godwin igwebuike

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22

The Top 21-28 Returning Big Ten Players
Seth •

alias

Draftageddon 2017: Stop Taking Buckeyes Edition

Four_Horsemen_by_MarkWilkinson1

Draftageddon is pre-season All-Big Ten #content given the ol’ MGo-Really-Do-A-Job treatment. We hold a snake draft (1-2-3-4/4-3-2-1 etc.) of Big Ten players and try to build the best teams. You come out of it with a four-deep preseason All-Big Ten. We come out of it primed to cover the upcoming football season and angry at each other.

Previously: The first 10 picks (Hurst, Speight), the next 10 picks (Gary, Peters)

Where things stand after 20 picks:

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  1. Ohio State (8 [edit: 7] players): DE Nick Bosa (3rd, Seth), QB JT Barrett (6th, Seth), DE Tyquan Lewis (8th, BiSB), CB Denzel Ward (11th, Seth), DT Dre’Mont Jones (13th, Ace), OC Billy Price (17th, BiSB), DE Sam Hubbard (20th, Ace)
  2. Michigan (4 players): DT Maurice Hurst (2nd, Brian), DE Rashan Gary (5th, Ace), QB Wilton Speight (a reluctant 7th, Brian), QB Brandon Peters (an obligatory 16th, BiSB)
  3. Penn State (2 players): RB Saquon Barkley (1st, BiSB), QB Trace McSorley (4th, Ace)
  4. Indiana (2 players): LB Tegray Scales (9th, BiSB), WR Simmie Cobbs (12th, Ace)
  5. Wisconsin (2 players): LB Jack Cichy (14th, Seth), TE Troy Fumagalli (15th, Brian)
  6. Minnesota (1 player): DT Stephen Richardson (10th, Brian)
  7. Iowa (1 player): RB Akrum Wadley (18th, Brian)
  8. Maryland (1 player): DT Kingsley Opara (19th, Seth)

As hinted Ace is about to make that 9 Buckeroos.

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Ace: ROUND 6, PICK 1: Jerome Baker, LB, Ohio State

Off: QB Trace McSorley (PSU), WR Simmie Cobbs (IU)
Def: DE Rashan Gary (M), DE Sam Hubbard (OSU), DT Dre’Mont Jones (OSU), LB Jerome Baker (OSU)

Uh, somehow PFF’s #6 returning player in the Big Ten made it to the sixth round:

Raekwon McMillan was the name brand of the Buckeye linebacker corps in 2016, but sophomore first-year starter Jerome Baker was every bit as strong a player in Columbus. Look no further than his performance in The Game, as he terrorized the Wolverines by posting a sack, two hurries and five total stops. His 84.0 run-defense grade is one of the highest among returning Big Ten linebackers this year, and he also gave up just three receptions of over 10 yards on the season.

Baker grades out well in run defense, coverage, and pass-rushing; OSU lines him up all over the place to utilize his versatility and athleticism. He was the best Buckeye defender against Michigan by a significant margin:

There are plenty of impressive MIKE-types in the Big Ten, but none who can play inside and in space like Baker—just watch him at the 3:23 mark above playing man coverage in the slot on Amara Darboh and forcing Wilton Speight to squeeze a low-upside pass into a tight window. I guess he’s worth a sixth-rounder.

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[After the jump: a delightful nit to pick]

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Thursday Recruiting' Looks Around
Ace •

Today's recruiting roundup covers Gareon Conley's decommitment, the candidates to fill the final few spots in the '13 class, and more.

Conley Decommits: Is He Still An Option?

In a move months in the making, Gareon Conley has decommitted from Michigan($, info in header) after visiting Ohio State last weekend, in accordance with the no-visit policy of Brady Hoke. While not a crippling blow to Michigan's recruiting class—three cornerbacks remain in the fold in Ross Douglas, Jourdan Lewis, and Channing Stribling—the loss of Conley removes one of the more dynamic athletes among the commits.

While similar situations with Pharaoh Brown and David Dawson resulted in Michigan no longer pursuing either prospect, TomVH reports (above link) that the Wolverines will continue to recruit Conley—likely because Conley was up-front about his intentions to visit other schools and stayed in communication with the coaches, unlike Brown or Dawson. It's likely that the battle for Conley's services comes down to Michigan and Ohio State; while Conley has serious interest in Oregon, the Ducks have yet to offer and it doesn't appear that one is coming.

I think Michigan still has a pretty good shot here. In the immediate aftermath of the Ohio State visit, Conley said he was still 100% committed to Michigan, and multiple reports stated that he left the game early and hardly interacted with other Buckeye recruits. While Ohio State will get a serious look, expect Michigan to be in it until the very end for Conley, especially since he could get a shot at receiver for the Wolverines as well.

[Hit THE JUMP for the latest on two new O-line targets, a rundown of the available 2013 options, and more.]

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