College Football 2011: Buckeye Mike Brewster Atop Big Ten Top 10 Center List

We tend to give credit to entire offensive lines and it's only right because they succeed (or fail) as a unit.  However, let's also recognize the center who is in the middle of it all.

The Big Ten is fortunate to have five centers that are potential 2012 or 2013 NFL draft selections.  Ohio State's Mike Brewster is the best of the bunch.  Here's a look at the top 10 in the conference.

No. 10: Indiana's Will Matte

Center Will Matte is one of three starters returning to play football for Indiana in 2011.  New head coach Kevin Wilson is counting on the junior center to provide protection and open running lanes for Indiana's offense.

Matte is 6'2" and 283 pounds.  He won the center's job as a freshman and has started 24 consecutive games for Indiana.

No. 9: Northwestern's Ben Burkett

Northwestern has the second-most experienced offensive line (137 career starts) in college football and they are led by senior Ben Burkett.  He has started every game in the last three years at center and plans on extending his streak through 2011.

Burkett is 6'4" and 300 pounds and can run the 40 in under five seconds, which is quick for a center.  He hopes to protect fellow senior Dan Persa well enough to ensure the Wildcats get a full season out of their All-Star quarterback.

No. 8: Purdue's Peters Drey

Can you imagine a center snapping the football to four different quarterbacks during a season?  Purdue's Peters Drey did it in 2010 without a major problem.

Drey was recruited as an offensive tackle, but started every game last year at center.  He's 6'6" and 292 pounds and he uses his size and strength to move opponents out of the way.  Purdue head coach Danny Hope believes the offensive line, anchored by Drey, is one of Purdue's strengths.

No. 7: Nebraska's Mike Caputo

Senior Mike Caputo has been called a "centerpiece" and "building block" of the Nebraska offensive line.  The 6'1", 275-pound center took over as the starter in 2010 and played well enough to earn an honorable mention on the All-Big 12 offense.

Caputo has excellent technique for his small size and spent much of spring practice "coaching" up his young, but talented, linemates for their 2011 run for the Legends Division title and the Big Ten championship.

No. 6: Iowa's James Ferentz

Here is a situation where the head coach's son is the center of attention, but James Ferentz has earned his spot on the Iowa offensive line.  Unfortunately, center is one of the strongest positions in the Big Ten and there are five players with NFL draft potential ahead of him.

The 6'2", 275-pound Ferentz is kind of light for a center, but he makes up for it with determination and efficiency on the field.  Last year, Ferentz won the Coaches Appreciation Award on offense for practically playing every down on offense.

6-2 / 275

No. 5: Penn State's Matt Stankiewitch

Junior Matt Stankiewitch is considered a potential 2013 NFL draft selection, but he's the fifth-best center in the Big Ten.

Stankiewitch is a 6'3", 296-pound center who is just milliseconds short of running the 40 in under five seconds.  He is surrounded by experienced linemen, so Penn State's offense is expected to be more productive in 2011 than it was in 2010.

No. 4: Illinois' Graham Pocic

Center Graham Pocic is the heart of the Illinois offensive line.  He, Wisconsin's Peter Konz, Michigan's David Molk and Ohio State's Mike Brewster will compete in a four-way battle for All-Big Ten honors in 2011.

Pocic is a 6'6", 308-pound center who will protect quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase and open running lanes for running back Jason Ford.  He is just a junior, but some professional scouts consider him just behind Konz as one of the best centers in the 2013 NFL draft.

No. 3: Wisconsin's Peter Konz

Junior Peter Konz is projected as the best center in the 2013 NFL draft. He is the 6'5", 313-pound middle man of a talented Wisconsin offensive line. 

Konz is also extremely quick, which helps when you are clearing a path for running backs James White and Montee Ball.  If Wisconsin wins the Leaders Division and the Big Ten title this year, a lot of credit will go to Konz and his linemates.

No. 2: Michigan's David Molk

Center David Molk has probably circled the final Big Ten regular-season finale against Ohio State.  The Michigan-Ohio State game features the greatest rivalry in NCAA college football. 

They may be cross-conference rivals now, but it won't diminish the intensity and importance of the game and as an added bonus, it will feature the top two centers in the Big Ten.

It will be interesting to see if Michigan center David Molk and his linemates outperform Buckeye center Mike Brewster and his line.  Molk is rated right behind Brewster on many NFL scouts' 2012 draft card for centers. 

Molk is 6'2" and 290 pounds, which is smaller than Brewster.  But he is also quick, which is extremely helpful when you are trying to protect Wolverine quarterback Denard Robinson.

No. 1: Ohio State's Mike Brewster

Mike Brewster is such a good center that he's battling Georgia's Ben Jones for the top slot in the eyes of professional scouts that are compiling data for the 2012 NFL draft.  The 6'4", 305-pound senior is quick for his size and a punishing blocker.

If Ohio State has any hope of winning the Leaders Division and the Big Ten title, Brewster will have to lead the way on the offensive line.