Big Ten Football: Each Team's Most Loaded Position Group for 2015

Last week we looked at the weakest position group on each Big Ten roster. This week it is time to skew positive.

And why shouldn't it be? The Big Ten is on the rise after closing the season strong, both on the field (Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin) and on the coaching circuit (Michigan). "The Big Ten is back," wrote Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports.

And that was before Ohio State won the national title game.

Picking each team's strongest position group was a fairly straightforward process. Factors such as star power, depth and experience were strongly considered, although freshmen were not ignored. How the early enrollees perform this spring might change things, but for now, this is where each team feels most comfortable.

Sound off below and let us know what you think.

Illinois: Receivers

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Key Players

• Mike Dudek
• Geronimo Allison
• Malik Turner

Others in the Mix

• Justin Hardee
• Marchie Murdock 

Mike Dudek is the best thing to happen at Illinois since Ron Zook's recruiting classes. He led all FBS freshmen with 1,038 receiving yards last season, and he returns with Geronimo Allison and Malik Turner to support him and Wes Lunt at quarterback. Adam Kramer of Bleacher Report called Dudek one of five names to learn this offseason, saying, "He could be in line for a monster 2015."

Indiana: Offensive Line

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Projected Starters

• OT Jason Spriggs
• LG Jacob Bailey
• C Jake Reed
• RG Dan Feeney
• RT Ralston Evans

Key Reserves

• OT Dimitric Camiel
• OT Peyton Eckert

Indiana returns three starters along the offensive line, including two All-Big Ten honorable mentions: Jason Spriggs and Dan Feeney. The Hoosiers finished No. 27 in adjusted line yards (run blocking) last season, per Football Outsiders, and helped Tevin Coleman rush for 2,000 yards. They also held their own at Missouri, which had one of the best defensive lines in college football, and pulled off one of the biggest upsets of 2014.

Iowa: Defensive Backs

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Key Players

• FS Jordan Lomax
• CB Desmond King
• CB Greg Mabin

Others in the Mix

• CB Maurice Fleming
• FS Anthony Gair
• SS Miles Taylor

Iowa loses strong safety John Lowdermilk but returns three other starters in the secondary. Desmond King and Greg Mabin are one of the best cornerback duos in the Big Ten, and Jordan Lomax was an all-conference honorable mention. The Hawkeyes have finished with a top-10 pass defense the past two seasons, thanks in large part to defensive coordinator Phil Parker, who develops defensive backs as well as any coach in the conference (if not the country).

Maryland: Defensive Backs

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Key Players

• CB Will Likely
• S Sean Davis
• S Anthony Nixon

Others in the Mix

• CB Alvin Hill
• S A.J. Hendy
• S Zach Dancel

Will Likely is one of the best players in the Big Ten. He's only 5'7", but he makes up for his height with explosive athleticism, excelling as both a cornerback and return specialist. Sean Davis is an in-the-box safety who led the Big Ten (and finished second among FBS defensive backs) with 80 solo tackles last season. Anthony Nixon is a reliable starter and Alvin Hill, who started in 2014 before suffering a knee injury, is a reliable cornerback opposite Likely (health permitting).

Michigan: Defensive Backs

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Key Players

• CB Blake Countess
• S Jarrod Wilson
• CB Jourdan Lewis
• S Jabrill Peppers

Others in the Mix

• S Dymonte Thomas
• S Delano Hill
• S Jeremy Clark

The pieces require shifting, but Michigan has more talent in the secondary than it does at any other spot. Blake Countess and Jourdan Lewis are proven cornerbacks, Jarrod Wilson, Dymonte Thomas and Delano Hill played meaningful snaps last season, and redshirt freshman Jabrill Peppers, the No. 3 overall player in the 2014 recruiting class, will join them in next year's safety rotation. 

Michigan State: Offensive Line

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Projected Starters

• LT Jack Conklin
• LG Brian Allen
• C Jack Allen
• RG Donavon Clark
• RT Kodi Kieler

Key Reserves

• OG Miguel Machado
• OG Brandon Clemons 

Jack Conklin and Jack Allen provide a pair of All-Big Ten anchors, and Allen's younger brother, Brian, was a Freshman All-American in 2014. The right side has less experience, but Donavon Clark and Kodi Kieler have each played well in small samples. The Spartans had one of the best offensive lines in the country last season, and despite the losses of Connor Kruse and Travis Jackson, they will again in 2015.

Minnesota: Defensive Backs

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Key Players

• CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun
• CB Eric Murray
• S Damarius Travis

Others in the Mix

• S Antonio Johnson
• CB Jalen Myrick

Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Eric Murray aren't one of the best cornerback duos in the conference; they are the best cornerback duo in the conference. Losing safety Cedric Thompson hurts, but Damarius Travis returns after a strong junior season and backup Antonio Johnson is capable of filling the void. Depth is a small issue, but Minnesota has done a fine job developing secondary talent, and there's no reason to expect that will stop.

Nebraska: Defensive Line

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Key Players

• DT Maliek Collins
• DE Greg McMullen
• DT Vincent Valentine

Others in the Mix

• DE Jack Gangwish
• DT Kevin Williams
• DT Kevin Maurice

Nebraska loses its best defensive lineman, Randy Gregory, but still returns a loaded group up front. ESPN's Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl ranked Maliek Collins the No. 5 underclassman in college football, and with Greg McMullen, Vincent Valentine and Kevin Williams around to protect him, he will not face consistent double-teams. Power rusher and noted raccoon killer Jack Gangwish is another piece to watch.

Northwestern: Defensive Backs

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Key Players

• CB Nick VanHoose
• S Godwin Igwebuike
• CB Matthew Harris
• S Traveon Henry

Others in the Mix

• S Kyle Queiro
• CB Parrker Westphal

Northwestern returns three starters (safety Godwin Igwebuike and cornerbacks Nick VanHoose and Matthew Harris) from a secondary that finished top 30 in opposing QB rating. The only "new" starter is Traveon Henry, who technically backed up Ibraheim Campbell but played enough to finish second on the team in tackles. Also keep an eye on Parrker Westphal, a top 150 player in the 2014 recruiting class who took a redshirt last season but is loaded with potential.

Ohio State: Quarterbacks

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Key Players

• J.T. Barrett
• Cardale Jones
• Braxton Miller

Others in the Mix

• Joe Burrow
• Stephen Collier
• Torrance Gibson

Braxton Miller has won two of the past three Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year awards. J.T. Barrett won 2014's Big Ten Quarterback and Freshman of the Year awards. Cardale Jones just won the inaugural College Football Playoff. "It’s simple," Jones told Pete Thamel of SI.com about the ensuing quarterback battle. "The best guy is going to play." Even the incoming freshmen (Joe Burrow and Torrance Gibson) at OSU look like future stars. What a great problem to have!

Penn State: Receivers

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Key Players

• WR DaeSean Hamilton
• WR Geno Lewis
• TE Kyle Carter
• WR Chris Godwin

Others in the Mix

• TE Adam Breneman
• WR Saeed Blacknall
• TE Mike Gesicki
• WR Juwan Johnson

Christian Hackenberg does not lack options. DaeSean Hamilton led all FBS freshmen with 82 receptions last season, and Geno Lewis and Chris Godwin each averaged more than 13 yards per catch. Kyle Carter, Adam Breneman and Mike Gesicki form a dangerous tight end trio, and incoming freshman Juwan Johnson, a 6'4" freak whom Alabama recruited hard, will make an impact inside the red zone.

Purdue: Offensive Line

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Projected Starters

• LT David Hedelin
• LG Jason King
• C Robert Kugler
• RG Jordan Roos
• RT J.J. Prince

Key Reserves

• OT Cameron Cermin
• OG Corey Clements

Purdue's offensive line was a pleasant surprise last season, finishing top 50 in adjusted line yards (run blocking) and adjusted sack rate (pass blocking), per Football Outsiders. It returns all five starters from that group, highlighted by All-Big Ten honorable mention Robert Kugler and Swedish import David Hedelin, who stabilized the left tackle spot in his first year over from JUCO. 

Rutgers: Running Backs

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Key Players

• Paul James
• Josh Hicks
• Robert Martin

Others in the Mix

• Desmon Peoples
• Justin Goodwin

Paul James started the year with 173 rushing yards at Washington State. Josh Hicks ended the year with 202 rushing yards against UNC. Desmon Peoples, Robert Martin and Justin Goodwin finished the year with at least 325 rushing yards, too. With James back from a knee injury and four proven options behind him, Rutgers has an embarrassment of depth in the backfield. It's no wonder Savon Huggins, a former 5-star recruit, felt the need to transfer.

Wisconsin: Defensive Backs

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Key Players

• SS Michael Caputo
• CB Darius Hillary
• CB Sojourn Shelton
• FS Lubern Figaro

Others in the Mix

• FS Austin Hudson
• CB Devin Gaulden
• CB Derrick Tindal

Michael Caputo led the defense with 106 tackles last season. He and Lubern Figaro, who started as a true freshman, form a solid safety pairing, and Darius Hillary and Sojourn Shelton form a high-upside duo at cornerback. Shelton in particular can be so much better than he's been. Inconsistency has plagued him, but if he smooths out the rough edges, throwing on the Badgers will be difficult.

Note: All recruiting info refers to the 247Sports composite rankings.