IU

IU's Oakes named Big Ten's top kicker

IndyStar Sports
sports@indystar.com
Indiana Hoosiers place kicker Griffin Oakes (92) kicks a field goal during second-half action of a NCAA football game, Saturday, September 5, 2015, in Bloomington. Indiana won the game 48-47.

Griffin Oakes of Indiana was named the Big Ten's top kicker Monday. The league handed out honors for defense and special teams.

Oakes, a third-year sophomore from Greenwood, has made 88 percent of his field goals (22-of-25) this season, ranking ninth nationally. He leads Big Ten kickers, averaging 9.5 points per game. He also made 48-of-52 extra points on the way to scoring 114 points.

Oakes also leads the conference in touchbacks (51), touchback percentage (61.5) and kickoff average (63.5 yards).

In his career, Oakes is seventh on IU's field goals chart, hitting 35-of-43 (81.4 percent), and seventh in extra points (71-of-75, 94.7).

IU's Griffin Oakes is the Big Ten's top kicker

Other IU defensive and special teams players to earn honorable mention honors are: Nick Mangieri (coaches and media lists), Darius Latham (coaches only),  Zack Shaw (coaches), Marcus Oliver (media only) and Mitchell Paige (media).

Purdue honorable mentions include Anthony Brown, Jake Replogle and Frankie Williams (all on both lists).

Besides Oakes, top honors went to: Carl Nassib, Penn State, Defensive Player of the Year; Jabrill Peppers, Michigan, top freshman; Joey Bosa, Ohio State, lineman; Joe Schobert, Wisconsin, linebacker; Desmond King, Iowa, defensive back; Sam Foltz, Nebraska, punter; William Likely, Maryland, return specialist.

Offensive awards are scheduled to be handed out Tuesday.