So who’s the best offensive player in the Big Ten?
Yes, the conference has gotten off to a dismal start. And, yes, the season is young.
Ohio State’s Braxton Miller, the Big Ten’s top offensive player the past two years, is out for the season after shoulder surgery. Someone is destined to step into that vacancy.
Yet not many teams in the country would turn down backs like Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah or Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon, or smart quarterbacks such as Christian Hackenberg of Penn State or Michigan State’s Connor Cook.
And Indiana’s Tevin Coleman, Michigan State’s Jeremy Langford, Maryland’s Stefon Diggs, Michigan’s Derrick Green, Minnesota’s David Cobb – and even the freshman who replaced Miller, J.T. Barrett – may all stake a claim.
The conference has many offensive threats. It all comes down to how they’re utilized.
”It’s a little bit about personality and it’s a little bit about what the head coach wants to be on offense,” Rutgers coach Kyle Flood said in assessing the Big Ten’s attacks. ”Ultimately, offense comes down to getting the ball into the hands of your playmakers and there’s a lot of different ways to do that.”
Abdullah, a 5-foot-9, 195-pound senior I-back, is averaging 132 yards rushing a game for the conference’s last unbeaten team (3-0). But he’s much more.
”There’s really no weakness in his game. He can do it all,” coach Bo Pelini said. ”That’s rare. He can pass-protect, he can catch the ball coming out of the backfield, he can run inside, he can run outside. He’s very versatile and a complete back.”
Gordon, a 6-1, 213-pound junior, is off to a relatively slow start with 178 yards and two TDs in as many games. Don’t be surprised if he explodes soon, possibly this Saturday against Bowling Green.
”I don’t think he drew it up nor did we with the number of yards he’s had to this point, but he’s excited about the opportunity,” coach Gary Andersen said. ”We’re looking forward to watching him have a great year.”
Continue Reading: Plenty of candidates as Big Ten’s best on offense
