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There are 11 B1G rookies with starting spots entering Week 1 of the NFL season
Published:
It’s one thing to be a high draft pick. It’s another to be starting on Day 1.
For 11 B1G rookies, that’ll be their reality when they make their NFL debuts this weekend. Not surprisingly, many of them were Day-2 and Day-3 selections.
Of the 11 B1G rookies with starting jobs, only three of them were first-rounders. Undrafted Jalin Marshall is the New York Jets’ opening day return specialist. And late-round guys like Andy Janovich, Derek Watt and De’Vondre Campbell will also earned starting jobs.
In total, seven different B1G schools (Illinois, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State and Wisconsin) have players represented. Ohio State and Wisconsin are expected to be the only schools with multiple rookies starting.
Janovich will be the first B1G rookie to suit up tonight when the defending Super Bowl champs take on the Carolina Panthers. Here are the rest:
| PLAYER, POSITION | TEAM | KICKOFF TIME |
|---|---|---|
| Andy Janovich, FB | Broncos | Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET |
| De’Vondre Campbell, OLB | Falcons | Sunday, 1 p.m. ET |
| Jack Conklin, RT | Titans | Sunday, 1 p.m. ET |
| Derek Watt, FB | Chargers | Sunday, 1 p.m. ET |
| Jalin Marshall, PR/KR | Jets | Sunday, 1 p.m. ET |
| Jihad Ward, DE | Raiders | Sunday, 1 p.m. ET |
| Dean Lowry, DE | Packers | Sunday, 1 p.m. ET |
| Joe Schobert, OLB | Browns | Sunday, 1 p.m. ET |
| Adolphus Washington, DE | Bills | Sunday, 1 p.m. ET |
| Ezekiel Elliott, RB | Cowboys | Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Taylor Decker, LT | Lions | Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET |
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Tradition. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.