Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor, June 23, 2015
It should be another strong season for the Big Ten.
Fresh off the conference's first national championship since 2002, the Big Ten boasts a bevy of top-end talent.
How much talent, exactly? Well, 24 Big Ten players made Athlon Sports' preseason 2015 All-America Team, second only to the SEC (27). Earlier this summer, Phil Steele placed 20 Big Ten players on his preseason All-America Team.
Reigning national champ Ohio State accounts for 11 of Athlon's All-Americas, four more than second-place Alabama (7).
Take a look at all of Athlon's Big Ten representatives:
OFFENSE
First team
RB: Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
G: Pat Elflein, Ohio State
G: Taylor Decker, Ohio State
Second team
T: Jack Conklin, Michigan State
Third team
C: Jack Allen, Michigan State
Fourth team
QB: Cardale Jones, Ohio State
AP: De'Mornay Pierson-El, Nebraska
***
DEFENSE
First team
DE: Joey Bosa, Ohio State
DE: Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State
Second team
DT: Anthony Zettel, Penn State
LB: Darron Lee, Ohio State
CB: Eli Apple, Ohio State
S: Vonn Bell, Ohio State
Third team
DT: Maliek Collins, Nebraska
DT: Adolphus Washington, Ohio State
LB: Joshua Perry, Ohio State
CB: William Likely, Maryland
Fourth team
LB Vince Biegel, Wisconsin
CB: Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Minnesota
***
SPECIAL TEAMS
First team
PR: De'Mornay Pierson-El, Nebraska
Second team
K: Brad Craddock, Maryland
Third team
PR: Jalin Marshall, Ohio State
Fourth team
P: Peter Mortell, Minnesota
KR: Janarion Grant, Rutgers
