Big Ten Football: Predicting Every Team's 2016 MVP
The start of the 2016 college football season is nearly two months away, and anticipation for the coming campaign is building with each passing day.
That rings especially true in the Big Ten, which will feature no shortage of established teams and prominent players.
And while football is arguably the ultimate team game, there's no arguing that some players stand out above the rest on each roster. In fact, it's common for programs to name a team MVP at each season's end in order to honor the player who most proved his worth over the course of the season.
Who will earn those honors on each Big Ten team in 2016? That remains to be seen.
But as we count down the days to the coming season, let's predict each team MVP in the conference based on his overall value to his program's success.
Illinois: Dawuane Smoot
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While Illinois' offense was shaky in 2015, ranking 10th overall in the conference, the defense served as a strength. The passing defense ranked fifth in the league, surrendering an average of 184.4 yards per game.
And with head coach Lovie Smith now in town, the Illinois defense should only get stronger, which could mean another big year for defensive end Dawuane Smoot.
Despite playing in the shadow of now-Oakland Raider Jihad Ward, the 6'3", 265-pounder managed to put together an impressive 2015 campaign, tallying a team-high eight sacks and tying for the most of any defender who is returning to the conference in 2016. With Smith and his NFL experience now in Champaign, Smoot should only see improvement, even with Ward no longer around to command attention from opposing offensive lines.
After a 5-7 campaign a year ago, the Fighting Illini are looking to achieve their first winning season since 2011. If they can do that, it's a safe bet Smoot will be a big reason why, whether it's by racking up sack totals or creating opportunities for his teammates to do the same.
Indiana: Devine Redding
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With Nate Sudfeld headed to the NFL, it still remains to be seen whether Richard Lagow or Danny Cameron will wind up succeeding one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in Indiana history.
But what the Hoosiers do know is that regardless of who their starting quarterback is, he'll be able to rely on a strong running game. Devine Redding will be back in Bloomington as the Big Ten's third-leading returning rusher from a season ago.
While Jordan Howard may have stolen the headlines, it was Redding who was Indiana's most reliable back, tallying 1,012 yards and nine touchdowns on 226 carries—the third-most in the entire conference in 2015. With Howard now in the NFL, Redding's workload will only increase, which could give him a strong shot at being the conference's leading rusher this coming season.
Behind one of the Big Ten's better offensive lines, the 5'10", 195-pound Redding could be a household name in the conference by season's end. And if the Hoosiers are going to build on last year's bowl season, the reason will be Redding, one of the few constants returning to this year's team.
Iowa: Josey Jewell
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After entering 2015 with no shortage of uncertainty, Iowa knows it can count on plenty of players in the coming year following last year's 12-0 run in the regular season. On offense, second-team All-Big Ten quarterback C.J. Beathard returns to the Hawkeyes, while cornerback Desmond King became the first draft-eligible winner of the Thorpe Award to return to his school for his senior season.
But even with all of the prominent names on Iowa's roster, the heart of the team remains in the middle of its defense, as linebacker Josey Jewell prepares to build on his impressive sophomore season.
"The guy is a heckuva football player," Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz said of Jewell, per Marc Morehouse of the Cedar Rapids Gazette. "He's got a real presence about him that, to me, is kind of special. He's a magnetic guy, not a rah-rah guy, but guys rally to him. A big part of that is the way he plays the game."
The Big Ten's leading returning tackler, Jewell tallied 126 stops last season while also showcasing a knack for making the big play. In addition to recording 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, the 6'2", 230-pounder led all Big Ten linebackers with four interceptions.
Now entering the season with a bull's-eye on its back, Iowa's outlook on the coming campaign is much different than it was just a year ago. But with Jewell only getting better, the Hawkeyes find themselves with an abundance of emerging stars on their roster, which is why they're still the team to beat in the Big Ten West in 2016.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Maryland: William Likely
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Very few players in college football are capable of affecting a game in all three facets: offense, defense and special teams.
Maryland's William Likely just so happens to be one of those players. And not only is he the rare three-way player, but he is also one of the best in college football in two of his specialties.
On defense, the 5'7", 175-pounder is a two-time All-Big Ten selection at cornerback, having recorded a league-high six interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns in 2014. In the return game, there's no one in college football who's better. Likely led the nation in combined return yards in 2015 with 1,197 yards and scored three touchdowns, despite only playing in 11 games.
Offensively, Likely is a work in progress, having sporadically served in a gadget role throughout his junior campaign. But his 8.45 yards-per-play average is indicative of his overall explosiveness, which first-year Terrapins head coach D.J. Durkin could find expanded use for in 2016.
Michigan: Jabrill Peppers
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With the way Jim Harbaugh talked about Jabrill Peppers heading into the 2015 season, the possibilities for the 5-star talent seemed endless.
As Peppers' freshman campaign continued, that assessment may have sold Harbaugh's creativity short.
After starting the season primarily as a safety, Peppers found himself with a prominent role on offense, lining up as a running back, wideout and Wildcat quarterback throughout the year. Now, the first-team All-Big Ten safety is adding another role to his repertoire, lining up as an outside linebacker in first-year Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown's scheme.
"He's doing enough stuff that keeps his plate full," Brown said of Peppers this spring. "There's no question about that."
With the numbers past players have put up in the same spot under Brown at Connecticut and Boston College, Peppers should fill up stat sheets on a routine basis in 2016. He'll also likely reprise some of his roles on offense from a year ago, where he proved to be one of the Wolverines' most consistent playmakers in 2015.
Michigan State: Malik McDowell
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Having won two of the past three Big Ten titles, Mark Dantonio has built one of the conference's most consistent programs by developing players who were overlooked on the recruiting trail.
But in Malik McDowell, Michigan State has a 5-star talent who appears poised to emerge as one of college football's most dominant defensive forces.
"I think I'm the best D-lineman in the country, I can't lie," McDowell said this spring, per Mike Griffith of MLive.com. "So if you want it and you ask for it, you've got to be willing to take on the pressure."
In his sophomore season, McDowell began to match his hype, tallying 13 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks while primarily playing defensive end. But with Shilique Calhoun now in the NFL, the 6'6", 280-pound McDowell will have more of an opportunity to showcase his versatility, along with the type of talent that could well lead to him living up to his own lofty expectations.
Minnesota: Mitch Leidner
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To this point, there may not be a quarterback in the Big Ten who's been talked about more than Minnesota's Mitch Leidner.
Despite enduring an up-and-down junior campaign, the Golden Gophers signal-caller made headlines last month when ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay listed him as a potential first-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft. Leidner now has no shortage of expectations to live up to in the coming year, as Minnesota looks to rebound from last year's 5-7 regular season.
"It all comes down to how well he plays," Golden Gophers head coach Tracy Claeys told reporters, per Andy Greder of TwinCities.com. "Does he have the skill? Yeah, he's got the skill set to throw the ball and do the things that he needs to do. He played well at the end of the year and gave us a chance, and he loves the game and works hard. So he has all the things. Mitch knows this to be true."
How that all will manifest itself on the field in 2016 remains to be seen. But if Minnesota is going to bounce back this season, it's going to do so on the arm of its quarterback, who is as talented as any other player at his position in the Big Ten.
Nebraska: Jordan Westerkamp
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On a team returning 94 percent of its offensive production from a year ago, per SBNation's Bill Connelly, it can be tough to pick a standout.
But Jordan Westerkamp has established himself as one of the most reliable Nebraska receivers not only now but ever. In his junior campaign, the 6'0", 200-pounder caught 65 balls for 918 yards and seven touchdowns.
In fact, Westerkamp's 2015 season was so impressive that he set the Cornhuskers' single-season receptions record and fell just shy of Johnny Rodgers’ 1972 mark of 942 receiving yards. But when 2016 comes to a close, the Lombard, Illinois, native could stand alone atop the Nebraska record books, as he's just 52 catches and 741 yards short of Kenny Bell's career highs in Lincoln.
Having developed a strong chemistry with quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr., Westerkamp should improve his numbers in 2016. And if that proves to be the case, not only will he make history, but the Cornhuskers could also return to contention in the Big Ten West.
Northwestern: Anthony Walker
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With its offense finishing last in the Big Ten in 2015, it's hardly a secret that Northwestern's defense played a prominent part in the Wildcats' surprise 10-3 record a year ago.
And when looking at the unit that ranked 13th nationally, no player stands out more than middle linebacker Anthony Walker, who head coach Pat Fitzgerald has said could be "the best we've ever had here."
A two-time winner of both the Bronko Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik Awards, Fitzgerald should know, as he's the gold standard when it comes to Northwestern linebackers. But after a sophomore season that saw him tally 120 tackles (20.5 of which came for a loss) and earn All-American honors, Walker is making a strong case—not that his head coach minds.
With another big year, Walker will cement his status as the Wildcats' top player ever at his position. It would also mean continued success for his team as Northwestern attempts to build on last year's breakthrough season.
Ohio State: J.T. Barrett
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In 2014, J.T. Barrett made a strong case for not only being Ohio State's MVP but the Big Ten's most impressive player. He navigated the Buckeyes to an 11-1 regular-season record and the cusp of the College Football Playoff.
And while his sophomore season follow-up could be viewed as uneven since he split playing time with Cardale Jones, Barrett's spot in the Ohio State starting lineup is no longer disputed—and he's already shown signs of returning to his freshman form.
In fact, the Wichita Falls, Texas, native looked every bit like the Heisman Trophy candidate he was in his debut season in the final two games of the 2015 campaign, as the Buckeyes closed the year with wins over Michigan and Notre Dame. Showcasing his dual-threat ability and knack for finding the end zone, Barrett totaled a combined 559 yards and five touchdowns in victories over the Wolverines and Fighting Irish.
"I just want to keep on building mentally, being more of a student of the game and helping myself in that aspect," Barrett said this spring. "I think I'm heading in the right direction."
If Ohio State is going to remain in championship contention for the fourth consecutive season, its star quarterback is going to need to be a big factor. Returning to a team as one of just six experienced starters, the 2014 Big Ten Quarterback of the Year has his work cut out for him, but he also possesses the talent to keep the Buckeyes nationally relevant, all on his own.
Penn State: Chris Godwin
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For the first time since 2012, Penn State enters a season with a starting quarterback other than Christian Hackenberg.
But whether it's Trace McSorley or Tommy Stevens who winds up under center, Penn State's new starter will benefit from one of the league's most reliable targets in wideout Chris Godwin.
Despite playing on one of the Big Ten's shakier offenses—the Nittany Lions ranked ninth in the conference in passing in 2015—Godwin was the league's second-leading receiver a year ago, catching 69 balls for 1,101 yards and five touchdowns. Now playing in new offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead's hurry-up system, the 6'1", 208-pounder should make more of an impact in the coming year, regardless of who's throwing him the ball.
"So far, both of them, they've done a great job all spring. They've been competing, they've been making great throws, great decisions," Godwin said of McSorley and Stevens, per Bob Flounders of PennLive.com. "They've been the guys that have been leading the charge this whole spring.''
Of course, it won't hurt either's cause to still have No. 12 as a target in the coming year. Changes may be occurring around him, but Godwin's presence should provide a steadying force for the Nittany Lions offense in the coming year.
Purdue: Markell Jones
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Enduring a 2-10 record on the year, it was hard to find many positives in 2015 for Purdue.
But one promising sign for the future that did shine through during an otherwise disappointing season was the play of freshman running back Markell Jones, who will now look to build on his impressive debut campaign.
The Big Ten's fourth-leading returning rusher from a year ago, Jones led all freshmen with 875 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground, despite playing on an offense that routinely trailed early. The 5'11", 211-pounder also showed a propensity for showing up against the Boilermakers' best competition, as evidenced by his season-high 157-yard, two-touchdown performance in a 24-21 defeat at the hands of Michigan State.
If Purdue is going to improve on last year's conference-worst record, it's going to need similar types of efforts from Jones on a more regular basis. The Columbus, Indiana, native isn't a star just yet, but he's closer than you'd think, as he's already shown the ability to overcome the rest of the Boilermakers offense's limitations.
Rutgers: Robert Martin
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For the past two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Ohio State, Chris Ash has had a front-row seat to watch Ezekiel Elliott run rampant on the Big Ten.
Now in his first season as the head coach at Rutgers, Ash is hopeful Robert Martin will be capable of doing the same.
That will be no easy feat, given the standard Elliott has set, but Martin has showed promise to this point in his college career. Last year, Martin tallied team highs of 763 yards and six touchdowns, despite splitting carries with Josh Hicks and Paul James.
Now featured in the Ash-implemented spread system, the 5'11", 202-pounder will have more opportunities to emerge as one of the Big Ten's top backs. Martin may not post numbers as eye-popping as Elliott's, but that won't stop Ash from relying on a formula he found plenty successful during his last coaching stint.
Wisconsin: Corey Clement
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After he rushed for 949 yards and nine touchdowns as a backup as a sophomore, 2015 appeared to be Corey Clement's time to shine.
But injuries and off-field issues throughout the year hindered the Wisconsin running back, who appeared in just four games, tallying 221 yards and five touchdowns.
Now back in Madison for his senior season, Clement once again appears to be on the right track and has even changed his jersey number from No. 6 to No. 24 in an effort to refresh his approach. A new number won't help him gain any extra yards, but it does go to show the extent to which the 5'11", 219-pounder is changing his outlook.
"Twenty-four is kind of a new start," Clement, said per ESPN.com's Jesse Temple. "I'm not letting six go entirely. I'm just seeing how it goes throughout the spring. Me and Coach [Paul] Chryst are talking about really changing my mindset and attitude towards how I approach practice each day."
As seen in 2014, talent has never been the issue when it's come to Clement's on-field production. Now it's just a matter of him staying on the field and living up to his potential as the Badgers' next great running back, which seemed so apparent just two years ago.
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. Recruiting class rankings courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
