Big Ten Football: Ranking the Top 16 Players Heading into 2016
The start of the 2016 season is officially less than four months away, and college football is set to enter the quietest portion of its offseason.
But as fans begin to look toward the coming year, they'll notice an impressive crop of players returning to the sport and particularly the Big Ten, as recruiting in the conference has seen a boost in recent years.
In fact, the Big Ten's talent entering 2016 might be as impressive from top to bottom as any year in recent memory. So much so, in fact, that when ranking the Big Ten's top players, it's hard to find a fair cutoff point to end the list.
But with 2016 being the upcoming season, this particular writer opted to limit his list to 16 players.
With that said, here are the 16 best players in the Big Ten entering 2016, based on both past production and potential for the coming year.
16. Chris Godwin
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Although they laid claim to the Big Ten's ninth-ranked passing offense in 2015, Penn State possessed one of the more productive wide receivers in the conference a year ago.
After catching 69 passes for 1,101 yards and five touchdowns, Chris Godwin will be back in Happy Valley in 2016 as the Big Ten's top returning receiver, and he'll be looking to build on his breakout sophomore campaign.
"[Godwin's] perfecting his craft right now. He had a great year last year. Every little detail that he can figure out, any flaw that's in his game, he's going to figure that out," Nittany Lions cornerback Grant Haley said of his teammate, per PennLive.com's Bob Flounders. "He's going to be a great player for years to come.''
If DaeSean Hamilton can successfully bounce back from his own slump, Penn State could very well wind up with one of the best receiving corps in the entire conference. That would go a long way toward aiding the Nittany Lions' new starting quarterback, whether it be Trace McSorley or Tommy Stevens who ends up filling the void left by Christian Hackenberg in the Penn State backfield.
15. Pat Elflein
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With nine underclassmen having declared for the NFL draft following the 2015 season, Ohio State will need to replace a lot of talent on its roster in 2016.
But Urban Meyer can take solace in the fact that a 10th Buckeye opted to stay in Columbus for his senior year, as Pat Elflein will be returning to play an unfamiliar, yet crucial, position in 2016.
After spending his first two years as a starter at right guard, Elflein is sliding over a spot to fill the void left by departing senior Jacoby Boren at center. According to Meyer, the importance of returning Elflein at the spot, along with starting quarterback J.T. Barrett, can't be understated.
"If you were trying to break in a new quarterback and a new center, you probably have no shot," Meyer said in the spring. "The fact that these two guys are back, we have a shot. I think we have a decent shot of being good on offense—and it's mostly due to those two guys coming back."
A first-team All-Big Ten selection a year ago, Elflein will at the very least be an important part of rebuilding a Buckeyes offensive line replacing three starters in 2016. How far his impact will truly extend remains to be seen, but based on both his talent and new role, there may not be a more important offensive lineman in the entire conference in the coming year.
14. Dawuane Smoot
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With eight sacks to his credit a year ago, Illinois' Dawuane Smoot finds himself tied with Ohio State's Tyquan Lewis and Wisconsin's Vince Biegel as one of the Big Ten's three top returning pass-rushers in 2016.
What's scary, however, is that the defensive end only appears to be scratching the surface of his potential, as expectations build for a big senior season in Champaign.
"I want to try to be a first-rounder and to be an All-American," Smoot said, per ESPN.com's Brian Bennett. "Double-digit sacks and then go to the league. Those are my expectations."
As lofty as those ambitions may be, Smoot will only be aided by the arrival of longtime NFL and new Fighting Illini head coach Lovie Smith, who helped mold his fair share of elite pass-rushers during his time with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The 6'3", 265-pounder will now have the deal with extra attention from opposing offensive lines with Jihad Ward now in the NFL, but all indications out of Champaign are that Smoot will not only match but perhaps exceed the standard set by his former teammate, a recent second-round pick of the Oakland Raiders.
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13. C.J. Beathard
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After Iowa allowed fifth-year senior Jake Rudock to use his ability as a graduate transfer to move on to Michigan, there may not have been a quarterback in the Big Ten with more pressure to perform at the start of last season than C.J. Beathard.
But in his first season as a full-time starter, Beathard exceeded expectations, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors while leading the Hawkeyes to a 12-0 regular-season record and taking them one win shy of crashing the College Football Playoff.
Now back in Iowa City for his senior season, Beathard will look to build on a 2015 that saw him complete 61.6 percent of his passes for 2,809 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions, while adding six scores on the ground.
Offseason sports hernia surgery limited the Franklin, Tennessee, native's availability in the spring, but according to Iowa offensive coordinator Greg Davis, Beathard still managed to take the steps necessary to further his progress in 2016.
"C.J. has had a heck of a spring," Davis said, per the Des Moines Register's Chad Leistikow. "You can tell he's totally in charge, in terms of what's going on, decisions that he has to make."
12. Dan Feeney
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With Jason Spriggs now in the NFL after being selected by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the NFL draft, Indiana finds itself in need of replacing one of the Big Ten's top offensive linemen of the past few years.
Fortunately for the Hoosiers, they're returning one of the nation's best offensive linemen in 2016, thanks to Dan Feeney's decision to come back to Bloomington for his senior season.
An ESPN All-American in 2015, Feeney played a crucial role in an Indiana rushing attack that paved the way for not one, but two 1,000-yard running backs in Jordan Howard and Devine Redding a year ago. The 6'4", 310-pound guard is also an important part of the Hoosiers' prolific passing attack, having allowed just one sack in his entire career, which already includes three seasons as a starter.
Having bypassed on his own opportunity to enter this year's NFL draft, Feeney may ultimately benefit from one last season in Bloomington, just as Spriggs did a year ago. After leading Indiana with 102 knockdowns in 2015, expectations are even higher for the Big Ten's most accomplished offensive lineman as he enters his senior season at Indiana.
11. William Likely
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With so many holes to fill as he takes over a roster that compiled a 3-9 record a year ago, new Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin got a big boost when cornerback William Likely announced he'd be returning to College Park for his senior season in 2016.
With that, the Terrapins once again lay claim to one of the Big Ten's most versatile players, a dynamic playmaker capable of affecting a game in any of its three facets.
With his primary position being cornerback, the 5'7", 175-pounder defended a team-high 11 passes in 2015. After returning two of his Big Ten-best six interceptions for touchdowns in 2014, the Maryland coaching staff experimented with using the first-team All-Big Ten selection on offense at times last season, and he compiled 110 yards on 16 touches (6.9 yards per play).
It remains unclear whether Likely's offensive role will be expanded or diminished under Durkin, but there's no question he'll once again be used as the Terrapins' primary return man. As the Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year, Likely ranked third in the nation in combined return yards (1,197) despite only playing in 11 games. He returned two punts and one kickoff for touchdowns last season.
How he'll get there still remains to be seen, but it's probably a safe bet Likely will once again find himself in the end zone in 2016.
10. Jake Butt
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Between Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh, there may not be a more talented wide receiving corps in the Big Ten than the one returning at Michigan.
However, when it comes to the favorite target of the Wolverines' new starting signal-caller, whoever that may be, tight end Jake Butt is already the odds-on favorite.
Butt, the reigning Big Ten Tight End of the Year, finished first among players at his position and 15th overall in the conference with 51 receptions for 654 and three touchdowns in 2015. After toying with the idea of entering the NFL draft, the Pickerington, Ohio, native opted to return to Ann Arbor for one more year of seasoning under Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh.
"He said there's room for improvement. I can fine-tune my game and the NFL's a complicated thing," Butt said of his conversation with Harbaugh while mulling his draft decision, per MLive.com's Nick Baumgardner. "I can come back a year and work on my blocking, get a little faster and a little stronger so that I can solidify myself in those top rounds."
With Jake Rudock headed to the NFL as the Detroit Lions' sixth-round pick, Butt will be playing with a new quarterback in either John O'Korn, Wilton Speight or Shane Morris. But whoever winds up behind center for the Wolverines this season will certainly be thankful for the 6'6", 250-pound target who remains at Michigan's disposal for one more year.
9. Saquon Barkley
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Despite the disappointment that was Penn State's 7-6 campaign in 2015, the Nittany Lions laid claim to one of the Big Ten's breakout stars in freshman running back Saquon Barkley.
Despite missing two games due to injury, Barkley finished fourth in the conference in rushing with 1,076 yards, adding seven touchdowns on the ground and an additional score on one of his 20 receptions for 161 yards.
Now back in Happy Valley for his sophomore season, the 5'11", 219-pounder is looking to build on his breakout campaign while getting the most out of new Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead's uptempo offense.
"I'm trying to become a complete back, work on leadership," Barkely said, per PennLive.com's Greg Pickel. "I think I'm doing a pretty good job of that so far."
With 5-star prospect Miles Sanders set to arrive in State College this summer, Barkley could soon find himself in one of the nation's most dynamic backfields, as James Franklin has already talked about using a two-running back system.
But as evidenced by his 195-yard showing against Rutgers and his 194-yard performance at Ohio State, Barkley's opportunities are more likely to increase than decrease, as he already deserves to be considered one of the conference's top running backs entering his sophomore season.
8. Raekwon McMillan
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Considering they'll be replacing eight 2015 starters, including three first-round draft picks, little is known about the Ohio State Buckeyes' defensive plans at the moment.
But of the few certainties that can be claimed entering 2016, this much seems to be sure: As Raekwon McMillan goes, so goes the Ohio State defense.
A finalist for the Butkus Award in his sophomore season, the former 5-star prospect lived up to his billing a year ago, totaling a team-high 119 tackles, 1.5 sacks, five QB hurries and four pass breakups in 2015. Serving as the heart and soul of the Buckeyes defense at middle linebacker, McMillan has already been named a captain entering his junior campaign, due to both his ability on the field and leadership off it.
"He was ready when he walked in the door," Ohio State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Luke Fickell said. "Everyone has different definitions of leadership, and I try to make mine really simple: not to change up from what the head coach's is, but those who can make others around him better."
With eight new starters around him, including two new outside linebackers on both sides, the 6'2", 240-pound McMillan will have no shortage of opportunities to do just that in 2016.
7. Malik McDowell
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A former 5-star prospect, Malik McDowell emerged in a sophomore season that saw him tally 13 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, eight quarterback hurries and a pick-six.
But with Michigan State great Shilique Calhoun now in the NFL as a third-round pick for the Oakland Raiders, McDowell is now the cornerstone of the Spartans defensive line, and the 6'6", 280-pounder plans on taking full advantage of that opportunity.
"I think I'm the best D-lineman in the country. I can't lie," McDowell said, per Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press. "If you want it, if you ask for it, you've got to be willing to take on the pressure, I guess."
Primarily a defensive tackle in his first two seasons in East Lansing, McDowell will likely see more playing time at defensive end—his natural position—with Calhoun no longer next to him. What's not up for debate, however, are McDowell's lofty expectations. They may only be exceeded by his apparent potential.
6. Anthony Walker
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After a sophomore season that saw him earn All-American honors, Northwestern linebacker Anthony Walker received high praise from his head coach.
"I think he's got the opportunity to be the best we've ever had here," Pat Fitzgerald said, per the Gazette's Scott Dochterman. "And we've had some pretty good linebackers over the years."
Fitzgerald would know. He's the only two-time winner of both the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award and a 2008 College Football Hall of Famer, so he currently holds that title in Evanston.
But 20 years after his own storied college career came to an end, Fitzgerald finds his status as Northwestern's all-time top linebacker threatened by Walker, who totaled 122 tackles, 20.5 of which came for a loss and four sacks in 2015.
But make no mistake, that's just fine by Fitzgerald, whose team compiled an impressive 10-2 regular-season record, thanks in large part to the play of its star middle linebacker.
"He's got great leadership skills. He's got the functional strength, functional speed, change of direction ability," Fitzgerald said. "He's truly a three-way player. He's great against the run, he’s great against the pass, and he has the ability to rush the passer."
5. Justin Jackson
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What Walker was for the Northwestern Wildcats on the defensive side of the ball, Justin Jackson was for them on offense in 2015.
At 5'11 190 pounds, the Big Ten's top returning rusher totaled 1,418 yards and five touchdowns in his sophomore campaign.
Jackson's numbers are even more impressive when considering that Northwestern ranked last in the Big Ten in passing a year ago, as freshman quarterback Clayton Thorson served more as a game manager than anything else. So even while teams loaded the box against the Wildcats, Jackson was still able to carve up opposing defenses, including eight games in which he rushed for more than 100 yards.
A second-team All-Big Ten selection, Jackson is hoping to add more power to his game in the coming year in an attempt to add to his modest touchdown total. But at this point, the results speak for themselves, as the Carol Stream, Illinois, native currently lays claim to the title of the Big Ten's best running back entering 2016.
4. Jabrill Peppers
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At one point last season, Jabrill Peppers was so impressive as a two-way player that head coach Jim Harbaugh considered making him a full-time running back in the offseason.
And while the former 5-star prospect's future remains on defense, his responsibilities will only expand as the former safety converts to an outside linebacker position in new Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown's system.
"I think he's picked up the linebacker pieces of it pretty well," Brown said in the spring. "The last three guys are in the NFL that I've coached that have played that position. You expect a lot at that spot, so we're going to get what we expect."
So after earning first-team All-Big Ten honors as a safety and being named the conference's Freshman of the Year in 2015, Peppers can now add linebacker to the list of positions he's played in Ann Arbor, which already includes safety, cornerback, running back, wide receiver, punt returner and Wildcat quarterback.
Is there anything Peppers can't do? Perhaps. And Harbaugh is apparently willing to find out, as he continues to explore his options with what was already arguably college football's most versatile player entering 2016.
3. Jourdan Lewis
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After ranking second in the Big Ten in passes defended with 22 in his junior season, including two interceptions and a one touchdown return, it almost came as a surprise that Jourdan Lewis opted to return to Michigan for his senior season.
But in doing so, the Wolverines cornerback could assert himself as the nation's best player at his position, only improving his prospective draft stock for when he does head to the NFL a year from now.
"If he had come out [in 2015] he'd have certainly been one of the top corners," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said on a conference call last month. "Next year's draft, if you look at the top five right now and you look at a corner, you'd have to put him in there."
Whether or not the 5'10", 175-pounder will live up to those lofty expectations remains to be seen, but it's worth noting he's only gotten better with each passing season since arriving in Ann Arbor in 2013.
Paired with Peppers, you won't find a more dynamic defensive duo anywhere else in the Big Ten, as Michigan has the luxury of possessing two players capable of taking the ball away from opposing offenses on any given play.
2. J.T. Barrett
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As Ohio State's unprecedented quarterback competition failed to sort itself out until the final month of the 2015 regular season, J.T. Barrett endured somewhat of an up-and-down sophomore campaign.
But once Barrett finally snatched the Buckeyes starting job away from Cardale Jones for good, he seemed to return to his freshman phenom form, totaling 559 yards and five touchdowns in wins over Michigan and Notre Dame to close the season.
With Jones now headed to Buffalo as a fourth-round pick in the NFL draft, the Ohio State offense is once again Barrett's to run. With just two other returning offensive starters—both of whom play on the offensive line—the redshirt junior will have his work cut out for him. But the 2014 Big Ten Quarterback of the Year's ability should only accelerate the progress of the young unit around him.
"The main thing is control what you can control," Barrett said this spring. "We know we got young guys in and young receivers and all this. Those are I guess excuses that you want to make for yourself, but that's not the point of it. The point of it is trying to get better as a quarterback."
If the Buckeyes can get that out of the already impressive Barrett, they'll be in good shape for the 2016 campaign.
1. Desmond King
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After winning the Thorpe Award, presented annually to college football's top defensive back, Desmond King made history.
The Iowa cornerback opted to return to school for his senior season, becoming the first recipient of the prestigious award to do so.
"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."
With that, the Hawkeyes find themselves bringing back perhaps not just the nation's best defensive back, but perhaps its top defensive player, period. In his junior campaign, King broke up 13 passes and intercepted another eight, returning one 88 yards for a touchdown.
Also used as a kick and punt returner due to his apparent playmaking ability, King can impact a game in more ways than one. If Iowa's going to once again compete for a playoff spot, the surprise return of the Detroit native will be a big reason why, just as he was a year ago during the Hawkeyes' historic breakout campaign.
Ben Axelrod is Bleacher Report's Big Ten lead writer. You can follow him on Twitter @BenAxelrod. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand. Recruit rankings and info courtesy of 247Sports.
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