# 1978 All-Big Ten Conference football team

The 1978 All-Big Ten Conference football team consists of American football players chosen by various organizations for All-Big Ten Conference teams for the 1978 Big Ten Conference football season. The only player unanimously selected by the conference coaches as a first-team player was Michigan fullback Russell Davis. Michigan State flanker Kirk Gibson fell one point short of unanimity, and running back Marion Barber, Jr., fell two points short.

## Offensive selections
### Quarterbacks

* Rick Leach, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
* Ed Smith, Michigan State (AP-2; UPI-2)

### Running backs

* Marion Barber, Jr., Minnesota (AP-1; UPI-1 [tailback])
* Russell Davis, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1 [fullback])
* Mike Harkrader, Indiana (AP-2, UPI-2 [tailback])
* John Macon, Purdue (AP-2; UPI-2 [fullback])

### Flankers/split ends

* Kirk Gibson, Michigan State (AP-1 [flanker]; UPI-1 [wingback])
* Eugene Byrd, Michigan State (AP-1 [wide receiver]; UPI-1 [split end])
* Brad Reid, Iowa (AP-2 [wide receiver])
* David Charles, Wisconsin (AP-2 [flanker]; UPI-2 [split end])
* Ralph Clayton (UPI-2 [wingback])

### Tight ends

* Mark Brammer, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
* Doug Marsh, Michigan (AP-2)
* Jimmy Moore, Ohio State (UPI-2)

### Centers

* Mark Heidel, Indiana (AP-1; UPI-1)
* Steve Nauta, Michigan (AP-2; UPI-2)

### Guards

* Ken Fritz, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-1)
* John Arbeznik, Michigan (AP-2 [tackle]; UPI-1)
* Greg Bartnick, Michigan (AP-2, UPI-2)
* Dale Schwan, Purdue (AP-2)
* John LeFeber, Purdue (UPI-2)

### Tackles

* Jon Giesler, Michigan (AP-1 [guard]; UPI-1)
* Jim Hinsley, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
* Joe Robinson, Ohio State (AP-1)
* Steve McKenzie, Purdue (AP-2, UPI-2)
* Keith Ferguson, Ohio State (UPI-2)

## Defensive selections
### Defensive linemen

* Curtis Greer, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
* Melvin Land, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
* Ken Loushin, Purdue (AP-1; UPI-1)
* Keena Turner, Purdue (AP-1; UPI-1)
* Kelton Dansler, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-2 [defensive end])
* Stan Sytsma, Minnesota (AP-2; UPI-1)
* Marcus Jackson, Purdue (AP-2; UPI-2 [defensive tackle])
* Jerry Meter, Michigan (AP-2; UPI-2 [defensive end])
* Dan Relich, Wisconsin (AP-2)
* Jim Ronan, Minnesota (AP-2)
* Byron Cato, Ohio State (UPI-2 [defensive tackle])
* Doug Friberg, Minnesota (UPI-2 [defensive guard])

### Linebackers

* Tom Cousineau, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-1)
* Joe Norman, Indiana (AP-1; UPI-1)
* Ron Simpkins, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-2)
* Dan Bass, Michigan State (AP-2)
* Tom Rusk, Iowa (AP-2; UPI-2)
* John Sullivan, Illinois (AP-2)

### Defensive backs

* Mike Jolly, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
* Tom Graves, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-2)
* Vince Skillings, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-2)
* Keith Brown, Minnesota (UPI-1)
* Mike Guess, Ohio State (UPI-1)
* Mike Harden, Michigan (UPI-1)
* Mark Anderson, Michigan State (AP-2; UPI-2)
* Dave Abrams, Indiana (AP-2)
* Pat Geegan, Northwestern (AP-2)
* Lawrence Johnson, Wisconsin (UPI-2)

## Special teams
### Placekicker

* Paul Rogind, Minnesota (AP-1; UPI-1)
* Scott Sovereen, Purdue (AP-2)
* Greg Willner, Michigan (UPI-2)

### Punter

* Ray Stachowicz, Michigan State (AP-2; UPI-1)
* Tom Orosz, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-2)

## Key

AP = Associated Press
UPI = United Press International, selected by the Big Ten Conference coaches