Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor, August 18, 2013
We?re 11 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. 11: Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
A converted tight end, Ra'Shede Hageman offers everything a team wants in a defensive tackle. He's huge (6-6, 311 pounds), he's a freakish athlete, and he's improved every season. Entering 2013 as one of the Big Ten's top NFL draft prospects, Hageman is the Big Ten's elite defensive tackle. He'll have his work cut out for him as a senior, as opponents will double team him every chance they get. Still, Hageman possesses the size, strength and speed to combat the attention and be productive. And even if he isn't making the stop or getting the sack, his presence will allow teammates to make plays.
View Hageman's career stats:
2010 stats: 5 tackles
2011 stats: 13 tackles; 3.5 TFL; 2 sacks; 1 FF
2012 stats: 35 tackles; 7.5 TFL; 6 sacks; 1 FF
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. Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
12. Kenny Bell, WR, Nebraska
13. Tyler Scott, DE, Northwestern
14. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska
15. Brandon Vitabile, C, Northwestern
16. Jack Mewhort, OT, Ohio State
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