Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor, October 8, 2013
It's a new week, which means it's time to release my latest Big Ten Player Rankings. Following the first week of full-blown Big Ten action, the list features a couple of new names. Can you guess who it is? Hint: They both play on offense and went for career days Saturday. View my latest Big Ten Player Rankings in this post.
[ MORE: Power Rankings | Week 6 grades & honors | What did Tom learn? | Week 6 picks revisited ]
1. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin. Gordon leads all Big Ten rushers in yards (698) and averages a silly 10.3 yards per carry, including 8.9 at Arizona State and Ohio State. Just imagine what he'll do when he gets more totes.
Last week: No. 2
Week 6 stats: Bye
2013 stats: 68 car., 698 yards, 7 TD
2. Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State. The most feared player on the Big Ten's most feared defense, Calhoun has quarterbacks sick of seeing No. 89 chasing them down.
Last week: No. 4
Week 6 stats: 3 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 4 QBH
2013 stats: 10 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 12 QBH, 1 INT, 3 FR, 3 TD
3. Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State. After Saturday's career day, Robinson leads the Big Ten in receptions (38), receiving yards (621) and is tied for the lead in touchdown catches (5). All this, mind you, with a true freshman QB.
Last week: NR
Week 6 stats: 12 rec., 173 yards, 2 TD
2013 stats: 38 rec., 621 yards, 5 TD
INSTANT REPLAY: @PennStateFBall's Allen Robinson spins and takes it to the house. #orvillemoment WATCH – http://t.co/VVyx2sJKeM
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 5, 2013
4. Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin. Per usual, Borland is making plays sideline to sideline. Clearly, Wisconsin's new 3-4 scheme isn't hurting the senior's production one bit.
Last week: No. 3
Week 6 stats: Bye
2013 stats: 46 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack
5. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska. Two yards. That's all that stands between Abdullah and five 100-yard efforts in as many games. In Saturday's Big Ten opener, Abdullah torched Illinois for a career-high 225 yards.
Last week: NR
Week 6 stats: 20 car., 225 yards, 2 TD; 1 rec., 15 yards
2013 stats: 94 car., 690 yards, 5 TD; 12 rec., 130 yards
INSTANT REPLAY: Did you see this @Huskers' Ameer Abdullah TD run? Very, very nice! #orvillemoment WATCH – http://t.co/2hrTuhpcan
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 5, 2013
Next 5: Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State; Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin; Jack Mewhort, T, Ohio State; James Morris, LB, Iowa; Taylor Lewan, T, Michigan.
Dropped out: Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State, No. 1, along with Kenny Guiton; Mark Weisman, RB, Iowa, No. 5.
About Brent Yarina | BTN.com senior editor Brent Yarina covers football and men's basketball for BTN.com. He writes the popular uniform feature "Clothes Call," which also focuses on the latest cosmetic changes across Big Ten arenas and stadiums. Read all of his work here. You can subscribe to Yarina's RSS feed and follow him on Twitter @BTNBrentYarina. |