Every Big Ten Team's Top 2017 NFL Draft Prospect

The 2016 NFL draft has come and gone, meaning the attention of fans and analysts alike is already turning toward next year's selection show.

And while the Big Ten had a heavy presence in last month's draft with 47 players picked—the second-highest total of any conference—the league should once again find itself well represented in 2017.

Between a growing list of prospects in Ann Arbor, the return of multiple stars in Iowa City and what's been a steady pipeline from the preps to the pros in Columbus, the Big Ten will see no shortage of NFL talent on its fields in the coming year. It's not just at the top-level programs either, as even the conference's less successful teams will lay claim to pro prospects in the coming months as well.

With nearly a full year—and a full season—to go until next year's draft, a lot can change between now and next spring. But as of right now, the Big Ten should once again hear names from its league called early and often in next year's draft.

With that in mind, here's the current top prospect on each Big Ten team heading into the 2017 season. 

Illinois: Hardy Nickerson Jr.

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The son of former All-Pro linebacker Hardy Nickerson Sr., Hardy Nickerson Jr. has always possessed an NFL pedigree. And now the former Cal linebacker is preparing to receive NFL coaching in the final year of his college career.

After spending the first three seasons of his college career at his father's alma mater in Berkley, where he led the Bears with 112 tackles a year ago, the younger Nickerson announced this offseason he'd be transferring to Illinois, where Nickerson Sr. is now serving as new Fighting Illini head coach Lovie Smith's defensive coordinator.

Eligible immediately as a graduate transfer, the 6'0", 225-pounder should play right away on an Illinois defense looking to replace middle linebacker Mason Monheim, who totaled 98 tackles in 2015.

But before Nickerson even arrived in Champaign, the NFL was already taking notice. CBSSports.com currently ranks the 2015 All-Pac 12 honorable mention as its No. 4 middle linebacker 2017 draft prospect (seniors only) and WalterFootball.com projects him as a fifth- to seventh-round pick.

Coincidentally, the fifth round is where the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Nickerson Sr. in the 1987 draft before he went on to enjoy a 16-year NFL career. With a big year for the Illini, Nickerson Jr. would only move up draft boards, especially if teams begin to see more of a resemblance between him and his famous father.

Indiana: Dan Feeney

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Indiana didn't have to wait long to hear one of its players' names called in last month's draft, as the Green Bay Packers selected offensive tackle Jason Spriggs in the second round.

And thanks to another All-American offensive linemen, a Hoosier should come off the board early in 2017 as well.

While he doesn't play a position as prominent as Spriggs played at left tackle, Dan Feeney has already made a name for himself as one of the best guards in college football. Having allowed just one sack in his three seasons as a starter, the 6'4", 310-pound Feeney recorded a team-high 102 knockdowns in 2015, while helping to pave the way for the Big Ten's top-ranked offense.

As a result, Feeney ranks as CBSSports.com's No. 2 guard and WalterFootball.com's No. 3 player at his position for 2017. WalterFootball.com's latest mock draft has him coming off the board as a second-round pick with the draft's No. 35 pick, which would make for the start of quite the streak for Indiana linemen.

Iowa: Desmond King

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After winning the 2015 Thorpe Award, which is presented annually to college football's top defensive back, Desmond King opted to make history.

Rather than enter the NFL draft, as many expected him to, the Iowa cornerback decided to return to the Hawkeyes for his senior season, becoming the first recipient of the prestigious award to do so when presented with the option to turn pro.

Now, the 5'11", 200-pound King finds himself as one of the top players at his position in the 2017 draft, with CBSSports.com slotting him as its No. 2 corner and WalterFootball.com predicting his selection with the 17th overall pick. A consensus All-American in 2015, King should be able to play right away in his pro career after breaking up 13 passes and recording eight interceptions in his junior campaign.

Whether King will be capable of meeting or perhaps even exceeding expectations in 2016 remains to be seen. But for now, the Detroit native deserves to be considered not only one of the top draft prospects in all of the Big Ten, but the country as well.

Maryland: William Likely

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Standing at a generous 5'7" and 175 pounds, it remains unclear whether or not William Likely will be a capable coverage corner in the NFL.

But what is clear at this point is this: Likely should find himself playing on Sundays due to his status as one of college football's top return men.

Despite only playing in 11 games on a 3-9 Maryland team last season, Likely still managed to rank third in the nation in combined return yards (1,197), while returning two punts and one kickoff for touchdowns.

The Belle Glade, Florida, native showed plenty of versatility throughout his junior season as well, not only taking snaps at corner and returning kicks, but also playing various roles on the Maryland offense, where he averaged 6.9 yards per touch.

As for his primary position at the next level, it's worth noting Likely is a two-time All-Big Ten corner who CBSSports.com currently ranks as the No. 13 corner in next year's draft. But regardless of his size, there's always a place in the NFL for a player who possesses the ability Likely has shown with the ball in his hands throughout his college career.

Michigan: Jabrill Peppers

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After arriving in Ann Arbor as an athlete and having since played safety, cornerback, wide receiver, running back, Wildcat quarterback, punt returner and now linebacker, there doesn't really seem to be a position that defines Jabrill Peppers.

But with just one year of significant action under his belt in his college career, Peppers has already become one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2017 draft, should he opt to declare following his redshirt sophomore season.

In fact, Peppers has already become a first-round fixture in "way-too-early mock drafts," most of which project the New Jersey native as a safety at the next level. In Bleacher Report NFL Draft Lead Analyst Matt Miller's 2017 mock draft, he projected Peppers to be taken 10th, comparing him to another recent high-profile defensive back prospect.

"Get ready for the comparisons between Jabrill Peppers and Jalen Ramsey," wrote Miller. "At 6'1", 210 pounds, Peppers is a mix between a cornerback and a safety and he makes some ridiculous plays in the Michigan secondary."

Those plays should only continue, with Peppers taking on an active outside linebacker role in new Wolverines defensive coordinator Don Brown's defense, which has a history of its own of producing NFL players. But none have possessed the same level of talent as Peppers, who could ultimately be the first player from the Big Ten to come off the board next spring.

Michigan State: Malik McDowell

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A year ago, Michigan State appeared to possess no fewer than three first-round picks on its roster in Connor Cook, Shilique Calhoun and Jack Conklin. But when the 2016 draft came to an end last month, only Conklin was among the first 32 selections.

Despite the disappointment of the Spartans' draft showing this year, they were at least able to extend their streak of first-round selections to three years.

Thanks to Malik McDowell, that streak could very well stand at four years by this time next spring. The Michigan State defensive lineman is already projected to be a first-round pick in several mock drafts, including Miller's, which pegs the former 5-star prospect as next year's No. 12 pick.

"A massive defensive tackle with legitimate pass-rushing skills, Malik McDowell was the most impressive Michigan State player when I watched the team play against Nebraska last season," Miller wrote. "NFL scouts will be taking notice now that he's draft-eligible."

As some of McDowell's teammates taught him this past year, a lot can change between now and the time a player is actually picked. But not even Calhoun seemed to possess the natural talent of McDowell, who at 6'6" and 280 pounds is capable of playing anywhere on the defensive line.

Minnesota: Mitch Leidner

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In his own way-too-early mock draft, ESPN's Todd McShay made waves with his surprise selection of a Big Ten player at a prominent position.

And if he's right in his assessment that Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner is a first-round pick, the Big Ten West will be one of the more fascinating divisions to watch in college football in the coming year.

"Leidner shows some upside as a passer, but I'll be looking to see if he can improve his accuracy," McShay wrote. "Leidner has ideal size and has shown the ability to make plays with his legs off designed runs and scrambles. He's a late riser to keep an eye on."

It's worth noting that this time last year, McShay had Christian Hackenberg and Connor Cook as the draft's top two overall picks and neither player was even taken in the first round. But perhaps the third time will be the charm when it comes to McShay projecting first-round Big Ten signal-callers, as the 6'4", 237-pound Leidner could prove to be one of the conference's most interesting prospects in the coming year.

Northwestern: Anthony Walker

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After earning All-American honors in a 2015 season that saw him record 120 tackles, 19 of which came for a loss, Anthony Walker's head coach is already adding steam to his hype train entering 2016.

"I think he's got the opportunity to be the best we've ever had here," said Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald, per the Gazette's Scott Dochterman. "And we've had some pretty good linebackers over the years."

But it's not just Fitzgerald who's taken notice of the production from the star middle linebacker who could very well make the jump to the NFL a year from now. WalterFootball.com currently ranks the 6'1", 235-pounder as its No. 9 middle linebacker in the 2017 draft, projecting him to be taken somewhere between the third and fifth rounds.

With another monster season in Evanston, Walker's draft stock would only climb. We already know what his head coach thinks of him, and by this time next year, we may have found out if the NFL agrees.

Nebraska: Alonzo Moore

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Alonzo Moore isn't even one of the top two returning receivers in a Nebraska wideout corps that has the potential to be one of the nation's best in 2016.

But between himself, Jordan Westerkamp and Brandon Reilly, there may not be a receiver with more pro potential than the 6'2", 195-pound speedster.

Catching 24 passes for 395 yards and six touchdowns, Moore showed big-play ability in 2015 while hauling in six passes of 20 or more yards in his junior campaign. Cornhuskers head coach Mike Riley also opted to put the Louisiana native's talents to the test in Nebraska's run game, where Moore carried the ball 14 times for 106 yards.

With his size and speed, Moore could ultimately become a more productive player in the pro ranks than he has been in college. CBSSports.com currently ranks him as the 2017 draft's No. 25 receiver—the highest placement of any Husker.

Ohio State: Raekwon McMillan

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With the New York Jets selecting Darron Lee in the first round and the San Diego Chargers taking Joshua Perry in the fourth, Raekwon McMillan finds himself the lone returning starting linebacker at Ohio State in 2016.

But it shouldn't be too long before McMillan joins his former Buckeyes teammates in the professional ranks.

A former 5-star prospect, McMillan has found himself a popular name in the way-too-early mock drafts that have flooded the Internet in the past month. Miller's latest mock has the 2015 Butkus Award finalist coming off the board with the draft's No. 7 pick, which would make him the highest selection of any of Ohio State's three starting linebackers from a year ago.

"McMillan often stole the show when I was watching draft-eligible players like Darron Lee and Joey Bosa last season," Miller wrote. "McMillan isn't as athletic as [2016 prospects] Myles Jack or Jaylon Smith, but his instincts and three-down ability will have teams thinking about him early in Round 1."

Having arrived in Columbus ready to contribute from the first day he stepped on campus, McMillan's storied college career could soon be coming to an end. But a more promising one may await him, as he already finds himself one of the most-talked-about players in the 2017 draft.

Penn State: Chris Godwin

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With five players picked, Penn State actually had a pretty strong presence at the 2016 draft. But 2017 should be a leaner year for the Nittany Lions, who no longer have a stable of highly touted draft-eligible players such as Austin Johnson, Christian Hackenberg and Carl Nassib.

But of Penn State's potential 2017 draft picks, one player who does stand out is wide receiver Chris Godwin.

Catching 69 balls for 1,101 yards and five touchdowns, Godwin enjoyed a breakout season in 2015, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors for his efforts. At 6'1" and 208 pounds, Godwin possesses good size for a potential pro but could ultimately see a dip in production in the coming year with Hackenberg no longer in State College.

Nevertheless, NFL teams seem to have already taken notice of Godwin, who could declare for the draft next spring following his junior year. At the moment, WalterFootball.com ranks him as the draft's No. 17 receiver, slotting the Middletown, Delaware, native to be taken between the fourth and sixth rounds.

Purdue: Jake Replogle

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For a team that's experienced as little success as Purdue has in recent years, perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise that NFL prospects on the Boilermakers roster are few and far between.

One player in West Lafayette who could soon be playing on Sundays, however, is defensive tackle Jake Replogle.

Ranked by CBSSports.com as the 2017 draft's No. 24 defensive tackle, Replogle finds himself on the radar of NFL teams following a junior season that saw him record 60 tackles, 14 of which came for a loss, and two sacks. At 6'5" and 294-pounds, the Centerville, Ohio, native possesses decent size and the ability to play multiple spots on the defensive line.

For a team that's compiled a 6-30 record in the past three seasons, there hasn't been much to watch when it's come to Purdue football lately. At the very least, Replogle could be a reason for NFL draft fans and prognosticators alike to keep an eye on the Boilermakers.

Rutgers: Darius Hamilton

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This time a year ago, Darius Hamilton figured he'd be spending 2016 preparing for his NFL career—not his senior season at Rutgers.

But a knee injury suffered in the spring lingered into the 2015 campaign, and the Scarlet Knights defensive end now finds himself in Piscataway for one last season before finally heading off to the pros.

"I feel better than I ever have since the injury," Hamilton asserted, per NJ.com's Dan Duggan.

The 6'3", 283-pounder will have plenty to prove in 2016, as he looks to show NFL teams that he's still the same player who recorded 45 tackles, 11.5 of which came for a loss, and six sacks in 2014. For now, WalterFootball.com ranks Hamilton as the No. 18 3-4 outside linebacker in the 2017 draft, but a big (and healthy) 2016 will only help his cause when it comes to the delayed start of his NFL career.

Wisconsin: Corey Clement

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After backing up Melvin Gordon in his Heisman Trophy finalist season in 2014, Corey Clement figured 2015 would be his year to make his case for being Wisconsin's next great running back—and a potential first-round pick.

But injuries and off-field issues plagued what was supposed to be the 5'11", 219-pounder's breakout campaign, and he now finds himself back in Madison with one last chance to make the most of his college career.

"Now I've got another chance to come back and redeem myself and come back for a stronger season that I hoped to have last year," Clement said, per ESPN.com's Jesse Temple. "I get a chance to recuperate, regenerate my mind and look forward to a positive season."

Nevertheless, the NFL doesn't seem to have forgotten about a player who still managed to rush for 949 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014, despite primarily being a backup.

CBSSports.com currently pegs him as the top senior running back in next year's draft and WalterFootball.com projects him as a second-round pick, meaning the potential is still there for Clement to live up to expectations in Madison—even if he winds up doing so a year later than expected.

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. Recruit rankings and info courtesy of 247Sports.