Big Ten Football: Best Players at Every Position
The college football season is more than two months away, but hype for the 2015 campaign is already building with the releases of annual preseason watch lists and rankings. That holds especially true in the Big Ten, which is not only home of the defending national champions, but a cast of formidable foes who will be vying for a spot in the second College Football Playoff.
After spending a stretch of years as an afterthought to the SEC, it's the Big Ten that finds itself with a sudden abundance of talent and some of the country's top players. With that in mind, let's take a look at the top player at each position in the league heading into the 2015 season.
Quarterback: Connor Cook
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One could argue that the best quarterback in the Big Ten will be whoever winds up starting for Ohio State, but the problem with that is that we still don't know whether it will be Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett or Braxton Miller taking snaps for the defending national champions next season.
But even with the Buckeyes' unprecedented trio of accomplished signal-callers, Connor Cook can still stake a claim to being the Big Ten's best quarterback after opting to return to Michigan State for his senior season.
Because unlike Jones, Barrett and to a lesser degree, Miller, Cook has found sustained success throughout his two seasons as the Spartans' starter. From 2013 to 2014, Michigan State has accumulated a 24-3 record, including wins in the 2013 Big Ten Championship Game, 2014 Rose Bowl and 2015 Cotton Bowl.
The play of Cook has been a big reason why the Spartans have ascended to college football's elite level, with the 6'4", 220-pounder projected by most draft pundits to be a first-round selection in the 2016 NFL draft. In the past two seasons, Cook has accumulated 5,969 passing yards, 46 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions.
But after losing a de facto Big Ten East Championship Game to Ohio State a season ago, Cook's senior campaign will be judged more on wins and losses than his stat line each Saturday. The Hinckley, Ohio, native is already a proven winner but has plenty he can still add to his already-established legacy this fall.
Running Back: Ezekiel Elliott
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After a 2014 season that saw the Big Ten enjoy an embarrassment of riches at running back with the likes of Melvin Gordon, Ameer Abdullah and David Cobb, there's no debating who the conference's best running back will be in 2015. In fact, Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott may have proven he was the league's best in the backfield all along last year, as his historical postseason run played a major role in the Buckeyes' capturing of the national championship.
Despite not being named a first- or second-team All-Big Ten selection as a sophomore, Elliott exploded in the winter with a three-game postseason stretch that saw him accumulate 696 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. As a result, the offensive MVP of both the Sugar Bowl and national title game enters 2015 as the front-runner to win the upcoming season's Heisman Trophy.
Fully recovered from offseason wrist surgery, Elliott is back at full strength and ready to display his blend of speed and power that made him such a nightmare for Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon last winter. Perhaps just as important, Ohio State returns four of the five starters who helped make up what was one of the country's top offensive lines a season ago.
With most of the intrigue placed on the Buckeyes' quarterback situation, Elliott is the rare Heisman contender who could find himself flying under the radar until the start of the season. But come Sept. 7, it will be hard to keep the St. Louis, Missouri, native quiet, as Elliott has already proven himself to be one of the country's top players—regardless of who it is handing him the ball.
Wide Receiver: Leonte Carroo
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Opting to forgo his chance to enter the 2015 NFL draft, Leonte Carroo returns to Rutgers as the most established wide receiver in all of the Big Ten. The 6'1", 205-pounder caught 55 balls for 1,086 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2014, as he helped lead the Scarlet Knights to a surprising 8-5 debut season in the Big Ten, which included a win in the Quick Lane Bowl over North Carolina.
As Rutgers aims to replace Gary Nova at quarterback, the Knights will find themselves relying even more heavily on their top downfield threat. Other players in the league may play in more prolific offenses, but Carroo has proven the ability to cause problems for opposing defenses all on his own.
Whether Carroo's decision to return to school for his senior season will pay off for him in terms of draft stock next spring remains to be seen. But for now, the Edison, New Jersey, native remains one of the top pass-catchers in his conference—if not the entire country.
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Tight End: Josiah Price
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While the Big Ten may be catching up with the SEC when it comes to the implementation of spread offenses, the conference has largely stayed true to its preference of tight ends who possess the ability to both catch and block. And perhaps no player embodies that type of dual-threat nature better than Michigan State's Josiah Price.
At 6'4" and 250 pounds, Price possesses ideal size for a tight end and has consistently helped open up lanes for the Spartans' run game. In 2014, he caught 26 balls for 374 yards and six touchdowns, proving himself to be one of Cook's most reliable security blankets.
With Michigan State's top two receivers from a season ago in Tony Lippett and Keith Mumphery now in the NFL, Price's production will likely only increase in the Spartans' passing game in 2015.
Offensive Tackle: Jack Conklin
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As Michigan State has built a reputation on developing players, there may not be a player who serves as a better poster child for the Spartans' ability to do so than Jack Conklin.
A former walk-on, Conklin enters 2015 projected by many to be a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft. Anchoring the Michigan State offensive line at left tackle, the 6'6", 317-pound Conklin was a second-team All-Big Ten selection a season ago, as well as a fourth-team All-American selection by Athlon Sports.
Having already established himself as one of the country's best in his two seasons as a starter for the Spartans, it will be interesting to see just how much further he develops in 2015. A redshirt junior, Conklin still has a season of eligibility remaining for 2016, but there's a reason why NFL scouts are already drooling over the Plainwell, Michigan, native.
Offensive Guard: Pat Elflein
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With the ability to play every position on the offensive line, there may not be a more versatile lineman in the Big Ten or country than Ohio State's Pat Elflein. Starting at right guard throughout his sophomore season, Elflein opened up lanes for Elliott throughout the postseason, while also serving as the Buckeyes' primary backup center.
That type of flexibility could come in handy should Ohio State find itself having to endure an injury across any spot on the line. The 6'3", 300-pounder has good size, agile feet and has ultimately proven to be one of the unsung heroes of the Buckeyes' national championship run.
Center: Jack Allen
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While Conklin may be the star, Jack Allen has been the steadying force on the Michigan State offensive line, having spent each of the past three seasons as the Spartans' starter at center. The 6'2", 295-pounder will reclaim that spot in 2015 after a 2014 that saw him named an All-American for his efforts.
As Michigan State looks to replace a plethora of playmakers from a season ago, it's the reliability of players like Allen that will play a crucial role in the Spartans sustaining their success. Whether or not Mark Dantonio's squad will be successful in challenging the Buckeyes for a playoff spot remains to be seen, but if it does, it will have its experienced veterans to thank.
Defensive End: Joey Bosa
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Arguably the best defensive player in the entire nation, there may not be a player in the country more capable of changing a game plan for opposing offenses than Joey Bosa. Virtually unblockable as a sophomore a season ago, the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, native tallied 21 tackles for a loss, including 13.5 sacks.
Already talked about as a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, the 6'6", 275-pound Bosa was a finalist for the Lombardi Award and a unanimous All-American selection in 2014. He returns to the Buckeyes as not just a one-man wrecking crew—he's joined by another potential first-round pick on the defensive line in Adolphus Washington.
Whether it's Bosa racking up the stats or commanding the attention of opposing offensive lines and opening lanes, there may not be a more valuable player in all of college football than Bosa. And unlike Jadeveon Clowney, who entered 2013 in a similar situation, Bosa insists that his established draft value won't lead to a decrease in production in his junior year.
"I'm not really thinking about it much," Bosa said. "I have my goals set, and it’s just to get better and be a great team again this year. I feel like if I go out and work every day, everything will fall into place.”
Defensive Tackle: Anthony Zettel
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Three interceptions in a season would be impressive for any player on the defensive side of the ball, but for a defensive tackle, it's downright remarkable. That's exactly what Anthony Zettel accomplished for Penn State a season ago, however, as the 6'4", 278-pounder put up a borderline bizarre stat line in his junior season.
Adding 17 tackles for a loss and eight sacks, the former defensive end proved that a move to the interior line wasn't too much for him to handle. Despite being relatively undersized, Zettel possesses remarkable strength, as evidenced by this video of the Nittany Lion senior uprooting a tree with a perfect form tackle.
With the losses of defensive linemen Deion Barnes and C.J. Olaniyan to the NFL, it will be up to Zettel to be a steadying force for Penn State up front in 2015. And with both his ability and versatility, Zettel is capable of making an impact in more ways than one, as his unique presence in the box score has shown.
Outside Linebacker: Darron Lee
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After having to earn a scholarship offer from Ohio State at a summer camp in 2012, it didn't take long for Darron Lee to prove he was worth the gamble. Although an injury caused him to redshirt as a freshman in 2013, the high school quarterback-turned-outside linebacker made an instant impact for the Buckeyes, starting every game as a redshirt freshman in 2014.
And not only did Lee play earlier than expected, but he far exceeded any other sort of expectations, tallying 81 tackles, 16.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks in his debut season. The New Albany, Ohio, native played his best ball at the end of the 2014 season as well, earning Sugar Bowl defensive MVP honors with a seven-tackle, two-sack performance against Alabama.
Despite being initially viewed as undersized, Lee is already making waves as an NFL prospect, with ESPN.com's Todd McShay projecting the 6'2", 235-pounder to be a first-round pick in 2016. That would make for quite the journey for the former 3-star prospect whom Urban Meyer had to be convinced to offer a scholarship to, but Lee has already proven a propensity for overcoming the odds.
Inside Linebacker: Mason Monheim
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While Illinois appears to be a program in limbo, one bright spot for the Fighting Illini comes in the form of Mason Monheim. The 6'1", 235-pounder has been Illinois' leading tackler for each of the past three seasons, and he enters 2015 looking to end his college career on a high note.
If 2014 was any indication, Monheim is poised to do just that after tallying 111 tackles and forcing four fumbles. As a middle linebacker, Monheim can only do so much to impact a game but nonetheless is looking to add some much-needed wins to his already-storied college career.
Cornerback: William Likely
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A 2014 first-team All-Big Ten selection, William Likely put together a stellar junior season for Maryland in the Terrapins' debut season in the conference. The 5'7", 175-pounder proved to be one of the league's toughest players to pass against, with nine passes broken up and six interceptions on the season.
It wasn't just Likely's interception total that was impressive, either, but also what he did once he wound up with the ball in his hands. The Belle Glade, Florida, native returned two of his picks for scores, including touchdown returns of 88 and 45 yards.
The Sunshine State native's speed also showed up on special teams, as he returned both a kick and a punt for touchdown returns as well. With Stefon Diggs now in the NFL, his role in that capacity should only increase, making Likely a likely star in College Park this season.
Safety: Vonn Bell
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A former 5-star prospect, Vonn Bell came into his own in 2014—his first season as a starter at the college level. The Rossville, Georgia, native was a key cog in Ohio State's national championship run and was one of the main reasons why the Buckeyes were able to re-establish a secondary that had slipped the season prior.
Breaking up six passes and securing six interceptions, Bell showed why he was one of the nation's most coveted players on the recruiting trail a year earlier when Meyer beat out Alabama and Tennessee in the race for his services. Bell also showed the ability to play close to the line, recording his only sack of the season in the national title game against Oregon.
At 5'11" and 205 pounds, Bell has the size, speed and ability to be a first-round pick in 2016. How he performs in 2015 will play a key role in determining whether or not he will be, but it's clear he's headed on an upward trajectory.
Kicker: Brad Craddock
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Last season, Maryland's Brad Craddock proved to not just be the best kicker in the Big Ten, but the best in the country as well. Craddock was named the Big Ten Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year, as well as the winner of the Lou Groza Award, which is presented annually to the country's top kicker.
The Australia native connected on 18 of his 19 field-goal attempts in 2014, including a long of 57 yards against Ohio State. Craddock currently stands as the best kicker in Terrapins history, with a career connection percentage of 81.7 percent (49-60).
Punter: Peter Mortell
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The Big Ten Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year in 2014, Peter Mortell returns to Minnesota for what will be his third season as the Golden Gophers' primary punter. Last season, Mortell punted 67 times for 3,025 yards, including a Big Ten-best 45.1 yards per punt.
Of Mortell's 67 punts, 21 went for 50 or more yards, and 25 landed inside the opponent's 20-yard line. With the cold-weather games Minnesota is forced to play in, the 6'2", 191-pounder has proven to be a valuable weapon throughout his college career, albeit an unlikely one.
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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