Gophers sophomore Emmit Carpenter was named Big Ten Kicker of the Year on Tuesday, based on voting by conference coaches and media.

Carpenter has made 21 of 23 field goals and 41 of 42 extra points. He was perfect on nine kicks beyond 40 yards, and 2-for-2 on kicks of 50-plus.

Carpenter's 104 points rank second all-time for a Minnesota kicker behind Dan Nystrom, who had 109 points in 2000. The media voted Carpenter as a first-team All-Ten selection, while the coaches had Carpenter on the second team behind Penn State's Tyler Davis.

Gophers defensive tackle Steven Richardson earned third-team All-Big Ten honors. Defensive backs Damarius Travis and Jalen Myrick, linebackers Jonathan Celestin and Jack Lynn, and defensive tackle Scott Ekpe were named honorable mention.

The offensive All-Big Ten awards will be announced Wednesday.

Etc.

* Myrick was also selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game, Jan. 21 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

* In recruiting news, Corey Gaynor, a consensus three-star offensive tackle from Pompano Beach, Fla., flipped his commitment from the Gophers to Miami.