0 Shares Print Football season can’t come soon enough but, until that opening kickoff, we’re here to help you pass the time. Every day this week, as part of a new series, we’re debating the top — or, in some cases, second-best — player at different positions. We won’t always agree, but we’ll always give you our reasons for a particular pick. The Wednesday roundtable of the week: After Penn State’s Anthony Zettel, who is the best defensive tackle in the Big Ten? Adolphus Washington got one of his 4.5 sacks last season against Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg. Evan Habeeb/USA TODAY SportsAustin Ward: Ohio State DT Adolphus Washington The versatility provided by Washington seemingly always makes him a candidate to be shuffled around up front. But after finding a home on the interior for the Buckeyes, Washington developed into an invaluable building block for a much-improved defense and could have left school last year and been a second-round pick. He’ll have a chance to boost that stock this fall, and Ohio State will certainly be glad to have him around as it tries to defend its national title. His statistics might look relatively modest with 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, but by the end of the season Washington was figuring out how to beat double teams, stuffing the run and picking his spots as a pass-rusher to make an impact. The addition of defensive line coach Larry Johnson a year ago has only helped make Washington more dangerous, and with the strength to battle in the trenches, the speed to still rush the passer and fundamentals that continue to be sharpened, the veteran will be among the top threats in the league this fall. Josh Moyer: Nebraska DT Maliek Collins How do you want to measure the best defensive tackle — numbers, ability, accolades? Because, any way you look at it, Collins has it covered. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound junior led the Huskers last season with 14 tackles for loss and finished behind only Randy Gregory in sacks (4.5) and QB hurries (13). He also only got better as the season wore on, collecting at least five tackles in four of the last six games. He collected plenty of honors, too, as Nebraska’s Defensive co-MVP and as a second-team All-B1G selection. He’s also the only returning defensive tackle, outside of Zettel, who earned a spot. Former coach Bo Pelini said Collins reminded him of two-time All-American Glenn Dorsey…
Continue Reading: B1G roundtable: Best defensive tackles after Anthony Zettel
