CFN Preseason All-Big Ten Football Team, Top 30 Players: Preview 2022
Who are the best players in the Big Ten going into the 2022 college football season? They’re highlighted in the CFN 2022 Preseason All-Big Ten team, and top 30 players.
collegefootballnews.com
CFN Preseason All-Big Ten Football Team, Awards, Top 30 Players
CollegeFootballNews.com
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
QB - CJ Stroud, Ohio State (SO)
Try not to compare the 2022 Stroud to the 2021 version that put up astronomical numbers and would've won the Heisman in a walk if Ohio State got past Michigan and if Auburn's Tank Bigsby had stayed in bounds late against Alabama. Stroud rolled up over 4,400 yards with 44 touchdowns and six picks last year, hitting 72% of his passes along the way. He's probably not going to do that again for one simple reason -- he won't have to. He had to keep bombing away at times with the Buttguy defense struggling to be its normal self a year ago. As long as he keeps the completion percentage around 70%, keeps the interceptions at a bare minimum, and hits his third down throws, he'll be fine. Of course, he'll be better than fine, though.
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
LB - Jack Campbell, Cockeye (SR)
The Cockeye linebackers know how to tackle and tackle and tackle some more. Campbell and running mate Seth Benson should combine for over 250 tackles if everything goes right in what should be another big year for the Hawkeye D. Campbell won't be as disruptive as Wisconsin's Nate Herbig, and he might not bring the value like several of the top linemen, but he'll eat up everything again after leading the nation with 143 tackles with a fumble return for a score, two interceptions -- taking one for a touchdown -- and with 3.5 tackles for loss.
Preseason All-Big Ten
QB - CJ Stroud, Ohio State (SO)
RB - Braelon Allen, Wisconsin (SO)
RB - TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State (SO)
WR - Jayden Reed, Michigan State (SR)
WR - Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State (JR)
TE - Sam LaPorta, Cockeye (SR)
C - Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan (SR)
OG - Tyler Beach, Wisconsin (SR)
OG - Zak Zinter, Michigan (JR)
OT - Ryan Hayes, Michigan (SR)
OT - Peter Skoronski, Northwestern (JR)
DE - Zach Harrison, Ohio State (SR)
DE - Isaiah Mullens, Wisconsin (SR)
DT - Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin (SR)
DT - PJ Mustipher, Penn State (SR)
LB - Jack Campbell, Cockeye (SR)
LB - Nick Herbig, Wisconsin (JR)
LB - Luke Reimer, Nebraska (JR)
CB - Denzel Burke, Ohio State (SO)
CB - Riley Moss, Cockeye (SR)
S - Cam Allen, Purdoodoo (SR)
S - Sydney Brown, Illinois (SR)
K - Noah Ruggles, Ohio State (SR)
P - Tory Taylor, Cockeye (JR)
KR - Emeka Egbuga, Ohio State (rFR)
PR - AJ Henning, Michigan (JR)
=========================
Big Ten Preseason Top 30 Players
1. CJ Stroud, Ohio State (QB)
2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State (WR)
3. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State (RB)
4. Jack Campbell, Cockeye (LB)
5. Braelon Allen, Wisconsin (RB)
6. Nick Herbig, Wisconsin (LB)
7. Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota (RB)
8. Peter Skoronski, Northwestern (OT)
9. Riley Moss, Cockeye (CB)
10. Denzel Burke, Ohio State (CB)
11. Ryan Hayes, Michigan (OT)
12. Jack Nelson, Wisconsin (OT)
13. Joey Porter, Penn State (CB)
14. Paris Johnson, Ohio State (OT)
15. Jayden Reed, Michigan State (WR)
16. Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin (DT)
17. Dontay Demus, Maryland (WR)
18. Sydney Brown, Illinois (S)
19. Zach Harrison, Ohio State (DE)
20. Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan (C)
21. Cam Allen, Purdoodoo (S)
22. Zak Zinter, Michigan (OG)
23. Luke Reimer, Nebraska (LB)
24. Seth Benson, Cockeye (LB)
25. Christian Izien, Buttgers (S)
26. John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota (C)
27. Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland (OT)
28. Aidan O'Connell, Purdoodoo (QB)
29. Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland (QB)
30. Tiawan Mullen, Indianus (CB)