Badger players dominate All-Big Ten teams, Ball and Wilson win awards

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MADISON - Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson and running back Montee Ball were named the best at their positions when the All-Big Ten honors were handed out last night.

Ball, a junior, received the inaugural Ameche-Dayne award, named for Wisconsin's two Heisman Trophy winning running backs Alan "The Horse" Ameche and Ron "The Great" Dayne as the running back of the year. He scored a conference record 34 touchdowns in the regular season. Wilson, a senior transfer who starred in the ACC for three years, added the first-time Griese-Brees Quarterback-of-the-Year award to his resume. Wilson is currently on a pace to the break the NCAA's passer efficiency record with two post-season games left -- the Big Ten title contest against Michigan State on Saturday night, and the Badgers' bowl game around the start of the New Year.

Nine Wisconsin players received all-conference first team honors on either the coaches' team, the media team, or both. Wilson and Ball were consensus picks along with linebacker Chris Borland, guard Kevin Zeitler, and tackle Josh Oglesby. Those making one of the first teams were defensive backs Antonio Fenelus and Aaron Henry, linebacker Mike Taylor, and center Peter Konz. The nine first-team picks were the most in Badgers' history.

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Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst is said to be a candidate for the head coaching vacancy at Illinois. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel said Fighting Illini athletic director Mike Thomas is interested in Chryst -- and an interview was apparently being set up. Neither Chryst nor Thomas have commented. Chryst has been on the Badgers' staff since 2002, except for two seasons at Oregon State in '03-and-'04. He has run the Badger offense since 2006, and he turned down an offer to run the Texas offense a year ago.

Tags: wisconsin sports, proam, football, badgers