25. Olusegun Oluwatimi — Michigan
With a clear hole to fill at center, the Wolverines went out and grabbed one of the best graduate transfers available. Olusegun Oluwatimi was a three-year starter at Virginia where he developed into one of the top offensive lineman in the nation. Last year, Oluwatimi was named a Rimington Trophy finalist, and ultimately was awarded second-team All-ACC honors. Oluwatimi will bring toughness and experience to a Michigan offense which is built upon having strong, physical play from its offensive line.
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24. Jack Sawyer — Ohio State
The next-in-line of great Ohio State pass rushers, Jack Sawyer is looking to take a big leap heading into his sophomore year. Sawyer’s first-year in Columbus didn’t go as many predicted. Playing behind an experienced defensive line, Sawyer was relegated to spot duties and managed just nine tackles on the year. Though, his 3.0 sacks tied him for third on the team. With more consistent playing time, Sawyer can flash his pass rushing skills and be one of the most feared edge defenders in the conference.
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23. Rakim Jarrett — Maryland
The former LSU commit flipped to Maryland at the last second, and is easily the program’s best player heading into the 2022 season. The five-star wideout is an elite athlete who can out-run and out-jump just about any defender sent his way. Jarrett scored five touchdowns in Maryland’s first six games last season, and posted 100-yard performances versus Michigan State, Rutgers, and West Virginia. With several Terps’ wideouts back from injury, and another year of building chemistry alongside QB Taulia Tagovailoa, Jarrett has a chance to shine as one of the most explosive wideouts in college football.
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22. Mohamed Ibrahim — Minnesota
Fifth-year senior Mohamed Ibrahim is back after missing nearly all of the 2021 season. The last time we saw the Gopher rusher, he was galloping for 163 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Ohio State (all before the third quarter). Ibrahim ruptured his Achilles in the third quarter of Minnesota’s season opener, derailing a potential All-American campaign. He’s back and ready to go for Week 1. Ibrahim is a tough runner who rarely goes down on first contact. He’ll give Big Ten defenses all they can handle on a weekly basis.
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21. P.J. Mustipher — Penn State
Another Big Ten star returning from injury, PJ Mustipher opted to return to Penn State after suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2021. Mustipher will be in his fifth year for the Nittany Lions, and is one of the most impactful interior defensive lineman in the country. Though his stats aren’t particularly eye-popping, Mustipher is a disruptor who can make a difference in both the run-game and as a pass rusher. With a strong bounce-back campaign, Mustipher could play his way into being an early-round NFL Draft pick.
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20. Sam LaPorta — Iowa
Iowa has been a TE factory for the last several years. TJ Hockenson and Noah Fant were both first-round picks, and George Kittle is perhaps the most versatile tight end in the entire NFL. LaPorta is looking to follow in those footsteps. Last season, LaPorta led all Big Ten TE’s in yards (670) and receptions (53). He was especially potent in the Citrus Bowl matchup versus Kentucky, hauling in seven passes for 122 yards and a score. At 6-foot-5, 250-pounds, LaPorta is a matchup nightmare who must be accounted for in this Hawkeye offense.
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19. Ryan Hayes — Michigan
Michigan’s offensive line is filled with maulers, and Ryan Hayes is no exception. The TE-convert has been a massive coup for a Wolverines o-line which may be the best group in the country. Hayes will be playing on Sunday’s because of his strength, explosiveness, and tenacity. He attacks defenders in the run game, but also has the quick hands and feet to keep up in pass protection. Hayes and the rest of the Michigan line will be tested by some of the best pass rushers in college football. We’re betting the Wolverines hold up more often than not.
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18. John Michael Schmitz — Minnesota
Schmitz is the ultimate leader for the Gophers. Entering Year 6 in the program, Schmitz has endeared himself to the Minnesota faithful for his hardnosed play and toughness. Schmitz first earned playing time as a freshman on special teams, but took over as the team’s starting center midway through his sophomore campaign. At center, Schmitz is the leader of Minnesota’s offensive line which paves the way for one of the top rushing attacks in the country. Last season, coaches around the conference voted Schmitz as a second-team All-Big Ten selection
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17. Ronnie Hickman — Ohio State
Senior Ronnie Hickman is a player to keep an eye on among Ohio State defenders. He became a first-year starter in ’21, leading all Buckeyes with 98 tackles and two interceptions. However the New Jersey native will be making a major change entering this season. With new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles in town, Hickman is moving to the free safety spot. As such, the former four-star recruit is expected to become the vocal leader for a Buckeyes defense filled with elite talent. Reports out of camp indicate Hickman has taken to the role, and is ready to make a huge impact in 2022.
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16. Denzel Burke — Ohio State
Denzel Burke will be the Buckeyes corner tasked with shutting down all of the top wideouts in the Big Ten. The Arizona product made a name for himself as a freshman in ’21, earning a starting role early on and leading all Buckeye defenders with 12 pass deflections. Burke is a smooth athlete (originally recruited as a WR) with great size (6-foot-1, 190-pounds) for the position. Burke was an All-Big Ten third-team selection as a freshman, and will look to make an even bigger impact in Year 2.
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15. Joey Porter Jr. — Penn State
If the name sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Joey Porter Jr. is the son of former NFL All-Pro and Super Bowl champion Joey Porter. Unlike his father, Junior makes a living as a zone corner rather than a pass-rushing linebacker. Without a doubt, Porter Jr. is one of the top defensive backs in the nation. He’s a two-time All-Big Ten selection in just two years as a starter. Porter Jr. plays corner like a safety — an aggressive ball hawk and willing tackler.
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14. Riley Moss — Iowa
Riley Moss is one of the best playmakers in the country. He snagged four interceptions last season, returning two of those picks for touchdowns. The Iowa native is excellent at reading quarterback’s eyes and anticipating where the ball is going to be. Moss was named the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year in the conference, and also made the All-Big Ten first-team defense. The opportunistic defender has collected ten interceptions during his collegiate career, and is looking to add to that total in 2022.
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13. Zach Harrison — Ohio State
Expectations were sky-high for Zach Harrison when he first stepped foot on Ohio State’s campus. While he hasn’t quite lived up to the hype, there’s no doubt Harrison returns as one of the top defenders in the conference. A two-time All-Big Ten defender, Harrison has all the physical tools to be wreck havoc on opposing defenses. Though his overall numbers aren’t gaudy, Harrison’s athleticism and veteran presence will be welcomed for one last year in Columbus.
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12. Paris Johnson Jr. — Ohio State
The former 5-star recruit is slated to move to left tackle after primarily being a guard for the duration of his college career. Johnson’s upside has always been through the roof. He’s a highly mobile player with the clear versatility in playing all across the line. Now tasked with protecting C.J. Stroud’s blindside, you could see a meteoric rise as it pertains to his draft stock. Many already are pegging Johnson to develop into a future first-round pick.
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11. Dawand Jones — Ohio State
Dawand Jones has put in the work, and the results are coming up roses. The Indianapolis native has worked tremendously hard on his body since coming to Columbus. Now standing 6-foot-8 and roughly 350 pounds, the right tackle has made himself into a potentially early round NFL Draft pick. Of course, his run blocking skills are great. Jones latches onto defensive linemen and shucks them as if they were a bag of flour. As he continues to get in better shape, the high-end upside becomes more and more visible. You can’t teach size — and Jones has plenty of it as an anchor to OSU’s offensive front.
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10. Aidan O’Connell — Purdue
The sixth-year former walk-on gunslinger is easily the best QB Purdue has had in years. A player rooted in efficiency, O’Connell completed 71.8-percent of his pass attempts last year (en route to 28 TDs and over 3,700 yards through the air). With his maturity level, you won’t see O’Connell force things downfield. He takes what the opposition will give him, and thus is coming off of an all-conference season. Outside of C.J. Stroud, you can make a real case O’Connell is the best QB in the Big Ten.
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9. Braelon Allen — Wisconsin
Oh look — another stud RB to come out of Wisconsin! This year’s iteration is Braelon Allen, a sledgehammer of a back with terrific size and even better feet. As a freshman, he was pegged to the all-conference team after racking up over 1,200 yards on the ground. Like most Wisconsin backs, he runs behind his pads — patiently waiting for a hole to emerge before exploding forward behind the massive Badgers’ offensive line. He’s also an explosive back, as he averaged nearly seven yards a pop. You can be sure he’ll contend for all-league honors yet again.
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8. Jayden Reed — Michigan State
Reed is the most explosive player on Michigan State’s roster. The dynamic receiver led the team in catches (59), receiving yards (1,206), and touchdown grabs (10). Even more, Reed was recognized as an all-conference all-purpose player. He returned two punts for TDS last year under Mel Tucker’s leadership. Reed was listed in 2022 on the Biletnikoff Watch List. Assuming he stays healthy, we could see Reed explode for a massive campaign.
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7. Blake Corum — Michigan
Corum returns as both a preseason all-conference selection and as one of the league’s better rushers. The cat-quick Corum is a home run threat whenever he touches the ball. He’s one of those threats that can catch passes out of the backfield and return kicks. However, his bread-and-butter is escaping through cracks in the offensive line where he can get out and utilize his explosiveness in the open field. Corum had 11 TDs last year for the Wolverines — and figures to expand upon that number as an upperclassman.
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6. Jack Campbell — Iowa
Iowa just has a penchant for taking skinny 210-215-pound first-year players and developing them into muscular 245-250-pound men. Case-in point…Jack Campbell. The 6-foot-5 senior out of Cedar Falls is one of those local products who’ve greatly improved year after year. As a junior, Campbell was second in the conference with 143 tackles. He’s tremendous in shedding blockers via his impressive frame. Campbell is the team captain, an all-academic Big Ten member, and generally considered to be a special human. In short, Campbell is the perfect football player to build your program around.
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5. Peter Skoronski — Northwestern
Following in the footsteps of former first-round pick/teammate Rashawn Slater, Skoronski has arguably developed into the best tackle in the Big Ten. A former 5-star prospect, he chose to stay close to home in Chicago over offensive line powerhouses Iowa, Michigan, and Notre Dame. The decision paid off — as Skoronski has started at LT since his freshman campaign.
Now a junior, the grandson of a Packers Hall of Famer Bob Skoronski has the look of a sure-fire NFL prospect. He’s light on his feet, adept at moving laterally, and he’s got a great initial punch. He will have to put some weight and strength onto his frame. With that said, Skoronski is a fantastic athlete for the position. His pass protection skills are among the very best in all of college football.
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4. TreVeyon Henderson — Ohio State
A bowling ball of a running back, we saw last season why Henderson was ‘the real deal’ coming out of high school. He’s built low to the ground, giving him a real advantage in leverage. Henderson’s lower body is also extremely strong — making him tough to upend on tackling attempts. When paired with short-area quickness and terrific vision, you’re left looking at one of the best RBs in the country.
Last year as a first-year player, Henderson accumulated 1,248 yards and a freshman-record 19 total touchdowns. He also averaged early seven yards per carry. Simply put, Henderson is that guy.
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3. Nick Herbig — Wisconsin
Wisconsin went all the way to Hawaii to find its next great pass rusher. Herbig is the type of athlete the Badgers rarely get. There’s a real suddenness with his first step. Herbig is very smart at reading the angles and reacting accordingly when taking the most efficient path to the backfield. He’s got a real nose for the football (third on the team in tackles in 2021), and thus has extremely good skills off the edge (9.0 sacks in 2021).
To put it into perspective, Herbig’s pass-rushing grade in 2021 (according to PFF) was the highest for one season in Wisconsin history. Yes, that includes J.J. Watt. You’re looking at the perfect hybrid OLB/DE pass rushing threat that we constantly see valued in today’s NFL.
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2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba — Ohio State
The Rose Bowl was Smith-Njigba’s coming out party. The Texas native holds OSU records for the most catches (15) and receiving yards (347) in a bowl game. The Buckeyes fended off Utah by a score of 48-45. Simply put, Smith-Njigba was unstoppable. He played this game as the top target with both Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave sidelined. It was a nice preview of what could come this year for the dynamic pass-catching threat.
Remember, he’s coming off a sophomore year — as the third option — where he hauled in 95 grabs for 1,605 yards and 9 TDs. Imagine what Smith-Njigba can do this year as the No. 1 option for C.J. Stroud…
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1. C.J. Stroud — Ohio State
Stroud enters the season as the odds-on favorite to win Big Ten Player of the Year. He’s also undoubtedly a top candidate to win the Heisman Trophy. A Southern California native, he left the West Coast and ultimately took a big chance on himself. Despite the presence of the more-ballyhooed prospect Quinn Ewers, Stroud got his chance and never relinquished it one bit. His poise in the pocket is terrific — as is his touch on passes downfield. Stroud’s profile as a passer really lends itself to the NFL, and he could be the most advanced passer to come out of Ohio State in decades.
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