BTN.com's Big Ten All-Freshman Team includes several Wolverines, Spartans

The Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans both placed a few players on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team compiled by BTN.com's Tom Dienhart, highlighting names that will likely become quite familiar throughout the state over the next few years.

While the Spartans had one of the weakest offenses in the nation this year, finishing 109th in the nation in scoring, they did land a pair of freshman on the offensive side of the squad. Center Jack Allen, a redshirt freshman, and wide receiver Aaron Burbridge, a true freshman, both should be key parts of next year's Spartans offense.

The only wide receiver listed, Burbridge emerged in the second half of the season as a key cog in the Spartans' passing offense. After catching just two balls during the first five games, Burbridge nabbed 24 balls for 328 yards and a touchdown over the final seven games, beginning with an eight-catch, 134-yard performance against Indiana.

Michigan landed just one offensive player on Dienhart's team, tight end Devin Funchess. While he put up nearly half of his 230 receiving yards in the second game of the season, the 6'5, 229-pound tight end could be a major weapon for Devin Gardner next year.

On the defensive side of things, Spartans safety R.J. Williamson and Wolverines linebackers Joe Bolden and James Ross III made the team. Bolden finished the season with 27 tackles while Ross finished with 34, including 12 in the blowout win over Iowa on Nov. 17. Williamson recorded 27 tackles and two interceptions for the Spartans this year.

Wolverines kick returner Dennis Norfleet and Spartans punt returner Andre Sims Jr. also made the team.