Big Ten Football: Ranking the Top 25 Players Heading into 2014
Spring football is now in the rear-view mirror, and fans have set their sights on the opening of fall camp in early August. In the meantime, we have a better idea about which teams and which players will rise to the top come the fall.
When it comes to ranking the 25 best players heading into any given season, it's important to remember that comparing a cornerback to a left tackle is a little like comparing a Ford pickup truck to a tomato; don't read too much into a player ranked at No. 20 and a different player at a different position ranked at No. 19.
When it comes to the best of the best the Big Ten will offer this season, however, we're pretty sure that the 25 players on this list will figure into the equation from Week 1 all the way through the College Football Playoff in January.
No. 25: Tyler Kroft, TE, Rutgers
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If you're not familiar with Tyler Kroft yet, you soon will be. We can understand how Big Ten fans aren't familiar with Kroft just yet, but come September, you'll be hearing his name mentioned quite a lot when the Scarlet Knights are in town.
Last season, Kroft led the team with 43 receptions and 573 receiving yards. He also had four receiving touchdowns.
Those don't seem like gaudy numbers for a team leader, but there's little question that as tight ends go, Kroft will be among the best coming into the 2014 Big Ten season.
No. 24: Noah Spence, DL, Ohio State
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Noah Spence is entering the 2014 season as easily one of the top defensive linemen in the conference. Last season, as a sophomore, Spence had 51 tackles and eight sacks.
The defense in Columbus is, perhaps, one of the few weak spots on the Buckeyes' resume, but if Spence and his fellow linemen can step it up a few notches in 2014, there may be nothing standing between Ohio State and the Big Ten Championship Game in December.
No. 23: Mike Hull, LB, Penn State
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Penn State has done a decent job of holding its head high during the past couple of NCAA sanction-laden seasons, but the Nittany Lions are still a way off of Big Ten title form.
But don't think "Linebacker U" isn't capable of putting some impressive talent on the field, especially at linebacker. Mike Hull is full of talent and should emerge as the defensive leader for the Nittany Lions in 2013.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 22: Tim Bennett, DB, Indiana
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Last season, Indiana's Tim Bennett led the FBS in pass breakups with 20. He also had 73 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Not too bad for a team that is, to put it nicely, defensively challenged. Heading into 2014, if Indiana has any chance of climbing out of the basement of the Big Ten standings, the defense—led by Bennett—will need to get a lot better against conference opponents.
No. 21: Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
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For a freshman tight end, Maxx Williams had one heckuva 2013 season. Check that: for any tight end, Williams had a great 2013. He led Minnesota with 25 receptions for 417 yards and five touchdowns during a breakout season not only for Williams, but for the Gophers, too.
If Williams can put together even a modest improvement in 2014, Minnesota fans are in for a treat as he's sure to be one of the Big Ten's top tight ends.
No. 20: Rob Havenstein, OL, Wisconsin
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When a team has two players put together 1,400-yard-plus performances over the course of the same season, you have to figure the offensive line is playing a major role in that success. If you're talking about Wisconsin, you're 100 percent correct.
Wisconsin has developed a history of producing some great offensive line talent, and Rob Havenstein—the anchor for the line in 2014—is likely to be the next great Badger up front.
No. 19: Randy Gregory, DL, Nebraska
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Randy Gregory was one of the top defensive linemen in the conference last season, putting together 9.5 sacks that led the Big Ten and earned All-Big Ten honors.
For 2014, Gregory will be a major factor in the planned resurgence of the famed "Blackshirts" defense in Lincoln. If Gregory can improve upon his sacks and tackles numbers from last season, it will go a long way not only toward Nebraska's as yet unfruitful conference title hunt, but also toward Gregory's All-American balloting.
No. 18: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
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Last season, Darqueze Dennard received the lion's share of attention in the MSU secondary, and for good reason. But Sparty's "No Fly Zone" was as good as it was only because the other side of the field was being locked down by Trae Waynes.
Waynes had three interceptions and 50 tackles in 2013, and Michigan State will need him to emerge as a defensive leader in 2014 if the Spartans are to maintain their stifling defense.
No. 17: Chi Chi Ariguzo, LB, Northwestern
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Northwestern was clearly a disappointment in 2013. If the Wildcats have a hope of bouncing back in 2014, it will need to start with the defense—which will likely be led by returning linebacker Chi Chi Ariguzo.
Ariguzo is a playmaker who put together 106 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, two pass breakups, three interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
No. 16: Jake Ryan, LB, Michigan
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Jack Ryan is back and hopefully 100 percent healthy for 2014. As one of Michigan's top defenders, Ryan is the anchor in the middle of the defensive lineup for the Wolverines.
Ryan is also moving to the middle from strong-side linebacker last season. If he stays healthy, expect a 100-plus tackle performance in 2014. Ryan had 30 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups in an injury-filled 2013, where he saw action in parts of just eight games.
No. 15: Jack Allen, OL, Michigan State
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A lot of focus on Michigan State this offseason has been how the Spartans will be able to replace some major weapons on defense. But on the offensive side of the football, there's enough talent returning to give opposing defensive coordinators fits.
Jack Allen is back as the anchor of MSU offensive line, and he'll be plugging holes again this season for a Spartans squad that should see an uptick in offensive output.
No. 14: Jeremy Langford, RB, Michigan State
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One of those offensive weapons for which Jack Allen will be opening up holes is returning running back Jeremy Langford.
Last season, Langford led the Big Ten in rushing touchdowns (18) and rushed for 100-or-more yards in the last seven games of the Big Ten regular season and added 128 in the Big Ten Championship Game and 84 in the Rose Bowl Game.
There are few better in the Big Ten—or the nation—than Langford.
No. 13: Blake Countess, CB, Michigan
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Michigan has produced several great corners in its 134-year history. The 135th installment of the Michigan football team will have its own great at corner in Blake Countess.
Countess was a second-team All-Big Ten corner last season, and improvements on his six interceptions, four pass breakups and 46 tackles from his 2013 sophomore campaign could not only mean big things for Countess, but for the Wolverines at large.
No. 12: Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State
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Christian Hackenberg had an impressive freshman campaign with 2,955 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns on just 10 interceptions.
Clearly this kid has all the tools in his arsenal to be an All-Big Ten quarterback and one of the all-time greats at Penn State. His 2014 sophomore season will be closely watched by All-Conference and All-American voters, and we should know a great deal more about his future late in the season.
No. 11: Devin Funchess, TE, Michigan
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Until Michigan's official roster declares otherwise, we're still going to list Devin Funchess as a tight end. But whether you want to call him a tight end or a slot receiver, Funchess is easily one of the best offensive weapons Michigan will put on the field this fall.
Funchess is probably the most talented pass-catching tight end in the confernece, if not the entire nation. Expect Funchess to be the go-to option in the passing game this fall, especially with the departure of Jeremy Gallon.
No. 10: Kurtis Drummond, S, Michigan State
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With all of the success Michigan State had last season, particularly with such a dominating defense, it shouldn't really surprise too many people to find a Spartan leading the way into our top ten.
Kurtis Drummond, an All-Big Ten selection in 2013, finished tied for third in the conference last season in interceptions (4). He also had 91 tackled, six pass breakups, 3.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
He'll not only be an All-American candidate in 2014, he'll also show up on a few watch lists for the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back—an award teammate Darqueze Dennard won last season.
No. 9: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
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If you had asked about the 2013 fate of Connor Cook after Week 2 or Week 3, you might have gotten an answer somewhat similar to "he'll be lucky to finish the season as the starter." But in one of the most impressive in-season maturations, Cook went from a shaky starter that was head coach Mark Dantonio's "least bad" option to MVP in both the Big Ten title game and Rose Bowl Game.
Returning for his junior season in 2014, MSU fans will be looking for a quicker start this season.Cook completed just 12-of-27 passes for 74 yards in the first two weeks of the 2013 season. Don't expect the same kind of anemic start in 2014.
With so many offensive weapons returning, Michigan State may finally develop into a true dual-threat offensive and defensive giant that can compete with any program in the Big Ten for a berth in the inaugural College Football Playoff.
No. 8: Brandon Scherff, OL, Iowa
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Brandon Scherff was an All-Big Ten offensive lineman in 2013 who easily could have passed on his senior season for a more lucrative 2014 in the NFL. Despite being an almost-certain draft pick, the 6'5", 320-pound left tackle opted to return to Iowa for his senior year.
His patience and hard work might very well pay off, too. He could end up being the best offensive lineman in the conference when the 2014 dust settles.
No. 7: Kenny Bell, WR, Nebraska
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Kenny Bell has never been anything less than solidly good for Nebraska over his first three seasons in Lincoln. Now heading into his senior year, he'll be expected to take a step up and emerge as a leader both on the field and on the stat sheets, too.
There's every indication that he'll be successful on both fronts in 2014.
With Bell likely the main passing target at Nebraska this season, expect his speedy route running to take a good deal of pressure off of the lethal Cornhuskers rushing game.
Bell only had 577 receiving yards and four touchdowns last season. If Nebraska hopes to break out of its current six season-long slump of perpetually losing four games every single year, Bell will need to be a bigger part of the offense.
He has the skill. Now the Huskers just need to get him the ball.
No. 6: Shane Wynn, WR, Indiana
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Last season, Indiana's Shane Wynn had 633 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in the Hoosier's prolific offense. Why does that mean he'll be among the top Big Ten receivers in 2014?
If you look at the rest of Indiana's pass-heavy offense, you'll notice that among the Hoosiers' top four receivers from 2013, Wynn is the only returner in 2014. He'll unquestionably be the top target this season, and with the number of passes Indiana throws in any given game, that should equal some big, big numbers.
No. 5: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
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Through the first half of the 2013 season, Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon was the top running back in the conference—while splitting time, no less, with James White.
With 1,609 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in 2013, it's going to be very exciting to see how big those numbers will get in 2014 with White out of the picture in Madison.
No. 4: Shilique Calhoun, DL, Michigan State
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The top defensive player on our list of Top 25 Big Ten players heading into 2014 is also a member of the top defensive team in the Big Ten from 2013—not to mention arguably the best defensive team in the nation.
Michigan State's Shilique Calhoun is not only an exciting returner at defensive end for Michigan State or the Big Ten, but he might be the top returning DE in the nation this season. In 2013, he led the nation in defensive touchdowns (3) while adding 7.5 sacks and four fumble recoveries en route to be named a second team All-American.
No. 3: Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland
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We've yet to see Maryland's Stefon Diggs play a single Big Ten game, and there are still lingering questions about his health after a knee surgery. If, however, Diggs does come back at 100 percent and can make the adjustment to the Big Ten, there's little doubt he'll be among the best wideouts in the conference in 2014.
Despite missing nearly half the season last year, Diggs still holds his status as potentially one of the most electric wide receivers in the nation, and Big Ten secondaries will have their hands full trying to contain Diggs this fall.
No. 2: Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska
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As previously mentioned, Nebraska is well known for its typically dominating "Blackshirts" defense. But there's a new facet to the dominance of the Cornhuskers, and it comes in the form of running back Ameer Abdullah.
In 2013, Abdullah led the Big Ten in rushing yards with 1,690. With an offense that (hopefully) has its sights set on improving both in the backfield and up front on the line, it's hard to imagine a scenario in 2014 barring injury where Adbullah doesn't break 1,700 yards—and he could possibly close in on that magical 2,000-yard mark.
After all, the guy did average over six yards per carry last season. Just imagine how scary Nebraska's defense could be if a passing game develops and Abdullah finds a way to improve upon his comparatively low nine rushing touchdowns from 2013.
No. 1: Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State
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It seems as if Braxton Miller has been a Heisman Trophy candidate almost from the moment he took his first snap in an Ohio State uniform. Now, after a solid 2013 campaign that included a divisional title, Miller will likely start 2014 in that now-familiar spot as a Heisman hopeful.
As a pure quarterback, Miller's numbers leave a little something to be desired. His 174.5 passing yards per game last season was good enough for just ninth in the Big Ten. But his ground attack and suddenly you have a guy who's putting together better than 263 yards of offensive output on any given Saturday.
Miller is also a scoring machine. His 36 combined passing and rushing touchdowns in 2013 led the Big Ten. Is there anyone who doubts we're going to be seeing more of the same from Miller in 2014?
We don't think so, which is why he lands in the top spot on our list of Top 25 Big Ten football players heading into the 2014 season.
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