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Ranking the top 10 players in the Big Ten entering Week 11: Defenses and running games rule

Luke Glusco

By Luke Glusco

Published:

After crashing Maryland’s backfield, Wisconsin’s Nick Herbig is crashing our top 10.

The junior edge linebacker sacked Taulia Tagovailoa twice, added another TFL and also had a QB hurry and a pass defended in the Badgers’ 23-10 victory over the visiting Terps.

With Herbig, we now have 3 defensive players on this list, and we have our eyes on several more heading into Week 11. Topping that list is Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell, the B1G’s leading tackler. His Hawkeyes host Wisconsin in a key West Division showdown this weekend.

Related: Whether it’s Maryland football or Maryland basketball, it’s worth noting that Maryland online sports betting is coming in late November. Maryland fans will be able to place legal wagers on their favorite teams in a matter of weeks.

The top 10 will keep evolving, but here’s what we have heading into a full B1G slate of games on Saturday:

10. Nick Herbig, LB, Wisconsin

After terrorizing the Terrapins, the 6-2, 228-pound Hawaii native leads the Big Ten in sacks (8) and TFL (12.5) — despite missing the previous week’s game to rest a sore knee.

9. JT Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State

The 6-4, 270-pound sophomore defensive end nearly had his 3rd line-of-scrimmage pick in 2 weeks, but had to settle for a pass defended when he batted down a ball from short range in the Buckeyes’ 21-7 victory over Northwestern. He had 4 tackles, including 1 for a loss. Extremely athletic, the 2021 5-star recruit has become a nightmare for opposing offensive coordinators.

Sorry NFL fans, he won’t be draft eligible until 2024.

8. Charlie Jones, WR, Purdue

The transfer from Iowa posted 11 receptions for 104 yards in a loss to his former team.

Purdue is fading badly heading into a key B1G West showdown at Illinois, but Jones has been the Boilermakers’ lone consistent receiving threat. No one else had more than 2 catches in a 24-3 home loss to the Hawkeyes.

Jones leads the B1G in catches (83) and receiving yards (944). He is the only WR in the league averaging better than 100 yards per game. He ranks top 7 in the nation in catches, yards and TDs (9).

7. Jer’Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois

Newton led the Illini in tackles with 8, 3 of them for losses, in the team’s stunning setback against visiting Michigan State.

A bad punt and a turnover that led to short fields were the problem, not a defense that held an opponent under 300 yards for the 8th time in 9 games.

Newton, a 6-2, 295-pound sophomore defensive lineman, ranks 3rd in the Big Ten is sacks (5.5) and 2nd in TFL (12).

Credited with half a sack against the Spartans, he has gotten to the quarterback in 6 of his past 8 games.

6. Olusegun Oluwatimi, C, Michigan

The grad transfer from Virginia, a Rimington Award finalist last year, helped Michigan pile up 282 yards and 4 TDs on the ground to steamroll Rutgers.

With left tackle Ryan Hayes out of action with a minor injury, the line led by Oluwatimi didn’t miss a beat. Michigan ranks No. 4 in the country in rushing offense and has only given up 10 sacks in 9 games.

Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards both topped 100 yards rushing as Oluwatimi, in his 44th college start, again led the way.

5. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

The 6-4, 205-pound sophomore handled the wind and rain on the outskirts of the Windy City better than the rest of Ohio State’s offensive playmakers, snaring 5 passes for 51 yards in a 21-7 victory over Northwestern.

Considering CJ Stroud completed only 10 balls for 76 yards, Harrison essentially was the passing game. And that was coming off a 10-catch, 185-yard game against Penn State, so Harrison seems to be emerging as WR1. Size, strength, toughness and sure hands, he’s living up to his father’s legend.

4. Mohamed Ibrahim, RB, Minnesota

There’s nothing tricky to what Ibrahim and Minnesota offense do, and Nebraska geared up and stuffed the Gophers’ attack for a half. But Mo just keeps coming, and he rallied the team past the Huskers in the second half. All told, he bulled his way for 128 yards and 2 TDs on 32 carries.

His streak of 100-yard rushing games is now at 17 ahead of a visit from Northwestern.

3. Blake Corum, RB, Michigan

Corum posted his 6th straight game with over 100 rushing yards with 109 against Rutgers. He continues to lead the nation in conference-only yards per game, slightly ahead of Illinois’ Chase Brown. He scored 2 more rushing TDs, giving him 16 and a tie for the national lead.

Overall, the 5-8, 210-pound junior has 1,187 yards on the season. He likely will hit Michigan’s single-season top 10 list in a week or two.

2. Chase Brown, RB, Illinois

In a tough loss to Michigan State, Brown added to his nation-leading totals with 33 carries for 136 yards.

Unfortunately for the Illini, he lost a fumble for the 2nd time this season and couldn’t dent the goal line while topping 100 yards for a 10th straight game.

At 1,344 rushing yards heading into a visit from Purdue, Brown is easily on pace to break Mikel Leshoure’s single-season school record of 1,697 set in 2010. The 5-11, 205-pound junior averages 28.5 carries for just under 150 yards per game.

1. CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State

In abysmal weather conditions, Stroud was limited to 76 passing yards, his only sub-100 total in 21 career starts.

He compensated by running for a career-high 79 yards, including a 44-yard scamper to set up a breathing-room touchdown. As a starter, he was at minus-24 career rushing yards prior to Saturday. But reportedly he will look to run more, as needed, going forward.

Stroud, still the nation’s leader in QB rating, will look to return to typical form at home Saturday against Indiana.

Luke Glusco

Luke Glusco is a Penn State graduate and veteran journalist. He covers Penn State and occasionally writes about other Big Ten programs and topics. He also serves as the primary copy editor for Saturday Tradition.