Crick and David on Big Ten Players to Watch List

Park Ridge, Ill. - Nebraska defensive standouts Lavonte David and Jared Crick were among the 12 players recognized, as the Big Ten announced its inaugural football Players to Watch list.

Big Ten coaches voted to institute a preseason Players to Watch list beginning this season, honoring five student-athletes each from the Legends Division and Leaders Division. The 2011 list was selected by a media panel and features additional honorees due to a tie.

David and Crick were among the five players selected from the Legends Division, a group which also included Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins and Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa.

Crick and David both earned All-America honors last season and have received numerous preseason honors this year. Crick has been named to national watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik Award (nation's top defensive player), the Lombardi Award (nation's top collegiate lineman), the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (nation's top defensive player), the Outland Trophy (nation's top collegiate interior lineman) and the Walter Camp Award (nation's outstanding player). David also made the watch lists for the Bednarik, Lombardi and Nagurski awards, in addition to being a candidate for the Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker).

Crick anchored a Husker defense that helped Nebraska rank in the top 12 nationally in scoring defense and total defense in 2010. He totaled 70 tackles, including 36 solo stops, and had 9.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss to rank second in the Big 12. A two-year starter for the Blackshirts, Crick has totaled 145 career tackles entering 2011, including 32 tackles for loss. With 19 sacks, Crick is in position to break the Husker career sack record with a strong senior season.

David racked up a school-record 152 tackles in his first season at Nebraska in 2010, breaking Barrett Ruud's mark of 149 set in 2003. A first-team All-Big 12 pick and the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, David ranked 11th nationally in tackles per game and was second on the team in sacks (6.0), tackles for loss (15 for 60 yards) and pass breakups (10) to earn first-team All-America honors from several outlets.

The Leaders Division honorees are Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase, Indiana wide receiver Damarlo Belcher, Ohio State center Mike Brewster and defensive tackle John Simon, Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti and Wisconsin running backs Montee Ball and James White.

All five Legends Division players received postseason recognition in 2010, with Robinson, Crick and David earning All-America honors and first-team all-conference accolades. Robinson was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year while David was tabbed the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. Persa was also named first-team All-Big Ten while Cousins was an honorable mention All-Conference choice.

The group of Leaders Division standouts includes five all-conference selections from 2010. Brewster earned All-America accolades and first-team All-Big Ten honors. White was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a second-team All-Conference selection. Belcher, Simon and Ball were each All-Big Ten honorable mention selections.

The complete list of Big Ten football preseason Players to Watch appears below:

LEGENDS DIVISION
Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan
Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State
Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska
Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska
Dan Persa, QB, Northwestern

LEADERS DIVISION*
Nathan Scheelhaase, QB, Illinois
Damarlo Belcher, WR, Indiana
Mike Brewster, C, Ohio State
John Simon, DT, Ohio State
Michael Mauti, LB, Penn State
Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin
James White, RB, Wisconsin
*Additional honorees due to tie