Big Ten Football: The 10 Players We Can't Wait to See at Media Days
The college football season is fewer than two months away, which means the hype train for the 2015 campaign is just about to get rolling. While the SEC prepares for its annual sideshow of media days next week, the Big Ten's will be underway in just three weeks, emanating from the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.
With an updated format, the arrival of Jim Harbaugh and the league riding a wave of momentum, this year's Big Ten media days is already one of the most anticipated offseason events in all of college football. That was especially evident on Thursday, as the league's official Twitter account revealed the players who will be representing each school.
With media days appearances typically reserved for seniors, not all of the Big Ten's biggest stars will be in attendance. But plenty of good talkers will be, as well as a suddenly star-studded list of conference coaches.
Which Big Ten players are we most looking forward to chatting with in Chicago in three weeks? Let's take a look.
Shilique Calhoun
1 of 10
Representing Michigan State for a second consecutive year, many media members may be surprised to see defensive end Shilique Calhoun in Chicago again this year, as it was widely assumed he would enter the 2015 NFL draft.
A two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, Calhoun ultimately opted to return to East Lansing for his senior season, despite posting 12.5 sacks in 2014, which would have made him a potential first-round pick in last spring's draft.
Not that the reporters in attendance will be complaining about the presence of Calhoun, who has already proved to be a favorite quote for both the local and national media. Having been one of the faces of the Spartans program throughout his college career, Calhoun is no stranger to a microphone and is one of the few players in college football willing to engage with reporters on a personal level.
Given both his status and experience, don't be surprised if Calhoun's table draws the biggest crowd of any player in attendance later this month.
Leonte Carroo
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Wide receivers are often go-to players not only on the field, but with the media as well, known for their willingness to be both refreshingly honest and outspoken. Rutgers senior Leonte Carroo may not fit that description to a tee, but as one of the top playmakers in the Big Ten, he'll undoubtedly draw a crowd in Chicago later this month.
With subjects available ranging from the Scarlet Knights' quarterback competition to Rutgers' surprise Big Ten debut to his own NFL aspirations, don't be surprised if Carroo emerges as the breakout star of Big Ten media days. The Edison, New Jersey, native is well-versed in front of a microphone and might as well be practicing for the NFL draft process he'll be going through less than a year from now.
Carroo may be the Big Ten's least-known star, but that shouldn't be the case by the end of the month.
Taylor Decker
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It wasn't a surprise when Ohio State's media days contingent featured Taylor Decker, who's entering his third season as a starter on the Buckeyes offensive line. This season, Decker will reprise his role as Ohio State's anchor at left tackle, the same spot he played when he helped lead the Buckeyes to the 2014 national title.
But it wasn't just on the field that Decker shined last season, holding his own against some of the most talented defensive lines in the country in Michigan State and Alabama. Decker also emerged as one of the faces of the Buckeyes program, a staple at Ohio State's weekly media sessions throughout the year.
That won't be any different this season, as evidenced by Urban Meyer's choice to bring the 6'8", 315-pounder to the Windy City this summer. Just don't be surprised if Decker attempts to increase his Twitter following during the process, or sneak in a selfie, as pictured above.
Connor Cook
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Another symbol of consistency in the Michigan State program, Connor Cook—like Calhoun—will be representing the Spartans at media days for the second straight year. Another MSU player who could have heard his name called in the first round had he opted to enter April's draft, Cook decided to return to East Lansing for one last season and one last shot at making the College Football Playoff.
With Christian Hackenberg and Ohio State's trio of signal-callers at home, Cook is arguably the most talented quarterback who will be in attendance at media days, making him a must-talk-to player at the annual event. Cook has plenty of experience in front of a microphone and isn't afraid to speak his mind—a rare trait for a quarterback.
Between his personality and being the face of a potential College Football Playoff participant, Cook should draw plenty of attention during his second straight trip to Chicago. If anybody outside of Harbaugh is going to be the reason a quote goes viral later this month, the Spartans' signal-caller is the safest bet.
Anthony Zettel
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Arguably the Big Ten's most underappreciated defender, Penn State's Anthony Zettel recorded three interceptions a season ago—all while playing defensive tackle for the Nittany Lions.
Now returning as the anchor of one of the top defenses in the country, Zettel will head to media days as a representative of a Penn State program hoping for a breakout season in 2015. Now at 85 scholarships and in their second season under James Franklin, the Nittany Lions are a dark horse of sorts in a loaded Big Ten East.
With plenty of positive subjects to finally talk about when it comes to the happenings in Happy Valley, Zettel will undoubtedly have his hands full in Chicago. But if the 6'4", 278-pounder is as good at fielding questions as he is at defending passes, he should prove to be a media favorite by the end of the trip.
Joe Bolden
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With all due respect to the defending national champion Buckeyes, there won't be a more interesting team in attendance at Big Ten media days this summer than their archrival Michigan, which now finds itself under the direction of Harbaugh.
A one-man publicity machine, Harbaugh will undoubtedly draw the most attention of any attendee. But look for reporters to place plenty of their attention on his new players in an attempt to gain insight into college football's most interesting man.
That means it should be a busy day for linebacker Joe Bolden, who has already emerged as one of the faces of the Wolverines program this offseason. With an old-school work ethic, the senior linebacker seems like the type of player Harbaugh would have coveted during his time with the San Francisco 49ers, which should make him an interesting interview in the Windy City.
William Likely
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What wide receives are to offense, cornerbacks are to defense, and there won't be a better one of the latter in attendance at Big Ten media days than Maryland's William Likely. Leading the league with six interceptions a season ago, Likely returns to College Park as not only one of the conference's top defenders, but one of its top kick returners as well.
With his ability to impact a game with or without the ball in his hands and a highlight reel full of plays already under his belt, Likely will make for one of the more interesting players to talk to at the end of the month. An active Twitter user, the first-team All-Big Ten selection will have the opportunity to put his personality on full display during his trip to media days.
Likely's play, as evidenced by his stat lines, speaks for itself. But in Chicago, he'll be the one doing the talking.
Nate Sudfeld
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Depending on how Braxton Miller bounces back at Ohio State, there may not be a better comeback story in all of the Big Ten than that of Indiana's Nate Sudfeld, who saw a shoulder injury cost him the majority of his 2014 season. Now back at full strength, Sudfeld will be in attendance at media days at the end of the month, representing the Hoosiers for the second straight season.
With plenty of experience in front of a microphone, Sudfeld will be able to tell his story, and boy, does the media love a good comeback tale. The senior signal-caller will also likely be asked to comment on the instability of the Indiana program, including the status of head coach Kevin Wilson, who some consider to be on the hot seat heading into 2015.
Sudfeld, however, should be plenty equipped to handle it, given all that he's been through during his career in Bloomington. As insightful and upbeat of a player as you'll talk to, Sudfeld's table will be a popular one in the Windy City.
Corey Clement
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A player being tasked with having to replace a former star is always an intriguing storyline, but the position Corey Clement finds himself in at Wisconsin isn't your standard situation. Despite taking over for Heisman Trophy finalist Melvin Gordon as the Badgers' starting running back, Clement already carries his own credentials, having rushed for 949 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014.
Clement will be live in Chicago to tell his story and what it's like to play in the shadow of a living legend in Madison. Given all that he's already done, perhaps expectations for the junior running back are even greater than they usually are for a typical new starter, with Clement having already shown glimpses of greatness in the Badgers backfield.
As for whether that potential pressure will affect Clement, we'll find out in the Windy City later this month.
Joshua Perry
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Ohio State linebacker Joshua Perry—along with Sudfeld—will speak on behalf of the players at the annual luncheon to close this year's media days, and that choice hardly came as a surprise to anyone who's covered the Buckeyes senior.
As well-spoken and thoughtful as any player in college football, Perry has always been gracious with his time when it comes to meeting with the media, routinely talking to reporters for as long as 30 minutes during Monday interview sessions in Columbus. Perry also happens to be a pretty good linebacker too, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors as a junior in 2014.
Garnering more national attention than perhaps any team in college football, the defending national champion Buckeyes will find themselves front and center not only this fall, but this summer as well. And there will be Perry, ready to field questions left and right, just as he already has throughout the better part of the first three years of his college career.
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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