by Sean Szymczak
1st-team All-Big Ten
Offense
QB: Taulia Tagovailoa (Maryland)
RB: Braelon Allen (Wisconsin)
RB: Donovan Edwards (Michigan)
WR: Marvin Harrison Jr (Ohio State)
WR: Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)
WR: Isaiah Williams (Illinois)
TE: Corey Dyches (Maryland)
T: Olumuyiwa Fashanu (Penn State)
T: Jack Nelson (Wisconsin)
G: Zak Zinter (Michigan)
G: Matthew Jones (Ohio State)
C: Jake Renfro (Wisconsin)
Defense
DL: JT Tuimoloau (Ohio State)
DL: Jer’Zhan Newton (Illinois)
DL: Keith Randolph Jr (Illinois)
DL: Chop Robinson (Penn State)
LB: Tommy Eichenberg (Ohio State)
LB: Curtis Jacobs (Penn State)
LB: Abdul Carter (Penn State)
CB: Kalen King (Penn State)
CB: Will Johnson (Michigan)
S: Beau Brade (Maryland)
S: Tyler Nubin (Minnesota)
Taulia takes the 1st-team QB spot over JJ McCarthy because of the scheme he operates and the situational football he’ll be faced with in 2023. Despite missing a game and parts of two others with injury (and Maryland playing in two fewer games than Michigan), Taulia had 70 more pass attempts than JJ in 2022. With a pass-happier offense, better skill position players, and a team that will find itself in plenty more four-quarter battles than Michigan, Taulia should put up better numbers than JJ.
Braelon Allen takes the 1st RB spot for a similar reason. Even though Chez Mellusi is an effective backup, Allen should dominate the lion’s share of carries. Penn State, Michigan, and Ohio State will operate closer to a committee. Wisconsin also has one of the best o-lines in all of college football.
Donovan Edwards gets the second 1st-team RB spot because I think he is the most talented RB in the conference – more talented than Blake Corum. Last year, Corum had over 100 more carries than Edwards despite Edwards averaging 1.2 yards per carry more than Corum. In 2023, I think the backfield will be a 50/50 split with Edwards possibly getting the most carries. Also a great pass-catcher, Donovan Edwards should end 2023 with the better numbers in a run-dominant offense.
It was nearly impossible to decide between Corey Dyches and Brevyn Spann-Ford for the 1st-team TE spot. Both had nearly identical numbers last year and should be one of the top two targets on teams with incredibly deep receiving cores. I leaned towards Dyches because I am more confident in Tagovailoa as a QB that can feed multiple mouths than Athan Kaliakmanis.
I thought the rest of the 1st-team was straight forward and easy to determine.
2nd-team All-Big Ten
Offense
QB: JJ McCarthy (Michigan)
RB: TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State)
RB: Nick Singleton (Penn State)
WR: Cam Camper (Indiana)
WR: KeAndre Lambert-Smith (Penn State)
WR: TJ Sheffield (Purdue)
TE: Brevyn Spann-Ford (Minnesota)
T: DJ Glaze (Maryland)
T: Julian Pearl (Illinois)
G: JD Duplain (Michigan State)
G: Trevor Keagan (Michigan)
C: Drake Nugent (Michigan)
Defense
DL: Jack Sawyer (Ohio State)
DL: Kris Jenkins (Michigan)
DL: Michael Hall Jr (Ohio State)
DL: Joe Evans (Iowa)
LB: Junior Colson (Michigan)
LB: Maema Njongmeta (Wisconsin)
LB: Cal Haladay (Michigan State)
CB: Cooper DeJean (Iowa)
CB: Ja’Quan Sheppard (Maryland)
S: Lathan Ransom (Ohio State)
S: Cam Allen (Purdue)
The gap between the top 6 RBs in the Big Ten is razor thin. You could arrange these 6 backs in any order and not be wrong. I leaned towards Henderson because he wasn’t healthy all of last year. I think he will return to his 2021 form. I also leaned towards Singleton because he was a more efficient runner than Kaytron Allen was last year.
Cam Camper is the most underrated WR in the country – he had over 500 yards in the first five games last year before getting hurt. I think KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Kendall Sheffield will emerge as the clear WR1s on Penn State and Purdue, respectively. Those are two schools that have consistently produced All-Big Ten receivers.
Junior Colson, Maema Njiongmeta, and Cal Haladay would likely be 1st-team linebackers in nearly every other conference.
Cooper DeJean is likely a 1st-round pick in 2024 and Ja’Quan Sheppard was 1st-team All-AAC last year. Both were easy choices as 2nd-team All-Big Ten CBs.
With almost 200 tackles and 10 INTs in his career, Cam Allen might be Purdue’s most dangerous weapon on a defense that should make major strides under Ryan Walters.
3rd-team All-Big Ten
Offense
QB: Drew Allar (Penn State)
RB: Blake Corum (Michigan)
RB: Kaytron Allen (Penn State)
WR: Cornelius Johnson (Michigan)
WR: Marcus Washington (Nebraska)
WR: Chimere Dike (Wisconsin)
TE: Luke Lachey (Iowa)
T: Caeden Wallace (Penn State)
T: Aeireontae Ersey (Minnesota)
G: Donovan Jackson (Ohio State)
G: Isaiah Adams (Illinois)
C: Gus Hartwig (Purdue)
Defense
DL: Andre Carter (Indiana)
DL: Quashon Fuller (Maryland)
DL: Simeon Barrow Jr (Michigan State)
DL: Aaron Lewis (Rutgers)
LB: Aaron Casey (Indiana)
LB: Jaishawn Barham (Maryland)
LB: Kydran Jenkins (Purdue)
CB: Max Melton (Rutgers)
CB: Quinton Newsome (Nebraska)
S: Kamo’i Latu (Wisconsin)
S: Sebastian Castro (Iowa)
I am in the minoity thinking Devin Brown will win Ohio State’s QB competition. But I also think (1) the competition will bleed into the first few weeks of the season, and (2) Ohio State will lean more on the run than they have in years past. For those reasons, I think Drew Allar will finish 2023 with stronger numbers.
Luke Lachey and Michigan transfer Erick All will likely split Iowa’s starting TE job. A lot of people seem to think that All will emerge as the superiorplayer. Lachey was 2nd on the team last year with 28 catches for nearly 400 yards. He also led the team in TDs. Given the choice between the two tight ends, I’ll lean with towards the returning player who has experience in this offense.
Jaishawn Barham was one of the best freshmen in college football last year. Aaron Casey had 86 tackles and 10.5 TFLs in 2022 and Indiana loses 13 of it’s top 17 tacklers. Kydran Jenkins earned Honorable Mention last year and is the clear leader for Ryan Walter’s linebacker-heavy defense. These three were my picks for the final All-Big Ten LB spots mainly because of the massive role they all play on their respective teams. The linebackers left on the Honorable Mention list outline how talented this position is in the Big Ten.
Max Melton is a name that every college football fan should know. He’s one of the nation’s best at press-man coverage and has all of the trust of Rutgers’ coaching staff. Melton will be drafted in 2024 – it’s just a matter of how high he can elevate his stock in 2023.
Honorable Mention
Offense
QB: Devin Brown (Ohio State), Hudson Card (Purdue), Jeff Sims (Nebraska), Cade McNamara (Iowa)
RB: Roman Hemby (Maryland), Devin Mockobee (Purdue), Jaylin Lucas (Indiana), Sean Tyler (Minnesota), Kaleb Johnson (Iowa), Samuel Brown (Rutgers), Cam Porter (Northwestern), Miyan Williams (Ohio State)
Roman Hemby, Devin Mockobee, and Jaylin Lucas would be all-conference players anywhere else. The RB position is just way too stacked in the Big Ten.
WR: Dequece Carter (Indiana), Jeshaun Jones (Maryland), Kaden Prather (Maryland), Dante Cephas (Penn State), Roman Wilson (Michigan), Chris Autman-Bell (Minnesota)
Dequece Carter, Kaden Prather, and Dante Cephas are all big-time transfer additions that could take on an even bigger role than I am expecting. Wouldn’t be surprised to see any of them emerge as the WR1 on their teams.
Minnesota has four other receivers I debated putting on this list. The only problem is I have no idea what the pecking order will turn out to be. And Minnesota’s passing offense will not be prolific enough to feed everyone at an all-conference level.
TE: Erick All (Iowa), Cade Stover (Ohio State), Clay Cundiff (Wisconsin), Colston Loveland (Michigan), AJ Barner (Michigan), Johnny Langan (Rutgers)
T: LaDarius Henderson (Michigan), Karsen Barnhardt (Michigan), Josh Fryar (Ohio State), Mason Richman (Iowa), Teddy Prochazka (Nebraska), Hollin Pierce (Rutgers)
Mason Richman and Hollin Pierce could both snag All-Big Ten spots. Richman was the only consistent force on Iowa’s line last year. Pierce is a monster at 6’8″ 340lbs and been a mainstay on Rutgers’ offensive line for a few seasons now. But both will have to hope their collective units improve drastically if they want to move beyond the Honorable Mentions.
G: Tanor Bortolini (Wisconsin), Sal Wormley (Penn State), Connor Colby (Iowa), Zy Crisler (Illinois), Quinn Carroll (Minnesota), Marcus Mbow (Purdue), Curtis Dunlap Jr. (Rutgers)
Connor Colby was a 4-star prospect in 2021 and freshman All-American. But he had an up-and-down sophomore season. If Colby puts it all together, he could be an All-Big Ten guard.
Another name to watch is Quinn Carroll. He was a highly-ranked transfer from Notre Dame in 2021. He had good moments for the Gophers last season but struggled in pass protection. Now at guard, Carroll has all the physical tools to blossom. Just depends on how quickly he can become comfortable with the shift.
C: Nick Samac (Michigan State), Logan Jones (Iowa)
Defense
DL: Deontae Craig (Iowa), Noah Shannon (Iowa), Adisa Isaac (Penn State), Dani Dennis-Sutton (Penn State), Derrick Moore (Michigan), Wesley Bailey (Rutgers), Logan Lee (Iowa), Darian Varner (Wisconsin), Tyliek Williams (Ohio State), Sean McLaughlin (Northwestern), Kyler Baugh (Minnesota)
Maybe I’m a year premature, but I think Dani Dennis-Sutton is in for a big year at Penn State. A consensus 5-star and top-10 edge in the 2022, Dennis-Sutton played a lot as a true freshman and looked unblockable in the spring game. He and Adisa AIsaac could easily be All-Big Ten edges for Penn State.
A lot of depth here with Deontae Craig, Derrick Moore, and Darian Varner all very capable of having huge seasons in 2023.
LB: Nick Jackson (Iowa), Deion Jennings (Rutgers), Luke Reimer (Nebraska), Nick Henrich (Nebraska), Tarique Barnes (Illinois), Seth Coleman (Illinois), Darius Snow (Michigan State), Jacoby Windom (Michigan State), CJ Goetz (Wisconsin), Michael Barrett (Michigan), Steele Chambers (Ohio State), Cody Lindenberg (Minnesota)
This is probably the deepest position in the Big Ten outside of running back. Nick Jackson earned All-ACC honors at Virginia each of the past three seasons. He will have a massive season attempting to fill the void of Jack Campbell.
Luke Reimer and Nick Henrich are the anchors of Nebraska’s defense as proven veterans with All-Big Ten talent. But they have a massive task ahead of them in a completely overhauled system.
Michigan State and Illinois also boast great linbeacker duos that could earn an All-Big Ten spot. But the linebackers I have ahead of them are either the focal points of their defense or part of a better overall defense.
CB: Denzel Burke (Ohio State), Mike Sainristil (Michigan), Johnny Dixon (Penn State), Jermari Harris (Iowa), Alexander Smith (Wisconsin), Ricardo Hallman (Wisconsin), Tahveon Nicholson (Illinois), Justin Walley (Minnesota)
Denzel Burke has special talent but has yet to pice it all together. An impressive spring has some Buckeye fans hopeful. I need to see it first.
Mike Sainristil would have an All-Big Ten spot if each team accounted for a 5th defensive back, as he mainly plays nickel. Jermari Harris was an All-Big talent in 2021 but is coming off an undisclosed injury that kept him out all of 2022. He said he wasn’t sure he’d be able to play again, so who knows what to expect out of him.
Wisconsin has an experienced starting trio at cornerback and should improve under Fickell & staff’s leadership, but it’s hard to predict how 2023 will shake out.
All in all, I see only six proven lockdown corners in the Big Ten and they are accounted for on the the three All-Big Ten teams.
S: Rod Moore (Michigan), Makari Page (Michigan), Keaton Ellis (Penn State), Sonny Styles (Ohio State), Quinn Schulte (Iowa), Hunter Wohler (Wisconsin), Dante Trader Jr (Maryland), Coco Azema (Northwestern), Rod Heard II (Northwestern), Marques Buford Jr (Nebraska)
Rod Moore and Makari Page are two veterans proven veterans for Michigan and could easily earn All-Big Ten if they contnue to develop.
Sonny Styles was one of the highest-ranked prospects in the 2022 class and had a few eye-popping plays as a true freshman. Knowles is prepared to unleash Styles in 2023 which could make for a huge season. But that’s solely potential at this point.
Coco Azema has been amongst the Big Ten’s best safeties for a few seasons now. But it’s hard to put a lot of stock into any Wildcat at this juncture. Rod Heard is another veteran in that defensive backfield.
With the loss of Myles Farmer to the portal after getting suspended, Marques Buford Jr will have a lot mor responsibility on his shoulders in 2023. If the Nebraska defense makes major strides this season, Buford will have had a lot to do with it.
Number of All-Big Ten Players by Team
(#) denotes number of Honorable Mentions
Michigan: 10 (10)
Ohio State: 10 (8)
Penn State: 10 (6)
Maryland: 7 (4)
Wisconsin: 6 (7)
Illinois: 5 (4)
Iowa: 4 (13)
Purdue: 4 (3)
Minnesota: 3 (6)
Michigan State: 3 (3)
Indiana: 3 (2)
Rutgers: 2 (6)
Nebraska: 2 (5)
Northwestern: 0 (4)
In Conclusion
In total, The Floor Slap gave out 69 All-Big Ten spots and 81 Honorable Mentions – 150 players total.
Ohio State and Penn State had the most 1st-team selections with 5 each. Michigan, Maryland, and Wisconsin all had three 1st-team selections.
Michigan had the most total players recognized with 20, followed by Ohio State & Iowa with 18 each, and Penn State with 16.
I think these teams prove that there are three main tiers in the Big Ten this year:
Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan are clearly at the top. The Big Ten East will be a battle for the ages in 2023.
Wisconsin, Iowa, and Maryland are all quality teams and would be far from an easy matchup for any team in college football. If Maryland was in the Big Ten West, that division immediately be one of the most competitive in the country.
And then there’s everyone else. Although Illinois is certainly more capable than anyone else of making that jump into the second tier.