Ranking the B1G’s Top 25 NFL Draft prospects for next year

Put this in the “tell me something I don’t know” category: there’s a direct and longstanding correlation between victories and NFL Draft picks in college football.

Ohio State and Alabama are both recent examples. More dudes, better chances at rings.

In an increasingly complex sporting landscape, at least that’s not complicated.

As we count down to the 2021 season, here are the top 25 draft prospects in the B1G this season. We scoured the web for mock drafts and paired them up with our observations from previous seasons.

Will these gentlemen get drafted in this exact order? Almost certainly not. Will this list be the same at the end of the season? Unlikely. But as of the preseason, here’s who could be headed for a big-league payday come next spring.

And you’ll see the team with the most names is the one ranked sixth in the preseason Associated Press poll and favored to win the Big Ten once again this year.

25. Logan Bruss, OG, Wisconsin

The latest in a long line of successful trench dwellers raised in Wisconsin and developed in Madison, Bruss will be a key factor if the Badgers are to win the Big Ten West.

24. Cody Ince, OG, Iowa

Ince could end up higher on this list by the end of the season. Large, athletic guards of Ince’s stature are hard to come by.

23. Nicholas Petit-Friere, OT, Ohio State

There’s nothing petite about the Tampa native. According to Pro Football Focus, Petit-Friere allowed pressure on just 0.5 percent of Ohio State’s total pass attempts in 2020, ranking No. 1 among all offensive tackles on Power 5 teams.

22. Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland

An under-the-radar pick who could sneak into the first round, especially with a successful junior season. Duncan is versatile, having started games at both center and tackle last season.

21. Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa

Operations continue to hum at Kirk Ferentz’s Midwest Tight End Factory, and LaPorta is set to come out as the latest masterpiece. He led the Hawkeyes with 27 catches in 2020.

20. Jake Ferguson, TE, Wisconsin

It’s already been an accomplished career for the Madison native and grandson of Barry Alvarez: 69 catches for 863 yards and 6 touchdowns. The league’s tight end crop is deep, and Ferguson might be the best of ’em …

19. Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State

… but we’re giving Ruckert a slight edge due to his mammoth performance during the College Football Playoff. Ruckert is especially dangerous in the red zone, a trait over which NFL offensive gurus tend to salivate.

18. Dontay Demus Jr., WR, Maryland

If you hadn’t heard of Demus before now, you’re not alone. But the speedster from Washington D.C. has been honorable mention All-Big Ten the past two seasons and could be poised for a breakout senior year that vaults him onto draft boards.

17. Tyler Goodson, RB, Iowa

It helps when you have a stalwart line in front of you, of course. But Goodson is a well-rounded back: strong and sturdy, patient yet powerful. With Mekhi Sargent’s departure, Goodson becomes the bell cow in Iowa City.

16. Thayer Munford, OT, Ohio State

The Buckeyes’ wealth of skill talent gets the headlines, but it’s borderline unfair how good the line protecting them is. Munford is the real deal, having started 33 games in the past three seasons and appearing 45 of 50 contests in 4 years.

15. Christopher Hinton, DL, Michigan

Call it a reach, but scouts love Hinton’s upside. He also has the pedigree: his dad, Chris, was an 8-time all-pro offensive lineman.

14. Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State

Game planning to stop Dotson can’t be fun. Elusive and sure-handed, Dotson caught 52 (!) passes in 9 games last season.

13. Brandon Smith, DE/OLB, Penn State

Talk about a guy you can use in a lot of different ways. He had 8 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception in 2020.

12. Master Teague, RB, Ohio State

Is this finally Teague’s turn to be “the man” for Ryan Day’s offense? If so, his already intriguing draft potential only stands to increase.

11. Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State

Pro Football Focus’ metrics quantify the value Brisker brings; the outlet had him as a first-team All-American last season after he broke up 6 passes and made 57 tackles.

10. Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

Many were surprised when Olave decided to come back for another season. But he did so in part to become a top-10-type pick, and he’s got the measurables and work ethic to make it happen.

9. Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota

This one’s interesting. Faalele is a giant of a man (6-foot-9, 380 pounds). And for that stature, he can really move. But what’s his conditioning and state of mind like after opting out of the 2020 campaign? If the answers are positive, look out.

8. Sevyn Banks, CB, Ohio State

While the game has changed in many ways, NFL general managers remain open to using their first-round pick on a lock-down cover corner. Banks is certainly a potential one — a classic case of a guy who hasn’t put up gargantuan numbers because opponents simply don’t throw his way often.

7. Brandon Joseph, S, Northwestern

One of the few remaining pieces from the defense that carried Northwestern back to the B1G championship game, Joseph earned All-America honors as a sophomore. Thanks to COVID-19, he technically has 3 years of eligibility left. He likely won’t use ’em.

6. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan

Hutchinson’s 2020 season was cut short due to injury, but before that he started all 13 games in 2019. He has the makings of a prototypical NFL edge rusher, having tabulated 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks two years ago.

5. Zach Harrison, DE, Ohio State

Harrison came on late last season with 19 quarterback hurries in his final 4 games. But the talent’s always been there, and he tends to show up when the lights are brightest.

4. Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State

O-linemen can sometimes slip into later rounds unless they possess transcendent talent that makes them too good to pass up. Walker definitely fits that bill; a consistent season will put him in contention for a high selection.

3. George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue

Injury and COVID-19 put a damper on Karlaftis’ 2020 season. But the born-and-raised West Lafayette resident had 7.5 sacks in 2019.

As a true freshman.

2. Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa

How high a guy like Linderbaum goes in the draft will largely depend on need. But between his strength, smarts and ability to push defenders onto their heels, Linderbaum might be NFL-ready today. Another year of seasoning and he could be ready to start as a rookie — that’s not common for the center position.

1. Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

He just has all the tools. Pro Football Focus ranks Wilson as the No. 8 overall prospect in the upcoming draft class. Whoever Ohio State lands on as its starting quarterback is going to have a fun fall.