Conference Review: BIG 10

Russell Clay

abdullah

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With college football in full swing, we’ll be bringing you a review of the “Big Five” conferences each and every week. These recaps will feature sections for “Premier Conference Performer,” “Rising Players,” “Falling Players,” and a special Freshman spotlight. These weekly reviews will keep you up-to-date on all the happenings in devy leagues and allow you to keep tabs on future dynasty league assets. By the time the NFL Draft rolls around, you won’t see too many strangers.

Premier Conference Performers

Ameer Abdullah RB, Nebraska
23 carries for 146 yards and four touchdowns

It didn’t start out well for Abdullah, but like most weeks, as the game goes on the opposing defenses begin to break. Abdullah scored three of his four rushing touchdowns in the second half, the most he’s scored in a game this year. Once again, Abdullah is the cream of the crop in terms of Big Ten skill position players, and with Melvin Gordon taking the week off, the spotlight shone directly on the Nebraska running back.

Stefon Diggs WR, Maryland
Nine receptions for 130 yards and one touchdown

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Diggs has finally begun to look like the player that got us all so excited after his freshman season. This game was littered with beautiful sideline grabs and elusive speed. The biggest play though, was on a screen that Diggs ended up taking 54 yards for a touchdown. That was the play of the game, and one of the crucial plays that led to the Maryland victory. Diggs is the best receiver prospect in the conference, if he continues this level of play, don’t be shocked if he’s drafted in the first two or three rounds this summer.

Tevin Coleman RB, Indiana
15 carries for 132 yards

I don’t normally overreact to a single game or week, but this will probably be Coleman’s greatest game he’ll have in his college career. On a day where he had zero touchdowns and only 15 carries, Coleman was brilliant against one of the nation’s best defenses. Coleman broke off two 30+ yard runs and did what he could to keep his team in the game. Performing well against the best is something that I value highly, and after this weekend, Coleman has a big check mark in that category.

Rising

David Cobb RB, Minnesota
35 carries for 194 yards and one touchdown

Make no mistake about it, the Gophers are running Cobb into the ground, and he’s taking full advantage.  After Saturday’s performance Cobb is now fourth in the nation with 1,013 rushing yards. Pretty incredible for a player that had 1,267 career rushing yards heading into the year. Cobb has forced people to start paying attention and he will absolutely find himself on an NFL roster. Draft position is going to get a little dicey, chances he breaks round four seem slim, but let’s not rain on his parade.

JT Barrett QB, Ohio State
19 for 31 passing for 261 yards for three touchdowns, seven carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns

Barrett looks better every week, it seems. In the last three weeks, Barrett has thrown 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions. Finally getting comfortable in the offense, it looks like Urban Meyer has a quarterback to build around the next couple of years. It’s a bit to early to tell on pro potential for Barrett, the freshman obviously got a long way to go, but this recent domination makes me optimistic.

Falling

Kyle Prater WR, Northwestern
Three receptions for 21 yards

My confidence in Prater is waning. The once highly touted recruit has refused to take on the feature role in a mostly inept offense. Sometimes players never become the bright shining stars we envision, it’s why potential and ceiling are only part of the evaluation process.  At some point, there needs to be results.

Players To Keep An Eye On

Justin Jackson RB, Northwestern
22 carries for 128 yards and two touchdowns

It’s not all doom and gloom for Northwestern as it appears they’ve found their running back of the future. Jackson has 20 or more carries in four of the last five weeks, including 22 this weekend. Jackson, a former 4 star recruit according to Rivals, turned down a lot of schools to stay in his home state. With Gordon, Abdullah, Cobb and Coleman all seemingly leaving after the season, the crown for best back in the conference is in Jackson’s reach.

Delton Williams RB, Michigan State
Five carries for 55 yards and one touchdown

Once again, Williams dominated in a small sample size. The good news is that the more he performs well, the more and more likely he becomes the feature back next year. While Williams certainly isn’t a burner, his strength and power will be something coveted by NFL teams if they’re ever to get a bigger glimpse of him. He’s a classic Michigan State back and probably one of the more skilled ones to come along. He’s somewhere between Le’Veon Bell and Javon Ringer.

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