Big Ten: Newcomers who could make impact
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Predicting these things is no exact science. But, with a few key positions on
key teams up for grabs, new players will become households names during the
upcoming Big Ten season.
If everything breaks correctly, both Purdue and Penn State
could start true freshman at quarterback. Wisconsin had a junior
college transfer in the mix at the position as well. It doesn't end at the most
important position on the field, though.
Iowa and Purdue have JUCO wide receivers competing for serious for
playing time. Minnesota may roll out freshmen at kicker and punter.
Plenty of other spots across the conference are up for grabs.
Some of the league's highest-ranked prospects will have to wait their turn while
other, not-so-familiar new names have walked into ideal situations. Making an
early impact is as much about depth charts as it is about talent, and the Big
Ten's crop of true freshman and JUCO transfers prove just that.
Rivals.com is breaking down the conferences across the country to see which
five true freshmen or junior college transfers could have the biggest impact.
BIG TEN: NEWCOMERS WHO COULD MAKE AN IMPACT
Penn State QB
Measurables:
6-foot-4, 212 pounds. Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy
Recruiting ranking: Four stars. No. 2 pro-style quarterback, No. 24
overall in the
Rivals100 presented by Under Armour.
Buzz: Hackenberg is a bit of a risky pick only because he is a true
freshman locked in a position battle. There's a chance he loses the starting job
and redshirts this season, reducing his impact to holding a clipboard. With that
in mind, though, leaving him off the list would be just as risky. Hackenberg has
all of the physical tools to be a great Big Ten quarterback. If he adjusts to
the college game well during camp, there's no reason he shouldn't win the job.
After all, there are few better places to make an instant impact on the league
than as quarterback. If Hackenberg finds his way to the top of the depth chart,
he'll instantly become the Big Ten's most important newcomer.
QB Danny Etling
Measurables:
6-foot-3, 200 pounds. Terre Haute (Ind.) South Vigo
Recruiting rankings: Four stars. No. 9 pro-style quarterback. No. 167
overall in the
Rivals250 presented by Under Armour.
Buzz: From one risky choice to another, Etling is in the same situation
as Hackenberg. Etling is in the mix to win Purdue's starting quarterback job.
And if he does that, his name will be one everybody will get to know. He's
competing with fifth-year senior
Rob Henry, but early indications are
that Etling's arm is good enough to earn the top spot. Etling, who has a great
build, started the spring No. 3 on the depth chart but has already clawed his
way into the backup role. There's plenty of reason to think the Boilermakers may
break camp with a true freshman at the helm of their offense.
Ohio State RB
Measurables:
5-foot-10, 174 pounds. Desoto, Texas
Recruiting rankings: Four stars. No. 5 all-purpose back. No. 100 overall
in the Rivals100 presented by Under Armour.
Buzz: Wilson is much closer to a sure thing than either of the two
quarterbacks listed. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has already been
on record saying his speedy freshman will, indeed, play this season. How much
he'll play, however, is up unclear. Ideally, Meyer will use Wilson out of the
backfield as well as splitting him out wide. If he continues to excel in both
roles, he'll get a solid number of touches for a national title contender. The
talent that surrounds him and the situation in which he walked into make Wilson
an easy pick. Few true freshman are as poised to make an instant impact as he
is.
Minnesota LB
Measurables:
6-foot-5, 225 pounds. Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College
Recruiting rankings: Three stars. No. 80 overall in the
Rivals Junior College 100 presented by Under Armour.
Buzz: Minnesota needed some linebackers, and talented JUCO transfer
De'Vondre Campbell needed a place that would allow him to play immediately. The
two came together on signing day and, just like that, Campbell is on this list.
Campbell, who was committed to Kansas State and Tennessee
during the process, was a signing-day surprise for the Gophers. Now, just few
months later he looks to be a serious threat to grab a starting job. Campbell
was a certifiable commodity out of junior college for good reason. He has the
size and the speed necessary to make an impact on Big Ten as a first-year
player. It certainly helps his cause that his team is thin on top talent at the
linebacker spot.
Nebraska DE
Measurables:
6-foot-6, 230 pounds. Arizona Western Community College
Recruiting rankings: Four stars. No. 11 overall in the Rivals Junior
College 100 presented by Under Armour.
Buzz: Nebraska has not released its initial depth chart, but there's
reason to think Gregory will be listed as a starter when the time comes. Head
coach Bo Pelini has already singled out the 230-pound defensive end
when discussing players who have impressed in early practices. The former junior
college star's teammates are also singing his praises. Gregory, who will have
three years to play at Nebraska, sat out last season with an injury but is now
fully recovered. His skill set is solid across the board but Gregory really
shines when it comes to rushing the passer, which plays right into the Huskers'
needs. Gregory has a college-ready body and was considered to be one of the top
junior college prospects in last year's class despite missing the entire season.
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