COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Junior return specialist Javon Leake and senior defensive back Antoine Brooks Jr. highlight five Maryland football student-athletes that earned All-Big Ten accolades Tuesday as the league announced defensive and special teams honorees.
 
Leake was voted as the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year after leading the Big Ten and ranking third in the FCS with 804 kickoff return yards and a pair of kickoff return touchdowns. Leake's 26.8 yards per kickoff return average also led all Big Ten players and ranked 13^th nationally.
 
Leake joins an impressive list of players that have won the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year Award, now in its fifth year. Former Terp All-American William Likely III won the inaugural award in 2015 and was followed by a pair of NFL first round draft picks - Michigan's Jabrill Peppers in 2016 and Penn State's Saquon Barkley in 2017.
 
Leake was also selected to the All-Big Ten First Team as a return specialist by both the coaches and media.
 
Brooks was named Second Team All-Big Ten by the coaches for the second straight year. The leagues media named Brooks to the third team.
 
Brooks led the Big Ten and ranks ninth nationally with 69 solo tackles. He ranks third in the Big Ten among defensive backs with 87 total tackles. Brooks also tied for the team lead with five pass break-ups.
 
Senior linebacker Keandre Jones (coaches & media), sophomore linebacker Ayinde Eley (coaches) and freshman defensive back Nick Cross (coaches) were each named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten.
 
Jones made the most of his one year in a Maryland uniform, leading the Terps in sacks (7.0), tackles for loss (15.0) and forced fumbles (3). The linebacker ranks eighth in the league in tackles for loss and tied for fourth in forced fumbles.
 
Eley had a break-through sophomore season for Maryland, averaging 7.2 tackles per game, ranking second on team and 14^th in the Big Ten. He also led the Terps and tied for third in the Big Ten with a pair of fumble recoveries.
 
Cross is a true freshman that didn't make his first career start until October 19, but came on strong as the season progressed. He led Maryland and ranked among the Top 20 players in the Big Ten with seven passes defended. Cross also hauled in a pair of interceptions, tying for the team lead in that category.
 
The league also announced senior offensive lineman Ellis McKennie as Maryland's sportsmanship award honoree on Tuesday.

The Big Ten will announce the offensive all-conference selections on Wednesday.
 
Maryland's All-Big Ten Defensive and Special Teams Selections

Javon Leake, Junior, Return Specialist
Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year
First Team All-Big Ten Return Specialist (coaches & media)

Antoine Brooks Jr., Senior, Defensive Back
Second Team All-Big Ten (coaches)
Third Team All-Big Ten (media)

Keandre Jones, Senior, Linebacker
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (coaches & media)

Ayinde Eley, Sophomore, Linebacker
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (coaches)

Nick Cross, Freshman, Defensive Back
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (coaches)

Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honoree: Ellis McKennie, Senior, Offensive Lineman