In lieu of announcing a preseason all-conference team during football media days, a few years ago the Big Ten instead went to a preseason media vote of 10 B1G players to be aware of, with five from each division.
This year, Buckeyes Nick Bosa and J.K. Dobbins made the list.
Joining them from the East Division were Michigan defensive end Rashan Gary, Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke, and Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley. Earning notice from the West were Iowa tight end Noah Fant, Nebraska receiver Stanley Morgan, Northwestern linebacker Paddy Fisher, Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Edwards, and Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor.
McSorley was the only unanimous selection.
From Ohio State’s release.
Bosa, a junior from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was named last week to the Maxwell Award Watch List and the Bednarik Award Watch List. Both awards are presented by the Maxwell Club and honor the nation’s most valuable player and its top defensive player, respectively. A first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, Bosa led the 2017 Buckeyes in tackles-for-loss (16.0), tackles-for-loss yardage (74) and sacks (8.0).
As a result of his production, Bosa was the Big Ten Conference’s Smith-Brown defensive lineman of the year in 2017, becoming the fourth consecutive Buckeye to earn the award. He enters this season with 63 tackles in 27 career games to go along with 23 TFLs and 13.5 sacks.
Dobbins, a sophomore from LaGrange, Texas, is already a member of the Doak Walker Award and Maxwell Award watch lists. He is coming off the best statistical seasons for any freshman running back in program history, rushing for 1,403 yards and seven touchdowns while starting all 14 games for the Big Ten and Cotton Bowl champions.
In last year’s Big Ten Championship Game against No. 4 Wisconsin, Dobbins rushed for 174 yards to earn the game’s Most Outstanding Player honors. It was one of six 100-yard games for Dobbins, who averaged 7.2 yards per carry – good for seventh-best nationally and No. 1 among freshmen.
Big Ten Football Media Days get under way Monday afternoon. Here is what you need to know to get ready for it.
The Bucks are so talent-rich that one could make the argument that
the JK Dobbins is our second-best running back. It’s like arguing about your favorite color or favorite song – it’s hard to prove who is better.
In looking at Mike Weber’s film from last year, and his long touchdowns where nobody can catch him, not even 5 MSU defensive backs… it just becomes clear that we have two really, REALLY good running backs.