Nov. 30, 2016

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Big Ten conference Wednesday evening announced its 2016 All-Big Ten teams on the offensive side of the ball with three Buckeyes garnering top individual recognition. Junior J.T. Barrett was named the Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year, senior Pat Elflein was named the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year while Mike Weber took home the Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year.

Barrett is the fourth Big Ten quarterback of the year recipient in the past five years. Weber is the ninth Buckeyes to win freshman of the year honors while Elflein is the second consecutive and seventh Buckeye overall to win top offensive lineman honors.

In addition, junior H-B Curtis Samuel and junior OG Billy Price joined Barrett and Elflein on the All-Big Ten first team while Weber and junior OT Jamarco Jones were named to the second team by the coaches and the media.

Barrett led the Buckeyes with 3,275 yards of total offense (2,428 pass, 847 rush) in 2016, completing 214 of his 346 passes and only five interceptions. He led the Big Ten in points responsible for (33 TDs, 198 points, 16.5 ppg) and was second with 24 TD passes. He also finished the regular season third in total offense (272.9 ypg) and completion percentage (.620) and fourth in passer rating (140.8) while becoming Ohio State’s all-time leader in TD passes (69) and TDs responsible for (100) in the process.

Barrett threw for a career-high 349 yards and tied his school record with six TD passes in the 77-10 season-opening win over Bowling Green, setting an Ohio State record with seven TDs accounted for (6 passing, 1 rushing) and helping the Buckeyes set a school record with 776 yards of total offense. Two weeks later, he tossed four TD passes – all to Noah Brown – in the win at No. 14 Oklahoma. The very next week, he tossed four more TD passes on 21-of-29 passing while rushing for 46 yards in just over three quarters of play vs. Rutgers. The Wichita Falls, Texas, native rushed for a season-high 137 yards and a score in the win over Indiana before totaling 318 total yards (92 rush, 226 pass) in the overtime win at No. 8 Wisconsin. He tossed four more TD passes while throwing for 290 yards in the win over No. 10 Nebraska and accounted for four more TDs (2 rushing, 2 passing) and totaling 300 yards of total offense in the win at Maryland.

Elflein, a finalist for the Outland Trophy, started all 12 games this season in his first year playing center. He, along with Price and Jones, anchored an offensive line that helped the Buckeyes rank ninth in the nation in scoring (42.7 ppg) and rushing offense (258.3 ypg) and 24th in total offense (479.5 ypg). Ohio State led the Big Ten in scoring, total offense and rushing yards.

Weber became the third Ohio State freshman to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season, joining Robert Smith (1990) and Maurice Clarett (2002). The redshirt freshman played in all 12 games, carrying the ball 177 times for 1,072 yards and leading all freshmen in the Big Ten with 89.3 rushing yards per contest. Weber racked up a career-best 144 yards on the ground against Rutgers, including one score. The Detroit, Mich., native had two rushing touchdowns each against Indiana and Northwestern and he rattled off 111 yards on 14 carries in a 17-16 win on the road at Michigan State, including one score and a career-long rush of 52 yards. Weber garnered Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors twice during his first season.

Samuel has been the sparkplug for the Ohio State offense this fall, leading the team in all-purpose yards (1,546) while recording a team-high 17 plays of 20 or more yards. He recorded career-highs in receptions (9) and receiving yards (177) in the season opener against Bowling Green, including a career-long 79-yard touchdown reception. Samuel also has the longest rush by a Buckeye this season when he took a handoff 74 yards to the house against Penn State. Samuel ranks second in the Big Ten in receptions with 65 and leads Ohio State with 14 touchdowns (seven receiving, seven rushing). Samuel was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week after netting 173 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in a 62-3 win over Nebraska.

Earning honorable mention honors on offense were junior TE Marcus Baugh and sophomore WR Noah Brown.

Ohio State Big Ten Quarterbacks of the Year

2016, J.T. Barrett

2014, J.T. Barrett

2013, Braxton Miller

2012, Braxton Miller

Ohio State Big Ten Freshmen of the Year

2016, Mike Weber

2014, J.T. Barrett

2011, Braxton Miller

2008, Terrelle Pryor

2002, Maurice Clarett

1996, Andy Katzenmoyer

1994, Orlando Pace

1992, Korey Stringer

1990, Robert Smith

Ohio State Big Ten Offensive Linemen of the Year

2016, Pat Elflein

2015, Taylor Decker

2001, LeCharles Bentley

1996, Orlando Pace

1995, Orlando Pace

1994, Korey Stronger

1993, Korey Stringer