College Football 2011 Preview: The Top 20 Players in the Big Ten

Danny FlynnMar 23, 2011

Is anyone else confused now that the Big Ten is actually the Big 12 and the Big 12 is actually the Big Ten?

Good, just checking.

This season, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, one of the most prestigious college football programs in history, join the Big Ten party, officially rounding out the conference to 12 teams.

Now that everything is all evened up, the conference will be split into two divisions with the winners set to meet on Dec. 3rd in the inaugural Big Ten Championship to be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

There’s no clear front-runner just yet as the likely favorites, Ohio State, Nebraska, Michigan State and Wisconsin, each have to come up with answers to some key questions.

One thing is for sure though, the new format is sure to keep fans talking from now until the final whistle of the season.

Let’s have a look at some of this year’s top players in the new look Big Ten Conference.

1. QB Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State

It’s never easy siding with the villain who everybody loves to hate, but if you believe in someone, you have to stand in their corner through the good and the bad.

I’ve been a staunch Terrelle Pryor supporter since I started writing for Bleacher Report and I’ve sure had to deal with a fair amount of backlash because of it.

It’s kind of made me wonder why Pryor evokes so much venom from college football fans.

Sure, his recruiting hype was overdone and yes, we could have done without the tattoo parlor saga, but am I the only one who watches this young man and sees athletic greatness?

There’s no other quarterback in college football who can do all the things Terrelle Pryor can do. He’s a rare specimen.

You would think back-to-back BCS bowl game MVPs and a 23-3 record over the last two seasons would buy him some leeway. But I guess not.

Suspension or not, I wouldn’t jump off the Ohio State national championship ship just yet.

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2. QB Denard Robinson, Michigan

The shoelace may have come untied in the latter part of 2010, but those first few weeks of the season sure were magical, weren’t they?

Denard Robinson was the September superstar of college football last year as he burst out of the gates, pacing Michigan to a 5-0 record. Unfortunately, reality eventually set in, and when the dust settled, the Wolverines had fallen back down to Earth with a monstrous thud.

Robinson still finished the season with over 4,200 yards of total offense and proved to be one of the most dangerous players in the country. But we’ll now have to see how the supremely gifted signal caller handles the transition from Rich Rodriguez’s dual threat friendly spread offense.

3. CB Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska

There’s a little secret about Nebraska that nobody seems to talk about: Prince Amukamara wasn’t the best cornerback on the Cornhuskers defense last season.

Amukamara, who will likely be selected somewhere in the top 15 of the 2011 NFL Draft, certainly played well last year and showed why he’s a coveted NFL prospect, but even he couldn’t match what Alfonzo Dennard was bringing to the table game in and game out.

Now, you could make the argument that teams shied away from throwing at Amukamara and therefore Dennard got more opportunities to flaunt his skills, and that may be fair. But you just have to call it like you see it. Dennard had the better 2010 season.

I was surprised that the super-athletic 5’10’’ 205 lb. senior didn’t accompany his departing teammate and declare for this year’s draft, but maybe he felt like he had some unfinished business to tend to for a Nebraska team that severely underachieved in 2010.

If he performs at a similar level this season, Dennard could be the first cornerback off the board in the 2012 NFL Draft.

4. DT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State

Michigan State will definitely feel the loss of two time All-American linebacker Greg Jones this season, but don’t expect the middle of the defense to all of a sudden turn soft.

The Spartans still have a big, powerful presence up front with 6’3’’ 305 lb. DT Jerel Worthy.

The powerful Worthy is an emerging force who can clog up running lanes and penetrate into opposing backfields with ease.

The big junior has 8.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons.

5. DT Mike Martin, Michigan

There’s just no way around it, the Michigan defense was absolutely atrocious last season.

Calling the Wolverines a sieve would be an insult to sieves.

Michigan finished dead last in the Big Ten in total defense, giving up an average of 450 yards per game, which helped usher coordinator Greg Robinson and his blinding bright yellow attire out the door this offseason with the rest of Coach Rodriguez’s staff.

But, and this is a big but, there were a few select defenders who actually did perform at a high level in 2010, most notably Michigan’s two standout defensive linemen, DT Mike Martin and DE Ryan Van Bergen.

Martin, a stout 6’2’’ 300 lb. senior whose built like a brick wall, turned out to be a menacing presence in the middle of Michigan’s three man line.

Martin may have only finished the season with six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, but it was the way he dominated blockers and ate up double teams that really impressed onlookers.

6. CB Shaun Prater, Iowa

This year’s senior cornerback class took some big hits with so many early entrants into this year's drafts. But don’t expect a guy like Shaun Prater to be complaining about it.

Prater flirted with leaving school early and joining other underclassmen corners such as Patrick Peterson, Aarron Williams and Brandon Harris, but he ultimately made the right decision to return to Iowa for one more year.

The 5’11’’ 180 lb. senior performed well enough in 2010, finishing tied for second in the conference with four interceptions, to earn First Team All-Big Ten honors. But another year of development definitely couldn’t hurt.

Iowa’s defense loses a lot of key components from last season, especially in the secondary with the departures of safeties Tyler Sash and Brett Greenwood, but the tandem of Prater and Micah Hyde could be one of the best cornerback combos in the country in 2011.

7. QB Dan Persa, Northwestern

I could make a list of all the things that Dan Persa doesn’t have—prototypical size, a big arm and so on. But it would be a waste of time because Persa isn’t in the business of playing pretty, he’s about winning games and putting the offense on his back.

Persa isn’t the type of quarterback whose going to step out on the field in a t-shirt and shorts with the Andrew Luck's of the world and win many quarterback skills competitions. But that’s OK, that’s not what he’s about.

Persa's the type of kid you want in the huddle in the fourth quarter, when it’s 35 degrees and raining and there’s 90 yards standing between the offense and victory.

That’s who Dan Persa is.

8. DT Jared Crick, Nebraska

Nobody said replacing all that Ndamukong Suh brought to the table would be an easy task, but at least Jared Crick gave it a shot last season.

Crick performed admirably as the new leader of the defensive line in 2010, finishing the season with 9.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss.

The 6’6’’ 285 lb. senior possess first round potential and will once again be the centerpiece of a defensive line, which also includes key pieces Baker Steinkuhler and Cameron Merideth, and is shaping up to be one of the best in the country.

9. LB Lavonte David, Nebraska

The blackshirts are officially back and they have an intimidating leader in the form of LB Lavonte David.

David is a rough and rugged linebacker who plays with a no prisoners attitude and flies around the field at all times.

The 6’1’’ 220 lb. senior led the Big 12 conference with 152 tackles last season, earning All-American honors in the process.

David will be the most important piece for a linebacking trio, which also includes Will Compton and Sean Fisher, that looks like it will be one of the scariest in the college football this season.

10. OT Mike Adams, Ohio State

Up until the start of 2010 season, you could have deemed Mike Adams a mild disappointment. The former five star recruit had not played up to expectations and struggled to see the field.

Luckily for the Buckeyes, the light finally came on in 2010 and Adams turned into the type of tackle that so many had hoped he would become.

The 6’8’’ 300 lb. senior played well enough to earn first team All-Big Ten honors and he put himself back on the NFL radar.

Adams is one the Buckeyes who will have to sit out the first five games of the season, but if he can come back and play with his 2010 form, he should be end up being a high pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

11. RB Montee Ball/James White, Wisconsin

I cheated a bit here, putting both Wisconsin running backs in this slot just because it was too difficult to choose between the two.

Montee Ball and James White, who combined for over 2,000 yards on the ground last year as part of Wisconsin’s three headed monster backfield, are one of the finest running back duos you will find in college football this season.

The other part of that super trio, John Clay, opted to enter the NFL Draft early because he knew he would continue having to defer more touches to Ball and White.

The exodus of Clay gives both backs the opportunity to touch the ball more often, but it should it be interesting to see how well the two run behind an offensive line that loses star tackle Gabe Carimi and guard John Moffitt from a season ago.

12. DT Kawaan Short, Purdue

When people thought of Purdue last season, the first player that likely came to mind was all-star defensive end Ryan Kerrigan. But Kerrigran wasn’t the only premier player on Purdue’s defensive front.

Like Kerrigan, DT Kawaan Short also caused havoc all year long for the Boilermakers.

Short finished the 2010 season with 4.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss.

The 6’3’’ 305 lb. junior has a chance to step out of Kerrigan’s shadow and put himself on the college football map in 2011.

If you’re looking for this year’s version of Corey Liuget, look no further than Kawaan Short, who should cause quite a buzz in the NFL scouting community.

13. C David Molk, Michigan

I once a heard a coach say that behind every great quarterback there’s always a great center, and that thought usually seems to ring true.

The center, as we know, is the most important part of the offensive line, and when you’ve got a good one, it usually makes the offense run smoothly.

Well the Wolverines have themselves a good one in David Molk, who will enter this season as a Rimington Award candidate after a First Team All-Big Ten performance in 2010.

Having the 6’2’’ 290 lb. senior back should be a great benefit for QB Denard Robinson.

14. LB Chris Borland, Wisconsin

Losing linebacker Chris Borland to a shoulder injury so early in the 2010 season was a major blow to the Wisconsin defense.

Borland, the 2009 Big Ten freshman of the year, looked like he was going to be one of the conference’s elite defensive players last season, but sadly, it was not to be.

Borland has spent the time since the injury feverishly rehabilitating his wounds and it wouldn’t be surprising if he comes back this season and looks better than ever.

The 5’11’’ 240 lb. sophomore will make the move to middle linebacker where he should be a natural.

15. OT Riley Reiff, Iowa

One thing that Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz knows how to do is mold solid offensive linemen and his latest creation, tackle Riley Reiff, could be one of his best works yet.

Reiff, who has started all but two games since his redshirt freshman season, is an impressive looking specimen and he fits the mold of what you would expect from top notch Iowa offensive linemen.

The 6’6’’ 300 lb. left tackle will be the leader of the Iowa offensive line this season and one of the vital pieces to the Hawkeyes success.

Reiff will likely be a high NFL Draft pick if he chooses to leave school early after this season.

16. QB Taylor Martinez, Nebraska

There weren’t many quarterbacks who had a hotter start to the 2010 season than Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez.

Martinez eased the concerns of Cornhusker fans who were worried that quarterback play would be the team’s downfall by running all over opponents at will.

The 6’1’’ sophomore finished his first season in Lincoln with over 900 yards on the ground and 12 rushing touchdowns.

Still, there were some low points.

Nebraska’s passing game was almost nonexistent and Martinez’s lack of maturity came to the forefront in a late season loss at Texas A&M when coach Bo Pelini was caught violently chewing out his young quarterback on the sidelines.

If Martinez can remain focused and if he takes it upon himself to be a true leader, than this Nebraska team could do some mighty big things this season.

I wouldn't read much into the hearsay that the Martinez era is over. He's still their best option at the position.

17. RB Boom Herron, Ohio State

Daniel Herron has definitely earned the nickname "Boom" with his powerful and physical running style that has left would-be-tacklers bruised and battered over the years.

Herron scored 16 TDs and amassed over 1,100 yards on the ground last season, keeping fellow backfield mate Brandon Saine on the sideline for much of the season.

The 5’10’’ 200 lb. senior is a key weapon for the Ohio State offense and it should be interesting to see how quickly he can get into game shape after a five game layoff.

18. RB Marcus Coker, Iowa

After the dismissal of Adam Robinson and the transfer of Jewel Hampton, the Iowa backfield now officially belongs to Marcus Coker.

Coker, a 6’0’’ 230 lb. sophomore, shined when given the opportunity last season, averaging nearly 5.5 yards per carry.

If his 219 yard performance against Missouri in last year’s Insight Bowl is any indication, Coker should distinguish himself as one of the Big Ten’s brightest young stars in 2011.

19. WR Damarlo Belcher, Indiana

The early loss of WR Tandon Doss, one of the top receiver prospects in the 2011 NFL Draft, is a big blow for an Indiana offense that already has to deal with the tough task of breaking in a new quarterback.

Luckily for the Hoosiers, Damarlo Belcher returns to give whoever ends up under center a true No. 1 option in the passing game.

Belcher comes into the year fresh off a 2010 season in which he led the Big Ten with 78 catches.

The only thing that the 6’5’’ senior has to work on is finding the end zone with a little more frequency. Four touchdown catches won’t cut it this season.

20. QB Nathan Scheelhaase, Illinois

I’ll put it pretty simply: Beware of Nathan Scheelhaase in 2011.

Things could get dangerous in a good way.

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