Each Big Ten Football Team's MVP for 2015 Season
College football's regular season has come and gone, and postseason play is just around the corner, with 10 Big Ten teams preparing to play in bowl games in the coming weeks.
But regardless of if they're getting set to chase the national championship, legitimize their season in a prime-time matchup or are on the inside looking in this bowl season, each Big Ten team has already seen at least one player stand out above the rest in terms of importance to the roster in 2015.
From versatile linemen to record-setting defenders and game-changing quarterbacks, there's been no shortage of intriguing players to watch in what's arguably been college football's best conference this season. Only one player, however, can be considered his team's most valuable player, based on who each team could least afford to have been without this past year.
With that in mind, let's take a look at each Big Ten team's MVP for 2015.
Purdue: Markell Jones
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It's difficult to find an MVP for a team that compiled just a 2-10 record in 2015, but if such a player existed for Purdue this year, it would be running back Markell Jones.
Merely a true freshman, Jones served as the most consistent piece on an otherwise inconsistent offense. In 12 games, the 5'11", 207-pounder rushed for 875 yards and 10 touchdowns, including a 157-yard, two-score effort in a 24-21 loss to Michigan State on Oct. 3.
"He continues to get better each and every week, not only running the football, but also in pass protection. He hasn't missed very many," Boilermakers head coach Darrell Hazell said following his team's close call with the Spartans, per Pete DiPrimio of the (Fort Wayne) News-Sentinel. "I think where he's really good is his balance and being able to read defenses and slow the game down."
Also adding 239 yards and a touchdown on 34 receptions, Jones proved he could be the type of every-down back that Purdue can rely on in the years to come. The program may not be where it wants to at the moment, but if the Boilermakers are going to take a step forward under Hazell, it's a safe bet Jones will be a big reason why.
Maryland: William Likely
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Statistically, Maryland's best player this season was defensive lineman Yannick Ngakoue, who posted 13 sacks in his junior campaign before declaring for the 2016 NFL draft.
But numbers hardly justify what William Likely meant to the Terrapins in 2015, as he served as a three-way player and arguably the only exciting part of Maryland's 3-9 season.
A first team All-Big Ten selection as a defensive back, Likely was named the first-ever Big Ten Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year after leading the league with 408 yards and two touchdowns on 23 punt returns. The 5'7", 175-pounder was so elusive that the Terrapins staff experimented with playing him on offense as well, with Likely accumulating 110 total yards (93 rushing, 17 receiving) on 16 touches (11 rushes, five receptions).
Given the lack of success Maryland found otherwise, one could argue that the senior from Belle Glade, Florida, should have had the ball in his hands more in College Park this season. Regardless, Likely found a way to make an impact, be it on offense, defense or, as was usually the case, special teams.
Rutgers: Leonte Carroo
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On the one hand, it's hard to call a player who played in just 66 percent of a 4-8 team's games its most valuable.
On the other hand, seeing what Rutgers looked like without Leonte Carroo on the field this season only made the senior wide receiver's case that much stronger.
Despite playing in just eight games, Carroo compiled 39 receptions for 809 yards and a Big Ten-best 10 touchdown catches in 2015. Perhaps more tellingly, the Scarlet Knights went just 1-3 without Carroo in the lineup this season, as the 6'1", 215-pounder missed a combined four games due to temporary dismissal and injury.
When he was on the field, Carroo's presence was impossible to miss, particularly in a two-week stretch that saw him total 14 receptions for 291 yards and six touchdowns in games against Michigan State and Indiana. Carroo also saved his best for last, catching seven balls for 183 yards and a score in the finale of his college career, a 46-41 loss to Maryland in the final week of the season.
With Rutgers ineligible for postseason play, Carroo will now turn his attention toward the NFL draft. And based on the production he provided this past season, he could hear his name called sooner rather than later this spring.
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Illinois: Clayton Fejedelem
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Another Big Ten team without a clear MVP pick, Illinois' 5-7 season showed plenty of promise at times in 2015 but also left a lot to be desired.
Ultimately, it's safety Clayton Fejedelem who gets the nod as the Fighting Illini's most valuable player this past season, after the former walk-on found a way to leave his fingerprints over multiple games this season.
A key cog in an Illinois defense that ranked 32nd in the nation in 2015, Fejedelem was named a second-team All-Big Ten selection after tallying two interceptions, seven pass breakups and one forced fumble. He also scored a touchdown in the Fighting Illini's 27-25 win over Middle Tennessee on Sept. 26, recovering a blocked punt in the end zone against the Blue Raiders.
But while he certainly had a knack for coming up with the ball at the right time, what stood out most about Fejedelem was his tackling. His 140 stops ranked first in the Big Ten.
"It says you got a pretty good safety coming down the hill," Illinois head coach Bill Cubit said of Fejedelem's tackle totals, per the Daily Illini. "That’s why I really like that Clayton. I mean he doesn’t miss many tackles."
Minnesota: Eric Murray
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One of the surest secondary tacklers in the Big Ten, Minnesota cornerback Eric Murray recorded 64 tackles in 2015, four of which came for a loss, and one sack. The third-team All-Big Ten selection also tallied six passes defended, one interception, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in his senior campaign.
The 6'0", 199-pounder played a key role on a Golden Gophers defense that ranked 15th in pass defense and surrendered an average of 182.4 yards per game through the air.
And while Minnesota went just 5-7 on the season, the Golden Gophers will get one last shot to make a statement with an appearance against Central Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl. For Murray, that means one last shot at improving his draft stock, with NFL teams already viewing the Milwaukee native as an intriguing prospect.
Nebraska: Sam Foltz
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It's rare that a punter doubles as a team's most valuable player.
But for Nebraska, it's been that kind of year.
To be fair, however, Sam Foltz has had one heck of a year for the Cornhuskers, earning the Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year award and first-team All-Big Ten honors. The 6'1", 200-pounder led the league with a 44.4 yards-per-punt average while totaling 53 punts on the season.
"This award’s definitely an honor," Foltz said, per Jon Nyatawa of Omaha.com. "It’s pretty cool, with what’s happened all season long, to be able to say I was named the Big Ten punter of the year."
And while punting is often an overlooked aspect to a team's success, the field position Foltz was able accrue could have been the difference between Nebraska achieving a record worse than its 5-7 mark under first-year head coach Mike Riley. With that, the Cornhuskers find themselves playing UCLA in the upcoming Foster Farms Bowl—something they may not have been able to do without the strong leg of Foltz this season.
Indiana: Nate Sudfeld
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While Jordan Howard emerged as one of the Big Ten's best running backs this season, it would be tough to argue that there was a more important player on the Indiana roster than quarterback Nate Sudfeld.
Earning third-team All-Big Ten honors in a particularly crowded year in the conference at the position, the senior signal-caller led the league with 3,184 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, five interceptions and a Big Ten best passer rating of 153.9. More importantly, Sudfeld helped guide the Hoosiers to a 6-6 record, making Indiana postseason eligible for the first time since 2007.
"This is why we came here," Sudfeld said, per Michael Marot of the Associated Press. "Looking back on the season, it's a little frustrating because we felt like we could have a lot more wins. But, ultimately, we made it to the postseason, or at least are bowl-eligible, which is a huge accomplishment for this program."
Sudfeld is arguably the biggest reason why the Hoosiers find themselves preparing to face Duke in the Pinstripe Bowl, throwing for 350 yards and four touchdowns in Indiana's most important game of the season, a 54-36 win over Purdue in its regular-season finale to clinch bowl eligibility. Topping the Blue Devils in a similar fashion will be a tall task, but Sudfeld has already established his importance to his team.
Penn State: Carl Nassib
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In a season when Penn State's offense was expected to take a step forward, no one on the roster played better than defensive end Carl Nassib.
Then again, there may not have been a better defensive player in the nation than the 6'7", 272-pounder.
Recording a nation-high 15.5 sacks, Nassib cleaned up during award season, earning the Big Ten's Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year award, the Lombardi Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy. A former walk-on, Nassib emerged as one of the country's most disruptive forces on a Nittany Lions defense that ranked 14th in the nation in 2015.
Having dealt with an undisclosed injury at the end of the season that may have prevented his eye-popping numbers from being even bigger, Nassib's status for the upcoming TaxSlayer Bowl against Georgia remains up in the air. But, per OnwardState.com, Penn State head coach James Franklin said he expects Nassib to be good to go in what will be the last game of his already storied college career.
Wisconsin: Joe Schobert
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Another one of the Big Ten's most dominant defenders, Wisconsin's Joe Schobert earned the conference's Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year after posting defensive end-like numbers at the linebacker position. The Badgers senior recorded 76 tackles on the season, 18.5 of which came for a loss, and 9.5 sacks, in addition to tallying an interception and five forced fumbles.
Schubert's value to Wisconsin wasn't just apparent on the defensive side of the ball either, as head coach Paul Chryst gave him the ball on a fake punt attempt in the Badgers' Nov. 7 win over Maryland.
"I felt like 'Schobs' could get a yard," Chryst said in his postgame press conference. As it turned out, he could get 57.
The most important player on a defensive unit that ranked third in the nation, Schobert helped make up for a Wisconsin offense that was uncharacteristically ineffective when it came to running the ball. He'll have to have a big game in his college finale for the Badgers to end their season on a high note in a Holiday Bowl matchup against USC.
Northwestern: Justin Jackson
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Arguably the biggest surprise in the Big Ten this season, Northwestern is preparing to play in a New Year's Day bowl game with an Outback Bowl date with Tennessee looming.
One of the biggest reasons for the Wildcats' unexpected turnaround and 10-2 season was the play of running back Justin Jackson, who ranked second in the Big Ten with 1,344 yards and four touchdowns in 2015. Jackson's value to his team was so apparent that the 5'11", 185-pounder sometimes carried the ball as many as 37 times in a game, including a two-game stretch of a combined 72 carries in the final two weeks of the regular season.
"I can handle whatever they need me to do," Jackson told the Chicago Tribune in October. "If that's 40 carries or if that's 20 carries, it doesn't matter."
As it turned out, Jackson's workload wound up being closer to the former. But it proved to be what was best for one of college football's most unlikely success stories in 2015.
Michigan: Jake Rudock
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When Jake Rudock opted to use his ability as a graduate transfer to spend the final season of his college career at Michigan, it was seen as an upgrade at the quarterback position for a Wolverines team in need of just that.
But nobody could have anticipated just how much of an improvement the former Iowa signal-caller would signify in Ann Arbor.
After Michigan endured the up-and-down years of Devin Gardner and Denard Robinson, Rudock turned in the best season by a Wolverines quarterback in recent memory, completing 64 percent of his passes for 2,739 yards, 17 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a passer rating of 138.9. Improving throughout his first and only season under new Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh, Rudock played a crucial role on a Michigan team that compiled a 9-3 record and will play Florida in the Citrus Bowl on New Year's Day.
And not only did Rudock get it done on the field, but he was a leader in the locker room as well, as evidenced by the respect he received from his new teammates this season.
"In my mind Jake is my MVP," center Graham Glasgow said, according to Angelique S. Chengelis of the Detroit News. "He was huge for us this year. It's going to leave big shoes for the next crop of quarterbacks to fill. He set the bar pretty high. Without him we wouldn't be here."
Ohio State: Ezekiel Elliott
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On a team loaded with talent, no one was more valuable to Ohio State this season than running back Ezekiel Elliott.
The Big Ten's Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year, Elliott rushed for 1,672 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2015, ranking fifth and second, respectively, in the nation. The St. Louis native's efforts were enough to earn him the Chicago Tribune's Silver Football, presented annually to the Big Ten's most valuable player.
"One of the best players I've ever been around," Meyer said of his star running back and the reigning College Football Playoff MVP.
But while Elliott contributed to several Buckeyes victories during their run to an 11-1 record, perhaps his importance to the team was most apparent in their one loss. Receiving just 12 carries for 33 yards in Ohio State's 17-14 loss to Michigan State, Elliott's absence was one of the biggest reasons why the Buckeyes surrendered control of the Big Ten East to the Spartans.
A week later, Elliott received a season-high 30 carries, totaling 214 yards and two touchdowns in Ohio State's 42-13 victory over Michigan. It's probably a safe bet the junior running back will receive a similar amount of touches in the upcoming Fiesta Bowl as the Buckeyes look to end their season on a high note against Notre Dame.
Iowa: C.J. Beathard
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When Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz didn't name Rudock his starter for 2015 following the conclusion of his junior campaign, he knew there was a good chance the two-year starter would wind up at another school, possibly within the Big Ten.
But there was also a reason Ferentz didn't seem to mind the possibility of losing the veteran signal-caller either, as he knew what he had in his backup, C.J. Beathard.
And after one season in the starting lineup, it's already apparent that Ferentz's gamble paid off.
Leading the Hawkeyes to a 12-0 regular season before falling to Michigan State in the Big Ten title game, Beathard was one of the biggest reasons why Iowa found itself on the cusp of crashing the College Football Playoff. A second-team All-Big Ten selection, Beathard completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 2,570 yards, 15 touchdowns and four interceptions this season while adding 270 yards and six scores on the ground.
Beathard's playmaking ability has been a welcome addition in a Hawkeyes offense that proved to be more dynamic that many anticipated it would be in 2015.
"He really has played remarkably well," Ferentz said of the junior quarterback.
Facing Stanford in the Rose Bowl, Beathard will have to continue to do just that if Iowa is going to knock off the Cardinal on New Year's Day. But if this season has taught us anything, it's to not count out the 6'2", 209-pounder from Franklin, Tennessee.
Michigan State: Jack Allen
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Sure, Connor Cook was the best quarterback in the Big Ten this season, and Shilique Calhoun continued to set the tone for Michigan State's defense. But when it comes to pure value, you won't find a player who did more to hold the Spartans season together than center Jack Allen, who is arguably the biggest reason why Michigan State is in the College Football Playoff.
While injuries hit the MSU offensive line early in the season, Allen's ability to slide around the unit kept the Spartans on the right path. The 6'2", 296-pounder made the move to left tackle when Jack Conklin went down with an injury in October, keeping what was an undefeated season at the time alive in East Lansing.
"When you compete and when you're nasty and you love the game of football and understand the game of football there's not a whole lot you can't do," MSU offensive line coach Mark Staten said, per Matt Charboneau of the Detroit News. "Jack is that kind of guy. I can put him out at tight end and give him a week of prep."
But while Allen's versatility was crucial to the Spartans early, his best work came late at his primary position of center. After Ohio State star defensive end Joey Bosa jumped offside multiple times in Michigan State's 17-14 win over the Buckeyes in Columbus on Nov. 21, he credited the skills of the veteran center for enticing him to do so.
With that win, the Spartans found themselves in control of their Big Ten title and playoff hopes. And it may not have been possible without the play of perhaps their most unsung hero.
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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