Big Ten championship game: Where the stars came from

Mark Pszonak contributed to this report.

With the conference championship games upon us, we thought we’d take a look at each team’s leading passer, rusher and receiver on offense and leading tackler and pass rushers on defense. Here’s how Penn State and Wisconsin break down ahead of their showdown in Indianapolis.

RELATED: Big Ten championship recruiting breakdown | Ten key players in ACC | SEC

The skinny: McSorley initially committed to Vanderbilt, but when coach James Franklin made the move from Nashville to Happy Valley, it changed everything for the Virginia athlete. After taking an official visit to Penn State in late January, he officially flipped to the Nittany Lions. In his first season as a starter at Penn State, McSorley’s improved play was one of the key reasons the Nittany Lions became one of the top teams in the country. Finishing the regular season with 2,976 yards and 21 touchdowns through the air, plus 372 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, McSorley is now the unquestioned field general for Penn State.

Farrell’s take: I would have never expected this a few years ago as we had McSorley as a mid-range three-star athlete. I didn’t think he was a college quarterback based on size for the most part and his potential to play other positions. McSorley has always been an accurate and athletic passer. Joe Moorhead's offense has been perfect for him.

The skinny: Barkley was originally committed to Rutgers, but re-opened his process as additional offers began to pile up. Penn State almost immediately became the favorite as the Nittany Lions made Barkley a recruiting priority, which eventually led to his flip. After flashing signs of brilliance during a true freshman season that was hampered by injuries, Barkley has become one of the better backs in the country in 2016. Currently with 1,219 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground, plus 327 yards and two touchdowns through the air, Barkley should be one of the frontrunners for the Heisman in 2017.

Farrell’s take: Barkley was an upright slasher who showed good receiving skills out of high school, so it's not a huge surprise he's made an impact early. But to this level? That’s a bit ahead of schedule as he’s become a dominant Big Ten back and will be in the Heisman discussion next year. His lower body strength and power to run through some arm tackles has improved greatly. A very athletic kid, Barkley was a guy who pushed for Rivals100 status and is showing us he should have been ranked higher.

The skinny: Godwin had narrowed his focus to Penn State, Ohio State, Virginia Tech and Rutgers when he made his commitment to the Nittany Lions in late April. Despite the coaching change in Happy Valley later that year, he remained firm with his word. Now in his third season at Penn State, Godwin has been the most reliable receiver on the team during his time. Currently with 47 receptions for 762 yards and nine touchdowns, Godwin continues to be McSorley’s go-to receiver.

Farrell’s take: Godwin was a thick, physical possession receiver who made up for a lack of elite speed with good hands and an understanding of route running and leverage. He outmuscled opponents for the ball and was a very good red zone threat and we have seen some of that in college. He was the kind of receiver you could throw the ball at in traffic and know he would bail you out.

The skinny: Allen committed to Penn State in May of his junior year and never looked back. He had offers from Clemson, Michigan and Nebraska, but he jumped on the Nittany Lions' offer once they began running out of room. Allen has quietly become one of the better safeties in the Big Ten during his three seasons at Penn State. After finishing with 81 tackles and five tackles for a loss last season, he returned this fall and has totaled 90 tackles and six tackles for a loss.

Farrell’s take: Allen was a hard-hitting defender who had the size to grow into a linebacker if needed. He was solid in coverage, but his calling card was his willingness to hit and come up in run support. He was a mid three-star prospect we saw either being a big, physical strong safety or a weakside linebacker. He has lived up to his ranking and then some.

The skinny: As the offers accumulated for Sickels, he had plans to make visits to Ohio State and Notre Dame in April. However, he soon realized those visits were unnecessary as he already had his heart set on Penn State, which led to his commitment in early March. Sickels stuck with Penn State, even after the news of the NCAA sanctions were announced months after his commitment due to do the Jerry Sandusky allegations. While it took Sickles a couple of years to hit his stride, he is currently enjoying his best collegiate season with 43 tackles and a team-leading 13 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks.

Farrell’s take: We liked Sickels, who was rated a high four-star who finished just outside the Rivals100 and was No. 4 at weakside defensive end in 2013 behind Jonathan Allen and Carl Lawson. I like his willingness to play physical, his sneaky strength and work ethic and he had a good frame to build on and a nice first step. He hasn’t quite lived up to his lofty ranking yet but he could be on his way now.

The skinny: Hornibrook initially committed to Pittsburgh in June, but he decided to follow coach Paul Chryst to Wisconsin when he took the job in Madison. He committed a few days after his official visit to Wisconsin and then enrolled for the spring semester. While he has split time this season with Bart Houston, it is Hornibrook who is the quarterback of the future for the Badgers. As a redshirt freshman he has thrown for 1,243 yards and eight touchdowns, while seeing playing time in 11 games this fall.

Farrell’s take: Hornibrook, who could miss the game this weekend due to a concussion but is still the more prolific passer over Houston, was a low three-star recruit who had good size and could slide around in the pocket but didn’t have great arm strength. He had accuracy and was a team leader in high school and is perfect as a system quarterback who isn’t expected to carry the load but work off a great running game. It’s interesting that both he and Corey Clement were committed to Pitt at one time.

The skinny: Initially committed to Pittsburgh, Clement re-opened his process and then chose Wisconsin during his senior season after also taking official visits to Notre Dame and Nebraska. Injuries have slowed Clement’s production during his time in Madison, but he is enjoying his best season with the Badgers this fall. With 1,140 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground, Clement has the talent to be one of the better backs in the country when healthy.

Farrell’s take: I liked this kid a lot out of high school and still feel we might have undervalued him at 223 in the Rivals250 despite the injuries. Wisconsin has been a better fit for him than Pitt and who knows what kind of playing time he would have gotten as a Panther with James Conner there. He made the right choice and has a ton of talent. It’s just the injury bug that hurts him.

The skinny: Peavy committed to the in-state Badgers in June over offers from Minnesota and Wyoming. While Wisconsin may not be known for their aerial attack, Peavy has become one of the Badgers’ top offensive weapons this season. Finishing the regular season with 39 receptions for 582 yards and five touchdowns, plus 263 yards and one touchdown on the ground, the Badgers find way to get the ball in Peavy’s hands.

Farrell’s take: Peavy was an in-state low three-star commitment who wasn’t recruited nationally. He had above-average size and strength and was good at competing for the football. He lacked great speed but he could box out defenders and had reliable hands. He’s done about what has been expected, except we didn’t see him being used on the ground as much. He wasn’t prolific in high school and had a nice career and that’s translated to college.

The skinny: Edwards initially committed to Western Michigan in June, but a December offer from Wisconsin was too good to pass up. Soon after receiving the offer from the Badgers, the Illinois linebacker flipped to Wisconsin. Edwards was one of the more productive redshirt freshman linebackers in the country last fall, and has followed that up with yet another impressive season. Currently with 75 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks and two interceptions, Edwards is becoming one of the top linebackers in the Big Ten.

Farrell’s take: A low three-star prospect, Edwards has good size but wasn’t overly sudden or quick as a linebacker prospect and played a lot more offense than he did defense his junior and senior years. He played quarterback on offense, so he had a good understanding of where the ball was going and perhaps that’s why he’s been as instinctual as a tackler. He was recruited as a big athlete who could grow into a big linebacker and all of that has happened, but he has exceeded expectations based on rankings.

The skinny: With his brother, J.J. Watt, obviously making a huge name for himself at Wisconsin, it didn’t come as much of a surprise when his younger brother committed to the Badgers during the spring over Minnesota and Northern Illinois. After redshirting in 2013, missing the 2014 season due to injury and seeing minimal playing time in 2015, Watt burst onto the scene this fall with 55 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, 9.5 sacks and an interception.

Farrell’s take: A mid-level three-star prospect, perhaps we should have known better. After all, he is the brother of J.J. Watt, who was a two-star out of high school and emerged as the best defensive player in the NFL. But, like his brother, Watt was clearly a late bloomer. He was a solid defender in high school and played quarterback on offense as a senior after playing tight end as a junior. He wasn’t outstanding at any one thing. Now, he’s one of the best linebackers in the country.