Best of 2014: Melvin Gordon paces our top five individual seasons

As 2014 comes to a close and the New Year fast approaches, it is time to take a look back at the year in review.

[ MORE: Top 2014 surprises | Top 2014 freshmen | Top 2014 teams ]

Big Ten fans were treated to several outstanding individual performances in 2014. But now we ask, who had the top individual 2014 season?

Here is my list of the top five individual football and basketball performers from 2014.

Enjoy, Big Ten fans!

1. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin. Gordon enjoyed what will go down as one of the best individual performances in college football history. The Badgers' star back set a Big Ten single-season record with 2,336 yards rushing and led the nation with 26 rushing TDs. Only three players have ever rushed for more yards in a single season than Gordon did in 2014. He also set the FBS single-game rushing mark with 408 yards vs. Nebraska, which was topped the following week. Gordon finished second in this year's Heisman Trophy voting behind Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.

2. Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana. It's not every day you see an Indiana football player land near the top of a list like this, but Coleman enjoyed one of the best seasons in college football in 2014. The junior back finished second in the nation in rushing, with 2,036 yards, averaging 7.5 yards per carry. Coleman had four games of at least 200 yards rushing, including his memorable outing at Rutgers on November 15, in which he ran for 307 yards. Coleman was named a consensus All-American and went on to finish seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting.

3. J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State. This redshirt freshman signal caller had one of the top seasons in Big Ten history, regardless of class and position. Barrett re-wrote the record books, finishing the 2014 season with a Big Ten record 45 total touchdowns. He also set Ohio State records for passing yards in a single season, with 3,772, as well as passing touchdowns with 34. Barrett was named the Buckeyes' starting quarterback after Braxton Miller went down with a shoulder injury right before the start of the season. Unfortunately, Barrett broke his ankle in the regular-season finale vs. Michigan, but was still named All-Big Ten and a third team All-American.

4. Nik Stauskas, SG, Michigan. Stauskas is the lone basketball name to appear on this list, and rightfully so. The Wolverines' sharp shooting guard shot 47 percent from the field and averaged 17.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists en route to leading the Wolverines to their first outright Big Ten title since 1986. Stauskas was named the Big Ten Player of the Year, as well as an AP second-team All-America. He was the first Big Ten player selected in the 2014 NBA Draft, going No. 8 overall to the Sacramento Kings.

5. Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State. Bosa enjoyed a dominant campaign for the Big Ten champion Buckeyes. This talented defensive end recorded a Big Ten-best 20 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. He also returned a fumble for a touchdown as part of the Buckeyes' commanding 59-0 victory over Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game. Bosa was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, as well as a unanimous first-team All-American.