PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Led by an All-Big Ten Third Team selection for PK Jai Patel, eight from Rutgers football were recognized in the defense and special teams voting released Tuesday. Both the conference's head coaches and media produce a listing.

Rutgers Football All-Big Ten Honors
Third Team (media): PK Jai Patel
Honorable Mention (coaches): DL Aaron Lewis, DB Max Melton, PK Jai Patel, LB Mohamed Toure
Honorable Mention (media): DL Mayan Ahanotu, DB Flip Dixon, LB Deion Jennings, DL Aaron Lewis, DB Robert Longerbeam, DB Max Melton, LB Mohamed Toure
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MAYAN AHANOTU
A two-time team captain, Ahanotu earns All-Big Ten honors for the first time. The defensive lineman has played in 10 games with eight starts for the Scarlet Knights, posting a season-high four tackles versus Temple and recovering a fumble at Penn State. The Tampa, Florida, native was previously named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.


FLIP DIXON
In his first season with the Scarlet Knights, Dixon has started all 12 games with 70 tackles to rank third on the team. The safety hauled in an interception against Virginia Tech, forced a fumble versus Maryland and totaled five pass breakups so far. This is the first All-Big Ten recognition for the Statesboro, Georgia, native.


DEION JENNINGS
Leading the team with 86 tackles, Jennings ranks 10^th in the league with 7.2 stops per game at linebacker. That includes highs of 13 tackles against Ohio State and 11 at Iowa. The Sicklerville, New Jersey, native had a career-high three pass breakups in the win over Temple and earns honorable mention in the media vote for the second consecutive season.


AARON LEWIS
Lewis claims recognition for the second consecutive season after posting 48 tackles so far with five for loss and three sacks. The defensive lineman started each of the 12 games and batted down passes at Indiana and versus Ohio State. The Williamstown, New Jersey, native recorded a season-high eight tackles in the win over Virginia Tech, adding a stop on a two-point conversion attempt.


ROBERT LONGERBEAM
Longerbeam is one of two players in the Big Ten with double-digit pass breakups in 2023, ranking third in the league with 0.92 passes defended per game (10 breakups, one interception). That includes three passes deflected in the win at Indiana and forcing two fumbles in the comeback over Michigan State. The cornerback from Alexandria, Virginia, additionally had a pick versus Northwestern, a sack against Virginia Tech, pounced on a muffed punt at Indiana and totaled 39 tackles in 12 games so far. This marks his first All-Big Ten recognition.


MAX MELTON
Melton claims All-Big Ten honors for the second consecutive season after recording three interceptions. The Mays Landing, New Jersey, native has totaled 32 tackles with four for loss and six breakups in 12 starts at cornerback. He also forced and recovered a fumble on the same play in the red zone at Wisconsin.


JAI PATEL
Patel becomes the third kicker in program history to earn all-conference recognition, joining Justin Davidovicz (2018 honorable mention, coaches) and Jeremy Ito (2006 second team). The Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, native has made each of his last 10 field goal attempts and is 14-of-16 (87.5 percent) overall, on track for the most accurate season in the school record books. That includes four games with multiples makes and twice going 3-for-3. He hit from a season-long 51 yards versus Temple on the way to earning Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.


MOHAMED TOURE
Toure returned to the field after missing last season to play all 12 games and is second on the defense with 85 tackles, including a team-high 7.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks. He posted a career-high 11 stops versus Maryland and had an interception against Ohio State. The linebacker from Pleasantville, New Jersey, was previously named to the Comeback Player of the Year watch list and earns All-Big Ten recognition for the first time.

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