In the 2012 NFL draft this past April, the Big Ten had to suffer the mild humiliation of not seeing a player drafted until the 23rd pick, when Detroit took Iowa tackle Riley Reiff.
That quickly turned into four first-round picks for the Big Ten, as Illinois DE Whitney Mercilus, Wisconsin G Kevin Zeitler and Illinois WR A.J. Jenkins were all scooped up before the end of the day’s proceedings, but it still hammered home the notion that the Big Ten had lost its elite status. Seven conferences (and Notre Dame) saw their top draft prospect go before a single Big Ten player was chosen.
Fortunately for the Big Ten, that’s a scenario that’s not likely to play out again this year. The Big Ten has multiple elite prospects, ones likely to go well before anyone from the Mountain West or Big East this time around. Still, it’s not only possible but probable that the conference won’t be able to match 2012′s mark of sending as many players to the NFL in the first round.
So here’s to whom we’ll be…
Continue reading at Bleacher Report – Big Ten Football
