Top 5 football players scheduled to attend Big Ten media days
AnnArbor.com football reporter Dave Birkett will be in Chicago on Monday and Tuesday for the Big Ten Conference's annual media days. Here's a quick look at the best players scheduled to be in attendance next week.
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.
Comments
Jaxon Boyfriend
Sun, Aug 1, 2010 : 6:03 p.m.
Scootah03 I agree, and all though the Michigan defensive line has three Big guys and the OSU line has 4 tiny guys, we mow em down like bowling pins. The 3-3-5, gonna rise again! GO BLUE!!!!
scootah03
Sun, Aug 1, 2010 : 9:32 a.m.
jaxon we will see this season.my main point here is people support your program and quit being so pessimistic. most of the time you will see about 8 men in the box with this defense.it should do all right with the run but we arent running a solid 3-3-5 they called it there base but will run what is necessary for the situation.we shall see what robinson can do with a second year and more experience.but we could argue about what could happen all day and still be 35 days out till uconn tomarrow.support your team(if mich is even your team)and look at the positives like this is the first year in the last 3 we have returning QB's or even a returning defensive coordinator.we should have a great d line in martin campbell and vanbergen.the o line is looking to be very good and the experience coming back at QB we should definitley be able to conrol the turnovers which would have won a couple of key games last year and put us in a bowl.I have high expectations this year. I see a lot of positives and think there will be a lot of people changing there tune by next spring.I give them 8-4 at least and 10-2 very probable but only time will tell.
Tom
Sun, Aug 1, 2010 : 2:07 a.m.
You said Greg Jones has a legitimate shot at being an All-American... No duh he does! He was a 2009 First-Team Consensus All-American last year! He will repeat and be one of the top five linebackers chosen in the draft.
Jaxon5
Sat, Jul 31, 2010 : 6:43 p.m.
Scoot... but Michigan's front d line is only 3 players while Ohio State's is 4. Look's like we get crushed again.
scootah03
Sat, Jul 31, 2010 : 5:53 p.m.
I usually try not commenting on articles becuase they tend to be full of negative comments towards the team i love and cherish. I will always be a michigan fan thru thick and thin and I will always support our coach no matter what. It has been a rough two years but even BO said to support your team even when they are down.there a few people (terry and tater) who seem to be true fans and support there program and school like we all should but there are countless others who are just negative about everything whether they are actually michigan fans or some other teams fans just talking trash on michigans forums I dont know but its sad.to alexandra john migda:please check your facts before you go talking out of the side of your neck again.lets compare u of m to osu. u of m's defensive line is an average of 6ft 4.3 inches 300lbs osu dline average of 6ft3inches 282lbs. uofm's o-line average of 6ft5.3inches 291 lbs osu o-line is 6ft5inches 304lbs. all coaches like speed but our guys are very comparable to that of ohio state (most likely your team) so please quit complaining about michigan football on here you just sound ignorant.GO BLUE!!!!!
NoBowl4Blue
Sat, Jul 31, 2010 : 12:45 p.m.
Good players but missing Clay from Wisconsin and Heyward from OSU.
Terry Star21
Sat, Jul 31, 2010 : 11:29 a.m.
Tough time of the year....Michigan has 12 players in front of those guys, whom are enjoying their summer and just don't need the publicity. Wannabe's look for publicity, top players like Michigan guys, speak in tough action on the field. Michigan Football Players - 38........Big Ten Meeting Showboater Players - 0