The dust has (mostly) settled in the transfer portal. Who has emerged at the top of the new-look Big Ten pecking order?
247sports.com
I make no comments on the PAC 12 newcomers. as I've not studied them.
I do feel like he's got Illinois and Michigan too high, and OSU & Michigan too low.
I decided to look at things this way. Asked myself......what players on each team would not surprise me if they were named 1st, 2nd or 3rd team ABT? I'm not saying I EXPECT them to be all-BT, just wouldn't surprise me.
This is what I came up with:
--IU: Ballo; MR; Bako; Rice; Carlyle; Galloway; Tucker (7)
--PUR: B. Smith; Kaughman-Rhen; Colvin; Heide; Loyer; Catchings (6)
--OSU: Thornton; M. Johnson; Bradshaw; S. Stewart; D Royal (5)
--MSU: Aikens; Fears; J. Richardson; T. Holloman (4)
--ILL: Boswell; T. Rogers; M. Johnson (3)
--MICH: Gayle; Wolf; Golden (3)
--RUT: Bailey; Harper; J. Williams (3)
--MD: Gillespie; Reece; Queen (3)
--WIS: Klesmit; Crawl; Blackwell (3)
--IOWA: Standfort (if back); Freeman; Dix (3)
--NW: Berry; Barnhizer (2)
--NEB: B. Williams (1)
--PSU: Baldwin (1)
--MN: Garcia (1)
This is roughly about how I would expect things to play out. Respecting Illinois.....I just don't see too many guys with real high ceilings, v. OSU or MSU. As for MSU, their guards really look outstanding. Their front line guys of Kohler, Cooper, Booker and Fidler aren't stars, but are good enough to suffice. Maybe not as effective as Illinois' front line of M. Johnson, Slavis, Humrichous, and Booth, but close. I feel the same about Michigan as Illinois--quite a few nice players, but lacking real star potential.