The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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124 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Top 25 Players In The Big Ten 1. QB J.T. Barrett, 5th-Sr., Ohio State Barrett had an outstanding season in 2016, throwing for 2,555 yards and 24 touchdowns while rushing for another 845 yards en route to the Big Ten Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year Award and a first- team All-Big Ten selection from the coaches and media. The argu- ment can be made that there is no player in college football who is more crucial to his team's success than Barrett is to Ohio State's. 2. RB Saquon Barkley, Jr., Penn State Barkley played a huge role in Penn State's 2016 Big Ten championship season, rushing for 1,496 yards and a conference- leading 18 touchdowns. As a result, he won the Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year Award in the league and was named a third-team Associated Press All-American. He will head into this season as a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender. 3. RB Justin Jackson, Sr., Northwestern Jackson became the first Wildcat to rush for more than 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons, giving him 4,129 for his career — good for second most in school history. His 1,524 yards last season led the conference and earned him first-team All-Big Ten honors from the media, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him replicate those numbers in 2017. 4. DE Tyquan Lewis, 5th-Sr., Ohio State Lewis compiled 10.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks (sixth in the Big Ten) in 2016 while earning the conference's Smith- Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year Award and first-team All-Big Ten recognition from the coaches and media. The 6-4, 265-pounder could have gone pro after last year, but chose to return for his fifth-year senior season and will be the leader of perhaps the best defensive line in the country. 5. DT Maurice Hurst, 5th-Sr., Michigan Hurst will be the veteran leader of a defensive line that should once again be among the best in the Big Ten in 2017. Though he technically didn't start last year, he racked up 11.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. The massive 6-2, 282-pound lineman also could have gone pro, but instead chose to come back for his fifth-year senior season and will likely be one of interior linemen nationally. 6. OL Mason Cole, Sr., Michigan Cole has been a model of consistency dur- ing his time in Ann Arbor, starting 38 con- secutive games and earning second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media in 2016. His versatility — he has the ability to start at either center or left tackle — is one of the many things that make him one of the best block- ers in the conference. 7. OL Billy Price, 5th-Sr., Ohio State Price was one of only a few bright spots on a mediocre OSU offensive line in 2016. Still, he led the way for a rushing attack that averaged 245.2 yards per game (11th nationally) and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from both the coaches and media. He will anchor an OSU line that is expected to take a major step forward in 2017. 8. DE Rashan Gary, So., Michigan Gary didn't post eye-popping numbers (five tack- les for loss and one sack) last season as a freshman, but it should be noted that he was playing on arguably the best defensive line in the country, and therefore didn't see as much time as someone of his talent normally would. The former No. 1 recruit out of high school will take on a much bigger role in 2017 and should be able to wreak havoc off the edge in his expanded role. 9. RB Akrum Wadley, 5th-Sr., Iowa Wadley managed to compile 1,081 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns last year despite sharing carries. His performance earned him All-Big Ten third-team recognition by the coaches, Athlon and Phil Steele. This year, he should be a one-man show in Iowa City. 10. LB Josey Jewell, 5th-Sr., Iowa Jewell has been nothing but steady for Iowa, starting 30 consecutive games over the past three seasons while racking up 124 tackles in 2016 (second most in the Big Ten). He was named a fourth-team All-American by Phil Steele and Athlon, and can lay claim to being the best linebacker in the Big Ten. Top 25 Big Ten Players By School School Offense Defense Total Ohio State 3 3 6 Michigan 2 2 4 Penn State 3 1 4 Iowa 2 1 3 Northwestern 2 0 2 Wisconsin 1 1 2 Michigan State 2 0 2 Indiana 1 0 1 Rutgers 1 0 1 QB — *J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (overall rank: 1) RB — *Saquon Barkley, Penn State (2) WR — *Nick Westbrook, Indiana (16) TE — *Mike Gesicki, Penn State (25) OL — Mason Cole, Michigan (6) DL — *Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State (4) LB — Josey Jewell, Iowa (10) DB — *Rashard Fant, Indiana (not in top 25) * — on Michigan's regular-season schedule 11. DE Sam Hubbard, R-Jr., Ohio State 12. QB Trace McSorley, R-Jr., Penn State 13. LB Jason Cabinda, Sr., Penn State 14. LB Jack Cichy, 5th-Sr., Wisconsin 15. OL Sean Welsh, 5th-Sr., Iowa 16. WR Nick Westbrook, Jr., Indiana 17. RB Mike Weber, R-So., Ohio State 18. QB Wilton Speight, R-Jr., Michigan 19. RB LJ Scott, Jr., Michigan State 20. QB Clayton Thorson, R-Jr., Northwestern 21. DE Nick Bosa, So., Ohio State 22. OL Brian Allen, Sr., Michigan State 23. WR/KR/PR Janarion Grant, 5th-Sr., Rutgers 24. RB Bradrick Shaw, R-So., Wisconsin 25. TE Mike Gesicki, Sr., Penn State Northwestern senior running back Justin Jackson ranks No. 2 among active players with 4,129 career rushing yards. PHOTO COURTESY STEPHEN J. CARRERA/NORTHWESTERN ATHLETICS Best In The Big Ten By Position