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 conclude our Ranking the Big Ten series today with the kickoff and punt returners, a group that features some of the most dynamic special teams playmakers in the country.
Previous rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | S | CB | K | P
1. DeAndre Thompkins, Penn State
While Saquan Barkley stole the show with his production at running back and kickoff returner, Thompkins was equally as dynamic as Penn State’s punt return man.
Thompkins set a school record for punt return average in a game with 31.8 yards per attempt vs. Akron, including running back PSU’s first punt for a touchdown since 2008.
His 2017 season average of 13.3 ypr led the Big Ten and ranked fifth nationally, which helped him earn second-team All-Big honors as a return specialist.
2. Parris Campbell, Ohio State
When Campbell announced he was coming back to Ohio State for his senior season, it not only gave the Buckeyes their top wide receiver for another year, but also one of the top kickoff returners in the country.
Campbell led the Big Ten and ranked 11th nationally in kickoff returns last season with an average of 27.8 ypr, which ranked seventh all-time on OSU’s single-season list.
His 584 kick return yards as a junior also placed third in school history and boosted his career totals to 913 yards and a 30.4-yard average.
3. J.D. Spielman, Nebraska
A big part of Spielman’s breakout redshirt freshman season in 2017 was the immediate impact he made on special teams - and we do mean immediate.
On his first touch as a Husker, Spielman took back a 99-yard kickoff for a touchdown in Nebraska’s season opener vs. Arkansas State.
He ended up leading the conference and ranking 23rd nationally with 669 kick return yards, which also placed second among FBS freshmen.
Spielman earned Freshman All-American and BTN All-Freshman honors as a returner, and now that he’s a frontrunner to handle both kick and punt return duties this season, there will be plenty more opportunity for further accolades.
4. Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan
Michigan took a chance by throwing a true freshman into the fire when it handed former five-star recruit Peoples-Jones the keys at punt returner out of the gates.
While he definitely went through a bit of a freshman learning curve, Peoples-Jones also proved he was more than capable of shining in the role.
He ended up leading the Big Ten with 320 yards on a whopping 40 punt returns in 2017 - including a 79-yard runback for a touchdown - and was fourth in the league with 8.0 yards per return.
5. Ty Johnson, Maryland
Along with emerging as Maryland’s top running back by the end of last season, Johnson also proved to be a legit special teams weapons as a kickoff returner.
He finished the year with 657 return yards, which stand as the ninth-most in single-season history and was named all-conference honorable mention.
Johnson’s biggest performance came against Ohio State, where a broke a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.
