B1G stars make ESPN's list of top returning players in college football
By now, you already know that the 2016 Heisman Trophy race is expected to be loaded with familiar faces.
Four of the top six vote-getters are back, as is Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett, who received the fourth-highest odds to win the honor next year. Barrett, however, did not crack ESPN college football writer Travis Haney’s top 10 returners in college football.
In fact, three other B1G stars were slotted ahead of Barrett in Haney’s way-too-early preseason player rankings. In all, six B1G players made the top 50, with Michigan and Ohio State as the conference’s only teams to have multiple representatives.
One could certainly argue that Wisconsin linebacker Vince Biegel, Indiana offensive lineman Dan Feeney and Michigan State defensive tackle Malik McDowell deserved a spot in the top 50.
But as it stands, here’s Haney’s top 50:
50. Eddie Vanderdoes, DT, UCLA
49. T.J. Edwards, LB, Wisconsin
48. Mitch Hyatt, OT, Clemson
47. Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
46. Eddie Jackson, S, Alabama
45. Terry Beckner, DT, Missouri
44. Rod Johnson, OT, Florida State
43. Pat Elflein, OL, Ohio State
42. Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
41. O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
40. Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
39. Jeremy McNichols, RB, Boise State
38. Daylon Mack, DT, Texas A&M
37. Daeshon Hall, DE, Texas A&M
36. Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas
35. Jamal Adams, S, LSU
34. Budda Baker, S, Washington
33. Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
32. Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama
31. Isaiah Ford, WR, Virginia Tech
30. Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
29. Luke Falk, QB, Washington State
28. J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State
27. Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
26. Chad Kelly, QB, Ole Miss
25. Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB, Alabama
24. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
23. Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan
22. Adoreé Jackson, CB, USC
21. Jalen Hurd, RB, Tennessee
20. Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma
19. Arden Key, DE, LSU
18. Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
17. Derwin James, S, Florida State
16. Jordan Whitehead, DB, Pitt
15. Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan
14. Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
13. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC
12. Devonte Fields, LB, Louisville,
11. Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
10. Desmond King, CB, Iowa
9. Seth Russell, QB, Baylor
T8. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
T8. Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon
7. Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
6. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
5. Greg Ward, QB, Houston
4. Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
3. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
2. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
1. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU