ESPN's Mark Schlabach predicts eight B1G players will be first-team All-Americans
The B1G won’t lack star power in 2016. That much we know.
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach believes that the B1G will have more star power than any other conference in America. He tabbed eight B1G players to end up as All-Americans at season’s end, which was even more than the SEC.
Fittingly, the four teams in Schlabach’s early top 25 — Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State — were all represented, as was Indiana. Michigan led the way with three selections while Ohio State had two, and Iowa and Michigan State had one apiece. Michigan was tied with Alabama for the most selections overall.
Here’s what Schlabach had to say about each B1G player that made his list:
- TE Jake Butt, Sr., Michigan: The Wolverines’ NFL-ready receiver passed up the draft after catching 51 balls in Jim Harbaugh’s offense.
- G Pat Elflein, Sr., Ohio State: The Buckeyes’ versatile standout has played both guard positions in Columbus, and returns as one of the Buckeyes’ top team leaders.
- G Dan Feeney, Sr., Indiana: Feeney is so dominant he didn’t give up a sack on 475 pass plays in 2015 and has allowed only one in 37 starts.
- DT Malik McDowell, Jr., Michigan State: McDowell (6-6, 275) has the size and strength to play in the middle of the line and the speed to play on the edge.
- LB Jabrill Peppers, Jr., Michigan: Peppers started 12 games at DB, played a little offense, returned punts and kickoffs in 2015 and now moves to LB.
- LB Raekwon McMillan, Jr., Ohio State: McMillan led OSU with 119 tackles in 2015. This season he’ll be the unquestioned leader of the defense.
- CB Desmond King, Sr., Iowa: Easy pick: King had eight picks as a junior en route to unanimous All-American honors.
- CB Jourdan Lewis, Sr., Michigan: First-team All-Big Ten pick in 2015 as a junior, should make a big jump as a senior.