Nebraska junior punter Sam Foltz was named the Eddleman-Fields Big Ten Punter of the Year on Monday evening. Foltz was one of five Huskers to receive All-Big Ten recognition on Monday, as the league announced recipients on special teams and defense.
Foltz led the Big Ten Conference in punting average at 44.4 yards per punt. In conference games only, Foltz averaged 45.0 yards per punt, bettering all other Big Ten punters by more than two yards per attempt. Foltz has 16 punts of more than 50 yards and has downed 15 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
Foltz is the second Husker to win the Eddleman-Fields Punter-of-the-Year award, joining Brett Maher who received the honor in 2011. In addition to being named Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year, Foltz was also the first-team All-Big Ten punter by both the league’s coaches and media.
Sophomore place-kicker Drew Brown was also recognized for his special teams excellence. Brown earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the conference media panel, while picking up honorable-mention accolades from the Big Ten Coaches. Brown has connected on 20-of-26 field goals this season, including making his last 10 field goals of the regular season.
Junior defensive tackle Maliek Collins received all-conference honors for the second straight season. The 6-2, 300-pound Collins was chosen as a second-team All-Big Ten performer by the conference coaches for the second straight season. Collins also earned third-team recognition on the All-Big Ten media team. Collins has 29 tackles and seven tackles for loss this season, with all of his tackles for loss coming in Big Ten action.
A pair of Husker defensive backs picked up all-conference recognition. Junior safety Nate Gerry was a third-team All-Big Ten pick by the media panel, while earning honorable-mention accolades from the league’s coaches. Gerry leads the Huskers in interceptions (4), pass breakups (7) and tackles (75). Gerry also earned all-conference recognition in 2014 as a second-team choice.
Sophomore cornerback Joshua Kalu was chosen as an honorable-mention all-conference choice by the Big Ten Coaches. Kalu ranks second for the Huskers in tackles with 67, including five tackles for loss, and he also added six pass breakups and two interceptions.
Senior defensive end Jack Gangwish was selected as Nebraska’s winner of the Sportsmanship Award.
The Big Ten will announce offensive all-conference selections on Tuesday evening.
All-Big Ten Honorees
Sam Foltz, Junior, Punter
Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year
First-Team All-Big Ten Punter (Coaches, Media)
Drew Brown, Sophomore, Place-Kicker
Second-Team All-Big Ten (Media)
Honorable-Mention All-Big Ten (Coaches)
Maliek Collins, Junior, Defensive Tackle
Second-Team All-Big Ten (Coaches)
Third-Team All-Big Ten (Media)
Nate Gerry, Junior, Safety
Third-Team All-Big Ten (Media)
Honorable-Mention All-Big Ten (Coaches)
Joshua Kalu, Sophomore, Cornerback
Honorable-Mention All-Big Ten (Coaches)