Early Predictions for the 2015 Big Ten All-Conference Team
The Big Ten returns nine players from last year's all-conference coaches' first team and 10 players from that of the media.
That's a decent amount of continuity for a conference that ended the season on a high note after Wisconsin won the Outback Bowl, Michigan State won the Cotton Bowl and, of course, Ohio State won the College Football Playoff.
Predicting next year's All-Big Ten team included obvious criteria: How have players performed in the past, and how should we expect them to perform in the future? Whether it's because of his own play or the context around him, who will post the biggest numbers?
Sound off below, and let us know what you think.
Quarterback
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J.T. Barrett, Ohio State
Whoever wins the battle among J.T. Barrett, Cardale Jones and Braxton Miller is the favorite to earn this spot. My prediction (for those who can't tell) is Barrett. As a redshirt freshman, he had what might have been the best statistical season in Buckeyes history, throwing for 2,834 yards and 34 touchdowns and rushing for 938 and 11 more.
Second Team: Connor Cook, Michigan State
Running Backs
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Corey Clement, Wisconsin
Wisconsin's leading rusher has averaged 1,753 yards the past six seasons. Based on his production spelling Melvin Gordon (147 carries, 949 yards, nine touchdowns), Corey Clement can flirt with that number. New head coach Paul Chryst was the offensive coordinator under Bret Bielema, so he brings a ton of continuity to Madison.
Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
No player finished the season hotter than Ezekiel Elliott, who rushed 76 times for 696 yards and eight scores against Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon. The early Heisman odds at Odds Shark reflect that, listing Elliott as the favorite (6-1). With four starters returning on the OSU offensive line, Elliott was the easiest call on this list.
Second Team: Paul James, Rutgers; Justin Jackson, Northwestern
Receivers/Tight End
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WR Mike Dudek, Illinois
Mike Dudek finished with 1,038 receiving yards last season—tops among power-conference freshmen. He returns alongside quarterback Wes Lunt, who showed promise before missing most of the year with an injury. Adam Kramer of Bleacher Report said Dudek "could be in line for a monster 2015."
WR DaeSean Hamilton, Penn State
Dudek led all power-conference freshmen in receiving yards; DaeSean Hamilton led all FBS freshmen in receptions (82). Tight end Jesse James declared for the NFL draft, which next season makes Hamilton an even more important possession receiver for Christian Hackenberg. He should flirt with or pass that receptions mark as a sophomore.
TE Josiah Price, Michigan State
Yes, he was inconsistent, but Josiah Price played well against the three best teams on Michigan State's schedule (Oregon, Ohio State and Baylor). He returns alongside QB Connor Cook for an offense that loses its top two receivers (Tony Lippett and Keith Mumphery). All of the indicators point toward a big junior season.
Second Team: WR Leonte Carroo, Rutgers; WR Michael Thomas, Ohio State; TE Jake Butt, Michigan
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Offensive Line
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OT Jack Conklin, Michigan State
Connor Cook, Jeremy Langford and Tony Lippett earned the credit, but Jack Conklin was the quiet anchor of last year's MSU offense. The 6'6", 300-pound former walk-on has been a rock on Cook's blind side in pass protection, and he's held his own in run blocking too. ESPN's Mel Kiper said Conklin would have been a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft, per Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press.
OG Pat Elflein, Ohio State
Pat Elflein is one of the best run-blockers in the country, and he proved it in the national title game. The 6'3", 300-pounder spent the whole night paving highways for Ezekiel Elliott. Ohio State called the same play over and over, and even though Oregon knew what was coming, it couldn't get a push. That was Elflein at his finest.
OC Jack Allen, Michigan State
Along with Conklin, Jack Allen was the heart of last year's MSU offensive line. He made the All-Big Ten first team and was even named a first-team All-American by USA Today. His younger brother Brian, a guard who made the 2014 Freshman All-American team, should compete for a spot on this list next season, too.
OG Josh Campion, Minnesota
Josh Campion has played tackle the past three seasons, but Minnesota's depth chart, which is heavier on tackles than guards, invites a potential position change. Either way, Campion deserves credit after starting (and for the most part playing well in) the first 39 games of his career. If he kicks inside to guard, he's a fine replacement for All-Big Ten lineman Zac Epping.
OT Taylor Decker, Ohio State
Like Conklin, Taylor Decker just had an All-Conference season at left tackle. Like Conklin, he had a chance to become a first-round draft pick. And like Conklin, he'll return for another season. The 6'7", 315-pound senior is entering his third year as a starter, which makes him the most experienced blocker at OSU.
Second Team: OT Mason Cole, Michigan; OG Brian Allen, Michigan State; OC Dan Voltz, Wisconsin; OG Billy Price, Ohio State; OT Tyler Marz, Wisconsin
Defensive Line
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DE Joey Bosa, Ohio State
Joey Bosa made offensive linemen look small, slow and unprepared last season, leading the Big Ten with 13.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss. He was one of 12 unanimous All-Americans and is one of just two—along with Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright—returning next season. Remember when I called Ezekiel Elliott the easiest call on this list? I misspoke. It was his teammate.
DT Maliek Collins, Nebraska
More people know Randy Gregory, but Maliek Collins played an equally important role for Nebraska in 2014. He is uncommonly mobile for a player his size (6'2", 300 lbs) and should benefit from becoming the lead dog next season. Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl of ESPN.com named Collins the No. 5 underclassman in college football.
DT Anthony Zettel, Penn State
Anthony Zettel has made an easy transition from defensive end to defensive tackle. He is undersized (6'4", 274 lbs) but plucky and has the quickness to make plays in the backfield. Defensive coordinator Bob Shoop has called him a "freakish athlete," per Joe Juliano of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
DE Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State
Shilique Calhoun forwent the NFL draft (and probably a first-round paycheck) to return for his senior season. He loses partner in crime Marcus Rush, but with Lawrence Thomas, Malik McDowell and Demetrius Cooper returning, there are enough additional pass-rushers to keep Calhoun free from double-teams. And when a guy this vicious avoids double-teams, opponents pay a severe price.
Second Team: DE Drew Ott, Iowa; DL Malik McDowell, Michigan State; DT Adolphus Washington, Ohio State; DE Kemoko Turay, Rutgers
Linebackers
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Vince Biegel, Wisconsin
Vince Biegel led Wisconsin with 16.5 tackles for loss last season. He was the primary backfield-finisher for a wildly underrated front seven. Derek Landisch and Marcus Trotter were seniors, so an even bigger onus falls on Biegel next season. But he can handle it.
Ed Davis, Michigan State
With Taiwan Jones departing, Ed Davis becomes the leader of Michigan State's linebackers. Traditionally, that's been a good way to earn All-Big Ten honors. Davis had seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss as a junior and should survive without defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, who accepted the head coaching job at Pitt. The Spartans named former LB coach Mike Tressel one of Narduzzi's co-replacements.
Darron Lee, Ohio State
Darron Lee was the (defensive) breakout star of the College Football Playoff. He made three tackles for loss against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, two of which were sacks. A converted safety with superior speed and coverage skills, Lee allows Ohio State to play its base 4-3 defense against spread offenses such as Oregon's.
Second Team: Joe Bolden, Michigan; Mason Monheim, Illinois; Joshua Perry, Ohio State
Defensive Backs
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Vonn Bell, Ohio State
Vonn Bell came on strong at the end of the season. In the playoff, he played as well as any Buckeyes defender—which is saying something considering Michael Bennett and Darron Lee. He finished second on the team in tackles (92) and first in interceptions (six), and he did it as a true sophomore. Oh, and he's a former 5-star recruit.
Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Minnesota
Briean Boddy-Calhoun recorded five interceptions last season, including one apiece against TCU, Ohio State and Missouri. He also led Minnesota in pass breakups (nine) and played a sizable role in run support. A microcosm of the Gophers defense, he gets far too little credit for how well he played in 2014.
Will Likely, Maryland
Don't let his size (5'7") fool you: Will Likely can hang with anyone. He proved as much with an All-Big Ten sophomore season, during which he led the conference in interceptions (six) and total passes defended (15). For posterity, he's also the best kick returner in the Big Ten and maybe the best in the country. He scored four total touchdowns last season: two on defense and two on specials teams.
Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
Jabrill Peppers took a redshirt after missing his freshman season with injuries. If he's healthy, though, he's too good for Jim Harbaugh not to maximize. Whether he plays safety (where I think he belongs), cornerback or nickelback, the former 5-star prospect has size (6'1", 202 lbs), speed and toughness to spare.
Second Team: Michael Caputo, Wisconsin; Nate Gerry, Nebraska; Desmond King, Iowa; Nick VanHoose, Northwestern
Specialists
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K Brad Craddock, Maryland
Brad Craddock won the Lou Groza Award as the best kicker in the country last season. He went 18-of-19 on field goals and 44-of-44 on extra points. Included among those makes was the 43-yard game-winner with less than a minute on the clock at Penn State.
P Peter Mortell, Minnesota
Peter Mortell made the All-Big Ten first team last season after leading the conference and placing No. 7 in the country in punting average (45.15). Four of the six players ahead of him had fewer than his 67 attempts. Minnesota finished No. 16 in the country in field-position advantage, per Football Outsiders, and Mortrell was a big reason why.
Ret. De'Mornay Pierson-El, Nebraska
The Big Ten doesn't recognize an All-Conference return specialist, but De'Mornay Pierson-El is too good to ignore. He finished No. 3 in the country in punt-return average (17.53) last season, and he did it as a true freshman. The two players ahead of him—Tyler Lockett (Kansas State) and Quan Bray (Auburn)—were seniors.
Second Team: K Rafael Gaglianone, Wisconsin; P Sam Foltz, Nebraska; Ret. Jalin Marshall, Ohio State
Note: All recruiting info refers to the 247Sports composite rankings
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
