Big Ten Football: Top 2015 Breakout Freshmen
Heading into Week 9 of the college football season, the Big Ten finds itself in good shape with three undefeated teams remaining and the resurgence of one of its traditional pillar programs.
The league has also witnessed no shortage of breakout players, many of whom have come in the form of freshmen who are still getting their feet wet at the college level.
From ready running backs to dominant defenders and even an already polished passer, the Big Ten has seen several freshmen play key roles on their respective teams this season. Some have been true freshmen while others have been second-year players who redshirted a season ago as plenty of conference newcomers have made an impact in 2015.
With that in mind, let's take a look at each Big Ten team's breakout freshman so far this season.
Illinois: Ke'Shawn Vaughn
1 of 14
A 4-star prospect by way of Nashville, Tennessee, Illinois running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn has lived up to the hype through the first seven games of his college career.
Leading the 4-3 Fighting Illini in rushing, Vaughn has totaled 447 yards and four touchdowns on the ground while splitting carries with Josh Ferguson. The 5'10, 205-pounder has also shown versatility out of the backfield as well, adding eight catches for 62 yards to his season total.
"He’s done a good job here, but he really showed us what type of back he could be in the future and what type of back he is," Illinois quarterback Wes Lunt said of Vaughn following his 80-yard performance against Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 26, per IlliniInquirer.com. "I was really impressed."
The 27th-ranked running back in the 2015 class, Vaughn is still yet to top the 100-yard single-game mark in his freshman season but still has five opportunities left to do so. Look for Vaughn to enjoy a breakout game on Nov. 7, when the Fighting Illini head to West Lafayette, Indiana, to take on Purdue and the Boilermakers' 98th-ranked rush defense.
Indiana: Jonathan Crawford
2 of 14
While the Indiana pass defense has struggled, allowing the second-most yards per game of any FBS team this season, the Hoosiers have found a bright spot in safety Jonathan Crawford. In eight games, the true freshman has totaled 46 tackles, including one sack, while also forcing a fumble and blocking a kick.
In pass coverage, the 3-star prospect from Largo, Florida, has broken up one pass and leads Indiana with two interceptions on the season, both of which came during a Sept. 19 win over Western Kentucky.
"Player of the game defensively, and really the only player I gave a winning grade to, was Jonathan Crawford," Hoosiers head coach Kevin Wilson said in his weekly press conference following Crawford's breakout game. "We need Jonathan to keep showing up. Need him to keep showing up. Very young talent. Good player."
With four games left in his freshman season, Crawford has already shown the ability to be a building block on the Indiana defense. But he'll need to continue to receive help from his fellow Hoosiers moving forward, if Indiana is going to fix what has statistically been one of college football's worst pass defenses in 2015.
Iowa: Parker Hesse
3 of 14
Although Iowa has seen limited contributions from its freshman class during its surprise run to a 7-0 record and No. 10 ranking, one bright spot has come in the form of redshirt freshman Parker Hesse.
And with star defensive end Drew Ott lost for the season, the Hawkeyes will continue to rely on the 6'3", 240-pound former linebacker as they attempt to make an improbable run toward the College Football Playoff.
Through seven games, the returns on Hesse have been promising, with the former 3-star prospect having recorded 16 tackles, a sack and a force fumble in his freshman season. With Ott—arguably Iowa's best player entering the season—out for the year with a torn ACL, it will be up to Hesse to continue to fill the gaping hole left by the 2014 second-team All-Big Ten selection.
Hesse, however, insists, that it will be a team effort that ultimately replaces Ott's presence on the Iowa defense.
"It's not all on one guy. I'm just a piece of the puzzle," Hesse said, per HawkCentral.com. "Every guy on defense is a piece to the puzzle. As a defense, it's up to us to make up for what Drew brings."
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Maryland: D.J. Moore
4 of 14
One of two Maryland players to have recorded double-digit receptions this season, true freshman D.J. Moore has proved to be a reliable second option behind Levern Jacobs in the Terrapins' otherwise putrid passing attack. In seven games, Moore has totaled 14 receptions for 217 yards and two touchdowns in a Maryland offense that currently ranks 109th in the country with 172.4 passing yards per game.
But as Perry Hills continues to find his footing after taking over for Caleb Rowe, it's Moore who stands to benefit. In the Terrapins' past two games, the former 3-star prospect from Philadelphia has tallied a combined six catches for 88 yards and a touchdown, a promising trend in a freshman season that Maryland hopes to not see cut short by a knee injury suffered in last weekend's 31-30 loss to Penn State.
As on Sunday, Moore's status moving was still up in the air, per 247Sports.com.
Michigan: Jabrill Peppers
5 of 14
A highly touted 5-star prospect in the 2014 class, Jabrill Peppers never got to live up to his billing a year ago as a leg injury robbed him his true freshman season.
But after entering 2015 with no shortage of praise from new Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, Peppers has hardly disappointed.
In seven games, Peppers has not only shined on defense, recording 23 tackles and breaking up five passes, but Harbaugh has opted to use the abilities of the the 6'0", 205-pounder on the offensive side of the ball as well. Serving as a wide receiver, Peppers showed plenty of promise in the Wolverines' 27-23 loss to Michigan State on Oct. 17, tallying two receptions for 35 yards against the Spartans.
According to Harbaugh, Peppers—who is also Michigan's primary punt and kick returner—playing on offense is something that he'll consider sticking with moving forward.
"Possibly," Harbaugh answered on Monday at his weekly press conference when asked if Peppers would continue to see snaps on offense. "As always, you would like your opponent to understand all the possibilities and let them think about that. But very much a possibility."
Michigan State: LJ Scott
6 of 14
Having entered the season searching for a replacement for running back Jeremy Langford, Michigan State has found just that in true freshman LJ Scott.
A 4-star prospect by way of Hubbard, Ohio, Scott has proved to be one of the more reliable options in the No. 6 Spartans offense this season. The sixth-ranked running back in the 2015 class, Scott leads Michigan State in rushing (502 yards) and rushing touchdowns (nine) through its first seven games, while having split time with fellow freshman Madre London.
"He can run through tackles, he's physical, he catches the ball very well, he's an active football player," head coach Mark Dantonio said of Scott on his weekly SiriusXM radio appearance, per MLive.com. "We can have him running down on kickoffs and things of that nature. He's just a very good football player."
As the season wears on, the Spartans will continue to lean on Scott to provide balance on the ground to quarterback Connor Cook's potent passing attack. But the 6'1", 233-pounder appears to be built for the long haul—not just this season—but for seasons to come.
Minnesota: Rodney Smith
7 of 14
A redshirt freshman by way of Jonesboro, Georgia, Rodney Smith has helped fill the void in the Minnesota backfield that was left by current Tennessee Titans rookie David Cobb. In seven games, Smith has rushed for a team-high 467 yards and one touchdown, adding 13 receptions for 98 yards to the stat line of his debut season.
Smith's breakout game for the Golden Gophers came during the second week of the season, when the 5'11", 200-pounder rushed for 108 yards in a 23-20 win over Colorado State. Fellow freshman Shannon Brooks (316 yards, three touchdowns) has helped provide a potent one-two punch in the Minnesota backfield, which the Gophers will likely continue to rely on down the stretch of the 2015 season.
With games against No. 15 Michigan, No. 1 Ohio State and No. 10 Iowa ahead in consecutive weeks, Minnesota has its work cut out for itself following the midseason retirement of head coach Jerry Kill. But if the 4-3 Gophers are going to find themselves bowl eligible by season's end, it's a safe bet that Smith will be a big reason why.
Nebraska: Dedrick Young
8 of 14
At 3-5, Nebraska has been one of the Big Ten's biggest disappointments this season, but the Cornhuskers have found at least one source of promise in linebacker Dedrick Young.
Having participated in seven games, the former 3-star prospect has recorded the 37 tackles, 1.5 of which have come for a loss, in addition to having defended three passes. Nebraska's defense currently ranks 91st in the country, having surrendered 420.3 yards per game, but Young has been a rare bright spot for the unit known as the "Blackshirts."
"Dedrick had the benefit of graduating early and being here in the spring," first-year Cornhuskers coach Mike Riley said, per Omaha.com. "It's made a major difference and has probably been very good for us that he did that."
At 6'1" and 220 pounds, Young still has plenty of time left to grow and develop. But the start of his college career has already shown plenty of potential, even during what's been an otherwise disappointing season for his team.
Northwestern: Clayton Thorson
9 of 14
When Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald turned to quarterback Clayton Thorson to lead the Wildcats in 2015, little was known of the redshirt freshman quarterback.
But through the first eight weeks of the 2015 season, Thorson has turned out to be one of the Big Ten's most pleasant surprises.
Having helped lead Northwestern to a 6-2 record, Thorson has already proved to be one of the conference's top dual-threat quarterbacks. The former 4-star prospect has completed 52.7 percent of his passes for 1,119 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions, while adding 297 yards and five scores on the ground, with the Wildcats' two lone losses having come to a pair of nationally ranked teams in Michigan and Iowa.
"We're over the, 'Hey, first-time starter thing,'" Fitzgerald said following Thorson's debut, a win over then-No. 16 Stanford. "It's time to be a winning quarterback and do what winning quarterbacks do. And that's taking care of the football, putting us in the right plays. It's not putting our offense in any risk whatsoever. And he is just going to keep getting better."
Just how much better the Wheaton, Illinois, product can truly get remains to be seen. But with three years of eligibility remaining, he has a chance to be one of the Big Ten's best signal-callers for years to come.
Ohio State: Sam Hubbard
10 of 14
When Sam Hubbard filled in for the suspended Joey Bosa in Ohio State's season opener against Virginia Tech, it was supposed to be a one-time deal.
But as the Buckeyes' season has worn on, the redshirt freshman defensive end has found himself one of the the defending national champion's most impactful players on the defensive side of the ball.
While he's primarily been used as a situational pass-rusher, the former 4-star prospect has already put together quite the season stat line. In seven games, the Cincinnati product has tallied 18 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one interception, one pass breakup and two QB hurries, showcasing the type of versatility that one would expect from a high school safety-turned-linebacker-turned-tight end-turned-defensive end.
"I didn't feel like I was a defensive end until I got in the game and actually played against Virginia Tech," Hubbard said. "I always wondered what an actual game would feel like at defensive end because I had only seen practice reps. After I saw the game reps I realized that's where I belonged, at defensive end."
If the first half of his freshman is any indication, there's no more debate as to what position Hubbard should be playing. The Buckeyes seem to have found their replacement for Bosa, not just one game, but for the future as well.
Penn State: Saquon Barkley
11 of 14
The current front-runner for Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Penn State running back Saquon Barkley hasn't been just one of the conference's most impressive first-year players, but one of the country's as well.
At 5'11" and 222 pounds, Barkley has been one of the Big Ten's emerging stars, tallying 632 rushing yards and four touchdowns through the first six games of his college career. The former 4-star prospect has dealt with an ankle injury that cost him two games and appeared to limit him in last weekend's win over Maryland, but Nittany Lions head James Franklin coach said that the Whitehall, Pennsylvania, product is getting closer to full strength.
"Modifying practice this week [with] him being further away from when he was out," Franklin said at his Tuesday press conference in advance of this weekend's matchup with Illinois. "Expect him to be 100 percent, or as close as possible."
If Barkley can get there, expect for him to continue to terrorize opposing defenses. With games of 195 yards and 194 yards already on his resume, the No. 14 running back in the 2015 class appears to be headed for a special career in Happy Valley.
Purdue: Markell Jones
12 of 14
While Purdue struggles for yet another year, having compiled a 1-6 record in its first seven games, running back Markell Jones has emerged as a promising piece of the Boilermakers offense. The true freshman currently leads his team in rushing with 458 yards and five touchdowns, impressive numbers considering Purdue is often playing opponents from behind.
The former 3-star prospect has also proved to be a viable option out of the backfield for the Boilermakers as well, having recorded 13 receptions for 87 yards and touchdown. Although the 2015 season has otherwise been bleak in West Lafayette, Jones has proved to be a promising piece for head coach Darrell Hazell moving forward.
"He continues to get better, not only running the football, but in pass protection," Hazell said of Jones, per the Associated Press. "He has great balance and is able to read defenses."
Rutgers: Isaiah Wharton
13 of 14
A former 2-star prospect by way of Kissimmee, Florida, Isaiah Wharton has proved to be the exception to the rule when it comes to star rankings in the recruiting process. After developing during a redshirt season a year ago, Wharton has emerged as one of Rutgers' most reliable cornerbacks and has shown a knack for coming up with the timely play.
Through seven games, the Sunshine State product has tallied 37 tackles, one of which has come for a loss, six pass breakups and an interception. He also blocked an extra point in what was ultimately a 37-34 Scarlet Knights loss to Washington State in the second week of the season.
In a season that's otherwise been full of distractions for Rutgers, Wharton has proved to possess plenty of promise. How that manifests itself moving forward remains to be seen, but at the very least, he's shown that there's only so much that one can read into when it comes to dealing with recruiting rankings.
Wisconsin: Taiwan Deal
14 of 14
While it was Corey Clement who was originally expected to fill the sizable shoes of Heisman Trophy finalist Melvin Gordon III in the Wisconsin backfield, a groin injury has prevented the junior running back from doing just that to this point in the season.
Enter redshirt freshman running back Taiwan Deal, who through the first eight games of the Badgers season has provided an ideal backup to new starter Dare Ogunbowale, with whom he has formed an unlikely running back by committee.
Having played in just six games thus far this season, Deal currently ranks second on the Wisconsin roster in rushing, having recorded 357 yards and four touchdowns. And while the former 3-star prospect may not currently be receiving the lion's share of the Badgers carries, he proved what he's capable of when he rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns in Wisconsin's Sept. 26 win over Hawaii.
When Clement returns to the Wisconsin lineup, it will be interesting to see how Deal's playing time is affected. But at the very least, he's proved to be a player the Badgers can count on moving forward, in what's one of college football's most running back-centric offenses.
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. Odds provided by Odds Shark. Recruiting rankings courtesy of 247Sports.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
