Every Big Ten Football Team's Top 2016 NFL Draft Prospect
The 2015 NFL draft came and went this past weekend, and when all was said and done, a total of 35 players from the Big Ten were selected. But while the Big Ten possessed the second-fewest total number of draftees among the Power Five conferences, the league should see a spike in players picked in 2016.
Particularly in the first round, where WalterFootball.com currently projects three Big Ten quarterbacks and a total of seven players from the conference to be taken in 2016. Four of those players come from Ohio State and two hail from Michigan State, and it's realistic to think both the Buckeyes and Spartans could add to those respective totals in the next year.
It's not just Columbus and East Lansing that possess talent, however, as the league finds itself particularly loaded with NFL prospects in 2015. With that in mind, let's take a look at each Big Ten school's top NFL draft prospect for the upcoming year.
Ohio State: DE Joey Bosa
1 of 14
The reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Joey Bosa would likely have been a first-round pick in this year's NFL draft, if not for the fact that having just finished his sophomore season, he was ineligible to declare.
Nevertheless, Bosa enters 2015 as the early front-runner to be the first overall pick in next year's selection show. The 6'6", 275-pound defensive end recorded 20 tackles for a loss in 2014, including 13.5 sacks.
Even if he were to endure a down season in 2015, Bosa has already put enough on film to solidify his status as a first-round pick should he enter the draft after his junior season as expected. The only question left is how high he will be picked—and which other Buckeyes will be joining him in next year's first round.
Michigan State: QB Connor Cook
2 of 14
While left tackle Jack Conklin could make a case himself for being the first overall pick of the 2016 NFL draft, there's no guarantee that he'll enter the draft a year from now, as Michigan State players have made a habit of sticking around for their senior seasons. Take, for example, quarterback Connor Cook, who could have been a first-round pick in last weekend's draft, but opted to return to East Lansing for one last year.
At 6'4" and 220 pounds, Cook has the body of an NFL signal-caller and could potentially be the first player taken at his position in 2016. Leading the Spartans to an 11-2 record in 2014, Cook threw for 3,214 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first full season as a starter, completing 58.1 percent of his passes in the process.
With a potential first-round left tackle in front of him, Cook should have plenty of time to find new targets after losing a number of his favorite playmakers to this year's draft. If Cook can do that, he could very well find himself in the discussion to be the first player taken overall in next year's draft, given the position he plays.
Penn State: QB Christian Hackenberg
3 of 14
Although he endured a down year statistically last season, Penn State's Christian Hackenberg still managed to showcase the tools of a potential first-round pick. The 6'4", 234-pounder looks the part of an NFL passer and has the arm strength to match it, throwing for 2,977 yards despite being sacked an NCAA-high 44 times in 2014.
With a rebuilt offensive in front of him, Hackenberg is in prime position for a bounce-back season as he looks to replicate a 2013 campaign that saw him earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. As a true freshman playing alongside 2014 second-round pick Allen Robinson, Hackenberg completed 58.9 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,955 yards and 20 touchdowns.
If Hackenberg can do that, he'll immediately re-enter the discussion of potentially being the first player selected in next year's draft. Despite his sophomore slump, NFL teams haven't forgotten about the Palmyra, Virginia, native, who WalterFootball.com currently projects to be the No. 6 overall pick in 2016.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Wisconsin: LT Tyler Marz
4 of 14
While it's the Wisconsin running backs who typically receive most of the attention when it comes to the NFL draft, the Badgers who block for them have also made a name for themselves with their production at the next level. Left tackle Tyler Marz could be the next offensive lineman to add to Wisconsin's NFL legacy, especially after a breakout Big Ten title game that saw him hold his own against Bosa.
NFL scouts seemed to take notice, with NFLDraftScout.com and CBSSports.com each ranking the 6'5", 321-pounder as the No. 5 offensive tackle in next year's draft. Marz's senior season should provide him with plenty of opportunities to prove that he's worthy of being a first-round pick, as the Big Ten possesses no shortage of NFL-caliber defensive ends for him to face.
Minnesota: DE Theiren Cockran
5 of 14
At 6'6" and 257 pounds, Minnesota's Theiren Cockran currently plays defensive end for the Golden Gophers, but projects as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense at the next level. Regardless of what position he was playing, Cockran showed he has the skills to be an NFL pass-rusher in 2014, when the Homestead, Florida, native recorded four sacks.
CBSSports.com currently projects Cockran as the No. 9 defensive end in the 2016 draft class, while WalterFootball.com has him as the No. 15 outside linebacker. That would likely land him somewhere between the third and fifth rounds of next year's draft, with the potential to move up with a big senior season.
Nebraska: DT Maliek Collins
6 of 14
Despite having just finished his sophomore season, Maliek Collins is already rising up draft boards after a 2014 campaign that saw the Nebraska defensive tackle record 45 tackles, 14 of which came for a loss, and 4.5 sacks. At 6'2" and 300 pounds, Collins has ideal NFL size and will only continue to see his draft stock rise with a big junior season.
CBSSports.com currently ranks the Kansas City, Missouri, native as the No. 7 defensive tackle in the 2017 draft class, but another big year could land him in the 2016 first round should he opt to forgo his senior season. In what's already shaping up to be a strong year for defensive linemen in the draft, Collins could ultimately prove to be one of 2016's top prospects.
Rutgers: WR Leonte Carroo
7 of 14
After catching 55 passes for 1,086 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2014, Leonte Carroo toyed with the idea of entering the NFL draft. However, the Rutgers wide receiver ultimately opted to return to school for his senior season in an effort to improve his draft stock for the 2016 draft.
“NFL scouts have told me that I need to work on," Carroo said, per Dan Duggan of NJ.com. "They already told me things like production don’t matter. I’ve shown what I can do at the college level as far as touchdowns and catches. They just want to see me work on the little things to improve on my game.”
CBSSports.com currently ranks Carroo as the No. 5 senior in next year's draft. WalterFootball.com, meanwhile, projects that the 6'1", 205-pounder will be taken between the fourth and sixth rounds a year from now, listing him as the draft's No. 20 overall receiver.
Iowa: DE Drew Ott
8 of 14
A second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2014, Iowa defensive end Drew Ott enjoyed a breakout season, recording 57 tackles, 12 of which came for a loss, and eight sacks. Unsurprisingly, Ott's big junior year also put him on the NFL radar heading into 2015, where he'll look to continue to improve his draft stock.
Heading into the season, CBSSports.com ranks Ott as the No. 15 defensive end in next year's draft. The 6'4", 272-pounder possesses ideal NFL size, and also has a year of experience under his belt practicing against Brandon Scherff, the No. 5 overall pick in this year's draft.
Indiana: OL Jason Spriggs
9 of 14
Indiana may not currently possess a prospect as highly touted as running back Tevin Coleman like it did this past year, but the Hoosiers could very well continue their streak of putting players in the NFL. Perhaps Kevin Wilson's most promising prospect this season comes in the form of a player who helped pave the way for Coleman, a third-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons, with offensive lineman Jason Spriggs showing both the size and potential of an NFL players.
Currently ranked as CBSSports.com's No. 10 senior offensive tackle in next year's draft, the 6'6", 307-pounder also possesses the ability to play guard at the next level. With his versatility only helping his cause, don't be surprised if Spriggs becomes Indiana's second early- to mid-round pick in as many years.
Michigan: LB James Ross III
10 of 14
While only three Michigan players were selected in this year's draft, the Wolverines should see a rise in prospects picked with the arrival of Jim Harbaugh. At the moment, Michigan's top prospect for 2016 appears to be outside linebacker James Ross III, although there are a number of underclassmen who could see a jump in production playing under the Wolverines new head coach.
At 6'1" and 225 pounds, Ross is somewhat undersized, with CBSSports.com ranking him as the No. 15 senior outside linebacker in next year's draft and WalterFootball.com projecting that he'll be taken between the fourth and sixth rounds. Whether Harbaugh will help him—or any other Michigan players—raise their draft stock remains to be seen, but for now Ross remains the safest bet of the Wolverines bunch to be drafted next year.
Illinois: LB Mason Monheim
11 of 14
Illinois went down as the only Big Ten team not to have a player selected in the 2015 draft, but the Fighting Illini shouldn't have a problem putting a player in the NFL next year thanks to middle linebacker Mason Monheim. The 6'1", 235-pounder recorded 111 tackles in 2014, 6.5 of which came for a loss, and one sack.
CBSSports.com currently ranks Monheim as the No. 13 senior inside linebacker in next year's draft, while WalterFootball.com pegs him to be picked between the fourth and sixth rounds. The Orrville, Ohio, native will need to put on size in order to sustain a career at the next level, but a strong senior season should help end the Illini's NFL drought.
Maryland: K Brad Craddock
12 of 14
The reigning winner of the Lou Groza Award, presented annually to the nation's top kicker, Brad Craddock enters 2015 as one of the top prospects at his position for next year's draft. The Adelaide, Australia, native connected on 94.7 percent of his kicks (18-for-19) in 2014, 11 of which came from at least 40 yards out.
While no kickers were picked in this year's draft, it's worth noting that CBSSports.com currently ranks Craddock as the No. 4 kicker in the 2016 draft. That means Craddock will have to continue to prove himself throughout his senior season in order to change the trend of NFL teams not using draft picks of special teamers.
Northwestern: CB Nick VanHoose
13 of 14
Northwestern doesn't appear to possess much NFL talent, but its best bet for a draft pick next season comes in the form of cornerback Nick VanHoose. The second-team All-Big Ten selection recorded 59 tackles last season and defended 10 passes, including two interceptions.
At 6'0" and 190 pounds, VanHoose has good size for a corner, and CBSSports.com currently ranks him as the 2016 draft's No. 21 senior at his position. Whether or not he'll do enough in his senior season to be drafted remains to be seen, as the Wildcats come off a year where they had two players drafted in safety Ibraheim Campbell and quarterback Trevor Siemian.
Purdue: OL David Hedelin
14 of 14
A former junior college transfer, Purdue's David Hedelin could parlay a big year against the Big Ten's top defensive linemen into being selected in next year's NFL draft.
Although he currently plays left tackle for the Boilermakers, the 6'4", 298-pound Hedelin projects as an offensive guard at the next level. His versatility will be one of his greatest assets as he moves toward the draft in the next year, but will ultimately have to prove himself on the field in order to be selected.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
