Mike Carter-US PRESSWIRE
The hits keep coming for Michigan State. First, running back Le’Veon Bell turned pro. Now, defensive end William Gholston and tight end Dion Sims will follow suit.
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Andrew Weber-US Presswire
Please tell me you aren’t shocked by news that Michigan State running back Le’Veon Bell is going pro a year early. Running backs have only so many carries in their body. And Bell already has used up a lot of them at Michigan State. In three years, he ran 671 times for 3,346 yards and 33 touchdowns. He also caught 78 passes, which surely will impress NFL scouts.
Find out more about: Le'Veon Bell, NFL Draft
We already have seen Ohio State defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins turn pro. Some other Big Ten players likely are wrestling with the decision. Here is a look at ten Big Ten underclassmen who appear to be the most coveted and could opt to turn pro.
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It was no surprise to see Ohio State defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins announce he’s bypassing his senior season to turn pro. He’s a likely first-round draft choice, and he spent most of the season atop BTN NFL draft expert Russ Lande’s Big Board.
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One draft expert, ESPN’s Todd McShay, fell in love with Mike Martin before the 2012 NFL Draft. Apparently, the Tennessee Titans were fond of him, too. Tennessee selected the former Michigan defensive tackle in the third round of last week’s draft. Martin’s YouTube account, GoMikeMartin, chronicled the defensive tackle’s draft party, and it includes its share of raw emotion. Watch the video now and see more all-access draft videos in this post.
Find out more about: Gone Viral, Mike Martin, NFL Draft
The 2012 NFL Draft came and went this past weekend, with a grand total of 41 Big Ten products being selected during the three-day event. Iowa’s Riley Reiff was the first player off the board, at No. 23, while Illinois, believe it or not, accounted for four of the Big Ten’s first six draft picks. But what about those players who went undrafted? They began signing contracts immediately following the draft. Here’s a complete list of Big Ten free-agent signees. In this post, BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart compiles his All-Big Ten Undrafted Team.
Find out more about: Football Fix, NFL Draft
Michigan State safety Trenton Robinson didn’t expect to last until the final rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft. That’s what happened, though, and it made for some frustration and tense moments at his draft watching party. Eventually, Robinson heard his name — in the sixth round, to be exact. And while it came later than expected, Robinson is thrilled to be a San Francisco 49er. Watch a YouTube video of his draft watching party in this post.
Find out more about: Big Ten Pros, NFL Draft
Immediately following the 2012 NFL Draft on Saturday night, undrafted players began inking free-agent deals. The list of players continues to grow, but see the Big Ten products who have signed and check out some of their tweets in this post. Here’s the official list from NFL.com. And don’t forget about the 41 Big Ten players who were drafted during the three-day event.
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Former Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus didn’t have to wait long to hear his name called during the 2012 NFL Draft. With the 26th pick of Thursday night’s first round, the Houston Texans selected Mercilus, the first of four Illinois players taken in the opening 48 picks. Check out all the Big Ten draft picks and see who inked free-agent contracts. BTN cameras were at Mercilus’ family draft watching party in Akron, Ohio, to capture the nerves and jubilation of the memorable night. Watch the behind-the-scenes feature now.
Find out more about: Big Ten Pros, Illinois features, NFL Draft, TV feature stories
The 2012 NFL Draft came to a close Saturday night. Forty-one former Big Ten stars were selected during the three-day event in New York, including four first-rounders: Iowa’s Riley Reiff, Illinois’ Whitney Mercilus, Wisconsin Kevin Zeitler and Illinois’ A.J. Jenkins. Mercilus and Jenkins were the first of four Illini drafted in the first 48 picks. Even more impressive, four of the Big Ten’s first six players off the board were Illini. Catch up on the entire draft with FoxSports.com’s Draft Tracker and see all the Big Ten picks in this post.
Find out more about: Big Ten Pros, NFL Draft
The NFL draft starts at 8 p.m. ET Thursday with the first round, continues Friday with rounds two and three before finishing Saturday with the final four rounds. For Big Ten players, questions linger. Which one will be the first off the board? Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff? Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus? Someone else?
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If NFL teams are looking for linemen, they may look to the Big Ten often when the draft kicks off with the first round at 8 p.m. ET Thursday. The Big Ten’s top prospects with the best chance to hear their names called on Thursday are linemen: Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff; Wisconsin center Peter Konz; Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler; Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy; Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus.
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With 10 Big Ten spring games down, it will be the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game participants closing out the spring football slate Saturday. On Tuesday night’s “Big Ten Football Report,” Mark Dantonio, the coach of the reigning Legends Division champs, joined BTN host Dave Revsine to talk about Michigan State’s spring. Catch the Spartans spring game at 1 p.m. ET Saturday live on BTN/BTN2Go. Also Saturday, BTN2Go will stream Wisconsin’s spring game at 5 p.m. ET. Watch our interview with Dantonio now and hear from Kirk Cousins on his NFL draft stock in this post.
Find out more about: Kirk Cousins, Mark Dantonio, NFL Draft
The 2012 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night and runs through Saturday afternoon at Radio City Music Hall in New York. To get our readers excited for the three-day marathon of analysis and predictions, we’re taking you on a trip down memory lane. With the help of NFL.com, we’ve linked to the site’s school-specific all-time draft results. Wondering which Illinois players have been selected since the draft’s inception? Find the answer for every Big Ten school in this post. Also, watch our Russ Lunde talk about the NFL draft now.
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It’s no secret ESPN and NFL Network attend the NFL draft and offer analysis and updates live from New York City. But did you know Penn State students do the same? That’s right, starting Thursday and running through the final pick Saturday, the school will air its seventh ComRadio NFL Draft Show live from Radio City Music Hall. You can listen live here and follow all the activity on the show’s Twitter handle: @NFLDraftShow.
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On Tuesday’s Big Ten Football Report with Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith, we aired the second part of DiNardo’s two-part interview with new Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer. Also on tonight’s show, our crew gave an update on Big Ten players at the Senior Bowl. The folks over at SeniorBowl.com have complete rosters – one for the North team and one for the South team. There are Big Ten players on both squads. Watch our Meyer interview now and also check out great bonus content in this post.
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College football players had until Jan. 15 to declare for the NFL Draft, which begins Thursday, April 26 and continues through Saturday, April 28 (get more info at NFL.com). The Big Ten saw five players (Illinois’ Whitney Mercilus, Iowa’s Riley Reiff, Michigan State’s Jerel Worthy and Edwin Baker and Wisconsin’s Peter Konz) opt for the pros, so here’s my quick look at each one along with some handy links.
Find out more about: Big Ten Blast, NFL Draft
The NFL Combine will run from Feb. 22-28 in Indianapolis. It will be the chance for college players to work out and impress NFL executives in anticipation of the draft from April 26-28. The official list of Combine invitees has yet to be released by the NFL, but CBSSports.com has a list of 231 players who reportedly have received initial invites. This initial list includes seniors only and more players are expected to be invited in coming weeks.
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Wisconsin junior center Peter Konz announced Tuesday that he will forgo his senior season and enter his name into the 2012 NFL Draft. A Rimington Trophy finalist this season, Konz started 31 games at center for Wisconsin over the last three years. This year he was named first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches’ Association and Pro Football Weekly. He was also a first-team All-Big Ten choice by the league’s media.
Find out more about: Big Ten Blast, NFL Draft
Edwin Baker says he’s skipping his senior season at Michigan State to enter the NFL draft. Baker tells The Associated Press he told Spartans coach Mark Dantonio of his decision Friday, a day after defensive tackle Jerel Worthy declared himself eligible for the draft. Baker ran for 665 yards and five touchdowns last season, sharing carries with Le’Veon Bell. Read more here and look at Baker’s season’s stats here. On the same day the school announced defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi would be staying at the school.
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Wisconsin may have lost the Rose Bowl, but it gained a big win today when Montee Ball opted to return to school for his senior season. “I’m looking forward to bettering my stock and improving in the offseason,” said Ball, who said the NFL told him he projected to be a third-round draft choice.
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Michigan State consensus All-American Jerel Worthy announced Thursday that he will forgo his senior season and enter the 2012 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 310-pound junior defensive tackle produced a tackle for loss in nine of MSU’s 14 games. Read the full report at MSUSpartans.com.
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Wisconsin junior running back Montee Ball is returning for his senior season with the Badgers. Ball made the announcement in a Thursday afternoon press conference in Madison. Ball added he plans to add at least 10 pounds in the offseason to get stronger while increasing his speed in order to raise his stock in the NFL Draft after next season. “I believe I’m making the right decision,” Ball said.
Find out more about: Montee Ball, NFL Draft
The Big Ten already has seen two top underclassmen officially declare for the draft: Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus and Iowa OT Riley Reiff. And one report has Michigan State DT Jerel Worthy bolting (read the report), while many speculate that Wisconsin RB Montee Ball will opt for the NFL, too.
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Iowa junior offensive tackle Riley Reiff, a 2011 first-team All-Big Ten performer, announced Wednesday that he will enter the 2012 NFL Draft.
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