BTN.com staff, August 28, 2014

With 2014 kickoff just hours away, it's time for me to release my preseason Big Ten Player Rankings. Iowa left tackle Brandon Scherff tops my top five. Agree? Let me know in the comment section at the bottom of the post. Who else made my list? Watch the video in this post.

See our recent Week 1 posts:

[display-posts tag="week-1" posts_per_page="5"]

Here's my take on each player:

5. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska

He's the leading returning rusher in the Big Ten this year.

4. Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State

He's going to be the lynchpin to what should be another tremendous Spartan defense.

3. Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska

The best defensive end in the Big Ten.

2. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

Just a big play waiting to happen.

1. Brandon Scherff, LT, Iowa

A real monster for that Iowa offensive line.

About Tom Dienhart BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section.