Countdown to kickoff: Big Ten West breakout player

Our countdown to kickoff series chugs along, and today it's all about Big Ten West breakout players.

[ MORE: Top non-conference game | Top under-the-radar game | East must-see game | West must-see game | East most underrated player | West most underrated player | East surprise team | West surprise team | East breakout player ]

There are no shortage of candidates this season, from as far east as Purdue to as far west as Nebraska.

Who is your leading Big Ten West breakout player candidate?

See BTN.com's Tom Dienhart, Sean Merriman and Brent Yarina's selections below.

Update: De'Mornay Pierson-El was Yarina's selection, but the Huskers announced shortly after that the wide receiver suffered a foot injury and will miss six-to-eight weeks.

Tom Dienhart: Mikale Wilbon, RB, Nebraska. Wilbon came on in the spring and has picked right up in camp. Look for the diminutive redshirt freshman to play a big role in a Husker backfield that?s looking to replace Ameer Abdullah.

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Sean Merriman: Rodrick Williams Jr., RB, Minnesota. With David Cobb off to the NFL, Williams should step in and be the lead back for a Minnesota team that will run the ball a lot. Cobb totaled 294 carries in 2014. That's a lot of touches to replace, and Williams should be the guy who gets the majority of them. A 1,000 yard, 10 TD season could be in store for Williams.

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Brent Yarina: Godwin Igwebuike, S, Northwestern. I originally picked Nebraska's De'Mornay Pierson-El, but the team announced shortly after that he suffered a foot injury and will miss six-to-eight weeks. Consequently, I'll take Igwebuike, a talented safety who started five games last season and will join a deep and experienced secondary.