Big Ten Football: 10 Freshmen Who Will Steal the Show in 2015

Just a year ago, Jabrill Peppers was widely regarded as the best freshman in college football before missing almost all of last season due to injury. The Michigan safety, who earned a redshirt and returns as one of the top rookies, paved the way for Big Ten freshman looking to steal the show in 2015.

Peppers might be the most well-known, but there are youngsters all over the conference poised to make a significant impact this season that make up our top 10. 

As a true freshman, Clayton Thorson is slated as the starting quarterback at Northwestern. The preseason running back battle at Michigan State is up for grabs, and two freshman lead the pack: Madre London and L.J. Scott.

Throw in a couple offensive lineman at Indiana and Maryland that already earned starting spots and there are more than enough reasons to get excited about the future of the Big Ten.

In order to judge how much of an impact these freshmen can make, this list is based not only on the talent level of each player, but also where he falls on the depth chart and how big a role he's predicted to have on the team.

Check out the high school highlight videos of each true and redshirt freshman, as well as the 247Sports Composite prospect ratings. 

Honorable Mentions

There's fresh talent all across the conference—enough so that some names didn't make the top-10. 

LJ Scott, RB, Michigan State

As a true freshman, Scott is the highest-rated incoming recruit in East Lansing this summer. His breakaway speed and power running style, showcased above, helped Scott to a 2,819-yard, 38-touchdown senior year at Hubbard (Ohio) High School last season. 

The running back battle is wide open following the departure of Jeremy Langford, and Scott should see his share of carries in his first season. The only downside? He's currently behind two other backs on the depth chart. 

If the comparisons to Le'Veon Bell are accurate, though, we could see Scott as the feature back at Michigan State before too long. 

Taivon Jacobs, WR, Maryland

A knee injury in 2014 forced Jacobs to sit out his first season, but the redshirt freshman is still in the running for a starting wide receiver spot. 

The former Ohio State commit from Suitland (Maryland) hopes to start opposite his brother, Levern, in the wideout corps at Maryland. If his knee injury doesn't affect Jacobs' speed, that might not be a bad scenario for Terp fans.

Taiwan Deal, RB, Wisconsin 

Melvin Gordon's departure left a big void in Wisconsin's offense. Deal, although currently third on the running back depth chart, will still see his share of carries this season. 

The redshirt freshman is a punishing downhill tailback who's 225-pound frame is perfect for short-yardage situations. Deal could emerge as a key backup with goal-line carries for the Badgers.

10. Markell Jones, RB, Purdue

Height/Weight: 5'11", 207 lbs

High School: Columbus East (Columbus, IN)

247Sports Composite Rating: 83; 3-star

Purdue lost its top two rushers from last season, making the addition of Jones that much more vital. 

The true freshman is already atop the Boilermakers running back depth chart after spring practices.

The Indiana native's explosive cuts and agility allow him to bounce off defenders with ease, as seen in his highlight video above.

It's a surprise Jones only earned a 3-star rating from 247Sports after racking up 3,536 yards and 60 touchdowns in his senior year at Columbus East. 

Purdue fans have a lot to be excited about in Indiana's reigning Mr. Football. April's spring scrimmage saw Jones lead all rushers with 19 carries and 159 yards—a whopping 8.4 yards per carry. 

Logan Cordes of The Exponent notes that Jones' rise to prominence as Purdue's feature back came with a price. 

"

However, Jones’ increased workload wasn’t necessarily because of his performance in practice or because the pace of the game suits his skill set. Sophomore running back Keith Byars suffered a shoulder injury while being tackled during the scrimmage. He would return to the sidelines in a sling, unable to participate. That left the door open for Jones, who capitalized on the opportunity.

"

While Jones is still learning the playbook, he's already showed off his potential in a big way. 

9. Tim Gardner, OL, Indiana

Height/Weight: 6'5", 310 lbs

High School: Lawrence Central (Indianapolis, IN)

247Sports Composite Rating: 80; 3-star

After transferring from Ohio State a year ago, Gardner had to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules before he could take the field for Indiana. 

Gardner had his scholarship revoked from Ohio State after some off-the-field problems, but the offensive tackle should have no trouble protecting Hoosier quarterbacks in 2015 and beyond.  

Gardner projects as a starting lineman for Indiana this season as a redshirt freshman, according to Rivals.com.

At Lawrence Central, Gardner's big body anchored an offense that averaged 328.5 rushing yards per game and finished 15-0 his senior year. 

It's clear that his 300-pound-plus frame should have no problem with B10 defenders after seeing him manhandle opponents in his senior highlight tape. 

8. Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State

Height/Weight: 6'0", 195 lbs

High School: Glenville (Cleveland, OH)

247Sports Composite Rating: 97; 4-star

While returning starter Eli Apple is locked into one corner spot, the other side of the field is up for grabs and Lattimore is right in the mix to earn the job. 

The Ohio native was forced to redshirt his first season as a Buckeye after suffering a season-ending hamstring injury late last August. His 2013 highlights, above, show Lattimore's playmaking abilities as a high school wideout—an experience that undoubtedly transferred over to the defensive side of the ball. 

Ohio's top overall prospect in 2014 had 911 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns his senior year at Glenville. 

Lattimore is expected to contend at cornerback with uncertainty at the position for the reigning national champs last season. 

7. Jeff Jones, WR, Minnesota

Height/Weight: 6'0", 209 lbs

High School: Washburn (Minneapolis, MN)

247Sports Composite Rating: 97; 4-star

After redshirting last season to catch up academically, Jones will be a huge factor in Minnesota's offense in 2015. 

Jones will begin the season as a receiver for the Golden Gophers, head coach Jerry Kill confirmed at a press conference earlier this week. 

As a highly recruited high school running back, Jones has three other talented tailbacks blocking his path to get on the field. 

In 10 games his senior year at Washburn, Jones racked up 1,525 yards and 34 touchdowns on just 167 carries. He also caught 17 passes for 493 yards and eight touchdowns. 

Jones' senior year highlight tape is evidence of the playmaking abilities he possesses as both a rusher and a pass-catcher in the open field—qualities that awarded him MVP honors in the 2014 Under Armour All-America Game. 

You can see him routinely make multiple defenders miss on his way to breakaway scores. 

6. Damian Prince, OL, Maryland

Height/Weight: 6'3", 328 lbs

High School: Bishop McNamara (District Heights, MD)

247Sports Composite Rating: 99; 5-star

If you couldn't tell from his highlight tape, Prince (the one pancaking defenders on every other play) was one of the most dominant offensive linemen in high school. 

The five-star prospect redshirted in 2014 after failing to earn a starting spot on Maryland's line last season. The year off helped Prince add 20 pounds of muscle and learn from the upperclassmen.

Prince, now in line to start at either the left or right tackle spot for the Terps this time around, could be one of the top linemen in the conference for years to come. 

The freshman should be up for the challenge—the Maryland native had 35 pancake blocks as a sophomore at Bishop McNamara. 

5. Brian Cole, WR, Michigan

Height/Weight: 6'2", 200 lbs

High School: Heritage (Saginaw, MI)

247Sports Composite Rating: 96; 4-star

This true freshman athlete will make an immediate impact on the Wolverines offense. 

At Saginaw Heritage, Cole did everything. He played quarterback, running back, wide receiver, defensive back, kick/punt returner and was even a punter. 

So now you understand why he's an athlete. He comes to Michigan as a versatile playmaker, as his senior highlight tape shows, who can slot in anywhere on the field. 

According to Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com, Cole chose the Wolverines so he could play wide receiver—a position of desperate need in Ann Arbor. 

He has the chance to start right away in his first season at Michigan—and he presumably will at slot or Z receiver according to OurLads.com's projections. 

Cole, the No. 1 prospect from the state of Michigan in 2015, will certainly make his name known throughout the Big Ten this season—and probably across the country. 

4. Madre London, RB, Michigan State

Height/Weight: 6'1", 216 lbs

High School: St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

247Sports Composite Rating: 87; 3-star

London, a redshirt freshman, enters the fall in a heated battle for starting tailback duties in East Lansing. 

The departures of two Michigan State senior backs has left an opening for the emergence of a new star on the offense.

London, along with Gerald Holmes, is a leading candidate for the job right now, according to MLive.com's Mike Griffith. 

At the very least, London will split carries with Holmes as the top backs for the Spartans this season—but the Florida native has the chance to pull away early in the year. 

If London's high school tape has any say, the shifty back can both make tacklers miss and run through the unsuccessful attempts to bring him down.

He led all players with 70 yards rushing in Michigan State's Green-White spring game—Holmes had 48 yards on the ground. 

3. T.J. Edwards, LB, Wisconsin

Height/Weight: 6'1", 232 lbs

High School: Lakes Community (Lake Villa, IL)

247Sports Composite Rating: 76; 2-star

Jesse Temple of FOX Sports says Edwards is one of the most important Badgers in 2015 after seeing him quickly read offensive sets and constantly make backfield tackles and interceptions in Wisconsin's spring game. 

This shouldn't come as a surprise to those who saw two-way starter in high school. 

His highlight video shows that his ability to track down tailbacks and read quarterbacks might be better than his performance at quarterback and tailback while at Lakes Community. 

Although he only played a handful of games at safety, Edwards actually didn't get any experience at middle linebacker—the position he's projected to start at in the fall for Wisconsin. 

Ironic, yes. But it shows Edwards' unique versatility in just his first college season. 

The redshirt freshman was his high school team's best player and, according to his coach, needed the ball in his hands every offensive play for Lakes Community to be successful. 

2. Clayton Thorson, QB, Northwestern

Height/Weight: 6'4", 205 lbs

High School: Wheaton North (Wheaton, IL)

247Sports Composite Rating: 92; 4-star

When you watch film of Thorson in high school, he just looks like a top quarterback prospect that could start right away.

The throwing motion, presence in the pocket and accuracy downfield—all qualities that are in Thorson's favor as he leads the open quarterback competition at Northwestern. 

Thorson, who redshirted last season, is one of the best prospects to commit to the Wildcats in recent memory. The pro-style QB was the ninth-ranked pocket passer in the class of 2014, according to 247Sports.com. 

In his senior year at Wheaton North, Thorson tossed 2,809 yards with 29 touchdown passes and ran for 567 more yards and 12 scores.

Even if Thorson isn't the starter at the beginning of the season, it would be surprising if the tall, athletic quarterback doesn't see the field early in the year.  

1. Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan

Height/Weight: 6'1", 205 lbs

High School: Paramus Catholic (Paramus, NJ)

247Sports Composite Rating: 99; 5-star

Although the comparisons to Heisman-winner and former-Michigan-great Charles Woodson are premature, they're not far off. 

Peppers was a top national recruit a year ago before having to redshirt his first season at Michigan due to a broken ankle.

The season-ending injury doesn't look to be slowing down Peppers, who is the Wolverines starting free safety this season. 

Michigan's new head coach Jim Harbaugh recently said that he's looking to use Peppers in Charles Woodson-fashion—on offense and special teams to go along with his starting role on defense. 

That might not be a bad plan. In high school, he was a deadly offensive threat to go along with his playmaking abilities in the defensive backfield. 

Only playing three games of his freshman campaign, Peppers earned a redshirt before this season to maintain his eligibility. 

No matter what year you classify him as, though, Peppers will make an immediate impact in Ann Arbor—a college town desperate for the reemergence of their football team.