Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State Football :: Official Athletic Site
Dec. 1, 1997
Adams Voted Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State tackle Flozell Adams has been selected the Big Tens Offensive Lineman of the Year, according to a vote of the league's 11 head coaches.
A first-team All-Big Ten pick by both the coaches and media, Adams turned in his best all-around performance of the year in the regular-season finale against Penn State when he produced an overall grade of 89 percent. The 6-foot-7, 330-pound senior from Bellwood, Ill., graded out 87 percent in his run-blocking assignments and 92 percent in his pass-blocking duties.
Adams also recorded six pancake blocks against Penn State to bring his season total to 34. In its 49-14 victory over the Nittany Lions Saturday, Michigan State gained 452 yards on the ground, the most ever allowed by a Penn State team.
"I'm still humbled by the individual awards," Adams said. "It's a tremendous honor to be named the Big Ten's top offensive lineman by the head coaches. I don't perceive this as an individual award; it's a team award. I play along side the best guard in the league in my opinion, Scott Shaw, and running backs like Sedrick Irvin and Marc Renaud can make you look awfully good."
Senior outside linebacker Ike Reese has been named to the Coaches All-Big Ten first team. A four-year starter, Reese leads the Spartans in tackles with 127 (84 solos, 43 assists), including eight for losses (25 yards). He has reached double figures in tackles nine times this season, including a career-high 17 stops (15-2) vs. Michigan. The 6-3, 222-pound Reese has 21 career double-figure tackle games and ranks among MSU's all-time leaders with 410 career tackles (No. 3).
"It means a great deal to me to be named to the Coaches All-Big Ten first team," Reese said. "It's an honor to know that I have earned the respect of the best judges of talent in this league, the head coaches. There were a lot of quality linebackers the coaches had to choose from in this conference. This is the greatest individual award I have received in my college career. I appreciate the coaches recognizing my talents, especially after I wasn't even considered for the first or second team last year."
Six other Michigan State players earned second-team All-Big Ten honors:
Sophomore running back Sedrick Irvin has rushed for 1,211 yards in 1997, the seventh-best single-season total in school history. Irvin gained a career-high 238 yards on 28 carries against Penn State. He has nine career 100-yard games and already stands ninth on MSU's all-time rushing list with 2,278 career yards.
Senior tight end Josh Keur ranks as the team's third-leading receiver with 34 catches for 355 yards and two TDs. Senior offensive guard Scott Shaw, the team's top pass blocker, has allowed only one sack this season.
Sophomore defensive end Robaire Smith leads the team in tackles for losses (15 for 65 yards) and sacks (11 for 57). Junior cornerback Amp Campbell leads the Spartans in interceptions (five) and pass break-ups (13). Senior cornerback Ray Hill has four interceptions to go along with 13 PBU.
"I feel like a proud father when I see three other defensive players earn second-team honors," Reese said. "I'm surprised Robaire Smith didn't make the first team because he had an outstanding season. Amp Campbell and Ray Hill are two of the best corners in a league with a number of quality cornerbacks. I'm happy to know that my teammates have been rewarded for all of their hard work. Those players worked their butts off. And, give credit to the coaching staff as well because it shares these honors with the players."
1997 Coaches All-Big Ten Team
OFFENSE
First Team Pos. Second Team
Billy Dicken, Purdue QB Brian Griese, Michigan
Tavian Banks, Iowa RB Ron Dayne, Wisconsin
Curtis Enis, Penn State RB Sedrick Irvin, Michigan State
Zach Adami, Michigan C Derek Rose, Iowa
Mike Goff, Iowa OG Steve Hutchinson, Michigan
Phil Ostrowski, Penn State OG Rob Murphy, Ohio State
Flozell Adams, Michigan State OT Jeff Backus, Michigan
Jon Jansen, Michigan OT Eric Gohlstin, Ohio State
Jerame Tuman, Michigan TE Josh Keur, Michigan State
Brian Alford, Purdue WR Tutu Atwell, Minnesota
David Boston, Ohio State WR Tim Dwight, Iowa
Joe Jurevicius, Penn State
Matt Davenport, Wisconsin PK Brian Gowins, Northwestern
DEFENSE
First Team Pos. Second Team
Casey Dailey, Northwestern DL Courtney Brown, Penn State
Jared DeVries, Iowa DL Tom Burke, Wisconsin
Adewale Ogunleye, Indiana DL Robaire Smith, Michigan State
Glen Steele, Michigan DL Josh Williams, Michigan
Lamanzer Williams, Minnesota
Barry Gardner, Northwestern LB Aaron Collins, Penn State
Andy Katzenmoyer, Ohio State LB Jim Nelson, Penn State
Ike Reese, Michigan State LB Sam Sword, Michigan
Marcus Ray, Michigan DB Plez Atkins, Iowa
Andre Weathers, Michigan DB Amp Campbell, Michigan State
Antoine Winfield, Ohio State DB Tyrone Carter, Minnesota
Charles Woodson, Michigan DB Eric Collier, Northwestern
Damon Moore, Ohio State
Brent Bartholomew, Ohio State P Jason Vinson, Michigan
Offensive Player of the Year: Curtis Enis, Penn State
Defensive Player of the Year: Charles Woodson, Michigan
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Flozell Adams, Michigan State
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Jared DeVries, Iowa
Freshman of the Year: Anthony Thomas, Michigan
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten: Illinois Danny Clark, Robert Holcombe; Indiana Jabar Robinson, Kywin Supernaw; Iowa Kerry Cooks, Jon LeFleur, Eric Thigpen; Michigan Rob Renes; Michigan State Ray Hill, Scott Shaw, Dimitrius Underwood; Minnesota Adam Bailey, Ben Hamilton; Northwestern Paul Janus, Brian Musso, Nathan Strickwerda; Ohio State Joe Germaine; Penn State Shawn Lee, Pat Pidgeon, Brandon Short; Purdue Rosevelt Colvin, Mark Fischer, Jim Niedrach, Ed Watson; Wisconsin Aaron Gibson, Chris McIntosh, Kevin Stemke.
1997 Media All-Big Ten Team
OFFENSE First Team Pos. Second Team Brian Griese, Michigan QB Billy Dicken, Purdue Tavian Banks, Iowa RB Ron Dayne, Wisconsin Curtis Enis, Penn State RB Sedrick Irvin, Michigan State Zach Adami, Michigan C Derek Rose, Iowa Steve Hutchinson, Michigan OG Scott Shaw, Michigan State Phil Ostrowski, Penn State OG Rob Murphy, Ohio State Flozell Adams, Michigan State OT Jon Jansen, Michigan Eric Gohlstin, Ohio State OT Jeff Backus, Michigan Jerame Tuman, Michigan TE Josh Keur, Michigan State Brian Alford, Purdue WR Tutu Atwell, Minnesota David Boston, Ohio State WR Joe Jurevicius, Penn State Tim Dwight, Iowa Brian Gowins, Northwestern PK Matt Davenport, Wisconsin DEFENSE First Team Pos. Second Team Jared DeVries, Iowa DL Rosevelt Colvin, Purdue Lamanzer Williams, Minnesota DL Robaire Smith, Michigan State Glen Steele, Michigan DL Josh Williams, Michigan Casey Dailey, Northwestern DL Adewale Ogunleye, Indiana Andy Katzenmoyer, Ohio State LB Ike Reese, Michigan State Sam Sword, Michigan LB Aaron Collins, Penn State Barry Gardner, Northwestern LB Jim Nelson, Penn State Charles Woodson, Michigan DB Tyrone Carter, Minnesota Antoine Winfield, Ohio State DB Amp Campbell, Michigan State Marcus Ray, Michigan DB Eric Collier, Northwestern Damon Moore, Ohio State DB Ray Hill, Michigan State Brent Bartholomew, Ohio State P Kevin Stemke, Wisconsin
Offensive Player of the Year: Tavian Banks, Iowa
Defensive Player of the Year: Charles Woodson, Michigan
Freshman of the Year: Anthony Thomas, Michigan
Coach of the Year: Joe Tiller, Purdue
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten: Illinois Danny Clark, Robert Holcombe; Indiana Kywin Supernaw; Iowa Plez Atkins, Kerry Cooks, Mike Goff, Aaron Klein, Jon LeFleur, Eric Thigpen; Michigan Chris Howard, Dhani Jones, Rob Renes, Jason Vinson, Andre Weathers; Michigan State Sorie Kanu; Minnesota Adam Bailey, Ben Hamilton; Northwestern Paul Janus, Brian Musso; Ohio State Dee Miller; Penn State Courtney Brown, Matt Fornadel, Shawn Lee, Mike McQueary, Pat Pidgeon; Purdue Mark Fischer, Willie Fells; Wisconsin Tom Burke, John Favret, Aaron Gibson, David Lysek, Chris McIntosh, Donnel Thompson.