2015 Big Ten Football All-Conference Team
With Championship Weekend having wrapped up, Big Ten competition has officially come to an end as the conference now turns its attention toward bowl season.
But while Michigan State may have already been crowned the league's champion and will serve as its representative in the second-ever College Football Playoff, several individual efforts across the conference remain worth rewarding. The Big Ten announced its official all-conference team a week ago, but those selections didn't take into account perhaps the league's most important game of the season: its conference championship.
With that in mind, here's a look at Bleacher Report's All-Big Ten team for 2015—with performances from this past weekend having been taken into account.
Who stood out at each position in the conference this past season? Let's take a look.
Quarterback: Connor Cook
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The heart and soul of the Big Ten champion Spartans, quarterback Connor Cook engineered Michigan State to an 11-1 record in 2015, missing his team's Nov. 21 date at Ohio State due to a shoulder injury.
And while that injury still lingered in the Big Ten title game, Cook was able to do enough to lead the Spartans to a 16-13 win over Iowa for the conference championship in Indianapolis, including running for a crucial fourth-down conversion on the team's 22-play, 82-yard game-winning drive.
"Obviously I wasn’t 100 percent," Cook said after the game. "I had to grit it out being in a situation like this, playing for a championship. You have to go out there and compete."
On the season, Cook finished second in the conference with a passer rating of 142.2, completing 56.9 percent of his passes for 2,921 yards and a conference-best 24 touchdowns and five interceptions. The 6'4", 220-pounder was also selected the Big Ten's first-team quarterback by conference coaches and media, and will have a chance to make an even bigger statement in Michigan State's Cotton Bowl semifinal matchup with Alabama on New Year's Eve.
And while the Spartans may have their work cut out for them against the second-ranked Crimson Tide, Cook's 34-4 career record as a starter should give them plenty of reason to believe.
Running Back: Ezekiel Elliott
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The Big Ten Running Back and Offensive Player of the Year, Ezekiel Elliott entered 2015 with Heisman Trophy expectations after leading Ohio State to last season's national title. And while Elliott is a long shot to win college football's most coveted postseason award, he could very well find himself in New York City as a finalist next weekend following an impressive junior campaign.
"He's one of the best players in the country," Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer said Sunday. "There's no question he should be in New York."
The numbers don't disagree.
In 12 games, the 6'1", 225-pound running back rushed for 1,625 yards and 19 touchdowns, finishing fifth and second nationally in each respective category. Elliott may not have put up the monster numbers of Heisman front-runner Derrick Henry, but there may not have been a better pass protector at running back in all of college football this season.
Having already declared for the 2016 NFL draft, Ohio State's Fiesta Bowl showdown against Notre Dame will mark the final game of his college career. Regardless of how Elliott plays against the Fighting Irish, the St. Louis, Missouri, native has already established one of the most impressive legacies in Buckeyes history.
Running Back: Saquon Barkley
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While Jabrill Peppers won the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year award, there may not have been a more valuable newcomer to his team this season than Penn State freshman Saquon Barkley. Playing in 10 games, the 5'11", 215-pounder rushed for 1,007 yards and seven touchdowns in his freshman campaign, despite being targeted as the most consistent player on the Nittany Lions offense.
Rushing for 195 yards and two touchdowns against Rutgers and 194 yards in Penn State's Oct. 17 trip to Columbus to face Ohio State, Barkley proved to be a player capable of consistently making the big play. That should bode well for his future in State College, which could see him become an even bigger focal point of the Nittany Lions offense should quarterback Christian Hackenberg opt to enter the NFL draft.
For now, Barkley will turn his attention to the TaxSlayer Bowl, where Penn State will face Georgia. If the freshman running back can put on an impressive showing against the Bulldogs' 48th-ranked rushing defense, he could find himself a preseason Heisman Trophy contender in 2016.
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Wide Receiver: Aaron Burbridge
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The Big Ten Wide Receiver of the Year, Aaron Burbridge proved to be Cook's favorite target in East Lansing this season following the departures of Tony Lippett and Keith Mumphery. In 13 games, the 6'1", 208-pounder posted Big Ten highs of 80 receptions and 1,219 yards in addition to adding seven touchdowns to his season tally.
Unfortunately for Michigan State, Burbridge's best effort came in the Spartans' lone loss of the season, as he recorded 10 receptions for 164 yards and a score in their 39-38 loss to Nebraska on Nov. 7. Nevertheless, the Farmington Hills, Michigan, native proved to be one of the most consistent players in all of the Big Ten—if not the entire country—in 2015.
Preparing to face a Crimson Tide pass defense that ranks 16th in the country, look for Cook to target Burbridge early and often on New Year's Eve. If the Spartans are going to be capable of pulling off the upset over Alabama, Burbridge is going to need to be a big reason why.
Wide Receiver: Leonte Carroo
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Due to injury and temporary dismissal, Rutgers' Leonte Carroo only played in eight games in the final year of his college career.
That's what made the 6'1", 215-pounder's season stat line all the more ridiculous.
Despite playing just three-fourths of the 2015 season, Carroo still proved to be one of the Big Ten's most dominant players, tallying 39 receptions for 809 yards and a Big Ten-best 10 touchdowns. Over the course of a two-week stretch in October, the Edison, New Jersey, native recorded 14 receptions for 291 yards and six touchdowns in the Scarlet Knights' matchups with Michigan State and Indiana.
With Rutgers not eligible to play in a bowl game, Carroo will now turn his attention toward the NFL. According to WalterFootball.com, Carroo currently ranks as the No. 19 receiver in the 2016 draft.
Tight End: Jake Butt
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The Big Ten Tight End of the Year, Jake Butt was one of the players who benefited most from head coach Jim Harbaugh's arrival at Michigan. In one season under Harbaugh, Butt more than doubled his catches and nearly tripled his yardage from a year ago, hauling in 48 passes for 620 yards and three touchdowns in 2015.
The 6'6", 248-pounder's junior campaign was so impressive, in fact, that he'll now have to decide whether or not he'll enter the 2016 NFL draft. According to Angelique Chengelis of the Detroit News, Butt will strongly consider foregoing his senior year if he gets feedback that he'll be picked in the first three rounds of next spring's draft.
In the meantime, Butt will prepare to be one of the focal points of the Wolverines offense against Florida in the Citrus Bowl. Whether or not it will be his last game with Michigan remains to be seen.
Offensive Tackle: Taylor Decker
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The Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, Ohio State's Taylor Decker served as the anchor on an offensive line that helped pave the way for Elliott's big 2015 campaign. The Buckeyes were strong in pass protection as well, allowing just 17 sacks in 12 games this season.
With only Ohio State's Fiesta Bowl matchup with Notre Dame left in his college career, Decker will be one of the top offensive linemen in next spring's NFL draft. In his latest rankings, Bleacher Report NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller slotted the 6'8", 315-pounder as the No. 22 player in the 2016 draft class.
Offensive Tackle: Jack Conklin
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Despite an injury-riddled season, Jack Conklin helped anchor a Michigan State offensive line that allowed just 17 sacks in 13 games in 2015. Like Decker, Conklin is a highly touted NFL prospect, with Miller ranking him as his No. 40 prospect on his latest list.
Preparing to face Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, Conklin will undoubtedly have his hands full on New Year's Eve. But the 6'6", 325-pounder's track record suggests he's more than capable of helping neutralize a Crimson Tide defense that ranks third in the nation with 46 sacks on the season.
Guard: Pat Elflein
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It's rare that a guard at the college level is faced with deciding whether or not he'll enter the NFL draft early, but that's exactly the position that Pat Elflein's play has put the Ohio State right guard in. Nevertheless, the Pickerington, Ohio, native has said that he'll "probably" be returning to the Buckeyes for his senior season, although a switch to center is more than likely.
Regardless of where he winds up next year, Elflein's play in 2015 has spoken for itself. And if 2015 does prove to be the final season of his college career, his final task will be helping Ohio State slow down Notre Dame star linebacker Jaylon Smith in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day.
Guard: Dan Feeney
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One of the Big Ten's biggest surprises in 2015 had to do with the play of Indiana running back Jordan Howard, who rushed for 1,213 yards and nine touchdowns in his debut season for the Hoosiers. A big part of the UAB transfer's productivity had to do with the play of his offensive line, which was anchored by guard Dan Feeney.
A second-team All-Big Ten selection last week, Feeney will return to Bloomington for his senior season in 2016 as one of the Big Ten's best offensive linemen. And the 6'4", 310-pounder will have the opportunity to prove himself on the national stage later this month when Indiana takes on Duke in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Center: Jack Allen
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Jack Allen entered 2015 as one of the Big Ten's best offensive linemen. But as the Michigan State senior captain closes the chapter on his college career, he'll leave East Lansing as one for the league's most versatile.
Filling in at left tackle when Conklin went down with an injury early in the season, Allen's ability to adjust on the fly was one of the biggest reasons why the Spartans remained in the hunt for the College Football Playoff. Now it'll be up to the 6'2", 296-pounder to help finish the mission as Michigan State prepares to take on one of the best defenses in all of college football.
Defensive Tackle: Adolphus Washington
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Serving as the apex of Ohio State's defense, Adolphus Washington made himself plenty of money this season by improving his draft stock with a strong senior campaign. In 12 games, the 6'4", 288-pounder tallied 49 tackles, seven of which came for a loss, and four sacks while returning the lone interception of his college career for a touchdown.
Despite consistently seeing double-teams in the Buckeyes' pass-rush-heavy packages, Washington found a way to consistently make his presence felt in 2015. And regardless of what he does against the Fighting Irish on New Year's Day in the Fiesta Bowl, the Cincinnati native should be hearing his name called sooner rather than later in next spring's draft.
Defensive Tackle: Malik McDowell
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A former 5-star prospect, Malik McDowell's sophomore season served as all the proof anyone needed that the Detroit native was worth the hype.
In 13 games, the 6'6", 286-pound defensive tackle recorded 39 tackles, 12 of which came for a loss, and 4.5 sacks, returning an interception for a touchdown in Michigan State's regular-season finale win against Penn State. Prior to the Big Ten title game, Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio said he doesn't put much stock into star ratings, but didn't deny that McDowell was in the midst of a breakout campaign.
"Malik has come on the scene, is really outstanding," Dantonio said. "He's done the job, there's no question."
With the College Football Playoff ahead, there's still work to do. But the play of McDowell has offered plenty of promise when it comes to the future of the Spartans program.
Defensive End: Joey Bosa
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The Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, Joey Bosa was a consensus All-American in 2014 and could be in store for similar accolades in the coming month. While his numbers may be down, you simply won't find a defensive player in college football as dominant as the Ohio State defensive end, who made a habit of getting triple-teamed by the end of his junior campaign.
"Can’t say that I’ve been fortunate enough to coach a player that’s been like Joey," Ohio State defensive coordinator and new Rutgers head coach Chris Ash said. "I think the other one was J.J. Watt when [I was] at Wisconsin. He received a lot of that same attention that Joey does. So, that’s the only other player I’ve been around that has that kind of effect on an offense."
That's not bad company to be in.
Having recorded 47 tackles, 16 of which came for a loss, five sacks and an interception this season, Bosa will likely be joining Watt in the NFL ranks soon. The 6'6", 275-pounder is a legitimate candidate to be the draft's No. 1 overall pick next spring, and he's already indicated that he's leaning toward forgoing his senior season.
Defensive End: Carl Nassib
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While Bosa may have been the Big Ten's Defensive Lineman of the Year, it was Penn State's Carl Nassib who won the league's Defensive Player of the Year award after registering a nation-best 15.5 sacks on the 2015 season. A former walk-on, Nassib's disruption in opponents' backfields this season was apparent, as his sacks cost teams 107 combined yards in field position.
Nassib's numbers are all the more impressive when you consider that injuries limited him in the Nittany Lions' final two games of the regular season. Penn State head coach James Franklin said Sunday that he anticipated Nassib being available to play in the TaxSlayer Bowl against Georgia, but wasn't totally sure.
In the meantime, Nassib will be hitting the award circuit, having been named a finalist for the Nagurski Award and Lombardi Award. And given his eye-popping numbers, it would hardly be a shock to see the 6'7", 272-pounder adding some hardware to his collection in the coming month.
Outside Linebacker: Joe Schobert
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The best pass-rushing linebacker in the Big Ten this season, Wisconsin's Joe Schobert finished fourth in the league with 9.5 sacks this season—the most of any Big Ten linebacker.
The 6'2", 239-pounder also added 76 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, an interception and two forced fumbles to his season tally, making himself a consistent presence in opposing backfields.
But while Schobert got off to a strong start this season with two sacks in the Badgers' season opener against Alabama, he's been held without a sack in Wisconsin's last five matchups. He'll look to bring that streak to an end on Dec. 30 when the Badgers take on Southern California in the Holiday Bowl.
Outside Linebacker: Joshua Perry
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Ranking 12th in the Big Ten in tackles, Ohio State's Joshua Perry is closing in on his second consecutive 100-plus tackle season with 98 stops on the year. The Galena, Ohio, native has also 7.5 tackles for a loss on the season and 3.5 sacks in his senior campaign.
While Raekwon McMillan may get the accolades and Darron Lee the attention from pro scouts, Perry has proved to be one of the Buckeyes' most versatile defenders. That's been evidenced in Ash's willingness to use him as a pass-rusher in addition to consistently dropping him into coverage, where the 6'4", 254-pounder has recorded three pass deflections on the season.
An intriguing NFL prospect in his own right, Perry has a chance to make one last statement in his college career in the upcoming Fiesta Bowl. After that, he'll hit the draft circuit, having already accepted an invitation to participate in the Senior Bowl.
With the way he's played in 2015, Perry might not be flying under the radar for long.
Middle Linebacker: Raekwon McMillan
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The Big Ten's third-leading tackler with 114 takedowns on the season, Raekwon McMillan lived up to the lofty expectations he brought to Columbus as a 5-star prospect two years ago. As a result, McMillan finds himself as one of five finalists for the Butkus Award, presented annually to college football's top linebacker.
And while he may be a long shot to actually win the award—Notre Dame's Jaylon Smith should be considered the favorite—McMillan's progress from a season ago is nothing short of encouraging. From playing part-time on Ohio State's national championship team to taking over a starring role as a sophomore, it will be worth watching what McMillan does as a junior in 2016.
For now, the Buckeyes sophomore will focus on taking on the Fighting Irish in the Fiesta Bowl. Even if it is Smith who walks away with the hardware this winter, New Year's Day will give McMillan ample opportunity to state his case as the nation's best.
Cornerback: Jourdan Lewis
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If there's a player who didn't get enough attention for his play in 2015, it'd be tough to make a case against Michigan cornerback Jourdan Lewis. Helping anchor a defense that ranked fourth nationally during the regular season, the junior cornerback defended a Big Ten-best 19 passes, which served as one of the biggest reasons why the Wolverines pass defense ranked third nationally at years end.
With 19 pass breakups and two interceptions to his credit, Lewis also tallied 49 tackles on the year and recorded one sack. Against Northwestern on Oct. 10, the Detroit native returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown in what was a 38-0 Michigan victory.
And while Lewis' play may have gone underappreciated this season, don't expect that to last for long. The 5'10", 176-pounder has already indicated that he'll be returning to Ann Arbor for his senior season.
Cornerback: Desmond King
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The Big Ten's leader in interceptions with eight on the season, Iowa cornerback Desmond King played a crucial role to bringing the Hawkeyes to the cusp of an appearance in the College Football Playoff. The 5'11", 190-pound junior defended 12 total passes on the season, returning one of his interceptions for a touchdown.
Also serving as Iowa's primary kick returner, you'd be hard-pressed to find a player who was more valuable to the Hawkeyes this season. Preparing to take on Stanford in the Rose Bowl, the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year will undoubtedly have his hands full, but will need to play a crucial role in limiting Cardinal quarterback Kevin Hogan in Pasadena.
Safety: Vonn Bell
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A former 5-star prospect, Vonn Bell arrived at Ohio State as a highly touted prospect in 2013 due to his knack for making the big play.
In 2015, Bell got back to his 5-star ways, serving as one of the most consistent playmakers on the Buckeyes defense, recording two interceptions, breaking up nine passes and scoring two touchdowns—one interception and one fumble return—in his junior campaign.
"It’s natural," Bell said of his knack for finding the ball. "I get them in practice and I work on my moves then. I run all the way down to the end zone. Coach Meyer gets mad at me and tells me to come back."
Bell's playmaking ability was so apparent this season that he even lobbied Meyer to put in him for some plays on offense. That never came to fruition, but as far as the secondary is concerned, you'd be hard-pressed to find a player more capable for finding his way into the end zone than Bell.
Safety: Michael Caputo
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The captain of the Badgers secondary, Michael Caputo put together a strong senior season which saw the 6'1", 206-pounder record 58 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles while breaking up six passes. His numbers may not have been as robust as they were while playing under Gary Andersen a season ago, but Caputo was a steadying force on a Badgers defense that ranked third in the nation in 2015.
Against USC in the Holiday Bowl, Wisconsin will need a strong effort from Caputo in order to slow down the Trojans passing attack led by quarterback Cody Kessler and wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster. That could prove to be a tall task, but Caputo has had a way of making an impact—even if his numbers this season told a different story.
Kicker: Drew Brown
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Finishing second in the Big Ten in field goals made, no kicker in the league made more kicks from 40-plus yards this season than Nebraska's Drew Brown. The Cornhuskers sophomore was 20-of-26 on field goals made this season, hitting 13 of his 17 attempts from 40 or more yards out.
With a field-goal long of 50 yards to his credit, Brown made good on 40 of his 41 extra-point attempts as well. There may be no shortage of question marks in Lincoln following head coach Mike Riley's first season, but place-kicking isn't one of them.
Punter: Cameron Johnston
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The bad news for Ohio State this season was that the Buckeyes punted way more often than they expected to.
The good news was that when they did, they had one of the country's best performing the duty.
Finishing second in the league with a punt average of 44.1 yards, Cameron Johnston's long of 67 yards was good for fifth-best in the Big Ten. The Australia native's 2,425 punt yards were the fifth-most in the Big Ten, a strong effort for a player who finished eighth in the league in total punts with 55.
But if you ask Meyer, those 55 times he needed his punter this season were likely 55 too many.
Return Specialist: William Likely
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While he made his home on the defensive side of the ball, there may not have been a more dangerous player with the ball in his hands in the Big Ten this season than Maryland's William Likely.
Primarily used as a cornerback, Likely's best work this season came as a return specialist, returning 37 kicks for 789 yards (21.3 yards per return) and a touchdown. As a punt returner, Likely was even more dangerous, taking 23 returns for a Big Ten-best 408 yards (17.7 yards-per-return average) and two scores.
The 5'7", 175-pounder's ability with the ball in his hands was so apparent that the Terrapins even experimented with playing him on offense, giving Likely 16 touches (11 rushes, five receptions) for 110 yards.
Based on Maryland's 3-9 record, they could have afforded to give him more.
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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