Big Ten Football Preview 2016
East
#1 Ohio State Buckeyes
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Coach: Urban Meyer
Offensive Coordinator: Tim Beck, Ed Warinner Defensive Coordinator: Luke Fickell, Greg Schiano Stadium: Ohio Stadium (104,944) 2015 Record: 12-1 The Breakdown Offense: Ohio State returns only 3 starters on the offensive side of the ball in 16’. Even with 3 starters coming back, expectations are really high for this Buckeyes team. The reason is because JT Barrett is back and healthy with no competition. Barrett sparked the Buckeyes offense in 14’ that led to an eventual national championship. In 5 starts last season, Barrett rushed for nearly 700 yards and 11 scores while throwing for 992 yards and 11 TD. Young but unproven talent surrounds Barrett in this offense. Mike Weber will get the first opportunity to replace the huge shoes left by Zeke Elliot. Weber enter with a ton of hype and will be backed up by Antonio Williams another solid RB prospect. Curtis Samuel is an extremely important player in this offense, his ability to catch out of the backfield makes him most valuable to Barrett. Noah Brown is a big time receiver that is going to pick up where Mike Thomas left off. Senior Corey Smith will need to step up and get this WR unit playing at a high level. Freshman Austin Mack should see plenty of playing time. Defense: Much like the offense, Ohio State returns only 3 defensive starters. However, the Buckeyes defense is absolutely loaded with depth and talent. Starting upfront on the line with Sam Hubbard and Tyquan Lewis playing the ends. Hubbard recorded 6.5 sacks as a backup and Lewis led the Buckeyes with 8 sacks in 15’. Highly recruited Nick Bosa also figures to see plenty of time for the Buckeyes this season. Raekwon McMillan leads an impressive set of Buckeyes at the linebacker position. McMillan was a freshman All-American and last year received 1st team B1G honors. McMillan led the Bucks with 119 tackles and figures to be in a position for All-American honors once again. Gareon Conley is the last remaining starter for the Buckeyes. Conley finished with 2 INT and is the leader in the secondary. The secondary has a plenty of young talent, including Malik Hooker, who is going to become a household name this season. Special Teams: Sean Nuernberger will be the starting kicker for this season’s Buckeyes. Nuernberger converted on just 3-4 attempts last season. Cameron Johnston pinned 26 of 58 punts inside the 20 and averaged nearly 44 yards per punt. Dontre Wilson will be deployed as the main return man. Overview: Ohio State can lose a historic amount of draft picks and still be a favorite to win a national champions because of what Urban Meyer has built in Columbus. Ohio State was one win away from potentially winning a second consecutive national title. JT Barrett is a Heisman type winning QB, who will give the Buckeyes a chance in every game. It’s going to be interesting to see how the young players develop in the first few weeks, especially at the skill and offensive line positions. The defense should be one of the best in the B1G and maybe the country. The defensive ends are filthy and Raekwon McMillan is a game changer at linebacker. Ohio State has a tough road ahead if they want to make a return trip to the CFB playoffs. Ohio State opens with Bowling Green and Tulsa before heading to Oklahoma for a huge early season showdown between title contenders. Ohio State opens B1G play with Rutgers and Indiana at home. Consecutive road trips to Wisconsin and Penn State are potential road bumps. Visits from Northwestern and Nebraska lead the Buckeyes back on the road to Maryland and a big showdown at Michigan State. Ohio State hosts Michigan in the season finale. Ohio State drawing 3 of the top 4 teams from the West is going to make this season brutal. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing JT Barrett, JR, QB 147 ATT, 93 COM, 63.3%, 992 YARDS, 11 TD, 4 INT, 139.2 RATING Rushing JT Barrett, JR, QB 115 ATT, 682 YARDS, 11 TD Receiving Curtis Samuel, JR, RB 22 REC, 289 YARDS, 2 TD Defense: Interceptions: Gareon Conley, JR, DB 2 INT Sacks: Tyquan Lewis, JR, DE 8.0 SACKS Tackles: Raekwon McMillan, JR, LB 119 Tackles Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 12-1 2014 14-1 2013 12-2 2012 12-0 2011 6-7 Ohio State Schedule
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#2 Michigan State Spartans
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Coach: Mike Dantonio
Offensive Coordinator: Jim Bollman, Dave Warner Defensive Coordinator: Harlon Barnett, Mike Tressel Stadium: Spartan Stadium (75,005) 2015 Record: 12-2 The Breakdown Offense: Michigan State rolls into the new season fresh off a CFB Playoff appearance in 15’. Sparty has a bunch of new faces on the offensive side of the ball. Connor Cook departs and his replacement is Tyler O’Connor. O’Connor was the starting QB when Sparty pulled off the upset of Ohio State in Columbus. The offensive line replaces 3 starters but many were backups who have experience. One area Michigan State needs to improve this season is in the rushing game. LJ Scott led the Spartans in rushing as a true freshman. Scott finished with 699 rushing yards and 11 TD’s. Gerald Holmes and Madre London also received over 100 carries, combining for over a 1,000 yards and 11 more rushing TD’s. Aaron Burbridge and his 85 receptions are also gone, but the return of RJ Shelton should help the passing game. Young receivers Felton Davis and Donnie Corley are going to be difference makers. TE Josiah Price is a huge target for O’Connor after catching 23 passes but 6 for TD. Defense: Michigan State returns only 6 starters on the defense, but there are some great ball players left on the roster. Shilique Calhoun and his 10.5 sacks will be dearly missed. Up front Sparty only returns one starter, Malik McDowell. McDowell recorded 4.5 sacks and 8.5 TFL. Top recruit Josh King figures to be the starter at DE when the season kicks off. Riley Bullough returns for his senior season and is one of the leaders on defense. Bullough led the Spartans with 106 tackles in 15’, with 4 sacks. 3 starters return in the secondary, a unit that wasn’t particularly strong last season. Demetrious Cox and Montae Nicholson are two solid safeties, both leading the team in INT last season with 3. Both will have solid seasons in East Lansing, looking to build on the tackle totals from 15’. Special Teams: Michael Geiger’s struggles continued last season after converting only 12-19 FG. Four of those misses happened inside 40 yards. Jake Hartbarger performed well as punter in his freshman season. Hartbarger averaged nearly 43 yards per punt. RJ Shelton will continue to be the return man for the Spartans. Overview: Mark Dantonio has put his name at the top of many lists as a top coach. It’s amazing what kind of program he has built in his 10 seasons in East Lansing. Michigan State will be flying under the radar this season after the departure of so many key pieces. This makes the Spartans even more dangerous. The defense should continue to be one of the better ones in the B1G. Tyler O’Connor is a big questions mark, but he has the playmakers he needs to be successful. The B1G schedule sets up well for Sparty to remain on top of the East. Michigan State will be tested in the non-conference with a trip to South Bend and by hosting the always difficult BYU Cougars. The Spartans get Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan, Rutgers and Ohio State at home. The toughest conference road test for Sparty is the final game of the season at Penn State. If Sparty starts to click by the end of October, they have a real shot at returning to Indianapolis. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Tyler O’Connor, SR, QB 24 ATT, 13 COM, 54.2%, 133 YARDS, 2 TD, 1 INT, 119.9 RATING Rushing LJ Scott, SO, RB 146 ATT, 699 YARDS, 11 TD Receiving RJ Shelton, SR, WR 43 REC, 503 YARDS, 4 TD Defense: Interceptions: Montae Nicholson, JR, DB 3 INT Sacks: Malik McDowell, JR, DL 4.5 Sacks Tackles: Riley Bullough, SR, LB 106 Tackles Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 12-2 2014 11-2 2013 13-1 2012 7-6 2011 11-3 Michigan State Schedule
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#3 Michigan Wolverines
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Coach: Jim Harbaugh
Offensive Coordinator: Tim Drevno Defensive Coordinator: Don Brown Stadium: Michigan Stadium (107,601) 2015 Record: 10-3 The Breakdown Offense: Jim Harbaugh worked wonders with transfer QB Jake Rudock last season, developing him into a NFL draft pick. Harbaugh starts year two with another transfer QB, John O’Korn, a transfer from Houston. O’Korn was a successful QB for Houston before his transfer. Wilton Speight may also see some time at QB during the season. The skill players surrounding the QB may be some of the best in years. The return of four starting offensive lineman are making the Wolverines a trendy pick to win the B1G and reach the playoffs. De’Veon Smith led the Wolverines in rushing last season with 753 yards and 6 TD’s. All the talk around the nation are about Michigan’s trio of receivers. All 3 guys recorded over 50 receptions. Jehu Chesson had some spectacular games but went missing in others. Chesson finished with 50 receptions for 764 yards and 9 TD’s. Amara Darboh led Michigan in receptions with 58. TE Jake Butt was an NFL draft pick but decided to return for his senior season. Butt pulled in an impressive 51 catches for TE and 3 scores, Defense: Michigan presented one of college football’s best defenses in 2015. The Wolverines bring back 6 starters from a team that ranked 6th in scoring defense and led the B1G in passing defense. DE Chris Wormley led the Wolverines with 6.5 sacks and totaled 43 tackles. Ryan Glasgow is the main run stopper at the DT position. Rashan Gary, who was the nation’s top recruit from 15’ should see some playing time early in his Michigan career. Taco Charlton will play the hybrid DE position after recording 5.5 sacks as a backup last season. Jabrill Peppers is on his way to being a sure-fire All-American. Peppers finished as a 1st team B1G performer in his freshman season. Peppers is going to be one of the top players at linebacker to watch all season. Jourdan Lewis is an impressive athlete at the CB position for Michigan. Lewis is the top tackler returning for the Wolverines but what’s more impressive is his 20 PBU’s from a season ago. Lewis is a shutdown corner and one of premier corners in the country. Special Teams: Kenny Allen was a consistent kicker for the Wolverines in 15’. Allen finished 18-22 with a long of 47. Quinn Nordin will handle the punting duties. Peppers and Lewis make up an electrifying return team. Overview: Jim Harbaugh added 5 wins from the previous season to everyone’s surprise. Harbaugh can flat out coach and he gets the best out of his players. Michigan benefitted from quality QB and a suffocating defense. Michigan will have another quality QB and the defense is going to be just as lights out. Concerns at LB were helped by Pepper’s move from safety. Last year Michigan benefitted from hosting the top B1G teams, something that changes this season. Michigan opens the season with 5 straight home contests. Those five being Hawaii, UCF, Colorado, Penn State and Wisconsin should all be wins. A road trip to Rutgers and home game with Illinois should allow a 7-0 start. Then the Wolverines head to East Lansing looking to get revenge for the crazy finish in Ann Arbor last season. A home game with Maryland is sandwiched between another road trip, this time to Iowa. Indiana comes to town before Michigan heads to Columbus to finish the season. Michigan has to play the top 3 teams from the B1G on the road this season, all late in the season. If the Wolverines can make it through the late season gauntlet, they will be in Indianapolis and maybe find a spot in the CFB playoffs. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Wilton Speight, JR, QB 25 ATT, 9 COM, 36%,73 YARDS, 1 TD, 1 INT, 6507 RATING Rushing De’Veon Smith, SR, RB 180 ATT, 753 YARDS, 6 TD Receiving Jehu Chesson, SR, WR 50 REC, 764 YARDS, 9 TD Defense: Interceptions: Jeremy Clark, SR, DB 3 INT Sacks: Chris Wormley, SR, DE 6.5 Sacks Tackles: Jourdan Lewis, SR, DB 52 Tackles Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 10-3 2014 5-7 2013 7-6 2012 8-5 2011 11-2 Michigan Schedule
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#4 Penn State Nittany Lions
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Coach: James Franklin
Offensive Coordinator:Joe Moorhead Defensive Coordinator: Brent Pry Stadium: Beaver Stadium (106,572) 2015 Record: 7-6 The Breakdown Offense: The Christian Hackenberg era has officially come to an end in Happy Valley. Penn State will enter the season with a new QB for the first time in a few years. That guy will be Trace McSorley, a sophomore. McSorley is a mobile QB, who threw 2 TD in limited action a year ago. The good news for McSorley is that Penn State returns 4 starters on the offensive line and may have the best WR unit in the B1G. Saquon Barkley is the new star in Happy Valley. Barkley had a breakout freshman season, resulting in being named to the Freshman All-American team. Barkley ran for nearly 1,100 yards and 7 TD, sporting a 5.9 yard per carry average. Penn State has a trio of Junior WR’s that would start on every major college football program. Chris Godwin was the go-to guy for Hackenberg, hauling in 69 receptions for 1,101 yards. DaeSean Hamilton led the Nittany Lions with 6 receiving TD’s and is a similar style receiver as Godwin. Saeed Blacknall is the home-run threat for this offense. Defense: Penn State finds themselves replacing key players all across the board on defense this season. Three new starters on the defensive line will open up the season. Garrett Sickles is the only starter returning and he brings back 3 sacks and 36 total tackles. Leading tackler Jason Cabinda returns for his junior season. Cabinda, an outside linebacker, finished with 100 tackles in 15’. Brandon Bell playing opposite of Cabinda finished with 5.5 sacks and 7 TFL. Penn State’s passing defense was one of the best in the nation last season, finishing 8th overall. The loss of Carl Nassib and his 15.5 sacks will be felt early in the season, especially in the secondary. CB Grant Haley tied for the team lead with 2 INT. Marcus Allen returns as the starting FS, after amassing 81 tackles. Special Teams: Tyler Davis will start at kicker for the Nittany Lions. Davis finished a perfect 8-8 last season. Penn State would like punter Daniel Pasquariello to improve on his 39.9 yards per punt average. Overview: James Franklin enters his 3rd season at the helm and fans are expecting to see more than 7 win seasons. Penn State playing in the East has really held the program back, as they play the big 3 every season. QB play is going to be a major question for the success of this season’s Lions. McSorley has to give Penn State quality play and with Barkley and amazing WR’s it should be easier. Penn State lost a ton of key players on the defense, which may set them back in 16’. Penn State has a fairly difficult schedule this season. The non-conference features games at Pittsburgh and hosting Temple, two very solid teams. A B1G road opener at Michigan will surely show fans which way the season is heading. 3 consecutive home games against Minnesota, Maryland and Ohio State take them to the final week of October at Purdue. A home date with Iowa opens November. Road games at Indiana and Rutgers are must wins for the Nittany Lions before the home finale with Michigan State. A 10-win season would be a major success for this program, given the schedule. Realistically, Penn State may be looking at another mediocre season. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Trace McSorley, SO, QB 40 ATT, 20 COM, 50%, 185 YARDS, 2 TD, 0 INT, 105.3 RATING Rushing Saquon Barkley. SO, RB 182 ATT, 1076 YARDS, 7 TD Receiving Chris Godwin, JR, WR 69 REC, 1101 YARDS, 5 TD Defense: Interceptions: Grant Haley, JR, DB 2 INT Sacks: Brandon Bell, SR, LB 5.5 Sacks Tackles: Jason Cabinda. JR, LB 100 Tackles Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 7-6 2014 7-6 2013 7-5 2012 8-4 2011 9-4 Penn State Schedule
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#5 Indiana Hoosiers
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Coach: Kevin Wilson
Offensive Coordinator: Kevin Johns Defensive Coordinator: Tom Allen Stadium: Memorial Stadium (52,929) 2015 Record: 6-7 The Breakdown Offense: Indiana returned to bowl season for the first time in 8 years in 2015. Hoosier fans are hoping for a similar season in 2016. Indiana’s offense was prolific in 2015, leading the conference in scoring, passing and total offense. Kevin Wilson must replace some key players from last season’s roster, but there is plenty of talent left in Bloomington. QB play will be a major concern for Indiana this season. Nate Sudfeld departs and in comes JC QB Richard Lagow. Lagow is lucky enough to have one of the best offensive lines in the conference blocking for him. All American RG Dan Feeney anchors this veteran group of lineman. Much like the OL, the skill positions are loaded with great players. Indiana lost sensational RB Jordan Howard but return Devine Redding, a 1,000 yard rusher last season. Redding stepped in for an injured Howard and proved to be just as effective. Indiana returns its top 3 receivers from last season. Led by senior WR Ricky Jones, this group is one of the best in the B1G. Jones finished with 54 catches and 906 yards. Simmie Cobbs was the top Hoosier in receptions (60) and yards (1,035). Don’t sleep on senior slot receiver Mitchell Paige, who hauled in 57 receptions. Defense: Indiana’s defense was the polar opposite of the offense last season. Indiana finished last in nearly every major defensive category in 2015. 7 starters on the defense gives hope for improvement. Indiana is getting a complete makeover on the defensive line. Junior DT Nate Hoff will be the player to watch up front. He’s a 300+ pound run stuffer. Linebackers and secondary return every starter from a year ago. Marcus Oliver led the Hoosiers in total tackles with 112. The junior linebacker added 5.5 tackles for loss and 2 INT. Overall this is still a young group with no seniors in starting roles. Will Dawkins is a player that could have a breakout season. Rashard Fant is the leader of the Hoosier secondary this season. Fant have an eye-popping 22 PBU in 2015. Safety Jonathan Crawford recorded 4 INT, and 76 tackles as a true freshman. Special Teams: Griffin Oakes returns for his junior season. Oakes converted 24-29 FG’s with a long of 51. Joseph Gadeon will handle the punting duties. Mitchell Paige had 2 punt return TD last season. Overview: Indiana’s program appears to be trending in the right direction. On the offensive side of the ball the Hoosiers will continue to be one of the B1G’s best. QB play could be a major concern for Coach Wilson. The defense has got to make some stops this season. The defense has some really solid pieces, but lacks the depth and talent on the DL. The schedule as a whole looks good for Indiana. The Hoosiers should start 3-0 before hosting Sparty in the conference opener. Road trips to Ohio State and Michigan will certainly be losses. Indiana gets Nebraska, Maryland, Penn State and Purdue all at home. Indiana is certainly a 6 win talented team, but will they get there is the question. If the QB play is decent, Indiana should return to bowl season. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Zander Diamont, JR, QB 31 ATT, 15 COM, 48.4%, 166 YARDS, 0 TD, 0 INT, 93.4 RATING Rushing Devine Redding, JR, RB 226 ATT, 1012 YARDS, 9 TD Receiving Simmie Cobbs, JR, WR 60 REC, 1035 YARDS, 4 TD Defense: Interceptions: Marcus Oliver, JR, LB 2 INT Sacks: Tegray Scales, JR, LB 3 SACKS Tackles: Marcus Oliver, JR, LB 112 tackles Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 6-7 2014 4-8 2013 5-7 2012 4-8 2011 1-11 Indiana Schedule
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#6t Maryland Terrapins
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Coach: D.J. Durkin
Offensive Coordinator: Walt Bell Defensive Coordinator: Andy Buh Stadium: Maryland Stadium (51,802) 2015 Record: 3-9 The Breakdown Offense: Perry Hills returns to action for the Terps this season. Hills is a dual threat caliber QB, who is a real game changer for this offense. In order for Maryland to improve in the win column it will have to start with Hill's decision making. Hills leads all rushers coming back this season, after gaining 535 on the ground. Wes Brown will replace Brandon Ross as the starting RB. Brown will likely split carries with sophomore Ty Johnson, as well as Hills. Maryland has a good group of receivers led by DJ Moore. The group as a whole lacks the size needed to be a real threat in the B1G, but the speed will be the difference. Maryland replacing 3 starters on the offensive line is a concern. Defense: Maryland must replace a ton of playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. The defensive line has to replace 20 sacks, something that will be hard to do. Jesse Aniebonam recorded 3.5 sacks as a backup last season. Sophomore DT David Shaw is a big kid, standing 6’4” and is slated to win the starting role. Linebacker Jermaine Carter led the Terrapins with 103 tackles and 14 for loss in 15’. Nnamdi Egbuaba and former FB Shane Cockerille round out a better looking LB unit this season. The secondary is taking a major hit with only one true returning starter. William Likely led Maryland with 11 PBU and is the only proven player in the backend. As a whole, the Maryland defense looks thin on paper. Special Teams: Adam Greene will handle the kicking duties. Greene converted on 3-5 last season, with a long of 44. Wade Lees will be the Terps starting punter. William Likely was one the better return men in the country, finishing with 3 total return TD. Overview: Maryland struggles of last year will continue into this season. First year coach DJ Durkin has his hands full. QB Perry Hills gives the offense hope of moving the ball, but an inexperienced OL may derail those hopes. The defensive doesn’t look much better, as the DL and secondary talent is thin. Maryland faces a tough schedule, one that doesn’t look kind to them. Maryland should start the season 3-0. Home games against Purdue, Minnesota and Rutgers could all be winnable. Maryland also hosts Michigan State and Ohio State. Tough road games at Penn State, Indiana, Michigan and Nebraska all appear to be losses. If they steal a couple home wins, they could get to 5 wins, but a 6th will be tough. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Perry Hills, SR, QB 180 ATT, 90 COM, 50%, 1001 YARDS, 8 TD, 13 INT, 96.9 RATING Rushing Perry Hills, SR, QB 109 ATT, 535 YARDS, 3 TD Receiving Levern Jacobs, SR, WR 35 REC, 425 YARDS, 3 TD Defense: Interceptions: Jalen Brooks, JR, LB 2 INT Sacks: Jesse Aniebonam, JR, DE 3.5 sacks Tackles: Jermaine Carter, JR, LB 103 Tackles Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 3-9 2014 7-6 2013 7-6 2012 4-8 2011 2-10 Maryland Schedule
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#6T Rutgers Scarlet Knights
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Coach: Chris Ash
Offensive Coordinator: Drew Mehringer Defensive Coordinator: Jay Niemann Stadium: High Point Solutions Stadium (52,454) 2015 Record: 4-8 The Breakdown Offense: Rutgers enters the season with a new coach at the helm. Chris Ash takes over a Rutgers program that won 1 conference game a year ago. Ash has 9 starters returning including its top rusher and QB. Chris Laviano was quite effective for the Scarlet Knights in 2015. Laviano completed 61% of his passes for over 2,200 yards. He loses his top WR but will have 4 returning offensive line starters protecting him. Rutgers has a solid 1-2 punch at the RB position returning. Robert Martin and Josh Hicks combined for over 1,400 rushing yards and 10 TD. Both backs rushed for an average of over 5 yards per. Rutgers will need to replace Leonte Carroo’s 10 receiving TD from 15’. Carlton Agudosi stands at 6’6” and has breakout potential. Senior’s Janarion Grant and Andre Patton are both returning, bringing a combined 69 catches with them. Defense: The Scarlet Knights were abysmal on the defensive side of the ball in 15’. Rutgers ranked near the bottom nationally in most major categories. With 7 starters returning, Rutgers look for some improvement on defense. Quanzell Lambert is the best playmaker on the defensive line. His 2.5 sacks from 15’ lead all returning players. The LB unit has to be a major concern for Coach Ash. Rutgers replaces all 3 starters in the middle, including its top two tacklers from last season. The secondary returns all 4 starters from a unit that ranked 119th nationally in passing defense. Rutgers will need a better pass rush this season if they want to see any more wins in 16’. Special Teams: David Bonagura will handle the kicking for the Knights this season. Sophomore Michael Cintron steps in as the team’s punter. Janarion Grant was on fire in the return game, with 4 TD total. Overview: Rutgers will be better as a whole this season, even if it doesn’t translate to more wins. The offense should improve with Laviano back for another season. The defense really needs to step it up this season. A better pass rush will help a young LB unit. Rutgers will have to play the top 4 teams in the B1G this season but the other 5 are winnable. Rutgers opens with a road trip to Washington. They also host New Mexico in the non-conference slate. B1G play consists of Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Penn State at home. Road games at Ohio St and Michigan St will be losses. If Rutgers can steal one at Minnesota or Maryland they may contend for bowl eligibility this season. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Chris Laviano, JR, QB 307 ATT, 187 COM, 60.9%, 2247 YARDS, 16 TD, 12 INT, 131.8 RATING Rushing Robert Martin, JR, RB 141 ATT, 763 YARDS, 6 TD Receiving Andre Patton, SR, WR 34 REC, 432 YARDS, 1 TD Defense: Interceptions: Anthony Cioffi, SR, DB 4 INT Sacks: Quanzell Lambert, SR, DE 2.5 Sacks Tackles: Isaiah Wharton, SO, DB 57 Tackles Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 4-8 2014 8-5 2013 6-7 2012 9-4 2011 9-4 Rutgers Schedule
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West
#1 Iowa Hawkeyes
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Coach: Kirk Ferentz
Offensive Coordinator: Greg Davis Defensive Coordinator: Phil Parker Stadium: Kinnick Stadium (70,585) 2015 Record: 12-2 The Breakdown Offense: Iowa surprised many pundits after completing a 12-0 regular season in 15’. While Iowa was not flashy on offense, they were consistent. Many key players return to Iowa City this season. QB C.J. Beathard was an efficient game manager for the Hawkeyes. Beathard completed 62% of his passes for 2,809 yards. More importantly, he limited his mistakes with only 5 INT and added 6 rushing TD. One place Iowa struggled with injuries in 15’ was at the RB position. However, whomever the Hawkeyes rotated in, seemed to be better than the previous option. LeShun Daniels will be the top back heading into the new season. Daniels finished with 8 TD and 646 yards. Akrum Wadley made the best of his opportunity in 15’, finishing with an average of 6.5 yards per carry and 7 TD. Matt VandeBerg returns after leading Iowa with 65 receptions and 703 yards. Starting TE George Kittle recorded 6 TD on only 20 receptions last season. Defense: Iowa returns 8 defensive starters in 16’, but will replace 3 of its top 4 tacklers. The Hawkeyes are set to return 3 of 4 starters on the defensive line. The unit combined for 10 sacks in 15’. Jaleel Johnson is the veteran of the group and a force in the middle of the line. Johnson recorded 4 sacks and 45 total tackles. Leading tackler Josey Jewell returns for the Hawkeyes. Jewell put together a solid season in 15’ with 126 tackles, 4.5 TFL and 4 INT. Ben Niemann tied with Johnson for the team lead in sacks with 4. The Hawkeye secondary is talented and his maybe the best DB in the country. Desmond King decided to return for his senior season, giving Iowa a huge boost. King led the B1G with 8 INT’s in 15’ and finished with 72 tackles, on route to being named an All-American. Greg Mabin completes the dynamic senior duo at CB for Iowa. Special Teams: Sophomore Miguel Recinos will handle the kicking duties for Iowa. Redshirt freshman Colten Rastetter won the punting job. Desmond King gives the return game a spark anytime he touches the ball. Overview: Iowa is the clear favorite to repeat as B1G West champs and head to Indianapolis. C.J. Beatherd provides the Hawkeyes with a balanced QB and a terrific game manager. RB’s are solid and the passing game should be fine. On the defensive side, Iowa should improve dramatically from last season. The rushing defense may improve on the 15th national rank and Desmond King provides the secondary with an elite talent. Special teams is the only glaring weakness on this Iowa team. Iowa should start the season 7-0 before a home date with Wisconsin. A win would send them to Happy Valley with an 8-0 record. Penn State will provide a real challenge for the Hawkeyes. Iowa then hosts B1G East favorite Michigan. Both teams are poised to be undefeated heading into the matchup. Iowa closes out the schedule with a trip to Illinois and hosting Nebraska. With this schedule, Iowa should reach double digit victories in the regular season. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing C.J. Bearthard, SR, QB 362 ATT, 223 COM, 61.6%, 2809 YARDS, 17 TD, 5 INT, 139.5 RATING Rushing LeShun Daniels, SR, RB 145 ATT, 646 YARDS, 8 TD Receiving Matt VandeBerg, SR, WE 65 REC, 703 YARDS, 4 TD Defense: Interceptions: Desmond King, SR, DB 8 INT Sacks: Jaleel Johnson, SR, DL 4 SACKS Tackles: Josey Jewell, JR, LB 126 tackles Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 12-2 2014 7-6 2013 8-5 2012 4-8 2011 7-6 Iowa Schedule
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#2 Nebraska Cornhuskers
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Coach: Mike Riley
Offensive Coordinator: Danny Langsdorf Defensive Coordinator: Mark Banker Stadium: Memorial Stadium (85,000) 2015 Record: 6-7 The Breakdown Offense: Nebraska took a step backwards under first year coach Mike Riley in 15’. After posting 9+ win seasons under Bo Pelini, the Huskers finished an underwhelming 5-7 during the regular but still were selected for a bowl, where they upset UCLA. Nebraska returns most of its firepower from a successful year on offense. Tommy Armstrong returns for his senior season. Armstrong threw for over 3,000 yards but only completed 55% of his passes and threw 16 INT. If Nebraska is going to take a step forward this season, it will be Armstrong and his decision making that gets them there. Replacing 3 starters on the offensive line with be a major key in 16’. Terrell Newby returns after posting 765 rushing yards and 6 TD’s. The Huskers return plenty of talent at the WR position. Leading receiver Jordan Westerkamp will look to add to an impressive performance in 15’. Westerkamp hauled in 65 receptions, 918 yards and 7 TD. Senior Brandon Reilly added 40 catches and 754 yards. TE Cethan Carter is a big time target for Armstrong. Defense: For Nebraska to join the elite B1G programs, the Huskers need to get better on defense. Nebraska returns 6 starters but loses its entire front 4. The player to watch for a breakout season will be DE Freedom Akinmoladun. As a freshman, Akinmoladun recorded 4.5 sacks and 2.5 TFL in limited time. In the middle of the defense, Nebraska returns all 3 starting linebackers from 15’. Huskers fans should expect big things from this unit. Dedrick Young looks like a promising young players after a successful freshman season. Young finished with 61 tackles, 5 for loss as a true freshman. The secondary was suspect last season and were torched constantly. Nate Gerry led the Huskers with 79 tackles and 4 INT. Joshua Kalu added 3 INT and finished 2nd in total tackles with 75. Special Teams: This is Nebraska’s bread and butter. Kicker Drew Brown converted on 21-27 FG’s with a long of 50. Nebraska mourns the loss of punter Sam Foltz. Westerkamp and Morgan will handle the return duties. Overview: Nebraska enters the season as a favorite to challenge Iowa for a B1G West title. On the offensive side of the ball, the Huskers look poised to have a breakout season. Armstrong and Co. are going to be one of the top offenses in the league. On defense, the Huskers should improve in year 2. The major question lies on the defensive line, but the linebackers and secondary will almost certainly be better. Nebraska gets one of the better schedules for a B1G West team. Nebraska has an early opportunity to get a major win in week 3 when they host Oregon. The Huskers B1G road schedule is difficult as they play at NW, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Iowa. Home matchups with Illinois, Purdue, Minnesota and Maryland should all be wins. Nebraska should return to an 8-9 win season in 16’. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Tommy Armstrong, SR, QB 402 ATT, 222 COM, 55.2%, 3030 YARDS, 22 TD, 16 INT, 128.6 RATING Rushing Terrell Newby, SR, RB 147 ATT, 765 YARDS, 6 TD Receiving Jordan Westerkamp, SR, WR 65 REC, 918 YARDS, 7 TD Defense: Interceptions: Nate Gerry, SR, DB 4 INT Sacks: Freedom Akinmoladun, SO, DL 4.5 Sacks Tackles: Nate Gerry, SR, DB 79 TACKLES Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 6-7 2014 9-4 2013 9-4 2012 10-4 2011 9-4 Nebraska Schedule
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#3 Northwestern Wildcats
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Coach: Pat Fitzgerald
Offensive Coordinator: Mike McCall Defensive Coordinator: Mike Hankwitz Stadium: Ryan Field (47, 130) 2015 Record: 10-3 The Breakdown Offense: It was a painful 2015 season for Wildcats fans watching the offense. Northwestern struggled in the passing game, really limiting the ground game. Clayton Thorson returns at QB this season. Thorson has to develop an arm if the Wildcats are going to be successful. Thorson can do some work with his feet, but the key will be limiting turnovers. Justin Jackson was the man for Northwestern last season. Jackson carried the ball over 300 times and rushed for an impressive 1,418 yards. Four offensive linemen returning could lead to a huge season for Jackson. Jackson will benefit from an added passing game. Jackson is the Wildcats top leading receiver back on this squad. Austin Carr will have to be the main target for Thorson. Defense: Northwestern dominated the defensive side of the ball last season, leading to a double digit win season. The Wildcats return 6 starters, including All-American LB Anthony Walker. Walker led the Cats’ with 122 tackles, 4 sacks and 16.5 TFL, he really fueled the key upset of Stanford. Look out for DT Jordan Thompson to have a bigger impact in his second season up front. Walker is the star of the LB unit, but Northwestern will get a huge boost from the return of senior LB Jaylen Prater. Nate Hall adds to an impressive unit after a solid freshman season. Northwestern must replace two starters in a secondary that ranked 23rd nationally a season ago. Matthew Harris will look to add to his 4 INT total in 15’. Special Teams: Jack Mitchell returns for his senior season as kicker. Mitchell struggled with kicks from distance, finishing 18-27, with a long of 49. Punter Hunter Niswander has to improve on his 38 yard per punt average. Solomon Vault was electrifying in the return game, taking 2 for TD. Overview: Many fans may look back at Northwestern’s 2015 season and consider it a fluke. The offense is basically still the same, hand the ball to Jackson, hand the ball to Jackson. If Thorson can develop into a decent passer the Wildcats may have a better 2016. The offensive line experience is key in the B1G West. The defense should be just as good as 15’. NW’s strength will be it’s linebackers and secondary. NW has a much tougher conference slate this season. NW opens the season with a tricky Western Michigan team, a favorite to win the MAC. NW also hosts Duke before they kick off B1G play. NW opens B1G play hosting Nebraska, before consecutive road dates with Iowa and Michigan State. They squeeze Indiana in before heading back on the road to Ohio State. The schedule balances out with the remaining games being Wisconsin, at Purdue, at Minnesota, and Illinois. There is certainly a ceiling on the win total and it doesn’t appear double digits will be doable with this schedule. With all that said, an 8 win season would be solid for these Wildcats. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Clayton Thorson, SO, QB 295 ATT, 150 COM, 50.8%, 1522 YARDS, 7 TD, 9 INT, 95.9 QBR Rushing Justin Jackson, JR, RB 312 ATT, 1418 YARDS, 5 TD Receiving Austin Carr, SR, WR 16 REC, 302 YARDS, 2 TD Defense: Interceptions: Matthew Harris, SR, DB 4 INT Sacks: Ifeadi Odenigbo, SR, DL 5 SACKS Tackles: Anthony Walker, JR, LB 122 Tackles Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 10-3 2014 5-7 2013 5-7 2012 10-3 2011 6-7 Northwestern Schedule
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#4 Wisconsin Badgers
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Coach: Paul Chryst
Offensive Coordinator: Joe Rudolph Defensive Coordinator: Justin Wilcox Stadium: Camp Randall Stadium (80,321) 2015 Record: 10-3 The Breakdown Offense: Wisconsin’s offense was downright pitiful last season. The Badgers should’ve been an 11-1 regular season team and playing for a B1G title. In the two conference losses the Badgers scored 13 total points. Joel Stave exits the program and is replaced by Senior Bart Houston. Houston is an experience QB in the Badgers system, but his playing time has been extremely limited. Four returning starters on the offensive line should help. Corey Clement enters 16’ as the number one featured back on the depth chart. Clement was a 1,500 yard back two seasons ago before an injury sidelined him for most of 16’. Wisconsin will be fine if Clement struggles with injuries once again, as they return Dare Ogunbowale (819 yards, 7 TD) and Taiwan Deal.(503 yards, 6 TD) The Badgers lose top receiver Alex Erickson, but return the next 4 leading receivers. Senior Robert Wheelwright is definitely the best of the group. Defense: Wisconsin led the nation in scoring defense, allowing 13.7 ppg last season and finished 2nd in total defense. Heading into the new year, it looks like the Badgers defense will be a force yet again. Conor Sheehy and Chikwe Obasih provide Wisconsin with quality experience in the front 3. The pair combined for 72 tackles and 4 sacks in 15’. The linebackers may be the best in the B1G. Wisconsin always seems to have outstanding linebackers and they have a solid one in Vince Biegel. Biegel finished with 8 sacks from his OLB position and tacked on 9 QBH. Sophomore TJ Edwards is another solid LB for this Badgers squad. Edwards led defense with 84 tackles and 6.5 TFL. Wisconsin does have to replace 3 starters in the secondary. Special Teams: Rafael Gaglianone was a busy kicker last season. He converted on 18-27 FG with a long of 49. Anthony Lotti will be the new punter for the Badgers. Overview: Paul Chryst had a successful first season as the head coach for his alma mater. A healthy Corey Clement will automatically thrust Wisconsin to being a contender for a B1G title yet again. Like 15’, the Badgers season will rest solely on the play from the QB position and Houston’s management of the playbook. Wisconsin is going to have one of the best defenses in the country again. Wisconsin has a brutal schedule, limiting expectations in Madison this season. Wisconsin gets a chance to make a statement in the opening weekend of the season as they draw LSU from the SEC. Two easy non-conference games takes Wisconsin to the opening of conference play. Back-to-back road games at Michigan State and Michigan are going to be brutal. Wisconsin finally gets its home opener on October 15, against the Buckeyes, before heading back on the road to face Iowa. Nebraska comes to town to end October and then another road contest at Northwestern kicks off November. Wisconsin should be heavily favored in its 3 remaining contests. Wisconsin draws 6 of the top 7 teams in the league to open the season. Grabbing a couple wins in that stretch will be give them a chance to finish above .500 in conference play. If Wisconsin gets to double digit wins with that schedule, it would be a miracle. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Bart Houston, SR, QB 47 ATT, 27 COM, 57.4%, 281 YARDS, 3 TD, 2 INT, 120.2 RATING Rushing Dare Ogunbowale, SR, RB 194 ATT, 819 YARDS, 7 TD Receiving Robert Wheelwright, SR, WR 32 REC, 416 YARDS, 4 TD Defense: Interceptions: 2 Leo Musso, SR, DB 2 INT Sacks: Vince Biegel, SR, LB 8 SACKS Tackles: TJ Edwards, SO, LB 84 Tackles Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 10-3 2014 11-3 2013 9-4 2012 8-6 2011 11-3 Wisconsin Schedule
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#5 Purdue Boilermakers
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Coach: Darrell Hazell
Offensive Coordinator: Terry Malone Defensive Coordinator: Ross Els, Marcus Freeman Stadium: Ross-Ade Stadium (57,236) 2015 Record: 2-10 The Breakdown Offense: Purdue struggled to another horrendous season under Coach Hazell. Hazell is firmly on the hot seat entering the 2016 season. The good news for Hazell is that the Boilermakers return 16 starters total. David Blough will return under center. Blough took over for a struggling Austin Appleby and had a decent freshman campaign. Blough has a veteran offensive line around him, hopefully leading to bigger plays from the RB position. Purdue finished 5th in passing offense, while the rushing attack came in 13th. Markell Jones will be the lead back rolling into 2016. Jones led Purdue in rushing as a true freshman with 875 yards and 10 TD. Jones will have to carry the load after an injury sidelined fellow RB DJ Knox for the season. DeAngelo Yancey could have a huge year if the QB play gets better. Yancey averaged 15 yards per catch on 48 receptions. Domonique Young is another senior WR who could have a career year. Defense: Purdue has to be better defensively if they are going to dig themselves out of the B1G cellar. Hazell’s defense returns 8 starters from a 2015 unit that ranked near the bottom. The defensive looks stout with 3 returning starters and a transfer from UK. Jake Replogle dominates behind the line and it showed with 14 TFL last season. Gelen Robinson provides a solid edge rush. Purdue returns all starting linebackers and the group should have a solid season. Ja’Whaun Bentley led all linebackers with 7.5 TFL. Purdue will have two new starters at CB, the one to watch is sophomore Tim Cason, who has good size at 5’11”. Leroy Clark is the veteran of the group, entering his senior season. Clark led the Boilermakers defensive in tackles and PBU in 2015. Special Teams: Purdue will start the season with a brand new kicker., an area where the Boilermakers struggled mightily last year. Freshman JD Dellinger will handle the kicking duties. Joe Schopper returns as the starting punter. Overview: Purdue has to be optimistic heading into the 2016 season. The talent level on this roster may be the best in years, especially during the Darrell Hazell era. David Blough should improve in what will be his first full season as QB. The loss of DJ Knox is a huge blow, but Markell Jones is capable of being a great RB in the B1G. On the defensive side of the ball there aren’t many glaring weaknesses. The defensive line is going to be solid and possibly the most improved unit this season. A chance at returning to bowl season is the goal, one that is achievable. Purdue opens with 3 non-conference opponents, including tough games with Cincinnati and Nevada. If Purdue is going to reach a bowl they’ll have to win on the road. Purdue has a manageable B1G road slate. Games at Maryland, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota and Indiana are all winnable. Purdue hosts Iowa, Penn State, Northwestern and Wisconsin. Purdue should be in nearly every game this season. Coach Hazell has a chance to save his job with this schedule and a bowl appearance. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing David Blough, SO, QB 293 ATT, 169 COM, 57.7%, 1574 YARDS, 10 TD, 8 INT, 108.6 RATING Rushing Markell Jones, SO, RB 168 ATT, 875 YARDS, 10 TD Receiving DeAngelo Yancey, SR, WR 48 REC, 700 YARDS, 5 TD Defense: Interceptions: Leroy Clark, SR, DB 2 INT Sacks: Evan Panfil, SR, DL 4 SACKS Tackles: Leroy Clark, SR, DB 88 TACKLES Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 2-10 2014 3-9 2013 1-11 2012 6-7 2011 7-6 Purdue Schedule
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#6 Illinois Fighting Illinois
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Coach: Lovie Smith
Offensive Coordinator: Garrick McGee Defensive Coordinator: Hardy Nickerson Stadium: Memorial Stadium (60,670) 2015 Record: 5-7 The Breakdown Offense: Illinois struggled mightily in the rushing game in 2015. Illinois ranked dead last in the B1G, putting a ton of pressure on QB Wes Lunt. Lunt was put in tough spots and plenty of third and longs, leading to a mediocre season. Lunt managed to complete only 56% of his passes, ending with a marginal 111.5 QB Rating. Three returning starters on the offensive line should help kickstart the running game. Top rusher Ke’Shawn Vaughn returns for the Fighting Illini. Vaughn fought his way to 4.6 yards per carry and 6 TD’s. Illinois loses top wideout Geronimo Allison, who caught 65 passes, 12 more than the next guy. Malik Turner appears to be the player to reap the benefit of Allison’s departure. Turned tied for the team high in receiving TD’s with 3. Sophomore Desmond Cain is poised for a breakout season, after hauling in 53 passes in 2015. Defense: Illinois returns only 4 starters from last season’s defense. Illinois was strong in the secondary in 2015, finishing 15th in total passing defense. The key for success lies on on the defensive line, where Illinois is most experienced. Dawuane Smoot was a force rushing the edge, finishing with 8 sacks for Illinois. The linebackers and secondary are major liabilities this season. Hardy Nickerson is a key transfer from Cal, that gives the Fighting Illini a little experience. Tre Watson played well in his limited time as a freshman. Safety Taylor Barton is the lone returned in the secondary. Barton led Illinois with 4 INT last season. Special Teams: Illinois isn’t especially strong in the kicking game. Senior David Reisner will get the first opportunity to impress as kicker. Punter Ryan Frain has to be better this season. Frain had an average of 40 yards per punt. Overview: Lovie Smith takes over a stagnant Illini program. Illinois has a bright spot with QB Wes Lunt but after him, the roster becomes very thin with talent. A complete rebuild on the defensive ball is not looking good for the Illini this season. Illinois just missed a bowl game last season and it looks like they may miss out this season. Lovie Smith will undoubtedly make this program a winner over time, but expectations should be 4-5 wins max this season. As for the schedule, Illinois faces tough non-conference opponents in North Carolina and Western Michigan. Road conference games are Nebraska, Rutgers, Michigan, Wisconsin and Northwestern. If Illinois can steal a couple road wins, this could be a promising season. Illinois gets Purdue, Minnesota, Michigan State and Iowa at home. Looking at the schedule, Illinois looks like a 4 win team. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Wes Lunt, SR, QB 481 ATT, 270 COM, 56.1%, 2761 YARDS, 14 TD, 6 INT, 111.5 RATING Rushing Ke’Shawn Vaughn, SO, RB 157 ATT, 723 YARDS, 6 TD Receiving Malik Turner, JR, WR 39 REC, 510 YARDS, 3 TD Defense: Interceptions: Taylor Barton, SR, DB 4 INT Sacks: Dawuane Smoot, SR, DE 8 SACKS Tackles: Taylor Barton, SR, DB 56 Tackles Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 5-7 2014 6-7 2013 4-8 2012 2-10 2011 7-6 Illinois Schedule
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#7 Minnesota Golden Gophers
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Coach: Tracy Claeys
Offensive Coordinator: Jay Johnson Defensive Coordinator: Jay Sawvel Stadium: TCF Bank Stadium (52,525) 2015 Record: 6-7 The Breakdown Offense: Minnesota returns 7 starters on offense in 2016, notably starting QB Mitch Leidner and RB Shannon Brooks. Leidner needs to provide a boost to an offense that finished 13th in the B1G for scoring offense. Leidner loses his top target in KJ Maye, but returns all other receivers. Leidner completed 60% of his passes but threw too many INT with 11 total. Shannon Brooks is a very talented back. Brooks led the Gophers in rushing yards (709) and TD (7). What’s more impressive is his 6 yards per carry average, as a true freshman. Brooks split carries with Rodney Smith last season, but expect Brooks to earn more this season. The loss of KJ Maye will hurt the overall production of the WR corps, but Minnesota returns Drew Wolitarsky. Wolitarsky can easily add to his reception total of 39 last season. Defense: . Minnesota was a top 25 total defensive unit last season and returns 6 starters in 2016. Steven Richardson leads the three starters back on the defensive line. Richardson was a productive DT with 3.5 sacks. The Gophers need to put more pressure on opposing QB’s this season. Jack Lynn and Cody Poock are two outstanding linebackers. Lynn led the Gophers with 9.5 TFL. Poock is the top returning tackler after a 99 tackle performance in 2015. The secondary was one of the best in the country in 15’, but returns only one starter. Jalen Myrick started 7 games for Minnesota and led the Gophers with 3 INT. KiAnte Hardin is a young CB to keep an eye on. Special Teams: `Kicker Ryan Santoso is one of the better kickers in the conference. Santoso finished 2015 converting 17-21 with a long of 50. Santoso is slated for double duty as the team's punter. KiAnte Hardin provides the return game with breakaway speed. Overview: When looking back at Minnesota’s 2015 results, one could see that they were nearly a 2-win team. Minnesota lost Jerry Kill mid-season which could have derailed the season completely. 2016 may be a tough season for the Gophers, as a couple more teams in the West have improved. Shannon Brooks will have to carry the offense and hope that Leidner makes better decisions. The defense has some good pieces but the losses in the secondary are reason for concern. Minnesota benefits from an easier B1G schedule but it may still be a tough road back to the postseason. Minnesota opens with Oregon State and have another home date with Colorado State before kicking off B1G play. It is worth noting that Minnesota avoids playing Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State (WOW!!), Minnesota goes on the road for 5 games. (Penn State, Maryland, Illinois, Nebraska and Wisconsin) The opener against Penn State may be a good indicator of how this season will play out for the Gophers. Home games against Rutgers and Purdue are must-wins. Iowa and Northwestern also visit Minneapolis, but may be too strong for the Gophers. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Mitch Leidner, SR, QB 407 ATT, 242 COM, 59.5%, 2701 YARDS, 14 TD, 11 INT, 121.2 RATING Rushing Shannon Brooks, SO, RB 119 ATT, 709 YARDS, 7 TD Receiving Drew Wolitarsky, SR, WR 39 REC, 524 YARDS, 3 TD Defense: Interceptions: Jalen Myrick, SR, DB 3 INT Sacks: Steven Richardson, JR, DL 3.5 SACKS Tackles: Cody Poock, JR, LB 99 TACKLES Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 6-7 2014 8-5 2013 8-5 2012 6-7 2011 3-9 Minnesota Schedule
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