Big Ten Week: Sleepers that may surprise
It’s Big Ten preview week and here is a look at some secret sleepers not many people talk about in the conference.
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1. OL Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
NFL scouts know all about Linderbaum but the average college football fan likely doesn’t know how good he is as an interior lineman.
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2. LB Mohammed Toure, Rutgers
Almost half of Toure's tackles last year were for a loss and he’s just starting to reach his potential.
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3. LB Micah McFadden, Indiana
McFadden is the heart and soul of the Indiana defense and is one of the better tacklers in the country.
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4. CB Tarheeb Still, Maryland
Still is the best defensive back you haven’t heard of but you will hear from him soon.
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5. OL Thayer Mumford, Ohio State
The big names on Ohio State's offense are wide receivers or new quarterbacks or running backs but Munford is one of the top-10 offensive linemen in college football.
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6. RB Zander Horvath, Purdue
He averaged more than five yards a carry and 10 yards a catch last year so keep an eye on him.
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7. QB Anthony Russo, Michigan State
The Temple transfer has an absolute cannon and just watch what he does for the Spartans if he’s on.
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8. OL Jack Nelson, Wisconsin
One of the best linemen in the conference gets overshadowed often and lumped in as “just another Wisconsin OL."
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9. DT Ben Stille, Nebraska
Stille is back for yet another season and is an unrecognized stalwart in the middle.
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10. LB Ellis Brooks, Penn State
One of the best linebackers in the conference in coverage, Brooks rarely gets mentioned.