Here’s the challenge. Take the complete, current rosters of all the NFL teams and draft a starting team using just Big Ten players. We did the same thing with Ohio State players only, and suffice to say, it would still be one whale of a team. But what would it look like if you had Penn State, Iowa, Wisconsin, and yes — even Michigan to choose from?
If you’re wondering what that would look like, ESPN did the work for you and came out with a team that looks awfully dominant. One of the reasons it would be a juggernaut is because over one-third of the starting 22 hail from Ohio State, with eight total. That’s right, Penn State, Michigan and others like to rant and rave about Buckeye bias, but the Big Ten wouldn’t be quite the conference it is without football being played on the banks of the Olentangy. So what players made the cut from the Buckeyes?
Here’s the entire team, with Ohio State players marked with an asterisk.
Next … All Big-Ten NFL starting team according to ESPN
ESPN’s All-Big Ten starting NFL team
Offense
QB Russell Wilson, Wisconsin (Seattle Seahawks)
RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State (Dallas Cowboys)*
WR Michael Thomas, Ohio State (New Orleans Saints)*
WR Chris Godwin, Penn State (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
TE George Kittle, Iowa (San Francisco 49ers)
Flex Saquon Barkley, Penn State (New York Giants)
OT Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin (Saints)
G Rodger Saffold, Indiana (Tennessee Titans)
C Pat Elflein, Ohio State (Minnesota Vikings)*
G Brandon Scherff, Iowa (Washington Redskins)
OT Taylor Lewan, Michigan (Titans)
Defense
Edge Joey Bosa, Ohio State (Los Angeles Chargers)*
DT Cameron Heyward, Ohio State (Pittsburgh Steelers)*
DT Kawann Short, Purdue (Carolina Panthers)
Edge Nick Bosa, Ohio State (49ers)*
LB Lavonte David, Nebraska (Bucs)
LB Devin Bush, Michigan (Steelers)
Flex J.J. Watt, Wisconsin (Houston Texans)
CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State (Saints)*
CB Denzel Ward, Ohio State (Cleveland Browns)*
S Devin McCourty, Rutgers (New England Patriots)
S Micah Hyde, Iowa (Buffalo Bills)
That’s a pretty special team folks. And that’s without the benefit of potential first-round NFL draft picks Chase Young and Jeff Okudah in the mix — though that would only bump out another OSU player in each case.
So, what’s the complete breakdown for each team in the Big Ten? It looks like this:
Ohio State – 8
Wisconsin – 3
Iowa – 3
Penn State – 2
Michigan – 2
Indiana – 1
Purdue – 1
Nebraska – 1
Rutgers – 1
It’s clear Ohio State continues to get it done in college, and at the next level. And there’s more on the way …
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