Ranking the B1G's top 25 freshmen for 2021

Note: This free year the NCAA is granting is confusing the heck out of me because some returning players are listed as sophomores and others are redshirt freshmen. So I’m going to make this simple. If the team’s website lists the player as a sophomore, he’s not on this list. If he is listed as a freshman or redshirt freshman, he is eligible for the list. So that’s why Parker Washington, Cam Porter, Brandon Joseph, Peter Skoronski and some other returning freshmen aren’t on this list. Don’t complain to me, complain to the teams that list them as sophomores. Fair enough? Good.

Here are the top 25 freshmen in the Big Ten for 2021.

Promising young big uglies

25. Hollin Pierce, OT, Rutgers
24. Trey Wedig, OT, Wisconsin
23. Bryan Felter, OG, Rutgers

Of these three offensive linemen, Felter appears most likely to be a starter at the beginning of the season after showing he can capably handle duties at either guard position in 2020. Wedig is sitting behind two 5th-year seniors at tackle, but I expect he’ll find some snaps as a top tackle reserve before taking over the spot full time in 2022. Pierce was named Rutgers most improved offensive player in the spring. He might not open the season as the starter at left tackle, but his size (6-8, 325), athleticism and fast-improving game will be tough to keep off the field for long.

Terps’ “D” might be legit in 2023

22. Terrence Lewis, LB, Maryland
21. Demeioun Robinson, DE, Maryland
20. Branden Jennings, LB, Maryland

I expect all three of Maryland’s prized true freshmen on defense to get plenty of snaps, with at least one of the guys moving into a full-time starting role by the end of the season. Robinson looks like he can offer plenty of production as a situational pass rusher out of the gate. Lewis looks like he’ll make a big early impact on special teams as long as he is fully recovered from ACL surgery in January. I like Jennings as the potential breakout of the trio because he’s got college-ready size (6-4, 225) and already went through a spring practice.

Eventually, they’ll be running the campus

19. Quinn Ewers, QB, Ohio State
18. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
17. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

Depth is a good thing and I don’t believe you can have too much of a good thing, that’s why these guys might have some flashes backing up more established starters. Harrison and Egbuka are on the 2-deep and will certainly get some snaps. Ewers just arrived on campus and should be a senior in high school, so I expect his action will be limited to the scout team. But how many scout team QBs are cashing in on the NIL like Ewers? People with deeper pockets than I think he’s going to be pretty darn good.

16. Christopher Keys, CB, Indiana

The Hoosiers are a very experienced bunch in 2021. Keys and starting punter James Evans are the only freshmen on Indiana’s 2-deep. Keys got some playing time in the second half of the season and I like him to step up and be much more involved in the secondary this year.

15. Isaiah Williams, ATH, Illinois

Williams was a part-time quarterback in 2020 and is moving to wide receiver as a returning freshman in 2021. He’s the most dynamic playmaker Illinois has on the roster and I expect him to be utilized several different ways, with the primary goal to get Williams in space with the ball in his hands.

14. Miyan Williams, RB, Ohio State

Williams has been lighting up training camp early and looks like he might be the pace car in a three-man race that includes junior Master Teague and super true freshman TreVeyon Henderson. Williams didn’t get a lot of opportunities last season and I think most Buckeyes fans have him as the odd-man out, but he might have other plans.

13. Jerzahn Newton, DL, Illinois

There isn’t an overload of talent on Illinois, but Newton is a returning freshman whom I love and believe could be on the All-Big Ten Freshman team this season. He had 23 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble in 8 games (2 starts). He will advance to a full-time role in 2021.

The future of Michigan’s offense

12. Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan
11. J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

McCarthy is No. 2 going into training camp behind junior Cade McNamara, but I don’t think anyone sees that holding up for a full season. McCarthy will get opportunities early in the season and the feeling is that eventually he’ll prove to give Michigan the best chance to win. Edwards is going to be a major part of a three-back rotation this season, and from the looks of it, he’ll get a lot of work.

10. Kalen King, DB, Penn State

King, a class of 2021 early enrollee from Detroit, got as much hype coming out of spring practices as any true freshman in the Big Ten. He was the star of the show in Penn State’s spring game after recording a pick six. King will open the season on the two-deep and I expect he will battle to be the starting slot corner.

Big uglies with big futures

9. Luke Wypler, C, Ohio State
8. Jack Nelson, OG, Wisconsin

If Ohio State starts its best five up front, and I see no reason why it won’t, then Harry Miller will line up as the left guard and Wypler will be the center. Miller could play either left guard or center, but Wypler was so good in the spring that I don’t think the decision is hard. Nelson made the decision to move to right guard in the offseason because Wisconsin has a ton of tackle depth. An underclassman who’s a likely starter on Wisconsin’s offensive line is a potential special player.

7. Yahya Black, DL, Iowa

Black has gone from a 255-pound defensive end to a 285-pound defensive tackle with the athleticism to line up anywhere along the line. I think he’ll create most of his havoc on the interior, but wherever Black lines up, he will draw a lot of attention.

6. TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State

The running back position at Ohio State is so deep, but despite that I just feel like Henderson is eventually going to be the guy. Miyan Williams is proving he’s a competitor and Master Teague had a lot of bright spots in 2020, but Henderson looks like he has “it” and usually “it” wins out in the long run.

Bench us? Bench yourself!

5. J.T. Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State
4. Jack Sawyer, DE, Ohio State

I was afraid at some point this list would be Ohio State heavy, but the team with the most talent gets the most players. Sawyer and Tuimoloau are both 5-start defensive linemen expected to carve out more and more playing time each week in 2021 until there’s no need to keep them on the bench any longer. Sawyer had the full spring, so he might get there quicker, but Tuimoloau arrived on campus and everyone took notice immediately.

3. Ricky White, WR, Michigan State

As long as White’s disciplinary issues are behind him, he looks like he’s going to be a stud. Torching rival Michigan for almost 200 yards made a believer out of me. Now he just has to do it on a consistent basis to become the next great wide receiver from Michigan State.

2. C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

Stroud is in one of those no-win situations. Ohio State’s offense is so deep with talent that he’ll never get the credit he will deserve for putting up big numbers. Instead, Stroud’s value will be determined by championships — which ones he will win and how many he can win. All that being said, he’s going to be the guy coming out of camp, and with all the talent in Ohio State’s quarterback room, that is saying something.

1. Jalen Berger, RB, Wisconsin

I am extremely high on Wisconsin’s offensive line and therefore I believe Berger has the opportunity to put together a major season as a redshirt freshman. Maybe not quite the 1,977 yards Jonathan Taylor put up in his remarkable freshman season for the Badgers in 2017, but a 1,500-yard season seems very possible. With four redshirt seniors on the line and a legitimate passing game led by quarterback Graham Mertz, there should be plenty of running space for Berger to exploit.