Weston, Minnesota |
| Jack McCallister, Purdue | |||
| Return Specialist* | Kaden Wetjen, Iowa | Kenneth Williams, Nebraska | Jacory Barney Jr., Nebraska |
| Jonathan Brady, Indiana | |||
| Long Snapper | Mark Langston, Indiana | John Ferlmann, Ohio State | Greg Tarr, Michigan |
SPECIAL TEAMS HONORABLE MENTION
ILLINOIS: Hank Beatty, Lane Hansen, David Olano; IOWA: Rhys Dakin; MARYLAND: Ethan Gough; MINNESOTA: Alan Soukup; NORTHWESTERN: Luke Akers, Jack Olsen; OHIO STATE: Brandon Inniss; OREGON: Gary Bryant Jr., Luke Basso, Atticus Sappington; PENN STATE: Ryan Barker, Gabriel Nwosu, Nicholas Singleton, Tyler Duzansky; PURDUE: Luke Raab, Michael Jackson III, Spencer Porath; RUTGERS: Jakob Anderson; UCLA: Salem Abdul-Wahab, Mateen Bhaghani; USC: Hank Pepper, Ryon Sayeri; WASHINGTON: Denzel Boston; WISCONSIN: Vinny Anthony.
*Additional honorees due to ties
2025 Big Ten Individual Award Winners
Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award: Will Shields, Nebraska
Named for Minnesota’s Tony Dungy and Indiana’s Anthony Thompson
Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award: Jack Campbell, Iowa
Named for Michigan’s Gerald Ford and Iowa’s Nile Kinnick
Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year: Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Named for Minnesota’s Bronko Nagurski and Michigan’s Charles Woodson
Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year: Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
Named for Michigan State’s Bubba Smith and Penn State’s Courtney Brown
Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year: Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Named for Illinois’ Dick Butkus and Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald
Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year: Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Named for Ohio State’s Jack Tatum and Purdue’s Rod Woodson
Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year: Nico Radicic, Indiana
Named for Wisconsin’s Jim Bakken and Michigan State’s Morten Andersen
Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year: Ryan Eckley, Michigan State
Named for Illinois’ Dike Eddleman and Michigan State’s Brandon Fields
Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year: Kaden Wetjen, Iowa
Named for Nebraska’s Johnny Rodgers and Iowa’s Tim Dwight
Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year (coaches vote): Curt Cignetti, Indiana
Named for Ohio State’s Woody Hayes and Michigan’s Bo Schembechler
Dave McClain Coach of the Year (media vote): Curt Cignetti, Indiana
Named for Wisconsin’s Dave McClain
