Players We Want to See from Every Team at Big Ten Media Days
The Big Ten announced its schedule for its annual media days on Thursday, a two-day affair that should garner perhaps the most attention of any such session in all of college football this offseason.
But while most of the attention in Chicago on July 30-31 will be placed on the conference's head coaches—most notably Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh—the Big Ten is full of big personalities on the players' side, as well. With that in mind, let's take a look at the player from each team we hope will be making the trip to the Windy City next month.
Cardale Jones
1 of 14
While it's not clear who Ohio State's starting quarterback will be in the coming season, there's no debating who's been the face of the Buckeyes program in the months following their magical run to the national title. Outside of Harbaugh, nobody has dominated the college football offseason quite like Cardale Jones, whose Twitter account has made him equally as popular as his cannon of an arm has.
Due to their extended time spent in the spotlight last winter, there's no shortage of options when it comes to who would be best to represent Ohio State at Big Ten media days in July. But with all due respect to Tyvis Powell, Ezekiel Elliott, Taylor Decker, Joshua Perry, Vonn Bell and J.T. Barrett, it's Jones who would draw a bigger crowd of reporters than any other player at the conference in Chicago next month.
Twitter: @CJ12_
Connor Cook
2 of 14
It's not always a team's most important player who winds up also being the most media-friendly, but in East Lansing, that happens to be the case. Entering his third season as Michigan State's starting quarterback, Connor Cook is no stranger to a microphone, having already led the Spartans to wins in the Rose Bowl and Cotton Bowl over past two seasons.
But while Cook may be media-savvy at this point, he's also not afraid to speak his mind. That was the case last November when he took a shot at Ohio State tight end Jeff Heuerman on Twitter after misunderstanding a tweet from the now-Denver Bronco.
Now that Cook will likely be representing a Michigan State team that has become somewhat of an afterthought in the Big Ten after the Buckeyes national title and Harbaugh's arrival, who knows what will come out of his mouth in Chicago.
Twitter: @Connor_Cook03
Jabrill Peppers
3 of 14
Although it's highly unlikely Michigan would bring a redshirt freshman to media days, there's not a Wolverine reporters would like to speak with more than Jabrill Peppers. After an injury-riddled freshman campaign led to a medical redshirt in 2014, Peppers was the star of Michigan's spring practice, with Harbaugh routinely praising the former 5-star prospect.
Peppers would be popular due to his ability, and his recent Twitter rant on NCAA stipends showed that he's not afraid to tackle taboo topics. The stipends story would undoubtedly be re-explored if Peppers were to land in the Windy City, as would a number of other issues where the New Jersey native's thoughts would be welcomed.
Twitter: @JabrillPeppers
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DaeSean Hamilton
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Christian Hackenberg is currently the face of the Penn State program, but for all intents and purposes, DaeSean Hamilton is the mouthpiece. Starring as a redshirt freshman in 2014, the All-Big Ten wideout became popular with reporters as he showed an early understanding of how to handle himself in interview sessions.
As his game expands and he grows more comfortable with the media, look for Hamilton to only continue to express himself freely with reporters. And look at that hair—you have to have a personality with that hair.
Twitter: @SkeeterMills__
William Likely
5 of 14
An All-Big Ten cornerback a season ago, William Likely starred not only on defense but as a return man, as well. With Stefon Diggs now in the NFL, his role on special teams will now only expand, making him even more valuable not only to Maryland, but also to the media, as he has the ability to speak on a number of topics.
As his Twitter account shows, Likely is full of not only talent, but personality, as well. It's likely that Likely will be one of the players representing the Terrapins in Chicago in July, and don't be surprised if he's drawing a big crowd by the end of the week.
Twitter: @4GoLive
Corey Clement
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The storylines with Corey Clement will write themselves, as it will be no easy task replacing a Heisman Trophy finalist in Melvin Gordon. But even as a backup, Clement managed to build a reputation for himself, as evidenced by his selection to Phil Steele's preseason All-Big Ten first team.
Not only does Clement figure to be the most interesting player on the Wisconsin roster this year, but he has also shown that he won't shy away from the comparisons to Gordon. And if history tells us anything, it's that it's the Badgers running backs who wind up being the stars, which is all the more reason why Clement should be in Chicago next month.
Twitter: @CoreyClement_6
Nate Sudfeld
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Perhaps already Indiana's happiest player, Nate Sudfeld will have all the more reason to smile this year as he prepares to return from a shoulder injury that brought his 2014 season to a premature end. The Hoosiers quarterback is expected to reclaim his starting spot this spring, and he is one of the best comeback stories in all of the Big Ten.
It also doesn't hurt that Sudfeld has always embraced his status as one of Indiana's most prominent players, as evidenced by his active Twitter account. It's also hard to argue with interviewing a signal-caller who has no problem posting vines of his "offseason workouts."
Twitter: @NateSudfeld
Theiren Cockran
8 of 14
With the Big Ten having yet to announce which players will be in attendance at media day, Theiren Cockran still doesn't know if he'll be representing Minnesota in Chicago next month, but he's already getting in practice just in case. The official Golden Gophers Twitter account ran a Q&A with the star defensive end earlier this week, which Cockran evidently fully embraced.
With a Twitter bio that reads, "There is two types of people, Predator and Prey, I'm a Predator I pray 2 times a day," who wouldn't want to talk to Steele's preseason All-Big Ten second-team defensive end? Also a promising NFL prospect, Cockran could make the Minnesota media-day table a very popular one.
Twitter: @TCockran55
Justin Jackson
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While most Northwestern-related questions at last year's media day dealt with the issue of player unionization, the focus will be back on football for the Wildcats this July. With that in mind, there's no better representative for the program than running back Justin Jackson, a preseason All-Big Ten second-team selection by Phil Steele.
As one of the Wildcats' most active Twitter users, Jackson has shown an ability to be more than just a ball-carrier for Northwestern. If the Wildcats are really Chicago's "Big Ten team," as head coach Pat Fitzgerald claims, they'll need to prove it not only on the field, but behind the microphone, as well.
Jackson might just be the man for both jobs.
Twitter: @J_ManPrime21
Maliek Collins
10 of 14
There's nothing more fun at media days than big linemen with big personalities, and Nebraska's Maliek Collins certainly fits that bill. Tallying 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks as a defensive tackle a season ago, Collins showed a knack for making the big play, punctuating most with a celebration.
Entering his junior season as a potential first-round pick, there will be no shortage of people hoping to talk to the 6'2" 300-pounder. A second-team All-Big Ten selection as just a sophomore, don't be surprised if Collins is one of the faces of the conference by the end of 2015.
Twitter: @SavageSevv
Darius Hamilton
11 of 14
Rutgers was a surprise success story in the Big Ten last season, and Darius Hamilton was a big reason why. The 6'4", 255-pound defensive lineman recorded 11.5 tackles for loss on the year, including six sacks.
After opting to return to the Scarlet Knights for his senior season, Hamilton will serve as the face of the Rutgers program on the defensive side of the ball. Assuming wide receiver Leonte Carroo will also be in attendance, the Scarlet Knights should have a nice contingent of NFL prospects in Chicago next month.
Twitter: @RU_Kid_91
Mason Monheim
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While disgruntled former Illinois offensive lineman Simon Cvijanovic figures to be a big topic of conversation at Big Ten media day, there may not be a player better equipped to handle the tough questions than Illini linebacker Mason Monheim. A preseason All-Big Ten first-team selection by Steele, Monheim has been the face of an Illinois program that hasn't had much positivity to talk about throughout his career.
Having recorded 111 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss a season ago, Monheim is one of the best defenders in all of the Big Ten. In Chicago, he may be defending his program, but his track record shows that he's more than equipped to do just that.
Twitter: @M_Monheim43
Drew Ott
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One of the few players in college football who doesn't have a Twitter account, Drew Ott has nevertheless shown an ability to make headlines with his words. Discussing the transfer of former Iowa quarterback Jake Rudock to Michigan, Ott didn't hold back on the Big Ten's spring-football conference call.
"I thought he'd have a little more fight in him," Ott said of Rudock. "I guess maybe an opportunity arised over there at Michigan. I don't know too much about it."
Yeah, we'll take more of that at media days, please.
Frankie Williams
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For a program that's often overlooked, it's not a surprise that Purdue cornerback Frankie Williams has been, as well. The senior Boilermaker has not only shown strong ability on both defense and special teams, but he is also one of his team's most excitable players, as evidenced by the time he once inserted himself into one of Purdue's offensive huddles.
If there's anybody who can raise some positive attention for the Boilermakers next month, there's no doubt that it's Williams. His high energy may be just what both Purdue and Big Ten media days are looking for.
Twitter: @24takeover
Ben Axelrod is Bleacher Report's Big Ten lead writer. You can follow him on Twitter @BenAxelrod. Unless noted otherwise, all quotes were obtained firsthand. All statistics courtesy of cfbstats.com. Recruiting rankings courtesy of 247Sports.
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