Week 6 Big Ten All-Conference Team

Welcome to the third edition of our look at the race for the Big Ten All-Conference team. I’ll be doing this every 2 weeks to provide an evolving snapshot in part to see how dramatically things change

over the course of the season. We’re somehow almost halfway through the season already. If you missed the week 4 picks you can check them out here.

Below are my picks and a quick recap of the decisions at each position. In order to provide the stat breakdowns I used some shorthand abbreviations. Any use of “yards” includes combined non-sack passing/rushing/receiving yards. Similarly TDs are combined passing/rushing/receiving/return touchdowns. Acronyms that might not be completely clear are: Yards per Attempt (YPA), Big-Time Throw Rate (BTT Rate), Turnover-Worthy Play Rate (TWP Rate), MTF (Missed Tackles Forced), YPC (Yards per Carry), Y/RR (Yards per Route Run), Stops (tackles on unsuccessful plays by the offense).

*Player was also on the week 4 all-conference team (not necessarily on same 1st, 2nd, or 3rd team)

Quarterback

1st Team: Jaiden Maiava* (USC)- 1,664 yds, 11.3 YPA, 15 TD, 1 INT, 7.4% BTT Rate, 2.6% TWP Rate

2nd Team: Dante Moore (Oregon)- 1,210 yds, 9.0 YPA, 14 TD, 1 INT, 7.0% BTT Rate, 1.3% TWP Rate

3rd Team: Fernando Mendoza* (Indiana)- 1,293 yds, 9.7 YPA, 16 TD, 1 INT, 3.8% BTT Rate, 1.3% TWP Rate

Maiava has been at number one on all three editions of the rankings. He got off to an absurdly hot start and has cooled off since then but is still putting up Heisman-caliber numbers even if the defense isn’t good enough to get him there.

It’s a really strong group of B1G quarterbacks right now but the combination of efficiency and team success for Oregon and Indiana means that Dante Moore and Fernando Mendoza get the #2 and #3 spots. Mendoza has more yards, TDs, and YPA than Moore but Moore’s Big-Time Throw rate is nearly double and so that makes up for the small gaps elsewhere in my mind.

Running Back

1st Team: Jonah Coleman* (Washington)- 697 yds, 11 TD, 24 MTF, 5.8 YPC; Justice Haynes* (Michigan)- 683 yds, 8 TD, 25 MTF, 7.7 YPC

2nd Team: Waymond Jordan* (USC)- 586 yds, 5 TD, 28 MTF, 7.0 YPC; Antwan Raymond* (Rutgers)- 513 yds, 9 TD, 34 MTF, 5.4 YPC

3rd Team: Emmett Johnson* (Nebraska)- 584 yds, 8 TD, 24 MTF, 5.6 YPC; Kaytron Allen* (Penn State)- 402 yds, 6 TD, 23 MTF, 7.0 YPC

There has been just about no movement across the running back rankings so far as these have pretty clearly been the best 6 backs all year when combining volume and efficiency. Jonah Coleman has tailed off a bit over the last two weeks with stiffer competition but still holds on to a 1st team spot with his nation-leading 11 touchdowns. Justice Haynes has been an absolute monster and incredibly consistent with at least one long touchdown run basically every game.

The second team is also entrenched with USC’s Waymond Jordan ranking 2nd in the conference in missed tackles forced only behind fellow second-teamer Antwan Raymond from Rutgers. The vulnerable one all season has been Kayton Allen’s spot on the 3rd team and Ohio State’s Bo Jackson definitely has a chance to wrench that spot away if he continues to be the new #1 back while Allen still shares carries with Nick Singleton. Otherwise, I don’t foresee much movement here barring injury or a complete collapse.

Wide Receiver

1st Team: Makai Lemon* (USC)- 600 yds, 6 TD, 4.5 Y/RR; Omar Cooper Jr.* (Indiana)- 510 yds, 7 TD, 3.4 Y/RR; Hank Beatty* (Illinois)- 594 yds, 4 TD, 4.7 Y/RR

2nd Team: Jeremiah Smith* (Ohio St)- 480 yds, 7 TD, 3.7 Y/RR; Carnell Tate (Ohio St)- 451 yds, 4 TD, 3.6 Y/RR; Elijah Sarrat (Indiana)- 388 yds, 6 TD, 2.8 Y/RR

3rd Team: Ian Strong* (Rutgers)- 413 yds, 2 TD, 2.6 Y/RR; Denzel Boston* (Washington)- 346 yds, 5 TD, 2.1 Y/RR; Griffin Wilde (Northwestern)- 375 yds, 2 TD, 3.0 Y/RR

For the second straight edition we get 6 of the 9 spots as holdovers. The three newcomers this time around are Carnell Tate and Elijah Sarrat on the 2nd team and Griffin Wilde on the 3rd team. Tate had a huge week against Minnesota to put himself in position while Sarrat has quietly been racking up touchdowns for Indiana. I decided to throw a bone to Northwestern putting Wilde on there. His stats are close to a few others but being a Northwestern receiver with stats in the top 9-10 receivers in the conference kind of deserves a bonus.

The first team has Lemon and Cooper staying strong but Beatty leapfrogs Jeremiah Smith after his sensational performance this past weekend. He’s now number one in the conference in yards per route run and second in the country. Smith is still sensational but his totals haven’t been quite as overwhelming with the attention he gets from defenses.

Tight End

1st Team: Lake McRee* (USC)- 248 yds, 1 TD, 2.23 Y/RR

2nd Team: Kenyon Sadiq* (Oregon)- 204 yds, 3 TD, 1.81 Y/RR

3rd Team: Lance Mason* (Wisconsin)- 207 yds, 2 TD, 1.93 Y/RR

There are zero changes from last edition here as it’s a pretty clear cut top 3 in the conference right now at least from a receiving standpoint. The numbers are very close between Sadiq and Mason but Sadiq having a 5-0 edge in missed tackles forced as a receiver very narrowly puts him on top for the 2nd team spot.

Offensive Line

1st Team: LT Trevor Lauck* (Iowa); LG Beau Stephens* (Iowa); C Matt Gulbin* (Michigan State); RG- Kade Pieper* (Iowa); RT Gennings Dunker* (Iowa)

2nd Team: LT JC Davis (Illinois); LG Vega Ioane* (Penn State); C Jackson Carsello* (Northwestern); RG- Kwabena Asomoah* (Rutgers); RT Kahlil Benson* (Indiana)

3rd Team: LT Carver Willis* (Washington); LG Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon); C Logan Jones* (Iowa); RG Evan Beerntsen* (Northwestern); RT Drew Azzopardi* (Washington)

Once again, I’m pretty up front with the offensive line that I just go off of PFF grades because there’s no way for me to scout the OL and the stats from other sources for individual linemen are even sketchier. My criteria were that I pick the highest graded player at each line spot who has played the majority of their snaps at that position.

Last edition, all 5 spots on the 1st team were owned by Iowa players. This time around we’re saved from that hegemony by Matt Gulbin of Michigan State who knocks it down to just 4 Hawkeye representatives on the 1st team (C Logan Jones fell to 3rd team). The Washington tackles who were #1 in the week 2 ranks have both slipped down to 3rd team but the injury to Carver Willis means he’ll probably fall out of eligibility or get leapfrogged here by the time the next round of rankings come out.

Defensive Tackle

1st Team: Tyrique Tucker (Indiana)- 13 tackles, 8 pressures, 3 sacks, 11 stops; Gary Smith III* (UCLA)- 22 tackles, 6 pressure, 1 sack, 16 stops

2nd Team: Kayden McDonald (Ohio St)- 17 tackles, 7 pressures, 2 sacks, 10 stops; Cam Rice* (Maryland)- 16 tackles, 13 pressures, 2 sack, 11 stops

3rd Team: Dillan Fontus (Maryland)- 12 tackles, 9 pressures, 3 sacks, 8 stops; Devan Thompkins* (USC)- 16 tackles, 13 pressures, 1 sack, 9 stops

This has continued to be one of the most volatile positions as we have a pair of new 1st teamers and swap out three of the six spots overall. The counting stats are low enough at defensive tackle that it’s especially hard to judge.

Tyrique Tucker moves up to 1st team from off the list entirely by just being really solid and in the top five among B1G defensive tackles in several defensive metrics. Gary Smith III continues to lead the group in tackles to ascend from 2nd to 1st team. Both of Maryland’s DTs get on the team here as Cam Rice remains on second team while Dillan Fontus claims one of the 3rd team spots.

Edge Rusher

1st Team: Caden Curry* (Ohio State)- 22 tackles, 19 pressures, 5 sacks, 16 stops; Gabe Jacas (Illinois)- 10 tackles, 17 pressures, 5 sacks, 9 stops

2nd Team: Sidney Stewart* (Maryland)- 10 tackles, 20 pressures, 3 sacks, 11 stops; Mason Reiger* (Wisconsin)- 15 tackles, 18 pressures, 2 sack, 11 stops

3rd Team: Zahir Mathis* (Maryland)- 17 tackles, 17 pressures, 4 sacks, 12 stops; Teitum Tuioti (Oregon)- 17 tackles, 10 pressures, 4 sacks, 16 stops

We get 4 holdovers here but swap out both of the 1st team spots. Sidney Stewart of Maryland moves down from 1st to 2nd team but very likely would’ve kept up his spot if he hadn’t been ejected for targeting with 10 seconds left in the 1st half against Washington. Caden Curry ascends and is pretty unquestionably the top edge in the conference so far after a few dominating performances including against the Huskies. Illinois’ Gabe Jacas was a preseason all-conference pick and has finally rounded into form and is now tied with Curry with 5 sacks.

Mason Reiger of Wisconsin also dropped along with Stewart from 1st to 2nd team but is still putting together an impressive season despite his sack totals stalling out. The new face on the 3rd team is Oregon’s Teitum Tuioti but there are arguments for several players including his teammate Matayo Uiagalelei.

Linebacker

1st Team: Daniel Wingate* (Maryland)- 52 tackles, 6 pressures, 2 TFL, 27 stops, 1 INT; Amare Campbell (Penn St)- 43 tackles, 5 pressures, 4 TFL, 22 stops

2nd Team: Javin Wright (Nebraska)- 19 tackles, 2 pressures, 5 TFLs, 16 stops; Eric Gentry* (USC)- 22 tackles, 6 pressures, 4 TFL, 16 stops, 1 PBU

3rd Team: Mani Powell (Purdue)- 36 tackles, 9 pressures, 2 TFL, 28 stops; Arvell Reese (Ohio St)- 22 tackles, 12 pressures, 4 sacks, 14 stops

This was ultimately the most chaotic position with four of the six spots swapping out. The one constant throughout all the linebacker rankings so far has been Daniel Wingate at #1 as he continues to be an absolute tackling machine in the middle of a very good Maryland defense. Penn State’s Amare Campbell leapfrogged teammate Tony Rojas who missed the UCLA game due to injury (maybe a point in favor of Rojas’ candidacy given the result). Eric Gentry was the only other returning member from last edition as he drops from 1st team to 2nd team.

I admittedly had a tough time with the rest of the spots but gave a nod to Javin Wright of Nebraska on 2nd team who hasn’t had as many tackles but has only missed one and has 5 TFLs. Mani Powell of Purdue gets on the 3rd team due to overwhelming counting stats even though PFF doesn’t think very highly of his performance so far, having barely made it over my cutoff line there. Arvell Reese vs. Sonny Styles from the OSU defense was a compelling debate for the last spot but I rewarded Reese’s work as a pass rusher and for shutting down Demond Williams Jr. as a runner in that game.

Cornerback

1st Team: John Nestor* (Minnesota)- 62.5% comp, 9.7 Y/REC, 2 INT, 4 PBU; Jyaire Hill* (Michigan)- 41.2% comp, 5.6 Y/REC, 0 INT, 5 PBU; Jamare Glasker* (Maryland)- 33.3% comp, 10.3 Y/REC, 0 INT, 1 PBU

2nd Team: Ceyair Wright* (Nebraska)- 26.7% comp, 5.8 Y/REC, 0 INT, 2 PBU; Josh Fussell (Northwestern)- 44.4% comp, 6.5 Y/REC, 0 INT, 3 PBU; Rodrick Pleasant (UCLA)- 56.3% comp, 7.6 Y/REC, 0 INT, 2 PBU

3rd Team: D’Angelo Ponds* (Indiana)- 60% comp, 6.1 Y/REC, 1 INT, 1 PBU; TJ Hall* (Iowa)- 41.9% comp, 10.5 Y/REC, 0 INT, 5 PBU; Devan Boykin (Indiana)- 66.7% comp, 7.6 Y/REC, 0 INT, 1 PBU

There was a decent shake-up here with 2 members moving from off the list to the 2nd team. Josh Fussell and Rodrick Pleasant have been playing for two of the worst teams in the conference but have been doing their part mostly locking down one side of the field even if neither has gotten a pick yet. D’Angelo Ponds moved from 1st to 3rd team after not having played since the last rankings set although he’s expected to return in the big matchup against Oregon this weekend. Indiana’s Devan Boykin got the last 3rd team spot but it was very competitive and I went back and forth several times. Ultimately, Boykin’s success tackling (o missed) helped earn him the tiebreaker.

Safety

1st Team: Jalen Huskey* (Maryland)- 31 tackles, 13 stops, 2 INT; Bishop Fitzgerald* (USC)- 28 tackles, 6 stops, 3 INT, 1 PBU

2nd Team: Alex McLaughlin* (Washington)- 40 tackles, 13 stops, 2 INT, 2 PBU; Zakee Wheatley (Penn St)- 35 tackles, 13 stops, 1 PBU

3rd Team: Caleb Downs* (Ohio State)- 21 tackles, 2 TFL, 16 stops, 1 INT; DeShon Singleton (Nebraska)- 21 tackles, 10 stops, 2 INT

The safety position continues to be loaded in the B1G so this is one of the more tightly contested positions. I ultimately didn’t have room for either of Indiana’s safeties who are tied atop the conference with 3 interceptions each. There’s a strong argument for either of them versus DeShon Singleton but the coverage numbers for Singleton are very good even if he hasn’t necessarily gotten as many interceptions.

Washington’s Alex McLaughlin is now tops among B1G safeties in total tackles and combined with a pair of picks it is enough to keep him on the 2nd team this time around. I have a feeling though that Caleb Downs will end up ahead of him in the final voting even if McLaughlin’s numbers are better because of the reputation factor.