by Sean Szymczak

Four Preseason All-Big Ten Teams with 92 players honored! See the document below for an easy-to-read summary of the all-conference teams.

Keep scrolling to read a quick breakdown on why every player belongs where they are.

1st-Team All-Big Ten

Offense

Quarterback: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon

• Gabriel is easily the best QB in the conference heading into the season. If anyone doesn’t have him as their 1st-team quarterback, they’re just being cute.

Running Back: Kyle Monangai, Rutgers

• Monangai led the Big Ten in rushing in 2023 and Rutgers’ passing game & offensive line figure to improve this year, paving the way for even more production from the New Jersey legend.

Running Back: TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State

• Henderson is one of the most electric players in college football. I think he gets an edge over Judkins in his workload and puts up slightly better numbers.

Wide Receiver: Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

• Egbuka will remind the entire country why he was projected to be a 1st-round pick at this time last year.

Wide Receiver: Tez Johnson, Oregon

• The speedy deep threat should see even more targets than last year, when he put up 86-1,182-10.

Wide Receiver: Daniel Jackson, Minnesota

• The most underrated receiver in the country. He put up 60-826-8 with some of the worst quarterback play in the country last year.

Tight End: Colston Loveland, Michigan

• The best tight end in college football. Loveland should lead Michigan in receiving in 2024.

Offensive Tackle: Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota

• The 5th-year senior has started all 26 games over the past two seasons, earning All-Big Ten last year.

Offensive Guard: Josh Priebe, Michigan

• Priebe earned All-Big Ten at Northwestern last year and now transfers to Michigan where he should continue to improve.

Center: Gus Hartwig, Purdue

• Hartwig has 36 career starts under his belt and is finally 100% healthy, after an injury cost him the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023.

Offensive Guard: Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

• Donovan Jackson is the anchor of the Buckeye offensive line.

Offensive Tackle: Ajani Cornelius, Oregon

• He was 1st-team all-conference at Rhode Island before transferring to Oregon last year and immediately becoming their top tackle.

Defense

Defensive End: Abdul Carter, Penn State

• He’s racked up 104 tackles, 16 sacks, 11 TFLs, & 9 PBUs over the past two seasons at linebacker and now moves to the BULL position where he is sure to harass quarterbacks.

Defensive Tackle: Tyliek Williams, Ohio State

• I think Tyliek Williams is the best DT in the country. He’s almost impossible to move at 6’3″ 330lbs but can also play with his hands. Williams had 53 tackles, 10 TFLs, and 3 sacks last year.

Defensive Tackle: Mason Graham, Michigan

• He was 1st-team All-Big Ten last year. No reason he shouldn’t have even better numbers with Kris Jenkins gone.

Defensive End: Jack Sawyer, Ohio State

• Jack Sawyer is Ohio State’s best pass-rusher and one of the most versatile ends in the country when it comes to setting the edge and stopping the run.

Linebacker: Sonny Styles, Ohio State

• Styles was a top-10 prospect in the 2022 class and started at safety last year. He know moves to linebacker, which better suits his 6’4″ 235lb frame.

Linebacker: Jay Higgins, Iowa

• Jay Higgins is the leader of the Hawkeye defense. He was All-American last year with 171 tackles and should be just as effective in 2024.

Linebacker: Alphonzo Tuputala, Washington

• Entering his 6th season, Tuputala’s put up 140 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, & 4.5 sacks over the past two seasons. With Ulofoshio gone, more defensive responsibilities will fall on Tuputala’s shoulders.

Cornerback: Denzel Burke, Ohio State

• Burke is a bona fide lockdown corner and would have been up there with Kool-Aid McKinstry, Dooper DeJean, & Quinyon Mitchell had he entered the 2024 NFL Draft.

Safety: Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin

• Wohler is one of the nation’s most versatile safeties when it comes to pass coverage and run support. He had 120 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2 INTs, & 6 PBUs last year.

Safety: Caleb Downs, Ohio State

• Few players are being hyped as much as Alabama transfer Caleb Downs. After racking up over 100 tackles as a true freshman, Downs should thrive in Jim Knowles’ defense.

Cornerback: Will Johnson, Michigan

• Will Johnson was a consensus 1st-team All-Big Ten corner in each of his two collegiate seasons. I don’t see a reason why he won’t be among college football’s best corners again in 2024.

2nd-Team All-Big Ten

Offense

Quarterback: Will Howard, Ohio State

• Howard hasn’t officially won the job yet, but it’s safe to assume that Ohio State’s starting QB will put up some of the best numbers in the conference.

Running Back: Donavon Edwards, Michigan

• The senior finally has the backfield to himself and should put up the best numbers of his career.

Running Back: Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State

• Judkins isn’t quite the pass-catcher that Henderson is, so he may not see the field quite as much. But he’s been able to put up over 3,000 total yards in his first two seasons for a reason: he’s special.

Wide Receiver: Will Pauling, Wisconsin

• Pauling kept the passing attack’s head above water last year, catching 74 passes for 837 yards & 6 TDs. With improved QB play, he should put up even bigger numbers in 2024.

Wide Receiver: Tai Felton, Maryland

• Felton is a complete receiver with great hands and route-running ability. He stepped seamlessly into Maryland’s WR1 role last year and should be the security blanket for the Terps’ new quarterback.

Wide Receiver: Pat Bryant, Illinois

• Bryant is the Illini’s top returning receiver, catching 43 passes for 560 yards & 7 TDs last year. Illinois’ passing attack looks potent and Bryant should be at the top of the target share.

Tight End: Luke Lachey, Iowa

• Lachey is the next in a long line of great Iowa tight ends. He was lost for the season in game three but is now 100% healthy. He can do everything from the TE position and should have a big year.

Offensive Tackle: Bryce Benhart, Nebraska

• Benhart has been a mainstay on Nebraska’s offensive line, starting all but three games over the past four seasons. He is the leader of a very underrated Husker front.

Offensive Guard: Sal Wormley, Penn State

• Wormley returns for his sixth collegiate season and his third as Penn State’s starting guard. With three starters gone from last year’s unit, the spotlight is on Wormley to produce.

Center: Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State

• All people remember about McLaughlin are the snapping issues late in the year. Those seem to be behind him and he was one of the top pass-blocking centers in the country last year.

Offensive Guard: Marcus Mbow, Purdue

• Mbow is a bully on the line and has refined hand skills to combat pass-rushers. The two-year starter also has the versatility to play tackle and on the interior. He could shoot up 2025 draft boards.

Offensive Tackle: Hollin Pierce, Rutgers

• Hollin Pierce stands at 6’8″ 350lbs and has 37 starts over the past three seasons. He is the clear anchor of Rutgers’ offensive line and one of the nation’s top tackles.

Defense

Defensive End: JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State

• JT’s 2023 campaign didn’t quite meet the hype, but he remains one of the country’s most talented edge rushers. If he play with more consistency in 2024, he should be a 1st-round pick.

Defensive Tackle: Kenneth Grant, Michigan

• The other head of Michigan’s dynamic duo at defensive tackle, Kenneth Grant had 29 tackles, 5 TFLs, & 3.5 sacks in his first season with significant play time.

Defensive Tackle: Nash Hutmacher, Nebraska

• The anchor of Nebraska’s defensive line put up 40 tackles, 8 TFLs, & 4.5 sacks last year. Entering his fifth season, Hutmacher may never come off the field.

Defensive End: Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State

• He’s put up 43 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, & 6.5 sacks over the past two seasons while playing behind Chop Robinson & Adisa Isaac. With them gone, Dennis-Sutton will put up the best numbers of his career.

Linebacker: Jaishawn Barham, Michigan

• Barham was a Freshman All-American for Maryland in 2022 but struggled with injury last year. He’s an incredible athlete in space and a sure-tackler. Great pickup for Michigan.

Linebacker: Nick Jackson, Iowa

• Jackson has put up four straight seasons with 100+ tackles. He also added 8 TFLs, 4 sacks, 4 PBUs, and 2 FFs. He and Jay Higgins make up arguably the country’s best linebacker duo.

Linebacker: Xander Mueller, Northwestern

• With Bryce Gallagher gone, Mueller is left to anchor this Northwestern defense. He’s put up 197 tackles, 21 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, & 5 INTs over the past two seasons.

Cornerback: Ricardo Hallman, Wisconsin

• Hallman had 7 INTs last year and was the only Big Ten corner to give Marvin Harrison Jr some real fits. A true ball-hawk, Ricardo Hallman is a potential All-American in 2024.

Safety: Sebastian Castro, Iowa

• Castro can play just about anywhere on the field. He’s a hard-hitter who is as lethal in pass-coverage as he is behind the line of scrimmage.

Safety: Isaac Gifford, Nebraska

• Gifford posted 86 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, & 8 PBUs last year. He has the unique ability to man-up receivers or survey the back-end of the defense and play with his instincts.

Cornerback: Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon

• Muhammad was the #1 corner in the transfer portal and earned 1st-team All-Pac 12 at Washington last season.

3rd-Team All-Big Ten

Offense

Quarterback: Drew Allar, Penn State

• For all the hate Drew Allar got, he still led the nation with a 25:2 TD:INT. With new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, Allar should improve in his second year as the starter.

Running Back: Darius Taylor, Minnesota

• Taylor put up nearly 900 rush yards in a mere six games as a true freshman last year. With an improved offensive line, it’ll be exciting to see what he can do in a full season.

Running Back: Jordan James, Oregon

• Jordan James had 891 total yards and 12 TDs on over 7 yards per carry in 2023. With a larger work load, he should put up monster numbers in Oregon’s electric offense.

Wide Receiver: Evan Stewart, Oregon

• The former #1 WR prospect has only averaged about 580 yards per season at A&M. But Stewart’s physicality alongside Tez Johnson’s speed should make for a big season.

Wide Receiver: Kaden Prather, Maryland

• Kaden Prather is a strong, physical receiver who transferred from West Virginia last year. He put up 42-666-5 in 2023 and forms a great receiver duo alongside Tai Felton.

Wide Receiver: Donaven McCulley, Indiana

• McCulley is a 6’5″ converted quarterback with great set of hands and elite athleticism. He had nearly 700 yards last year and should build on that this year with a larger target share and better QB play.

Tight End: Terrance Ferguson, Oregon

• Ferguson is a mainstay in the Duck passing attack and should be a security blanket for Dillon Gabriel.

Offensive Tackle: Mason Richman, Iowa

• Richman stands at 6’6″ 315lbs and has started 39 games at tackle over the past three seasons. He’s the leader of a senior-laden offensive line.

Offensive Guard: Emmanuel Pregnon, USC

• Pregnon was a Freshman All-American at Wyoming in 2022 before transferring last year and starting every game at guard.

Center: Ben Scott, Nebraska

• Ben Scott transferred from Arizona State last year and earned Big Ten Honorable Mention. He helped Nebraska rank second in the Big Ten in rushing and has the versatility to move to tackle if needed.

Offensive Guard: Nick DeJong, Iowa

• The 6’6″ 310lb fifth-year senior is another staple for what should be a drastically improved offensive line.

Offensive Tackle: Josh Simmons, Ohio State

• He has struggled with penalties but hasn’t given up a sack in his 26 consecutive starts across San Diego State & Ohio State.

Defense

Defensive End: Aaron Lewis, Rutgers

• Lewis is a former 4-star prospect and has returned for a fifth season to lead a great Rutgers defense as their top pass-rusher.

Defensive Tackle: Bear Alexander, USC

• After flirting with his second transfer in as many seasons, Bear Alexander returned to USC to be the anchor of their defensive line. He had 48 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, & 4 PDs last year.

Defensive Tackle: James Carpenter, Indiana

• Sixth-year senior James Carpenter follows Cignetti over from JMU, where he earned All-CUSA each of the past two seasons.

Defensive End: Aidan Hubbard, Northwestern

• Hubbard is a relative unknown in the Big Ten despite putting up 8.5 TFLs & 6 sacks last year. He’s put on 45lbs since arriving on campus in 2021 and will be a force in 2024.

Linebacker: Kydran Jenkins, Purdue

• Jenkins has accounted for 31.5 TFLs & 16.5 sacks over the past three seasons. He was a menace in Ryan Walters’ 3-4 defense and should continue to improve as the team perfects the scheme.

Linebacker: Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota

• Lindenberg was on pace for an All-Big Ten season last year with 31 tackles & 3.5 TFLs before going down for the year in the Gophers’ fourth game.

Linebacker: Mohamed Toure, Rutgers

• Toure has big shoes to fill with Deion Jennings gone, but he’s more than up to the task with 143 tackles, 17 TFLs, & 9 sacks over the last two seasons.

Cornerback: Justin Walley, Minnesota

• Walley was a surprise return after cementing himself as one of the Big Ten’s top corners last year. He’s posted 84 tackles, 2 TFLs, 4 INTs, 10 PBUs, & 2 FFs over the past two seasons.

Safety: Dillon Thieneman, Purdue

• Thieneman burst onto the scene as a true freshman last year, putting up 106 tackles, 6 INTs, 2 TFLs, 2 FFs, and 2 PBUs last year. He should build on that in 2024 as the leader of the Boiler secondary.

Safety: Lathan Ransom, Ohio State

• Ransom was Ohio State’s best safety last year and on pace for an All-Big Ten season before getting hurt at the end of October. He was another surprise return in a loaded Buckeye secondary.

Cornerback: Tommi Hill, Nebraska

• Tommi Hill transferred from ASU last year and showed tremendous growth throughout the season. With another off-season of development under his belt, he looks the part of a lockdown corner.

4th-Team All-Big Ten

Offense

Quarterback: Miller Moss, USC

• Miller Moss proved his readiness with his Holiday Bowl performance. He beat out a good QB in Jaiden Maiava for the starting job and should put up big numbers.

Running Back: Nick Singleton, Penn State

• It feels wrong having Singleton on the 4th-team and Kaytron Allen missing altogether. But it’s hard to predict what this offense will look like under Kotelnicki. And the Big Ten has insane talent at RB.

Running Back: Roman Hemby, Maryland

• Hemby has over 2,300 total yards, 18 total TDs, 71 receptions, and better than 5 yards per carry over the past two seasons. With Tagovailoa gone, Hemby should shoulder even more of the Terp offense.

Wide Receiver: Elijah Sarratt, Indiana

• Sarrat has accumulated nearly 1,900 yards and 21 TDs over the past two seasons at JMU. The Hoosier WR room is crowded, but Sarratt is a complete receiver.

Wide Receiver: Bryce Kirtz, Northwestern

• Kirtz is a shifty, veteran slot who quietly put up over 700 receiving yards last year. He should be the top target for new QB Mike Wright.

Wide Receiver: Jeremiah Hunter, Washington

• Hunter caught 122 passes for nearly 1,700 yards over the past two seasons at Cal. He will be the Huskies’ top target in what will still be an aggressive offense with QB Will Rogers.

Tight End: Tyler Warren, Penn State

• Warren had over 400 receiving yards and 7 TDs while sharing time with Theo Johnson last year. He should see the ball a lot more in 2024.

Offensive Tackle: Josh Conerly, Oregon

• Connerly was a 5-star prospect in 2022 and started every game for Oregon last year.

Offensive Guard: Marcus Harper, Oregon

• Harper is a fifth-year senior who has started every game for the Ducks over the past two seasons.

Center: Jake Renfro, Wisconsin

• Renfro was 1st-team All-AAC in 2021 for Cincinnati but missed the past two seasons with injury. He’s now 100% healthy. He actually started in the bowl game vs LSU and played very well.

Offensive Guard: Luke Newman, Michigan State

• Newman was 1st-team all-conference for three straight seasons at Holy Cross and was an FCS 1st-team All-American last year. He’s 6’4″ 315lbs and looks like the Spartans’ top lineman.

Offensive Tackle: Jack Nelson, Wisconsin

• The 6’7″ 315lb Nelson was a 5-star prospect in 2020 and has started 25 straight games. His production dropped last year, but I expect improvement from the potential 1st-round pick.

Defense

Defensive End: Jimari Butler, Nebraska

• Butler is the leader of a deep group of edge-rushers for the Huskers. He’s back for a fifth season after posting 8.5 TFLs & 5.5 sacks last year.

Defensive Tackle: CJ West, Indiana

• West transfers from Kent State where he had three straight all-conference seasons.

Defensive Tackle: Sebastian Valdez, Washington

• Valdez proved to be a versatile tackle at Montana State, where he put up 71 tackles, 18.5 TFLs, & 12 sacks over the past two seasons.

Defensive End: Jordan Burch, Oregon

• Burch is a former 5-star prospect, a fifth-year senior, and one of the most versatile defensive linemen in the country. With so much talent leaving that defensive front, Burch will be leaned on heavily.

Linebacker: Ernest Hausmann, Michigan

• Hausmann had 46 tackles as Michigan’s top backup last year. He is one of the surest-tackling linebackers in the country and now steps into a starting role.

Linebacker: Dylan Rosiek, Illinois

• Rosiek has become the leader of the Illini defense and should put up huge numbers in 2024. Last year he had 82 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 3 PBUs, and 4 FFs.

Linebacker: Ruben Hyppolite, Maryland

• Hyppolite has appeared in all but 5 games in his career and posted 66 tackles & 2.5 TFLs last year. With Barham off to Michigan, Hyppolite has even more responsibility on his shoulders.

Cornerback: Cam Miller, Penn State

• Miller was a top-200 prospect in 2022 and showed flashes of greatness in his first real playing time last year, posting 4 TFLs, 3 sacks, 3 PBUs, and an INT. I expect greatness in 2024.

Safety: Quinn Schulte, Iowa

• Schulte enters his third year as a starter for a loaded Hawkeye secondary. He has 136 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 INTs, & 10 PBUs over the past two seasons.

Safety: Bryson Shaw, USC

• Shaw has been the most consistent defensive back in what’s been a struggling Trojan secondary. The former top-300 prospect enters his sixth season – third as a starter with USC.

Cornerback: Robert Longerbeam, Rutgers

• Longerbeam enters his fourth season as a starter after earning Big Ten Honorable Mention last year with 10 PBUs.