As the 2018 season draws nearer by the day, it’s time to start taking a look at some of the top players to watch in the Big Ten Conference.
We continue our Ranking the Big Ten series today with the centers, a group that still features some top talent despite some significant offseason departures.
1. Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
Biadasz stepped in as Wisconsin’s starting center last year as a redshirt freshman and instantly solidified himself as the man in the middle for years to come.
Starting all 14 games for an o-line that paved the way for 1,977 rushing yards from running back Jonathan Taylor and only allowed a Big Ten-best 1.5 sacks per game, Biadasz was named Freshman All-American and earned third-team all-conference honors.
The Badgers return their entire starting offensive line in 2018, meaning Biadasz will help direct a unit that could very well be one of the best in all of college football.
2. Connor McGovern, Penn State
After starting nine games at guard as a true freshman in 2016, McGovern moved to center and was a fixture on Penn State’s offensive line last year.
He anchored a unit that helped the Nittany Lions rank seventh in FBS with 41.1 points per game and 19th with 460.3 yards per game.
McGovern is one of four returning starters for PSU up front, and he will led the way for what should be another dynamic offensive attack.
3. Kirk Barron, Purdue
Barron enters his senior season having started the past 25 games at center for Purdue, including all 13 last year on an offense that averaged 403.1 yards per game.
Barron highlights a Boilermaker line that returns four starters, and he should only continue to bolster his stock not only as a potential All-Big Ten player, but also as a future NFL draft pick.
The 6-foot-2, 300-pound senior was tabbed as a preseason second-team all-conference pick by Athlon and a third-team selection by Lindy’s.
4. Keegan Render, Iowa
Render enters his senior season with some big shoes to fill, as he takes over for All-Big Ten center and NFL draft pick James Daniels.
Even more challenging is that Reegan just moved to center full-time this spring, having made 19 of his 20 career starts at guard.
The good news is that lone other start did come as Iowa’s emergency center in last year’s opener vs. Wyoming when Daniels was a late scratch due to injury.
Despite his relative inexperience, the Hawkeyes are very high on Reegan, and Athlon ranks him as a preseason third-team All-Big Ten pick.
5. Cesar Ruiz, Michigan
Like Render, Ruiz is making the transition from guard to center this offseason, as he played in 10 games and made four starts at right guard as a true freshman in 2017.
The difference is that Ruiz was not only recruited as a center out of high school, he was a four-star prospect ranked the No. 1 center in the 2017 class.
There’s already talk in Ann Arbor about the 6-4, 316, Ruiz’s NFL potential, and now he’ll get to showcase his ability at his true position for the Wolverines from here on out.
