B1G players who will bounce back in 2016

Who doesn’t love a good comeback story?

Guys like Jake Rudock and Tanner McEvoy reinvented themselves and starred as seniors. They could’ve been candidates to crack this list a year ago.

But for now, here are the guys expected to bounce back after down years in 2015:

Ed Davis, Michigan State LB — Few preseason injuries in college football were as devastating as the one Davis suffered last August. The Michigan State linebacker was a preseason second-team All-B1G selection before he went down with a season-ending knee injury. Seven months later, he’s still working his way back, but he’s expected to be ready for his sixth season in East Lansing. If and when he gets back to the honorable mention All-B1G-level he played at in 2014, MSU will have the B1G’s best group of linebackers.

De’Mornay Pierson-El, Nebraska WR/PR — The sky was the limit for the 2015 preseason All-American. Instead, injuries kept him out of all but five games. Assuming he gets his legs under himself in 2016, it should be the breakout year we all expected from Pierson-El. Nebraska is loaded at receiver, which means Pierson-El can be used properly in special packages, and he’ll get to focus more on his bread-and-butter as a specialist. That would be a welcome sight in Lincoln.

Darius Hamilton, Rutgers DT — In a conference loaded with talented defensive linemen last year, Hamilton was expected to be right there with them. But a knee injury prevented him from having much of a 2015 season. Hamilton, who will likely be a captain for a third straight year, will return to the Scarlet Knights as Chris Ash’s most important player. A healthy Hamilton will likely garner preseason All-B1G honors and deservingly so.

Mikey Dudek, Illinois WR — The last time Dudek played a game for Illinois, Tim Beckman was the coach. So yeah, it’s been awhile. Dudek possibly could’ve played in the second half of 2016 after his spring ACL tear, but he decided to save a year of eligibility, which means that he’ll have three more years of frustrating B1G defensive backs. He’ll return as Wes Lunt’s go-to target in what could be a monster 2016 season.

Curtis Samuel, Ohio State H-Back — Samuel was put in a tough spot. After showing plenty of promise during Ohio State’s national championship run as a freshman in 2014, he took a backseat to Ezekiel Elliott as a ball-carrier and to the likes of Mike Thomas, Jalin Marshall and Braxton Miller as a receiver. With all of those players gone to the NFL, Urban Meyer surely will feature Samuel significantly more in 2016. Perhaps the only question is whether that’ll be out of the backfield or as a pass-catcher.

Ja’Whaun Bentley, Purdue LB — It’s usually not good when a struggling defense loses its best player. That’s what happened with Bentley in 2015 when he tore his ACL in October. Bentley looked like he was on his way to an All-B1G season before the injury. Purdue needs him to bounce back and be the playmaking defensive leader he was when he was healthy.

DaeSean Hamilton, Penn State WR — Remember when Hamilton had 82 catches in 2014? Well, 2015 was a different story. He had 45 catches for 580 yards for a passing game that struggled far too often. Hamilton is more of a possession receiver than a true deep threat, and in Joe Moorhead’s up-tempo spread offense, he’ll thrive. Eighty-two catches might be tough to repeat, but expect Hamilton to look more like his freshman self than his sophomore self in 2016.

Nyeem Wartman-White, Penn State LB — One of the more overlooked aspects of that brutal season-opening loss to Temple was the fact that the Lions lost their man in the middle. Without Wartman-White, Jason Cabinda emerged and helped shoulder the load. Wartman-White wants to return to middle linebacker and get his job back. Assuming he and Cabinda find a way to co-exist on the same defense, both could star for Penn State’s new-look unit.

Dan Voltz, Wisconsin C — A possible preseason All-America candidate in 2015, a torn ACL ended Voltz’s season a month early. The Badger center who helped plow the way for Melvin Gordon’s record-breaking 2014 season is expected to be back to lead a much-improved group in 2016. Assuming he’s healthy, pencil him in as a preseason All-B1G selection.

Corey Clement, Wisconsin RB — And last, but certainly not least, is the guy who could be the most likely bounce-back candidate of anybody on this list. Clement is ready to move on from the mess that was 2015. That includes a possible number change. Another number that will change will be Clement’s 221 yards. Without nagging injuries or any off-field issues, watch that total skyrocket.