Indiana University Athletics
B1G Defensive, Special Teams Honors, Cignetti Coach of the Year
12/3/2025 1:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A pair of specialty awards and a program-record for both defensive players and specialists on the All-Big Ten first, second or third teams highlighted the honors for the Indiana football program from the Big Ten conference media and coaches on Wednesday (Dec. 3).
Head coach Curt Cignetti is the first coach in Big Ten history to win both the Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year and Dave McClain Coach of the Year when the conference awarded them the same season (1982-01; 2011-present). He joins Bill Mallory (1986-87) as the only IU coach to win conference coach of the year accolades in back-to-back seasons.
He is just the third Big Ten head coach to win the Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year in back-to-back seasons (Paul Chryst, Wisconsin – 2016-17; Hayden Fry, Iowa – 1990-01) and the fifth to claim consecutive Dave McClain Coach of the Year honors and the first since Gary Barnett of Northwestern in 1994-95.
Kicker Nico Radicic was named the Bakken-Anderson Kicker of the Year after leading the conference in scoring (109 points) and made PATs (70) during the regular season. He joins Griffin Oakes as the only Hoosiers to win the award, with Oakes doing so in 2015 and 2017.
Indiana saw seven players named to the first, second or third teams, while 10 total student-athletes were honored by the conference coaches and media panels. Special teams honors saw three Hoosiers garner postseason accolades.
The trio of linebacker Aiden Fisher, defensive back D'Angelo Ponds and defensive lineman Tyrique Tucker were all first-team All-Big Ten selections per the conference coaches and media panels. Defensive back Louis Moore was a first team pick from the coaches and second team selection by the media.
Linebacker Rolijah Hardy was picked by both the coaches and media as a second-team linebacker, while Amare Ferrell joined him as a second team selection at defensive back on the media team. Linebacker Isaiah Jones earned a third team nod from conference media panel. Both Stephen Daley and Mikail Kamara landed honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.
The trio of specialists included Radicic, who was a first team pick by the conference media panel and second team selection by the coaches. Long snapper Mark Langston was the first team pick from both voting panels and return specialist Jonathan Brady was a second-team return specialist by the coaches and third team by the media.
Head coach Curt Cignetti is the first coach in Big Ten history to win both the Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year and Dave McClain Coach of the Year when the conference awarded them the same season (1982-01; 2011-present). He joins Bill Mallory (1986-87) as the only IU coach to win conference coach of the year accolades in back-to-back seasons.
He is just the third Big Ten head coach to win the Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year in back-to-back seasons (Paul Chryst, Wisconsin – 2016-17; Hayden Fry, Iowa – 1990-01) and the fifth to claim consecutive Dave McClain Coach of the Year honors and the first since Gary Barnett of Northwestern in 1994-95.
Kicker Nico Radicic was named the Bakken-Anderson Kicker of the Year after leading the conference in scoring (109 points) and made PATs (70) during the regular season. He joins Griffin Oakes as the only Hoosiers to win the award, with Oakes doing so in 2015 and 2017.
Indiana saw seven players named to the first, second or third teams, while 10 total student-athletes were honored by the conference coaches and media panels. Special teams honors saw three Hoosiers garner postseason accolades.
The trio of linebacker Aiden Fisher, defensive back D'Angelo Ponds and defensive lineman Tyrique Tucker were all first-team All-Big Ten selections per the conference coaches and media panels. Defensive back Louis Moore was a first team pick from the coaches and second team selection by the media.
Linebacker Rolijah Hardy was picked by both the coaches and media as a second-team linebacker, while Amare Ferrell joined him as a second team selection at defensive back on the media team. Linebacker Isaiah Jones earned a third team nod from conference media panel. Both Stephen Daley and Mikail Kamara landed honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.
The trio of specialists included Radicic, who was a first team pick by the conference media panel and second team selection by the coaches. Long snapper Mark Langston was the first team pick from both voting panels and return specialist Jonathan Brady was a second-team return specialist by the coaches and third team by the media.
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
LS
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
K
/ Football
DL
/ FootballFB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Big Ten Championship (Ohio State)
Wednesday, December 03
FB: Kaelon Black Media Availability (12/2/25)
Tuesday, December 02
FB: Roman Hemby Media Availability (12/2/25)
Tuesday, December 02
FB: Isaiah Jones Media Availability (12/2/25)
Tuesday, December 02