By: Brock Vierra
The Big 10 has made massive strides as both a conference and as a brand. Not only have they had immense success in terms of football production, rivaling only the SEC but by poaching USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington, the conference’s foresight and actions have won them the conference realignment war. Being home to the defending national champs, Michigan Wolverines, the Big 10 is only the second conference to have multiple members win the College Football Playoff.
Considering the Big 10’s success, not only in the CFP but in general, talent from all across the country flocks to play in the conference. A new year and new programs mean new opportunities and opportunities reveal superstars. Here are the players I think will establish themselves as stars in 2024.
Big 10 Surprise Standouts First Team Offense
QB: Aidan Chiles, Michigan State
RB: Jonah Coleman, Washington
WR: J. Michael Sturdivant, UCLA
WR: Logan Loya, UCLA
WR: Duce Robinson, USC
TE: Addison Ostrenga, Iowa
LT: J.C. Davis, Illinois
LG: Josh Priebe, Michigan
C: Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State
RG: Matthew Bedford, Oregon
RT: Bryce Benhartt, Nebraska
Big 10 Surprise Standouts First Team Defense
IDL: Sebastian Valdez, Washington
IDL: Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon
EDGE: Kydran Jenkins, Purdue
EDGE: Aiden Hubbard, Northwestern
LB: Luke Reimer, Nebraska
LB: Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
CB: Dillon Thieneman, Purdue
CB: Ricardo Hallman, Wisconsin
CB: Ephesians Prysock, Washington
S: Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin
S: Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa
Big 10 Surprise Standouts First Team Special Teams
K: Grady Gross, Washington
P: Brody Richter, UCLA
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