Big Ten Football: All-Conference Team for October
While Jabrill Peppers and J.T. Barrett dominate the headlines, neither player earned a spot on the Big Ten's All-October team.
Northwestern's resurgent stretch highlighted a month where Penn State rose, Ohio State fell, Michigan kept winning and Wisconsin was as annoying as ever on defense. Each of those programs are well-represented on the list.
Overall, 13 of the conference's 14 teams had at least one player included on the All-October team.
The main factors used to determine the list were statistical output and value to team. Consistency and performance against top opponents were also considered.
Quarterback
1 of 9
Clayton Thorson, Northwestern
It was a toss-up between Clayton Thorson and Penn State's Trace McSorley. Both players had an outstanding month.
Although Penn State upset Ohio State, McSorley was just 8-of-23 in the game while the special teams provided the two most important plays. Great team win, mediocre individual day.
Thorson bounced back from a terrible opening month where Northwestern lost at home to Western Michigan, Illinois State and Nebraska. He had a 53.2 completion percentage with just five touchdowns compared to four interceptions.
In October, however, Thorson guided the Wildcats to a 3-1 mark. They knocked off Iowa, Michigan State and Indiana before falling just short at Ohio State. The sophomore threw 10 scores and only two picks, completing 60.7 percent of his passes.
Running Back
2 of 9
Saquon Barkley, Penn State
While other running backs had five games, Saquon Barkley compiled a Big Ten-best 571 rushing yards in four outings.
The sophomore tallied a pair of 200-yard performances, including a 207-yard, two-touchdown afternoon against Purdue to wrap up October. He chipped in with three receptions for 70 yards that day.
Overall, Barkley scored four times while Penn State went 4-0.
Rodney Smith, Minnesota
The leader of a deep rushing attack, Rodney Smith eclipsed the 100-yard mark four times in October.
He torched Maryland for a career-high 144 yards and two touchdowns, but Smith's best performance was against Rutgers. In addition to 111 yards and a score on the ground, the sophomore returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown.
Smith—who added 10 receptions and 98 yards—finished with 601 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns during the month.
Wide Receiver
3 of 9
Austin Carr, Northwestern
Not only has Austin Carr asserted himself as Thorson's favorite target, but the senior is the conference's most productive receiver.
"I did not expect this," Carr said, according to ESPN's Jesse Temple. "I expected to be productive this year. But, man, I just look across the Big Ten West and Big Ten East and see all the talent. It's an honor to be where I'm at right now."
After a month in which he secured 32 passes for 486 yards and six scores, Carr now leads Big Ten receivers in all major categories.
R.J. Shelton, Michigan State
Michigan State didn't do any winning in October, but R.J. Shelton consistently made a difference for a lackluster offense.
The versatile senior tallied 495 yards and three touchdowns on 26 receptions, notching the first two 100-yard games of his career. Shelton also completed two passes for 44 yards, gained 33 rushing yards and averaged 22.8 yards on 14 kick returns.
Shelton's 169.4 all-purpose yards per game ranked first in the conference and 17th nationally.
Tight End
4 of 9
Troy Fumagalli, Tight End
Nobody at the position blew away the stat sheet in October. Purdue's Cole Herdman led Big Ten tight ends with 208 receiving yards, but exactly half came in one game. This is a nod to consistency.
Troy Fumagalli was the only tight end to eclipse 35 yards four times, highlighted by an 84-yard showing at Ohio State. He scored a 17-yard touchdown during a 17-9 victory at Iowa and snagged four passes for 48 yards in a critical win over Nebraska.
Fumagalli currently leads the Badgers with 29 receptions, and his 351 yards rank 15th nationally among tight ends.
Offensive Line
5 of 9
Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin
Many players have a fascinating road to major college football, and Ryan Ramczyk's journey started at UW-Stevens Point. The Madison campus must be happy to have the 6'6", 314-pounder, and NFL teams are likely lining up to grab Ramcyzk next.
If Ramczyk declares for the draft, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller said, "The search for the top offensive tackle in this class may have finally ended."
Pat Elflein, Ohio State
Though his NFL future may be at guard, Pat Elflein has become a reliable force and leader up front. Led by the senior, Ohio State averaged the second-highest yards-per-carry average (5.51) and totaled the second-most rushing touchdowns (14) of the month.
"Every time J.T. [Barrett] scores, he goes to find Pat Elflein and thank him," head coach Urban Meyer said, according to Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch.
Brendan Mahon, Penn State
When Barkley exploded for a career-best day against Purdue, per Pro Football Focus, 195 of the sophomore's 207 yards came outside of right tackle Brendan Mahon.
Mahon was an integral piece of Penn State improving from the Big Ten's 10th-lowest scoring average in September (29.0) to the third-highest October mark (38.3).
Tariq Cole, Rutgers
As a team, Rutgers is not competitive. Blowout losses to Ohio State (58-0) and Michigan (78-0) are the only evidence needed.
Tariq Cole, however, is an excellent left tackle. Box score stats don't show Cole's value, but Pro Football Focus grades on a per-play basis. According to PFF, Cole has only surrendered one pressure all season excluding a poor September game against Iowa.
Jordan Roos, Purdue
Since Purdue often faces a deficit, it's no surprise David Blough has attempted more than eight passes per game than the No. 2 quarterback. But Blough can count on Jordan Roos to protect the pocket.
The senior had allowed a single sack entering Week 9, per PFF, and Roos—who is a powerful run-blocker—was not responsible for the one sack Purdue allowed to Penn State.
Defensive Line
6 of 9
Ifeadi Odenigbo, Northwestern
A four-sack performance is practically a good enough reason to make the list. However, Ifeadi Odenigbo didn't stop there.
Following that spectacular day at Iowa, the senior notched two sacks at Michigan State and chipped in one more against Indiana while registering an additional tackle for loss. Odenigbo also forced two fumbles and had one quarterback hurry in October.
Ryan Glasgow, Michigan
Defensive tackles typically don't put up massive numbers, and Ryan Glasgow is no exception. He ended the month with 15 total tackles—three of which were for a loss—and one pass breakup.
But Glasgow is a primary reason why Michigan allowed less than 100 rushing yards per game in October.
"He's a technician," teammate Taco Charlton said, per Shawn Windsor of the Detroit Free Press. "You can watch around the country. The way he plays his base blocks, the way he plays doubles...people can watch that in as a clinic and see how you really want to play football."
Kingsley Opara, Maryland
The breakout star of Maryland's defense, Kingsley Opara followed up a superb September with a terrific October.
Opara notched at least 1.5 tackles for loss in three games, finishing with five stops behind the line of scrimmage. He collected 21 total tackles, twice matching his career-best mark of six.
Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State
Tyquan Lewis is a constant presence in the backfield. Ohio State played five games, and he had a tackle for loss in four.
The junior capped the month with four sacks, only trailing Odenigbo among Big Ten defenders. Lewis added two hurries, one pass breakup and one forced fumble.
Linebackers
7 of 9
Tegray Scales, Indiana
Indiana wasn't consistent, but the defense could always count on Tegray Scales. He totaled double-digit tackles in all five games.
A 6'0", 230-pound junior, Scales tied Michigan State's Malik McDowell for the conference's sixth-most tackles for loss (5.5). Scales added two hurries and one pass breakup.
Jack Cichy, Wisconsin
Although an injury will sideline Jack Cichy for the rest of the season, he was an absolute menace in October while healthy.
Cichy collected 37 total tackles—which still ranked 15th in the conference—with four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also recorded two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
After a 15-tackle day in the overtime loss to Ohio State, Cichy was named the Lott IMPACT Player of the Week.
Jonathan Celestin, Minnesota
Jonathan Celestin has earned a fitting nickname: Thumper.
"That's like my name in the locker room," Celestin said, per Mike Hendrickson of the Minnesota Daily. "[My teammates would] probably ask, 'Who's Jon?' They'd be like, 'Oh, Thump?'"
The junior racked up 44 tackles throughout the month, accumulating five for loss and two sacks. Celestin broke up a pass against both Iowa and Maryland, and he notched two hurries at Illinois.
Secondary
8 of 9
Channing Stribling, Michigan
Jourdan Lewis deserves all of the attention he receives, but Channing Stribling has been equally fantastic.
Until the fourth quarter against Michigan State, the senior had not allowed his responsibility to score all season. Stribling grabbed two interceptions and broke up four passes during the month.
Desmond King, Iowa
The reigning Thorpe Award winner, Desmond King hasn't disappointed during his final season at Iowa.
In October, King tallied four pass breakups and returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown. The senior would probably have more stats, but opponents simply don't throw at him. King is also a reliable tackler, and he posted 22 stops.
Nate Gerry, Nebraska
Nate Gerry calls the shots for the Nebraska defense. It's working.
Only Michigan and Ohio State surrendered fewer yards per game than the Cornhuskers throughout the month. Nebraska surrendered an average of just 18.8, the fourth-best mark in the Big Ten.
Gerry had 26 tackles with 1.5 for loss, adding two pass breakups, one hurry and his second two-interception game of 2016.
D'Cota Dixon, Wisconsin
Behind an outstanding front seven, D'Cota Dixon is excelling. He collected 22 tackles (with 0.5 for loss) and grabbed two interceptions and had two hurries in October.
Dixon also had three pass breakups, highlighted by a game-sealing deflection on Nebraska' fourth down play in overtime.
"D'Cota Dixon is probably my favorite player to watch this season," Bleacher Report's Michael Felder said. "Honey Badger type player. He's everywhere for Wisconsin.
Specialists
9 of 9
Tyler Davis, Penn State
In the first game of the month, Tyler Davis hit three field goals, including a 40-yard field goal at the end of regulation to force overtime. Penn State went on to beat Minnesota, 29-26.
During the next three contests, he connected on four of five kicks. Overall, Davis buried seven of eight field goals and all 18 extra points.
Cameron Johnston, Ohio State
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Punt, punt, punt.
Cameron Johnston led the Big Ten with a 45.95-yard average in October, more than three yards above the No. 2 punter, Michigan's Kenny Allen. It was also the ninth-best clip nationally. Johnston's best mark of the the month was 53.8 against Wisconsin.
Solomon Vault and Flynn Nagel, Northwestern
October was a quiet time for Big Ten returners, especially on punts. Nobody returned one for a touchdown.
However, Flynn Nagel's 47-yard scamper sparked Northwestern's road win over Iowa. His 10.3-yard average only trailed King. Plus, Solomon Vault took a kickoff 95 yards for a score during the Wildcats' 54-40 victory against Michigan State.
All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted.
.jpg?w=600 "Browns Declined Cowboys Trade")
.jpg?w=600 "Packers Signing Tyrod Taylor")
