Taking center stage, the B1G's preseason third team is ready to kick the season off
With the B1G set to kickoff this weekend – FINALLY – those of us at Sports Talk from Top to Bottom have decided to take our shot at selecting the preseason All-B1G football teams, as well as forecasting how we see the standings playing out.
Next up, we are displaying our All-B1G third team. After combing through last season’s All-B1G postseason football teams, this season’s preseason All-B1G teams, and tons of statistics, we followed our gut in deciding which players fit where. We also kept our eyes and ears open as some of the league’s top returning talent opted out of the season, and then back in.
We aren’t going to go into a lot of detail about why we selected each player where we did. But we would like your input on these teams. If you agree, give us a thumbs up. If not, go on a rant if you’d like, or offer up your own teams. Either way, let’s get the dialogue rolling!
2020 Preseason All-B1G Football
Third Team Offense
Quarterback – Adrian Martinez, 6-2 225 Junior – Nebraska
2019 Stats: 149-251-9 59.4% 1,956 10 TDs, 144-626 7 TDs
Career Stats: 373-598-17 62.4% 4,573 27 TDs, 21-1,255 15 TDs
Running Back – Dedrick Mills, 5-11 220 Senior – Nebraska
2019 Stats: 143-745 10 TDs, 15-123 0 TDs
Career Stats: 295-1,516 22 TDs, 17-136 1 TD
Running Back – Elijah Collins, 6-0 217 Sophomore – Michigan State
2019 Stats: 222-988 5 TDs, 15-99 0 TDs
Career Stats: 224-996 5 TDs, 15-99 0 TDs
Wide Receiver – Ihmir Smith-Marsette, 6-1 186 Senior – Iowa
2019 Stats: 44-722 5 TDs, 11-108 3 TDs
Career Stats: 85-1,270 10 TDs, 27-220 3 TDs
Wide Receiver – Josh Imatorbhebhe, 6-2 215 Senior – Illinois
2019 Stats: 33-634 9 TDs
Wide Receiver – Wan’Dale Robinson, 5-10 185 Sophomore – Nebraska
2019 Stats: 40-453 2 TDs, 88-340 3 TDs
Tight End – Jake Ferguson, 6-5 246 Junior – Wisconsin
2019 Stats: 33-407 2 TDs
Career Stats: 69-863 6 TDs
Center – Doug Kramer, 6-2 300 Senior – Illinois
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Coaches
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Media
Offensive Lineman – Blake Jeresaty, 6-2 295 Senior – Illinois
Transferred from Woffard
All-Southern Conference First Team (C)
All-Southern Conference Second Team (M)
All Southern Conference First Team (Phil Steele)
Check FCS All-American Teams
Offensive Lineman – Logan Bruss, 6-5 310 Junior – Wisconsin
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Coaches
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Media
Offensive Lineman – Sam Schleuter, 6-6 325 Senior – Minnesota
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Coaches
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Media
Offensive Lineman – Will Fries, 6-6 306 Senior – Penn State
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Coaches
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Media
Third Team Defense
Defensive Lineman – Jerome Johnson, 6-3 304 Senior – Indiana
20U-23A, 43 Tackles, 7.5 TFL, 5 Sacks, 2 QBH
Defensive Lineman – Carlo Kemp, 6-3 286 Senior – Michigan
15U-25A, 40 Tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2 Sacks, 1 FR
Defensive Lineman – Jack Heflin, 6-4 312 Senior – Iowa
14U-17A, 31 Tackles, 8.5 TFL, 3 Sacks, 3 QBH, 3 FF
Defensive Lineman – Jovan Swann, 6-2 280 Senior – Indiana
32 Tackles, 8 TFL, 5.5 Sacks, 2 QBH, 1 BRUP, 1 FF, 1 BLK Kick
Linebacker – Milo Eifler, 6-2 225 Senior – Illinois
39U-24A, 63 Tackles, 10 TFL, 2 Sacks, 1 BRUP, 1 FR
Linebacker – Ayinde Eley, 6-3 240 Junior – Maryland
44U-35A, 79 Tackles, 4 TFL, 0.5 Sacks, 2 FR, 1 INT, 5 BRUP
Linebacker – Pete Werner, 6-3 242 Senior – Ohio State
39U-25A, 64 Tackles, 5.5 TFL, 0 Sacks, 3 BRUP, 2 FR
Linebacker – Tuf Borland, 6-1 234 Senior – Ohio State
27U-28A, 55 Tackles, 3 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 INT, 1 BRUP
Defensive Back – Daxton Hill, 6-0 192 Sophomore – Michigan
25U-11A, 36 Tackles, 3 TFL, 0 Sacks, 1 INT, 3 BRUP, 2 FR
Defensive Back – Matt Hankins, 6-0 180 Senior – Iowa
37U-21A, 58 Tackles, 47.5 TFL, 0 Sacks, 2 INT, 7 BRUP, 1 QBH
Defensive Back – Nick Cross, 6-1 210 Sophomore – Maryland
30U-15A, 45 Tackles, 1 TFL, 2 INT, 5 BRUP
Defensive Back – Cam Taylor-Britt, 6-0 205 Junior – Nebraska
29U-20A, 49 Tackles, 3 TFL, 1.5 Sacks, 3 INT, 3 BRUP, 1 FR, 4 FF
Third Team Special Teams
All-Purpose – Ihmir Smith-Marsette, 6-1 179 Senior – Iowa
108 (Rush), 722 (Rec.), 0 (PR), 503 (KR), 0 (IR), 1,333 (Total), 102.54 (AVG/Game)
Kicker – J.D. Dellinger, 6-2 200 Senior – Purdue
13-16 81.2%, 01-19 (0-0), 20-29 (6-6), 30-39 (5-6), 40-49 (1-2), 50-99 (1-2), 53-LG, 0-BLK, 59-3,683 62.4 AVG, 40 TB, 1 OB
Punter – Adam Korsak, 6-1 185 Senior – Rutgers
76-3,327, 43.8 AVG, 69 LG, 2 TB, 33 FC, 31 Inside 20, 12 50+, 0 BLK
Kick Returner – Giles Jackson, 5-9 188 Sophomore – Michigan
24-622 25.92 1 TD, 97 LG
Punt Returner – Riley Lees, 6-0 200 Senior – Northwestern
16-118 7.38 AVG., 0 TD, 21 LG
Long Snapper – Tyler Gillikin, 6-2 217 Senior – Northwestern
