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University of Minnesota Athletics
Steele Names Gophers To All-Big Ten Teams
12/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Phil Steele has released his All-Big Ten Team, with five Golden Gophers receiving accolades.
Steele named junior wide receiver Eric Decker (Cold Spring, Minn.) and senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg (Silver Lake, Minn.) to his All-Big Ten First Team. Decker set a Minnesota single-season record for receptions with 76 so far this season. He was a unanimous First-Team All-Big Ten selection in the conference's coaches and media polls. VanDeSteeg finished the regular season ranked No. 4 in the Big Ten in both sacks and tackles for loss. He is also Minnesota's all-time leader in tackles for loss.
The Gophers had three other student-athletes honored by Steele. Senior tight end Jack Simmons (Libertyville, Ill.), freshman kick returner Troy Stoudermire (Dallas, Texas) and junior cornerback Traye Simmons (Marietta, Ga.) were all named to the All-Big Ten Third Team.
Steele isa voting member of the Football Writers Association of America and helped decide the FWAA All-America team. Phil Steele's College Football Preview is one of the nation's most informative preseason football magazines. The entire list of Steele's all-conference teams will be available at www.PhilSteele.com on Friday at Noon ET.
-UM-
