12 B1G players named to AP's preseason All-America squads
Four players from the Big Ten were named to the Associated Press’ preseason first team All-America team on Monday morning. Eight more players from the Big Ten made second-team.
Here’s the first-teamers:
- Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
- Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
- Haskell Garrett, DT, Ohio State
- Brandon Joseph, S, Northwestern
Linderbaum is one of the best returning offensive linemen in all of college football. He’s back for another year at Iowa after helping the Hawkeyes rush for 4.62 yards per carry in 2020.
Olave is arguably the best receiver in the nation entering this season. He turned down NFL opportunities in order to come back to Ohio State for his senior season and is looking to build off his 104.1 receiving yards per game benchmark from last season.
Garrett is another Buckeye who could have left for the NFL after last season. He now anchors a defensive line that’s expected to be filled with young talent.
Joseph was one of the top freshmen in the whole country last season, as he led the Big Ten with six interceptions. He was also a major reason why Northwestern led the conference in passing yards per game allowed.
Here’s every Big Ten player who got a second-team nod:
- Mohamed Ibrahim, RB, Minnesota
- Thayer Munford, OT, Ohio State
- Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
- Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
- George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
- Micah McFadden, LB, Indiana
- Tiawan Mullen, CB, Indiana
- Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
Ohio State had the most selections of any team in the Big Ten with four. Indiana was the only other team with more than one selection.
The Big Ten’s regular season begins on Saturday as Illinois hosts Nebraska.
