Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor, June 1, 2015
College football fans will like this: Phil Steele released his 2015 Preseason All-American Team on Monday.
[ MORE: Get Tom Dienhart's preseason Big Ten coverage ]
As expected, Steele likes the Big Ten, in particular the talent at reigning national champ Ohio State and fellow Big Ten East power Michigan State.
The Buckeyes (8) and the Spartans (5) combine for 13 of the 20 Big Ten players on Steele's four teams, and the former also accounts for half of the conference's four first-teamers (Ezekiel Elliott and Joey Bosa).
In all, eight Big Ten teams (Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers) have at least one player on Steele's teams.
FIRST TEAM
Offense
RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
Defense
DE Joey Bosa, Ohio State
DT Anthony Zettel, Penn State
Special Teams
PR De'Mornay Pierson-El, Nebraska
***
SECOND TEAM
Offense
C Jack Allen, Michigan State
G Pat Elflein, Ohio State
T Jack Conklin, Michigan State
T Taylor Decker, Ohio State
Defense
DT Adolphus Washington, Ohio State
DE Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State
Special Teams
K Brad Craddock, Maryland
LS Taybor Pepper, Michigan State
***
THIRD TEAM
Offense
WR Leonte Carroo, Rutgers
Defense
LB Darron Lee, Ohio State
S Vonn Bell, Ohio State
Special Teams
PR Jalin Marshall, Ohio State
***
FOURTH TEAM
Offense
QB Connor Cook, Michigan State
G Dan Feeney, Indiana
Defense
None
Special Teams
P Peter Mortell, Minnesota
KR Janarion Grant, Rutgers
***
BIG TEN BREAKDOWN
Teams
Ohio State – 8
Michigan State – 5
Rutgers – 2
Indiana – 1
Maryland – 1
Minnesota – 1
Nebraska – 1
Penn State – 1
Division
Big Ten East – 18
Big Ten West – 2
Unit
Offense – 8
Defense – 6
Special teams – 6
Position
Offensive line – 5
Defensive line – 4
Punt returner – 2
Kicker – 1
Kick returner – 1
Linebacker – 1
Long snapper – 1
Punter – 1
Quarterback – 1
Running back – 1
Secondary – 1
Wide receiver – 1
First impression: Clearly, Steele is not a fan of the Big Ten West. Like, at all. Two players, that's it, and not a single Wisconsin player. Guys like Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Michael Caputo, Corey Clement, Rafael Gaglianone, Nate Gerry and Justin Jackson, among others, definitely have the ability to make their way on Steele's postseason lists.
Biggest snub: Corey Clement, RB, Wisconsin. When was the last time Wisconsin didn't have one of the nation's elite running backs? It's been a while, and Clement has shown in two seasons behind Melvin Gordon that he's capable of continuing the rich Wisconsin running back history.
***
Here is Steele's preseason All-Big Ten team.
Here is @philsteele042's 2015 Preseason All-Big Ten Team, too. http://t.co/9XyY0643Jl pic.twitter.com/adTWURHVH7
— Brent Yarina (@BTNBrentYarina) June 1, 2015