Four Michigan football stars make our top-25 players in the Big Ten
The Michigan Wolverines are a little over two weeks out from kicking off the 2024 season with a roster full of players that could help keep their title window open.
In our annual football preview magazine, we ranked the top players in the Big Ten Conference regardless of class with a handful of Wolverines near the top. However, the Vegas favorites to win the conference – the Ohio State Buckeyes – have a league-leading 8 players on the list. Both Michigan and Oregon come in with four apiece.
Here is how we broke it down:
Top players in the Big Ten
1. CB Will Johnson, Jr., Michigan
Johnson is a potential top-five pick as early as the 2025 NFL Draft and brings the height, athleticism and ball skills that every team covets at the position. He’s a true lockdown No. 1.
2. DT Mason Graham, Jr., Michigan
Another potential defensive first-rounder in 2025 for Michigan, Graham’s advanced game continues to evolve each time he takes the field.
3. DB Caleb Downs, So., Ohio State
The former five-star recruit and member of the Alabama Crimson Tide is elite in almost every sense of the word and could be the piece that takes the OSU defense to the next level.
4. TE Colston Loveland, Jr., Michigan
U-M has questions at QB, but it might also have the best tight end in the country.
5. QB Dillon Gabriel, Sr., Oregon
Gabriel has big-game experience having played at Oklahoma last season and is the most proven signal-caller among Big Ten contenders.
6. WR Tez Johnson, Sr., Oregon
The Troy transfer had no issues proving himself last year, racking up 86 catches for 1,182 yards and 10 touchdowns.
7. LB Jay Higgins, Gr., Iowa
Death. Taxes. Iowa taking the field with elite linebacker play. Higgins had 171 total tackles in 2023, setting a school record.
8. WR Emeka Egbuka, Sr., Ohio State
Should be the clear-cut No. 1 target in Columbus and will look to replicate a 74-catch, 1,151 yard and 10-touchdown season from the 2022 campaign.
9. DT Kenneth Grant, Jr. Michigan
To move as well as he does at 6-3, 339 while still being disruptive makes him a unicorn in college football. He single-handedly set a tone for U-M in its national title win.
10. LB Abdul Carter, Jr., Penn State
First-team All-Big Ten selection started all 13 games, making 48 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, INT, a forced fumble, 5 passes defended and 5 QB hurries last season.
The best of the rest
11. RB Nicolas Singleton, Jr., Penn State
12. EDGE Jack Sawyer, Sr., Ohio State
13. DT Tyliek Williams, Sr., Ohio State
14. EDGE JT Tuimoloau, Sr., Ohio State
15. CB Jabbar Muhammad, Sr., Oregon
16. OL Donovan Jackson, Sr., Ohio State
17. OL Aerontae Ersery, Sr., Minnesota
18. RB Quinshon Judkins, Jr., Ohio State
19. RB TreVeyon Henderson, Sr., Ohio State
20. OL Connor Colby, Sr. Iowa
21. RB Donovan Edwards, Sr., Michigan
22. WR Zachariah Branch, So.., USC
23. OL Jonah Monheim, Sr., USC
24. RB Kyle Monongai, Sr., Rutgers
25. OL Josh Conerly, Jr., Oregon
When does Michigan’s season get started?
Michigan kicks off its 2024 campaign on Aug. 31 against the Fresno State Bulldogs. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from the Big House with NBC carrying the broadcast nationally.
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