Early Predictions for Big Ten Football's 2016 Stat Leaders
With the 2015 season in the books and national signing day less than a week away, it's never too early to start looking ahead to the 2016 campaign.
Next season, the Big Ten will look a lot different than it did a year prior, with several of the conference's stars now pursuing their dreams in the NFL.
With so many established players headed to the professional ranks, the Big Ten should see an emergence of new players sitting atop its stat totals by season's end. Some familiar names will remain, but for the most part, 2016 will be about the Big Ten's newest crop of stat-sheet stuffers.
Who will replace Carl Nassib as the Big Ten's sack leader or Ezekiel Elliott as its leading rusher? That remains to be seen. But here's an early guess at which players will lead the league in several key categories in the coming year.
Passing Yards and Touchdowns: J.T. Barrett
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Once again taking the reins as Ohio State's undisputed quarterback, J.T. Barrett has all the potential to return to his 2014 form, which saw him break Ohio State's single-season total yardage record and the Big Ten's total touchdown record in just 12 games. In fact, the redshirt junior-to-be looked a lot like his old self in the Buckeyes' final two games of the 2015 campaign, totaling 559 yards of offense and five touchdowns in wins over Michigan and Notre Dame.
Following his team's Fiesta Bowl win over the Fighting Irish, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer indicated he'd like his offense to be more even in 2016 than it was in 2015.
"I want more of a balance, like we were in 2014," Meyer said. "We need to throw the ball. J.T. threw it 31 times. That's more what I'm looking for."
That should mean big numbers for Barrett, like in 2014, when he threw for 2,834 yards and 34 touchdowns. And if Barrett can do that, he may find his name not only back atop the Big Ten's stat totals, but back in the Heisman Trophy discussion.
Completion Percentage: John O'Korn
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While there's no guaranteeing who will be Michigan's starting quarterback in the Wolverines' second season under Jim Harbaugh, Houston transfer John O'Korn appears to have the inside track. And after Jake Rudock led the Big Ten with a completion percentage of 64 percent in 2015, O'Korn could very well find himself the second straight Michigan player to lead the conference in that category.
Having completed 58 percent of his passes as a true freshman in 2013, his lone season as a full-time starter for the Cougars, O'Korn has already shown the ability to be an efficient passer. His completion percentage should only rise while under the direction of Harbaugh, who has made a habit of getting the most out of his signal-callers.
The Wolverines won't need O'Korn to mirror Andrew Luck, Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick or even Rudock. But should he land in the starting lineup, the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, native should find plenty of success completing his passes on a consistent basis.
Interceptions: Tommy Stevens
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While he may have been viewed as an underachiever while playing for head coach James Franklin, replacing Christian Hackenberg as Penn State's starting quarterback will be no small feat. That will ring especially true in Happy Valley should redshirt freshman Tommy Stevens be the one who takes over as the Nittany Lions' signal-caller.
While the former 3-star prospect will have his work cut out for himself battling Trace McSorley for Penn State's starting spot, his road will only get tougher come Big Ten play should he land in the starting lineup. But since the Nittany Lions eye 2017 as a key year under Franklin, don't be surprised if the third-year Penn State head coach goes with the quarterback with the higher upside in Stevens to start the season.
That could mean plenty of learning experiences for the Indianapolis, Indiana, native, many of which will come in the form of interceptions. And even if it is McSorley who winds up starting for the Nittany Lions, that may mean that he'll be the one who winds up atop the Big Ten's interceptions chart.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Rushing Yards: Corey Clement
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All things considered, it would've hardly been a surprise had Wisconsin's Corey Clement led the Big Ten in rushing in 2015. Even with Elliott back at Ohio State, the Badgers running back was supposed to make a seamless transition into the space in his team's backfield that was formerly occupied by Heisman Trophy finalist Melvin Gordon.
But injuries and off-field issues derailed what was supposed to be Clement's breakout season and the junior wound up rushing for just 221 yards and five touchdowns on 48 carries. Returning to Madison for his senior season, Clement will get one last crack at being Wisconsin's next great running back.
"He wants to be able to have some success here," Badgers running back coach John Settle told ESPN.com's Jesse Temple. "I think prove to himself and others that he can carry the load for a season and that he can be the guy."
Having rushed for 949 yards and nine touchdowns behind Gordon in 2014, Clement could very well do that. And if he does, it would hardly come as a shock if he posted the league-high-type numbers that he was supposed to accumulate last season—just a year later.
Rushing Touchdowns: J.T. Barrett
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While Meyer has stated a desire for Barrett to attempt more passes, the 6'1", 225-pound quarterback will likely take over as the Buckeyes' most reliable red-zone option. Even with his limited playing time, Barrett still rushed for 11 touchdowns—the third-most in all of the Big Ten.
With Elliott—who led the conference with 23 rushing touchdowns—heading to the NFL, Barrett's opportunities around the goal line should only increase. And if Meyer has it his way, those opportunities will be ample, and that should land Barrett atop the Big Ten's rushing touchdowns list.
Receptions: Jordan Westerkamp
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Enjoying a breakout season of sorts in his junior campaign, Nebraska's Jordan Westerkamp finished fifth in the Big Ten with 65 receptions in 2015—and that was without quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. having a full grasp of Mike Riley's offensive system. But as Armstrong enters his second season under his new head coach, he should only be more comfortable, which should lead to an increase in opportunities for his top target.
Recording 918 yards and seven touchdowns in his junior campaign, the 6'0", 195-pounder is a candidate to lead the Big Ten in all three major receiving categories in 2016. But he'll settle for leading the league in receptions, which could very well happen if the Cornhuskers offense takes a step forward in Riley's pro-style system as expected in the coming year.
Receiving Yards: Jehu Chesson
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Recording 50 receptions for 764 yards and nine touchdowns, Michigan wideout Jehu Chesson proved to be one of the Wolverines' most reliable playmakers in 2015. That trend should only continue in the coming year, as the 6'3", 207-pounder returns for his senior season—and second in Harbaugh's offensive system.
"It takes time for a culture to be set," Chesson said, per Jeff Seidel of the Detroit Free Press. "But when you are a guy like Coach Harbaugh, when your presence is felt in a room when you walk in, it's real easy for people to conform to what you do."
Michigan's team-voted MVP for the past season, Chesson was a consistent deep threat, averaging 15.3 yards per reception—the third-best average in all the Big Ten. Look for the Wolverines' new starting quarterback to look Chesson's way often, which should lead to plenty of yardage for the St. Louis product.
Receiving Touchdowns: Jake Butt
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While Chesson may wind up being the Wolverines' go-to guy, tight end Jake Butt should become Michigan's top red-zone target.
After catching 51 balls for 654 yards and three touchdowns in 2015, Butt bypassed on the NFL draft, opting to return to Ann Arbor for his senior season. While his touchdown total wasn't exceptional as a junior, it could rise in his second season in Harbaugh's system, where Butt will undoubtedly serve as a safety valve for Michigan's new starting quarterback.
Should the Wolverines offense progress as excepted, the 6'6", 248-pounder's touchdown tally should near double digits. That could be enough for him to wind up with the most touchdown catches of any Big Ten player throughout the 2016 season.
Tackles: Raekwon McMillan
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A Butkus Award finalist in 2015, middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan returns to Ohio State as the undisputed captain of the Buckeyes defense. As just a true sophomore, McMillan finished 11th in the Big Ten and lead the Buckeyes in solo tackles with 57—a number that should only increase following the departures of OSU linebackers Joshua Perry and Darron Lee.
"He was ready when he walked in the door, to be honest with you," Buckeyes defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Luke Fickell said. "Everyone has different definitions of leadership and I try to make mine really simple: those who can make others around him better."
Playing such a prominent role on the Ohio State defense, the opportunities for McMillan to bring down ball-carriers should be ample. When it's all said and done, the 6'2", 240-pounder may not be the face of just the Buckeyes defense, but the entire Ohio State roster in 2016.
Sacks: Drew Ott
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Drew Ott's eligibility for the 2016 season is dependent on whether or not the NCAA will allow the Iowa defensive end to receive a medical hardship after a knee injury brought his 2015 campaign to a premature end. If Ott is allowed to return to school, he'll do so as arguably the top defensive lineman in all the Big Ten.
While the Hawkeyes managed to come within a game of making the College Football Playoff, Ott's absence throughout the season was noticeable. It'd be hard for it not to be, considering the 6'4", 270-pounder has been responsible for 15.5 sacks and 26 tackles for loss throughout his college career.
Should Ott find himself on the field—and healthy—in 2016, look for him reside near the top of the Big Ten's sack leaders. If his career is indeed over, however, Ohio State's Sam Hubbard is an intriguing name to watch as the redshirt sophomore prepares to take over the starting spot left by Joey Bosa in the Buckeyes lineup.
Interceptions: Desmond King
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While Ott's future in Iowa City remains in doubt, the same can't be said for cornerback Desmond King. The reigning Thorpe Award winner opted to return to Iowa for his senior season after leading the Big Ten in interceptions with eight in 2015.
"Feels good to finish my education and to be with my brothers for my senior year," King wrote in an Instagram post announcing his return. "There will be those that say my decision is wrong, but it’s what’s best for me. Let’s make it a good one fellas."
Although opposing quarterbacks may be less willing to throw King's way this season than they were last year, don't be surprised if the 5'11", 200-pounder once again leads the league when it comes to INTs. And even if King sees fewer opportunities to pick off quarterbacks as a senior, look for him to make the most of every chance that he gets.
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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