Five Spartans Earn All-Big Ten Football Honors
11/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 23, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State senior offensive tackle Sean Poole and sophomore punter Brandon Fields have been named first-team All-Big Ten by the league's media panel and second team by the head coaches.
The 6-foot-7, 290-pound Poole has graded out 90 percent or better in seven of 11 starts at right tackle in 2004, including six of the last seven games. His 72 pancake blocks rank third on the team. Poole is a key figure on an offensive line that has helped produce a rushing attack that ranks second in the Big Ten and No. 13 in the NCAA, averaging 235.8 yards per game. He has not surrendered a sack in over 350 passing plays this season (MSU has permitted the fewest sacks in the Big Ten, seven).
The Flint, Mich., native earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week following his performance in the Spartans' 49-14 victory over No. 4 Wisconsin. Poole became only the second offensive lineman in Big Ten history to earn Player of the Week honors, joining Ohio State's Korey Stringer who received the recognition in 1994 (Nov. 19 game vs. Michigan). He graded out a season-best 98 percent overall, including four pancake blocks, while being matched up against Wisconsin's Lombardi Award finalist Erasmus James, who was credited with just three tackles. Poole produced perfect scores in assignments and effort (100 percent each) while grading 95 percent in technique. Michigan State amassed 430 yards on the ground vs. Wisconsin, which entered the game ranked sixth in the NCAA in rushing defense permitting 87.3 yards per game.
Poole produced identical totals (94 percent and 11 pancakes each) in back-to-back games vs. Minnesota and Michigan. He scored 95 percent vs. Illinois, including seven pancakes.
"This is a well-deserved honor for Sean Poole," Spartan head football coach John L. Smith said. "Sean is a totally different player than he was a year ago. He really transformed his body by trimming down and adding some muscle. Sean has improved each and every week this season."
 Brandon Fields, who leads the NCAA in punting with his 48.3-yard average in 2004, has earned first-team All-Big Ten honors for the second year in a row.  | |
The 6-6, 234-pound Fields, who leads the NCAA in punting with his 48.3-yard average, also has been named one of three finalists for the Ray Guy Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top punter by the Greater Augusta (Ga.) Sports Council. He has hit 22 punts 50 or more yards and had 13 kicks downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Fields earned Midseason All-America honors from SI.com and Collegefootballnews.com.
The Toledo, Ohio, native averaged 51.0 yards on four punts vs. Wisconsin, including a 49-yarder that went out of bounds at the Badger 4 late in the third quarter. Fields averaged 54.0 yards on three punts vs. Ohio State, including a 62-yarder in the third quarter that was downed at the OSU 1-yard line. He averaged 55.7 yards on three punts vs. Illinois, including two kicks downed inside the Illini 20. Fields averaged 53.0 yards on four punts vs. Indiana, including a season-long 65-yarder, with two kicks downed inside the Hoosier 20. He averaged 55.3 yards on six punts vs. Central Michigan, including a 62-yarder.
His career 47.2-yard punting average ranks No. 1 on MSU's and the Big Ten's all-time lists.
"With his powerful leg, Brandon Fields has the ability to dictate field position," Smith said. "Brandon simply needs to improve his overall consistency, especially in terms of getting kicks away and improving his hang time. He's only a sophomore, so he has a bright future."
 Dave Rayner, a second-team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and media, leads the league in scoring with 97 points. | |
Senior placekicker Dave Rayner has been voted second-team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media. The 6-2, 209-pound Rayner leads the Big Ten in scoring with 97 points, converting 21-of-30 field-goal attempts (.700) and all 34 extra-point tries in 2004. His 21 field goals lead the NCAA (tied with Eastern Michigan's Andrew Wellock). He has kicked extremely well down the stretch, hitting 13 of his last 15 field-goal attempts (.867) over the last five games.
The Oxford, Mich., native was selected one of the Lou Groza Award's Top Three Stars for Week 11 after scoring 13 points vs. Ohio State, providing four field goals and an extra point. He converted 4-of-5 field-goal attempts against the Buckeyes, hitting from 27, 44, 53 and 29 yards. His 53-yarder in the third quarter matched his career long.
He has earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice in 2004 (vs. Minnesota and Indiana). Rayner scored 15 points against the Golden Gophers, matching his career high. He was perfect on three field-goal attempts - converting from 22, 23 and 37 yards - and six extra-point tries. Four of his nine kickoffs vs. Minnesota also resulted in touchbacks. Rayner was perfect on three field-goal (44, 22 and 39 yards) and three extra-point attempts to account for 12 points vs. Indiana, while six of his seven kickoffs produced touchbacks.
Rayner, a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2003 and 2004, ranks as MSU's all-time leader in scoring (326 career points), field goals (61 made) and extra points (143 made). He has converted 71-straight extra-point attempts.
"Dave Rayner has had a solid senior year," Smith said. "His focus really improved this season. When he's zoned in, Dave is as good as any kicker in this country. I truly believe Dave along with Ohio State's Mike Nugent are the two best kickers in college football."
 Jason Randall, a second-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches, has 51 career receptions for 582 yards and five TDs. | |
Senior tight end Jason Randall, a second-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches, has 10 receptions for 109 yards (11.2 avg.) in 2004. The 6-5, 269-pound Randall has caught at least one pass in seven games. He had a season-high three catches for 42 yards vs. Michigan, including a 29-yard grab from Drew Stanton in the second quarter that led to a field goal.
Randall, a native of Muskegon Heights, Mich., has 51 career receptions for 582 yards (11.4 avg.) and five touchdowns.
"Jason Randall has really come on strong down the stretch," Smith said. "He's always been a good blocking tight end, but he's really improved as a pass receiver."
 Offensive guard William Whitticker, who has graded out 90 percent or better in all 11 games in 2004, leads the Spartans in pancake blocks with 80. | |
Senior offensive guard William Whitticker, a second-team All-Big Ten pick by the media, has been a model of consistency in 2004, grading out 90 percent or better in all 11 games. The 6-5, 329-pound Whitticker leads the Spartans in pancake blocks with a career best 80. He has allowed only one sack in over 350 passing plays this season. Whitticker scored a career-best 99 percent vs. Wisconsin, including five pancakes, while helping the Spartans produce 430 yards on the ground. He graded 96 percent each vs. Michigan (career-high 12 pancakes), Illinois (10 pancakes) and Iowa. Whitticker posted 98 percent each vs. Minnesota and Notre Dame (11 pancakes).
The Marion, Ind., native ranks as the team's most experienced offensive lineman, with 30 career starts to his credit. Whitticker has recorded 219 career pancakes.
"William Whitticker has played with a great deal of consistency this season and at times, he's been a dominating player," Smith said. "Will deserves a pat on the back for the leadership he has provided to our younger linemen."
Four other Spartans have received All-Big Ten honorable mention: free safety Jason Harmon, center Chris Morris (media only), linebacker Ronald Stanley and quarterback Drew Stanton.
 Fifth-year senior Tyrell Dortch has been selected as MSU's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. | |
Fifth-year senior Tyrell Dortch has been selected as Michigan State's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The 5-10, 208-pound BANDIT has started seven games in 2004 and recorded 39 tackles and two interceptions.
Dortch, who sat out the entire 2002 campaign, completed a courageous comeback after breaking his right lower leg in the sixth game of the 2001 season vs. Wisconsin.
"Tyrell Dortch is a true sportsman," Smith said. "This is well-deserved recognition for someone who has fought through tremendous adversity during his career. Tyrell is the ultimate teammate. He willingly made the transition from running back to the defensive side of the ball because he knew that position change was in the best interest of the team. We simply need more guys like Tyrell in our football program."
Michigan State (5-6 overall, 4-4 Big Ten) concludes the 2004 regular season Saturday, Dec. 4 at Hawaii. ESPN2 will televise the game to a national audience with kickoff set for 11:30 p.m. EST.
