Cam Taylor-Britt Named Second Team All Big Ten

With all the ‘crootin news yesterday, we failed to get an article out about the Big Ten defensive awards.

While it is no longer breaking news, it was still good to see a few Huskers recognized for their play. Anyone who has watched the Huskers this season is not surprised that more defenders than offensive players got noticed by the conference coaches and media.

From the athletic department:

Taylor-Britt was a second-team selection by the Big Ten Coaches, while being an honorable-mention choice by the media. Taylor-Britt has recorded 26 tackles this season, including 21 solo stops. Taylor-Britt received all-conference recognition for the second straight year after being an honorable-mention pick in 2019.

Six other Husker defenders, including three members of the secondary, earned honorable-mention recognition. Defensive lineman Ben Stille, linebackers Will Honas and JoJo Domann, and safeties Marquel Dismuke and Deontai Williams received honorable-mention recognition from both voting panels, while senior cornerback Dicaprio Bootle was chosen by the media panel.

Stille has recorded 26 tackles, three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks this season to lead a young defensive line. Domann is Nebraska’s team leader in tackles with 56 stops in 2020. The Colorado Springs native also leads the Huskers with 5.5 tackles for loss and is tied for the team lead with four PBU, while forcing a pair of fumbles. Honas ranks second on the team with 49 tackles, including five tackles for loss and a team-high three sacks.

In the secondary, Williams has 47 tackles, including four tackles for loss and a sack. He has recorded double-figure tackle games each of the past two weeks, and he also returned a fumble for a touchdown against Penn State. Dismuke pairs with Williams to give the Huskers a pair of hard-hitting safeties. Dismuke has 44 tackles this season, including five tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. His 15 tackles against Penn State were the most by a Husker since 2017.

A team captain, Bootle earned All-Big Ten honors for the third straight season. He was a third-team pick in 2018 and has received honorable-mention accolades the past two years. Bootle has 22 tackles and four PBU this season and ranks ninth in school history in pass breakups.

Big Ten Individual Awards

• Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year: Daviyon Nixon, Iowa
• Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year: Brandon Joseph, Northwestern
• Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year: Daviyon Nixon, Iowa
• Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year: Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
• Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year: Shaun Wade, Ohio State