It’s now July and college football – week zero – will be upon us at the end of August, so it’s time to really start thinking about college football again.
The 2022 football season is about to take off, so for this article, we’re going to rank the 22 best returning Big Ten players for the upcoming season.
It was difficult to come with only 22 players. This conference is pretty loaded on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. I considered awards, stats, and All-Big Ten production when putting together this top 22 list. I’m sure there will be a lot of disagreements with this ranking, so please share your thoughts and what you would change.
Without further ado, here are the 22 best Big Ten football players ahead of the 2022 football season.
22
Riley Moss – DB – Iowa
Iowa defensive back Riley Moss (33) warms up during an NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Minnesota, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
211113 Minn Iowa Fb Extra 021 Jpg
Career stats: 111 tackles, 10 interceptions, three defensive touchdowns and 15 pass deflections
21
Ji’Ayir Brown — DB — Penn State
January 1, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions safety Ji’Ayir Brown (16) intercepts the ball in the end zone during the first half against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2022 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium . Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton – USA TODAY Sports
Career stats: 79 tackles, six interceptions, one defensive touchdown and six pass deflections
20
Olu Oluwatimi — OL — Michigan
Photo: Isaiah Hole
* Rimington Prize finalist in 2021
19
Sam LaPorta — TE — Iowa
December 4, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Sam LaPorta (84) against the Michigan Wolverines during the Big Ten Conference Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Career stats: 95 receptions, 1,129 yards and four touchdowns
18
Ronnie Bell — WR — Michigan
Photo: Isaiah Hole
Career stats: 83 receptions, 1,380 yards and five touchdowns
17
Rakim Jarrett — WR — Maryland
COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 09: Rakim Jarrett #5 of the Maryland Terrapins passes the ball past Bryson Shaw #17 of the Ohio State Buckeyes for a touchdown in the third quarter during a game at Ohio Stadium on October 09, 2021 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Career stats: 79 receptions, 1,081 yards and seven touchdowns
16
Evan Hull — RB — North West
October 23, 2021; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Northwestern Wildcats running back Evan Hull (26) rushes for a first-half touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Career stats: 267 attempts, 1,504 yards and 13 touchdowns
15
Chase Brown — RB — Illinois
Wisconsin’s CJ Goetz stops Illinois running back Chase Brown for a short gain during the second quarter Friday.
Career stats: 348 attempts, 1,915 yards and eight touchdowns
14
Mo Ibrahim — RB — Minnesota
September 2, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Gophers running back Mohamed Ibrahim (24) heads the ball as Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Ryan Watts (16) tries to tackle him during the second quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium . Mandatory Credit: Harrison Barden – USA TODAY Sports
Career stats: 547 attempts, 3,003 yards and 33 touchdowns
13
Parker Washington — WR — State of Pennsylvania
January 1, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Parker Washington (3) makes a one-handed catch during the first half against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2022 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton – USA TODAY Sports
Career stats: 100 receptions, 1,309 yards and 10 touchdowns
12
Peter Skoronski — OT — Northwest
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 12: Peter Skoronski #77 of the Northwestern Wildcats blocks Isaiah Gay #92 of the Illinois Fighting Illini at Ryan Field on December 12, 2020 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
11
Tiawan Mullen — DB — Indiana
November 7, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Zach Charbonnet (24) is tackled by Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Tiawan Mullen (3) during the second half of the game at Memorial Stadium. The Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Michigan Wolverines 38-21. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Career stats: 84 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions and 20 pass deflections
ten
Taulia Tagovailoa — QB — Maryland
Photo: Isaiah Hole
Career stats: 412 for 608, 4,971 yards, 34 touchdowns and 18 interceptions
9
TreVeyon Henderson — RB — Ohio State
(AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Career stats: 183 attempts, 1,248 yards and 14 touchdowns
8
Aidan O’Connell – QB – Purdue
(Nikos Frazier/Journal & Courier via AP)
Career stats: 506 for 740, 5,729 yards, 43 touchdowns and 17 interceptions
seven
Nick Herbig — LB — Wisconsin
Photo: Vincent Carchietta – USA TODAY Sports
Career stats: 87 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries
6
Jack Campbell — LB — Iowa
December 4, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Hassan Haskins (25) heads the ball while Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Jack Campbell (31) defends in the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski – USA TODAY Sports
Career stats: 174 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries
5
Jayden Reed — WR — Michigan State
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 30: Jayden Reed #1 of the Michigan State Spartans stiff arms Phil Campbell III #24 of the Pittsburgh Panthers during the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 30, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Adam Hagy/Getty Images)
Career stats: 148 receptions, 2,230 yards and 21 touchdowns
4
Blake Corum — RB — Michigan
Photo: Isaiah Hole
Career stats: 170 attempts, 1,026 yards and 13 touchdowns
3
Braelon Allen — RB — Wisconsin
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Career stats: 186 attempts, 1,268 yards and 12 touchdowns
2
Jaxon Smith-Njigba — WR — Ohio State
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 27: Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Rod Moore #19 of the Michigan Wolverines speak during the first quarter at Michigan Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan . (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
Career stats: 105 receptions, 1,655 yards and 10 touchdowns
1
CJ Stroud — QB — Ohio State
Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud (7) pulls away from Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Michigan , Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)
Career stats: 317 for 441, 4,435 yards, 44 touchdowns and six interceptions
