Top 5 football players scheduled to attend Big Ten media days

1. Adrian Clayborn, Iowa: The league’s best defensive end passed up NFL riches to return for his senior season. He’s a first-team Playboy All-American, coming off an 11 ½-sack season with a plethora of talent around him.

2. Greg Jones, Michigan State: The reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (according to the media), Jones led the Big Ten and ranked third nationally with 154 tackles. He has a legitimate chance to be an All-American.

3. John Clay, Wisconsin: Clay is a long-shot Heisman Trophy candidate and the most physical back in the Big Ten. He rushed for 1,517 yards and 18 touchdowns last year, and is primed for a better 2010 after offseason ankle surgery.

4. Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue: He doesn’t get as much publicity as Clayborn and Jones, but Kerrigan is a disruptive player. He led the Big Ten with 13 sacks and seven forced fumbles last year, and could led the Boilers to a bowl this fall.

5. Evan Royster, Penn State: Royster has two straight 1,100-yard rushing seasons, and Penn State will rely on him more heavily than ever this fall. The Nittany Lions are breaking in a new quarterback and lost their best defensive players.