1978 All-Big Ten Conference football team

The 1978 All-Big Ten Conference football team consists of American football players chosen by various organizations for All-Big Ten Conference teams for the 1978 Big Ten Conference football season. The only player unanimously selected by the conference coaches as a first-team player was Michigan fullback Russell Davis. Michigan State flanker Kirk Gibson fell one point short of unanimity, and running back Marion Barber, Jr., fell two points short.^[1]

Offensive selections

Quarterbacks

Quarterback Rick Leach

Rick Leach, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
Ed Smith, Michigan State (AP-2; UPI-2)

Running backs

Marion Barber, Jr., Minnesota (AP-1; UPI-1 [tailback])
Russell Davis, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1 [fullback])
Mike Harkrader, Indiana (AP-2, UPI-2 [tailback])
John Macon, Purdue (AP-2; UPI-2 [fullback])

Flankers/split ends

Kirk Gibson, Michigan State (AP-1 [flanker]; UPI-1 [wingback])
Eugene Byrd, Michigan State (AP-1 [wide receiver]; UPI-1 [split end])
Brad Reid, Iowa (AP-2 [wide receiver])
David Charles, Wisconsin (AP-2 [flanker]; UPI-2 [split end])
Ralph Clayton (UPI-2 [wingback])

Tight ends

Mark Brammer, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
Doug Marsh, Michigan (AP-2)
Jimmy Moore, Ohio State (UPI-2)

Centers

Mark Heidel, Indiana (AP-1; UPI-1)
Steve Nauta, Michigan (AP-2; UPI-2)

Guards

Ken Fritz, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-1)
John Arbeznik, Michigan (AP-2 [tackle]; UPI-1)
Greg Bartnick, Michigan (AP-2, UPI-2)
Dale Schwan, Purdue (AP-2)
John LeFeber, Purdue (UPI-2)

Tackles

Jon Giesler, Michigan (AP-1 [guard]; UPI-1)
Jim Hinsley, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
Joe Robinson, Ohio State (AP-1)
Steve McKenzie, Purdue (AP-2, UPI-2)
Keith Ferguson, Ohio State (UPI-2)

Defensive selections

Defensive linemen

Curtis Greer, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
Melvin Land, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
Ken Loushin, Purdue (AP-1; UPI-1)
Keena Turner, Purdue (AP-1; UPI-1)
Kelton Dansler, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-2 [defensive end])
Stan Sytsma, Minnesota (AP-2; UPI-1)
Marcus Jackson, Purdue (AP-2; UPI-2 [defensive tackle])
Jerry Meter, Michigan (AP-2; UPI-2 [defensive end])
Dan Relich, Wisconsin (AP-2)
Jim Ronan, Minnesota (AP-2)
Byron Cato, Ohio State (UPI-2 [defensive tackle])
Doug Friberg, Minnesota (UPI-2 [defensive guard])

Linebackers

Tom Cousineau, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-1)
Joe Norman, Indiana (AP-1; UPI-1)
Ron Simpkins, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-2)
Dan Bass, Michigan State (AP-2)
Tom Rusk, Iowa (AP-2; UPI-2)
John Sullivan, Illinois (AP-2)

Defensive backs

Mike Jolly, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
Tom Graves, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-2)
Vince Skillings, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-2)
Keith Brown, Minnesota (UPI-1)
Mike Guess, Ohio State (UPI-1)
Mike Harden, Michigan (UPI-1)
Mark Anderson, Michigan State (AP-2; UPI-2)
Dave Abrams, Indiana (AP-2)
Pat Geegan, Northwestern (AP-2)
Lawrence Johnson, Wisconsin (UPI-2)

Special teams

Placekicker

Paul Rogind, Minnesota (AP-1; UPI-1)
Scott Sovereen, Purdue (AP-2)
Greg Willner, Michigan (UPI-2)

Punter

Ray Stachowicz, Michigan State (AP-2; UPI-1)
Tom Orosz, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-2)

Key

AP = Associated Press^[2]

UPI = United Press International, selected by the Big Ten Conference coaches^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b "Co-champs dominate all-Big Ten selections". The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL). November 30, 1978. p. B3.
^ "Leach leads All-Big Ten: Michigan, MSU dominate team". The Kokomo Tribune. December 7, 1978. p. 26.

[UPI-1] "Co-champs dominate all-Big Ten selections". The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL). November 30, 1978. p. B3.

[2] "Leach leads All-Big Ten: Michigan, MSU dominate team". The Kokomo Tribune. December 7, 1978. p. 26.

[1]

[2]