University of Minnesota Athletics

Players Mentioned

OL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
Penn State vs Minnesota
Photo by: Ben Ludeman

Bateman, Johnson Named All-Big Ten First Team

12/4/2019 5:00:00 PM | Football

Rashod Bateman named Big Ten’s Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year

It was another banner day for the University of Minnesota football team, as nine offensive players received postseason honors from the Big Ten. 

Leading the way was sophomore receiver Rashod Bateman who was named the Big Ten's Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year. Bateman is the first Gopher in school history to be named the best receiver in the conference. 

Bateman was joined on the All-Big First Team by senior teammate Tyler Johnson, who was also named to the First Team last season. This year is believed to be the first time in conference history that one school has occupied both receiver spots on the First Team ballots by the coaches and media.   

Bateman, who was also one of 12 semifinalists for he Biletnikoff Award, has 57 catches this year for 1,170 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 1,170 yards is a single-season school record, eclipsing the previous record set by Johnson last season with 1,169 yards. His 11 touchdowns is one shy of the record 12 set by Johnson last season. 

Johnson, who is the lone receiver from a Power Five conference to have consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, has 74 catches this year for 1,114 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 74 catches and 1,114 yards are school records for a senior and rank third and fourth, respectively in the Minnesota record book. He is one touchdown shy of tying the record he set last season with 12. 

Tanner Morgan and Rodney Smith were named All-Big Ten Second Team by both the coaches and media. 

Morgan is the first Minnesota quarterback to be on a Big Ten postseason team since the coaches voted Adam Weber All-Big Ten Second Team in 2008. Morgan has had one of the best seasons in school history for a Minnesota quarterback ever. He has set single-season records in passing yards (2,975), touchdowns (28) and consecutive games with a touchdown pass (13, dating back to last season).

Smith has rushed for 1,094 yards this year and eight touchdowns this year and rushed for more than 100 yards in five straight Big Ten games to start conference play. He is only the second running back ever to rush for more than 4,000 career yards and is the school record holder with 5,364 all-purpose yards. 

Blaise Andries, who has started games at left tackle, left guard and right tackle this year, was named All-Big Ten Third Team to become the first Gopher offensive lineman to be honored by the conference since 2016. Andries, who has started every game, has blocked for a prolific Minnesota offense this year. The Gophers have thrown for a school record 3,014 yards and 28 touchdowns this year, while still rushing for 2,108 yards and 24 touchdowns. 

Offensive linemen Curtis Dunlap Jr., Daniel Faalele, Conner Olson and Sam Schlueter were all named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by the coaches and media. 

Minnesota's Big Ten Honorees
All-Big Ten First Team

Rashod Bateman (coaches, media)
Tyler Johnson (coaches, media) 

All-Big Ten Second Team
Tanner Morgan (coaches, media)
Rodney Smith (coaches, media)

All-Big Ten Third Team 
Blaise Andries (coaches, media)

All-Big Ten Honorable Mention
Curtis Dunlap Jr. (coaches, media)
Daniel Faalele (coaches, media)
Conner Olson (coaches, media)
Sam Schlueter (coaches, media)

Follow Minnesota Football

Don't miss any of the action from the field. Stay connected to Gopher Football!

Minnesota Football Tickets

Experience the excitement and tradition connecting generations of Gopher fans! Create memories for a lifetime with your friends and family while you root for your Golden Gophers. Get Tickets

Support Minnesota Football

Support the University of Minnesota Football program. Your support helps our student-athletes succeed athletically, academically, and socially. It takes just seconds to make a monthly or one-time donation. Thank you for your support! Give Now
 
Every Single Down
Tuesday, October 14
1960 National Champs Honored
Monday, October 13
Coach Fleck Previews Nebraska
Monday, October 13
Highlights: Gophers 27, Purdue 20
Saturday, October 11