Big Ten Preseason All-Conference team ahead of 2021 college football season

Although recently dominated by Ohio State, the Big Ten conference is rammed with talent across its 14 teams. That is amply demonstrated with every single program represented in our preseason Big Ten All-Conference teams ahead of the 2021 college football season. Which players should you be watching out for this fall? 

Preseason Big Ten All-Conference | First-team offense

Let’s kick off with our Big Ten All-Conference first-team offense!

Quarterback: Michael Penix Jr., Indiana

The Indiana leftie leads our list of the Big Ten All-Conference players for the upcoming college football season. There’s no question that Penix is the top returning quarterback in the conference following Justin Fields’ departure to the NFL. At the time of his season-ending injury against Maryland, the Indiana quarterback led the Big Ten in a laundry list of passing categories. Those included passing yardage, passing yards per game, passing touchdowns, and 60-yard passing plays.

Despite all his passing accolades last season, Penix’s 2020 campaign will be best remembered for his game-winning end-zone dive against Penn State. With the game on the line and needing to complete a two-point conversion for an overtime win, Penix leaped from the three-yard line to hit the pylon and win the game for the Hoosiers. At that moment, Penix showed the leadership qualities that have made him a team captain for Indiana.

Running Back: Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota

The Big Ten’s leading returning running back from 2020 makes our All-Conference first-team. Ibrahim led all-Big Ten running backs in yards per game (153.71), total yards (1,076), and touchdowns (15). It was the second 1,000-yard campaign for the Minnesota running back after racking up 1,160 yards as a freshman in 2018.

Stout yet slippery and powerful but deceptively explosive in short areas, Ibrahim should once again pace the conference in rushing yards this fall. With the Golden Gophers losing their leading receiver in Rashod Bateman, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Ibrahim tote the rock even more than the nation-leading 28.71 attempts per game he rumbled to last fall.

Running Back: Tyler Goodson, Iowa

Forget the Big Ten All-Conference team, is there a more exciting running back in the nation this fall than Iowa’s Tyler Goodson? He’s an athletic, explosive, and dynamic playmaker for the Hawkeyes. Goodson combines impressive change of direction, creativity, and vision with the excellent pass-catching ability to present a dangerous threat out of the backfield.

Although he’s yet to break 1,000 yards in his career, he’s averaged 5.1 yards per carry on his way to 12 touchdowns. Furthermore, the versatile playmaker has averaged 8.2 yards per catch while compiling 318 receiving yards. Like his stablemate in the Big Ten All-Conference running back room, Goodson should benefit from the departure of his program’s leading receiving talent to the NFL. As a result, expect the Hawkeyes rusher to break the 1,000-yard milestone this fall.

Wide Receiver: Chris Olave, Ohio State

Chris Olave was one of the three wide receivers in our preseason All-American first-team. As such, the Ohio State pass catcher was a lock for the Big Ten All-Conference equivalent. While uncertainty surrounds the Buckeyes’ quarterback battle, there’s no doubt that Olave and teammate Garrett Wilson are one of the best WR duos in the nation.

Olave was on pace to accumulate 1,000 receiving yards in the shortened 2020 season. His combination of physicality, explosiveness, long speed, and exceptional route running make him a potent threat in all levels of the field. As the leading receiver for the program over the last two years, Olave has a paper-thin advantage over his teammate as the true WR1 of our Big Ten All-Conference first-team.

Wide Receiver: Garrett Wilson, Ohio State

Garrett Wilson may have been edged out by teammate Olave but be under no illusion — he’s a top-tier receiver not just in this conference but in all of college football. The third-year receiver has incredible route running, catchability, and body control. Additionally, Wilson can add yardage after the catch with a combination of decent speed and stellar mobility.

Although he finished behind Olave in receiving yards and touchdowns last year, Wilson was one of the Big Ten’s top receivers in numerous receiving categories. He earns a spot on our Big Ten All-Conference first-team after finishing third in total yards (723), fifth in touchdowns (6) and yards per catch (16.81), and fourth in yards per game (90.4).

Wide Receiver: David Bell, Purdue

The Big Ten’s leader in touchdowns and yards per game from 2020 earns first-team All-Conference honors ahead of the 2021 season. David Bell snagged 8 touchdowns while averaging 104.2 yards per game. Between Bell, Rondale Moore, and a quarterback rotation of Aidan O’Connell and Jack Plummer, the Boilermakers led the conference with an average of 309 passing yards per game. Although Moore only commanded 35 receptions last season, Bell should still see an uptick in targets with his teammate’s departure to the NFL.

Success runs through the veins of the Purdue pass catcher. The Indianapolis Star 2018 Male Athlete of the Year was also the Gatorade State Player of the Year before earning the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award in 2019. A first-team Big Ten honoree by the conference following his success last year, expect Bell to have a monster season while elevating his 2022 NFL Draft stock.

Tight End: Jake Ferguson, Wisconsin

For lack of a better word, let’s call Wisconsin’s 2020 passing offense pedestrian. It’s probably the kindest way you’ll hear it described across the internet. Graham Mertz got off to an explosive start in the season opener, but the Badgers’ passing offense finished above only Illinois for yardage per game last fall. It’s easy to point to their rushing reputation as a reason. However, four teams averaged fewer passing attempts per game than the Badgers, with three managing to outstrip Wisconsin’s yards per game.

Amongst this dreary assessment of Wisconsin’s passing attack stands a shining beacon of light in Jake Ferguson. The 6’5″ tight end led all Big Ten TEs with 43.6 yards per game. Furthermore, he ranked second in receiving touchdowns (4) and total receiving yards (305). In addition to his pass-catching prowess, Ferguson continues the Wisconsin tradition of being a solid blocking tight end.

Offensive Tackle: Rasheed Walker, Penn State

Rasheed Walker could have departed to the NFL at the end of the 2020 season. Yet, the two-year starter at left tackle opted to return to the Nittany Lions for his redshirt junior campaign. Among the reasons for his return, Walker listed the influence of Penn State’s offensive line coach and the desire to earn both first-team Big Ten All-Conference honors and All-American recognition.

Well, Rasheed, you can head to the 2022 NFL Draft a happy man. Walker is a first-team offensive tackle on both our Big Ten All-Conference and All-American rosters. An athletically gifted technician at the position who oozes football intelligence, Walker will once again help pace a Penn State unit that finished behind only Ohio State in total offense last year.

Guard: Conner Olson, Minnesota

Interior offensive linemen don’t come much more experienced and versatile than Minnesota’s Conner Olson. The redshirt senior has started 45 games in his Golden Gophers career. Having arrived as the No. 1 guard in the state, Olson has 14 starts at right guard, 15 at center, and 16 at left guard.

After earning a Big Ten All-Conference honorable mention in 2018 and 2019, the Minnesota guard upgraded to third-team recognition despite Minnesota’s struggles last fall. Olson has the athleticism, strength, and football intelligence to emerge as one of the best interior linemen in the conference. He leads the way for Ibrahim to have another insanely productive season in Minnesota.

Center: Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa

Paving the way for Goodson both in our Big Ten All-Conference first-team and the Hawkeyes in the fall, Tyler Linderbaum is unequivocally the best center in college football. The Iowa product has been proudly pulverizing opponents since making the switch from the defensive line to the interior of the offensive line.

Once a skinny kid from Solon, Iowa, Linderbaum has quietly and incredibly ascended into being a star for a Hawkeyes team with a reputation for producing NFL talent. Something will have gone horribly wrong if he doesn’t take home the Rimington Award following the 2021 college football season. Moreover, he should parlay his performances into an early selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Guard: Kyler Schott, Iowa

Linderbaum is joined on our first-team Big Ten All-Conference offensive line by his Iowa teammate. Schott has lived a college football ascension all of his own. Despite being a first-team all-state high school honoree, Schott was unranked and under-recruited. He walked on at Iowa in 2017 and has worked his way up the food chain to be the team’s starting right guard this fall over the past four seasons.

In addition to the ascending playing time, Schott’s game has constantly been evolving and improving. He’s a formidable run blocker who thrives when putting a man in the dirt. During the offseason, he’s worked on his strength, and his football intelligence only expands with experience. With Linderbaum alongside him, Schott should become a household name this season.

Offensive Tackle: Nicholas Petit-Frere, Ohio State

In his first season as a starter last fall, Petit-Frere earned second-team Big Ten All-Conference merits. His success almost led to him declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft. However, the 6’5″ right tackle opted to return alongside his fellow offensive line bookend, Thayer Munford. While Munford receives the lion’s share of the offensive line accolades, Petit-Frere is primed to surpass his teammate with another year of experience.

The Ohio State offensive tackle is already an elite pass protector. His offensive line coach has spoken extensively about working on his run blocking technique over the summer. If he pieces it all together during the 2021 college football season, there’s every chance that he forces the issue as one of the best offensive tackles in the 2022 NFL Draft class.

Flex: Zander Horvath, Purdue

What if I told you that there was a 6’3″, 230 pounds running back roaming the Big Ten this fall? What if I told you that running back had the athleticism of a smaller man combined with the physicality you’d expect from such a frame? Additionally, what if I told you that this running back had the catchability of a wide receiver and blocking ability you’d expect from a fullback? You wouldn’t believe me, right?

If you are already familiar with this mythical beast, I apologize for the long-winded introduction. If you’re not, allow me to present Zander Horvath. Sporting the No. 40 jersey made famous by Mike Alstott, the beast from the Boilermakers evokes memories of the former Purdue player turned Tampa Bay Buccaneer. Horvath makes the perfect piece for the flex position in our Big Ten All-Conference first-team with his multi-faceted abilities.

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