Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor, August 13, 2013

We?re 16 days from the 2013 football season kicking off. Indiana (Indiana State) and Minnesota (UNLV) get things started for the Big Ten on Thursday, Aug. 29 on BTN/BTN2Go. To help count down the days to kickoff, BTN.com is ranking the top 25 players. Join us as we count it down, from 25-1, every day.

No. 16: Jake Mewhort, OT, Ohio State

As the left tackle, Mewhort, of course, is responsible for protecting Braxton Miller's blind side. That alone makes the senior a very valuable commodity. But the former guard also is one of the Big Ten's best at his position. His blocking a season ago helped pave the way for the Buckeyes to lead the Big Ten in scoring (37.2 points per game) and finish 10th nationally in rushing yards per game (242.3). Now in his final season, the 6-7, 308-pounder is expected to add "leader" to his list of responsibilities. But his biggest role remains keeping Miller clean and on the field.

BTN.com?s top 25 players of 2013
1. Aug. 28
2. Aug. 27
3. Aug. 26
4. Aug. 25
5. Aug. 24
6. Aug. 23
7. Aug. 22
8. Aug. 21
9. Aug. 20
10. Aug. 19
11. Aug. 18
12. Aug. 17
13. Aug. 16
14. Aug. 15
15. Aug. 14
16. Aug. 13
17. Kain Colter, QB, Northwestern
18. Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin
19. Spencer Long, G, Nebraska
20. Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
21. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
22. Deion Barnes, DE, Penn State
23. Isaiah Lewis, S, Michigan State
24. James White, RB, Wisconsin
25. Anthony Hitchens, LB, Iowa