Tasser: End-of-season Big East awards

Since I know everyone loves when I hand out awards, and everyone is happy to see this season… Since I know everyone loves when I hand out awards, and everyone is happy to see this season end, here is an end-of-term present for everyone: a whole column dedicated to awards.

DT’s All-Big East Team:

Quarterback: Geno Smith, West Virginia — Smith led the conference in passing efficiency, was second in yardage and owned a 23-6 touchdown-to-interception line.

Second Team: Zach Collaros, Cincinnati

Running back: Jordan Todman, Connecticut; Bilal Powell, Louisville — These two were obvious. Todman had 14 touchdowns and was second in the nation with 143 yards per game. Powell was second in the league with 1,330 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Second Team: Delone Carter, Syracuse; Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh

Wide receiver: Jon Baldwin, Pittsburgh; Armon Binns, Cincinnati — These two were also no-brainers. Binns put up great numbers (75 receptions, 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns) again this year. Baldwin saw his numbers drop from last season, but still averaged 15.6 yards per catch and led the league in ridiculous grabs, though that stat is never calculated.

Second Team: Tavon Austin, West Virginia; Mark Harrison, Rutgers

Tight end: Cameron Graham, Louisville — Graham was the best candidate in a weak year for Big East tight ends.

Second Team: Ben Guidugli, Cincinnati

Offensive tackle: Mike Ryan, Connecticut; Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh — Ryan anchored the Big East’s top rushing attack, and Pinkston played solidly on a shaky Pitt offensive line and remains the top line prospect in the Big East.

Second Team: Byron Stingily, Louisville; Don Barclay, West Virginia

Offensive guard: Zach Hurd, Connecticut; Mark Wetterer, Louisville — UConn and Louisville were the top two rushing teams in the conference, and Hurd and Wetterer were unanimously voted first team all-conference by the coaches.

Second Team: Lucas Nix, Pittsburgh; Josh Jenkins, West Virginia

Center: Sampson Genus, South Florida — This was the second consecutive season Genus was the top center in the Big East.

Second Team: Ryan Bartholomew, Syracuse

Defensive end: Jabaal Sheard, Pittsburgh; Brandon Lindsey, Pittsburgh — The Panthers held the top Big East defensive end tandem for the second consecutive year, despite Greg Romeus’s injuries. Sheard and Lindsey combined for 19 sacks and 30.5 tackles for a loss.

Second Team: Julian Miller, West Virginia; Chandler Jones, Cincinnati

Defensive tackle: Chris Neild, West Virginia; Kendall Reyes, Connecticut — Neild was a disruptive force as the anchor of WVU’s 3-3-5 defense and Reyes, who came up with two big interceptions in the final weeks of the season, also recorded 10 tackles for a loss.

Second Team: Terrell McClain, South Florida; Scooter Berry, West Virginia

Linebacker: Lawrence Wilson, Connecticut; Derrell Smith, Syracuse; J.T. Thomas, West Virginia — At the Big East’s deepest position, Wilson is the clear winner. He led the league in tackles with 115, recorded 10 tackles for a loss and returned an interception for the only touchdown in the Huskies’ BCS-clinching victory over South Florida. Smith and Thomas were both standout presences in their teams’ solid defenses.

Second Team: Doug Hogue, Syracuse; Sio Moore, Connecticut; J.K. Shaffer, Cincinnati

Cornerback: Brandon Hogan, West Virginia; Keith Tandy, West Virginia — Hogan shut down his side of the field all year, and teams constantly threw away from him, allowing teammate Tandy to lead the league in interceptions with five.

Second Team: Johnny Patrick, Louisville; Mistral Raymond, South Florida

Safety: Robert Sands, West Virginia; Dom DeCicco, Pittsburgh — Sands was the best safety in the conference and the Big East’s best defensive back prospect. DeCicco showed tremendous versatility by playing both safety and linebacker, racking up 85 tackles and tying for the league lead with five interceptions.

Second Team: Jarred Holley, Pittsburgh; Joe Lefeged, Rutgers

Kicker: Dave Teggart, Connecticut — Teggart was 23 for 29 on the year, including the game-winning 52-yard field goal in the season finale against USF.

Second Team: Ross Krautman, Syracuse

Punter: Dan Hutchins, Pittsburgh — Pitt ranked sixth nationally in net punting average thanks to Hutchins’ 45.1-yard average.

Second Team: Rob Long, Syracuse

Kick return: Lindsey Lamar, South Florida — Won the conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year award on the strength of a 28.1 yard per return average and two touchdowns.

Second Team: Nick Williams, Connecticut

Punt return: Doug Beaumont, Louisville — Beaumont averaged 15.1 yards per return with a touchdown.

Second Team: Cam Saddler, Pittsburgh

Offensive MVP: Jordan Todman, Connecticut — He wins this hands down. Todman carried the Huskies all season, and no player in the conference came close to his level of importance to his team.

Defensive MVP: Jabaal Sheard, Pittsburgh — This player wreaked havoc on opposing offenses all season, often against double- and even triple-teams. He proved that last year wasn’t a fluke and put up better numbers, even with last year’s Defensive MVP, Romeus, sidelined.

Coach of the Year: Doug Marrone, Syracuse — You could make an argument for UConn’s Randy Edsall as well as Louisville’s Charlie Strong, as they tied in the official coaches’ vote, but Marrone wins my award. The Orange shot past expectations, won the games they were supposed to and several they were supposed to get destroyed in — I’m talking to you, WVU.

Biggest Surprise: Syracuse — I just told you why.

Biggest Disappointment: Pittsburgh — In the end, this train wreck of a season ultimately lead to the coaching loss of the Mustachioed One.