Athlon projects the Big Ten's best for 2017.
The Big Ten features four teams - Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan and Penn State - inside of Athlon’s top 25 for 2017. These four teams return a good chunk of talent this year, with 14 Buckeyes earning a spot on Athlon’s All-Big Ten team, and the Nittany Lions and Badgers each garnering 12 selections. The Wolverines aren’t far behind with nine picks, but Iowa (10) and Northwestern (11) are just ahead of Jim Harbaugh’s program in overall selections from the All-Big Ten squad.
Athlon Sports has released its top 25 for 2017. Now, it’s time to take a look at the best of the best and honor the top players in the league with a release of first, second, third and fourth all-conference teams for 2017.
An important note on the all-conference teams: These are based on how players will perform in 2017. Career statistics and awards matter in the evaluation, but choosing players for the 2017 all-conference team is largely based on predicting and projecting the best for the upcoming year.
Big Ten Football 2017 All-Conference Team
|
First-Team Offense |
Second-Team Offense |
Third-Team Offense |
Fourth-Team Defense |
|
| QB |
J.T. Barrett Ohio State |
Trace McSorley Penn State |
Wilton Speight Michigan |
Clayton Thorson Northwestern |
| RB |
Saquon Barkley Penn State |
Rodney Smith Minnesota |
Ty Johnson Maryland |
Markell Jones Purdue |
| RB |
Justin Jackson Northwestern |
LJ Scott Mich. State |
Chris Evans Michigan |
Bradrick Shaw Wisconsin |
| AP |
Mike Weber (RB) Ohio State |
Akrum Wadley (RB) Iowa |
Garrett Dickerson Northwestern |
Stanley Morgan (WR) Nebraska |
| WR |
Nick Westbrook Indiana |
Janarion Grant Rutgers |
Parris Campbell Ohio State |
Matt VandeBerg Iowa |
| WR |
DaeSean Hamilton Penn State |
Jazz Peavy Wisconsin |
D.J. Moore Maryland |
Malik Turner Illinois |
| TE |
Troy Fumagalli Wisconsin |
Mike Gesicki Penn State |
Cole Herdman Purdue |
Marcus Baugh Ohio State |
| C |
Billy Price Ohio State |
James Daniels Iowa |
Kirk Barron Purdue |
Connor McGovern Penn State |
| OL |
Mason Cole Michigan |
Nick Gates Nebraska |
Christian DiLauro Illinois |
Tommy Doles Northwestern |
| OL |
Jamarco Jones Ohio State |
Ryan Bates Penn State |
Damian Prince Maryland |
Ben Bredeson Michigan |
| OL |
Brian Allen Mich. State |
Michael Deiter Wisconsin |
Coy Cronk Indiana |
Garrison Wright Minnesota |
| OL |
Sean Welsh Iowa |
Beau Benzschawel Wisconsin |
Tariq Cole Rutgers |
Boone Myers Iowa |
|
First-Team Defense |
Second-Team Defense |
Third-Team Defense |
Fourth-Team Defense |
|
| DL |
Maurice Hurst Michigan |
Steven Richardson Minnesota |
Tyler Lancaster Northwestern |
Nathan Bazata Iowa |
| DL |
Tyquan Lewis Ohio State |
Nick Bosa Ohio State |
Anthony Nelson Iowa |
Torrence Brown Penn State |
| DL |
Sam Hubbard Ohio State |
Conor Sheehy Wisconsin |
Chase Winovich Michigan |
Bryan Mone Michigan |
| DL |
Rashan Gary Michigan |
Dre'Mont Jones Ohio State |
Jesse Aniebonam Maryland |
Olive Sagapolu Wisconsin |
| LB |
Josey Jewell Iowa |
Jack Cichy Wisconsin |
Jermaine Carter Maryland |
Jonathan Celestin Minnesota |
| LB |
Tegray Scales Indiana |
T.J. Edwards Wisconsin |
Mike McCray Michigan |
Ben Niemann Iowa |
| LB |
Jerome Baker Ohio State |
Jason Cabinda Penn State |
Chris Frey Mich. State |
Tre Watson Illinois |
| CB |
Rashard Fant Indiana |
Denzel Ward Ohio State |
Montre Hartage Northwestern |
Antoine Winfield Minnesota |
| CB |
Chris Jones Nebraska |
Derrick Tindal Wisconsin |
Grant Haley Penn State |
Blessaun Austin Rutgers |
| S |
Marcus Allen Penn State |
D'Cota Dixon Wisconsin |
Aaron Williams Nebraska |
Manny Rugamba (CB) Iowa |
| S |
Godwin Igwebuike Northwestern |
Damon Webb Ohio State |
Marcelino Ball Indiana |
Kyle Quiero Northwestern |
|
First-Team Specialists |
Second-Team Specialists |
Third-Team Specialists |
Fourth-Team Specialists |
|
| K |
Emmit Carpenter Minnesota |
Tyler Davis Penn State |
Drew Brown Nebraska |
Rafael Gaglianone Wisconsin |
| P |
Blake Gillikin Penn State |
Ryan Santoso Minnesota |
Joe Schopper Purdue |
Hunter Niswander Northwestern |
| KR |
Janarion Grant Rutgers |
Parris Campbell Ohio State |
Solomon Vault Northwestern |
Tre Bryant Nebraska |
| PR |
De'Mornay Pierson-El Nebraska |
Janarion Grant Rutgers |
Flynn Nagel Northwestern |
Antonio Shenault Minnesota |
| First | Second | Third | Fourth | |
|
Illinois
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Indiana
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Iowa
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 3 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Maryland
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 3 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Michigan
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Michigan State
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Minnesota
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 1 |
|
Nebraska
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
|
Northwestern
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 2 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
|
Ohio State
|
Offense: 4 Defense: 3 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 4 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Penn State
|
Offense: 2 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 3 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Purdue
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Rutgers
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Wisconsin
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 3 Defense: 5 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
