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ESPN lists 3 former B1G players among Top 10 NFL rookies in 2020

Mark Schipper

By Mark Schipper

Published:

The Big Ten made up fully thirty-percent of ESPN’s Week 10 NFL Rookie Rankings, with three players from three position groups earning the recognition.

Tampa Bay”s Tristan Wirfs, the mammoth offensive tackle out of the University of Iowa, made the list at number four. Wirfs has been getting buzz as a candidate for offensive rookie of the year, something that has not happened in the 53-year history of the award.

Ohio State’s Chase Young was just behind Wirfs at fifth. Young, a frighteningly quick and powerful athlete at 6-feet 5-inches and 265 pounds, is rushing the passer from his defensive end position with the Washington Football Team. Young has 22 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and one forced fumble so far in his rookie campaign. 

Antoine Winfield, Jr., also of the Buccaneers, got the list’s final spot at ten. Winfield was a star defensive player for the University of Minnesota and is the son of future Hall of Fame cornerback Antoine Winfield. Junior has accounted for 52 tackles, two  sacks, and an interception through ten games with the Buccaneers.  

Outside of the Big Ten, last year’s Heisman Trophy winner and overall Swagger leader Joe Burrow was on the list at number two as quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, one spot behind former Oregon signal caller Justin Herbert. 

The rest of the list can be found below.

  1. Justin Herbert
  2. Joe Burrow
  3. Justin Jefferson
  4. Tristan Wirfs
  5. Chase Young
  6. James Robinson
  7. Tee Higgins
  8. Antonio Gibson
  9. Mekhi Becton
  10. Antoine Winfield, Jr. 

Mark Schipper

Mark Schipper is a reporter, sportswriter, and aspiring novelist living in Chicago, Illinois.