Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, December 9, 2013

Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg was Big Ten Freshman of the Year last week. And, he?s the headliner on the 2013 BTN.com All-Freshman Team. Led by Hackenberg, Penn State has five players on the squad, pacing all schools. Nebraska has four.

It was a strong year for tight ends, the most difficult spot to pick. Among the promising youngsters are Minnesota?s Maxx Williams, Michigan?s Jake Butt, Penn State?s Adam Breneman, Michigan State?s Josiah Price and Nebraska?s Cethan Carter.

In addition to Hackenberg, the Big Ten has good youngsters under center in Purdue?s Danny Etling and Nebraska?s Tommy Armstrong, Jr. And there are myriad good defensive backs with Wisconsin corner Sojourn Shelton leading the way.

Ohio State end Joey Bosa headlines a strong collection of defensive linemen. In fact, Bosa may have been the league?s second-most impressive freshman after Hackenberg.

2013 BTN.com Big Ten All-Freshman Team

OFFENSE
WR: DeAngelo Yancey, Purdue*
WR: Jordan Westerkamp, Nebraska
TE: Maxx Williams, Minnesota
L (T): Jack Conklin, Michigan State
L (G): Erik Magnuson, Michigan
L (G): Kyle Kalis, Michigan
L (G): Jacob Bailey, Indiana
L (G): Jason King, Purdue
QB: Christian Hackenberg, Penn State*
RB: Akeel Lynch, Penn State
RB: Corey Clement, Wisconsin*

DEFENSE
L (E): Joey Bosa, Ohio State*
L (T): Willie Henry, Michigan
L (E): Avery Moss, Nebraska
L (T): Austin Johnson, Penn State
LB: Michael Rose, Nebraska
LB: Brandon Bell, Penn State*
LB: Nyeem Wartman, Penn State
DB (CB): Sojourn Shelton, Wisconsin*
DB (CB): Desmond King, Iowa*
DB (CB): Matthew Harris, Northwestern*
DB (S): Tyvis Powell, Ohio State

SPECIALISTS
K: Michael Geiger, Michigan State*
P: Sam Foltz, Nebraska

HONORABLE MENTION
S LeRoy Alexander, Nebraska; S Antonio Allen, Indiana*; QB Tommy Armstrong, Jr., Nebraska; LB Josh Banderas, Nebraska*; TE Adam Breneman, Penn State*; TE Jake Butt, Michigan*; TE Cethan Carter, Nebraska*; RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State*; QB Danny Etling, Purdue*; LB Nathan Gerry, Nebraska*; RB Derrick Green, Michigan*; DT Ralphael Green, Indiana; DT Darius Latham, Indiana*; QB Mitch Leidner, Minnesota; WR Geno Lewis, Penn State; CB Darius Mosely, Illinois*; LB Clyde Newton, Indiana*; LB Ifeadi Odenigbo, Northwestern; LB Marcus Oliver, Indiana*; WR Cameron Posey, Purdue; TE Josiah Price, Michigan State; C Wes Rogers, Indiana; LB T.J.Simmons, Indiana*; DT Vincent Valentine, Nebraska; WB Dontre Wilson, Ohio State*; DE Chris Wormley, Michigan

* — Indicates true freshman

About Tom Dienhart BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section.

And if you want to leave a comment on this post, use the box below. All comments need to be approved by a moderator.