As the 2017 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 offensive tackles, which lost some major talent to the NFL last season but reloads with blend of talent and experience in 2017.
1. Jamarco Jones, Ohio State
After establishing himself as Ohio State's starting left tackle last season, Jamarco Jones immediately made his mark and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors for his efforts.
But with the Buckeyes' once again eying a national title run in 2017, Jones might need to be even better to help make OSU's offense preform at a championship level.
The 6-foot-5, 310-pound senior from Chicago has a chance to boost his NFL stock as a potential first-day draft pick, and keeping quarterback J.T. Barrett comfortable in the pocket would go a long way in accomplishing that.
2. Ryan Bates, Penn State
Few freshmen offensive lineman in the country made as big of an instant impact last season than Penn State's Ryan Bates.
Starting all 14 games at left guard and left tackle as a redshirt freshman during the Nittany Lions' Big Ten title run, Bates collected some impressive individual accolades.
He was named to the Freshman All-American and Freshman All-Big Ten teams, and his performance in the Rose Bowl was good enough to earn him a spot on the All-Bowl Team.
Bates has the ability to play either guard or tackle, but right now he's all but cemented to be PSU's starting left tackle for the rest of his college career.
3. Boone Myers, Iowa
A former walk-on who was put on scholarship prior to the 2014 season, Boone Myers has established himself as a fixture on Iowa's offensive line over the past three years.
The 6-5, 310, senior from Webster City, Iowa, has started 22 of the past 27 games for the Hawkeyes, including all 12 of the games he played in last season.
Iowa's offensive line will once again be regarded as one of the best units in the Big Ten entering 2017, and Myers stands as one of its decorated members having recently been named preseason fourth-team all-conference by Athlon.
4. Nick Gates, Nebraska
When Nick Gates is at his best, he's by far Nebraska's top offensive lineman and one of the better tackles in the entire Big Ten.
However, the 6-5, 290, junior from Las Vegas is working to get back to the level he was at when he was named a Freshman All-American two seasons ago.
Gates struggled mightily over the final two games of 2016, and that clearly was still lingering in the back of his mind this spring.
The Huskers are counting on Gates snapping out of it and getting back to his old self, and if he can they'll have one of the best tackles in the conference to anchor the offense up front.
5. Christian DiLauro, Illinois
Christian DiLauro is one of those guys who you'd think has been playing for Illinois for eight years already.
The 6-5, 300, senior has started the past 31 consecutive games for the Fighting Illini, making him one of the most experienced tackles the Big Ten has to offer.
A former Big Ten All-Freshman Team member in 2014, Illinois will be counting on DiLauro to have his best year yet to help pave the way for an offense dealing with some major question marks.
