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 safeties, a group feature a number of hard-hitting ball-hawks ready to give opposing offenses fits.

Previous Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | DT | DE | OLB | ILB

Penn State brings back the majority of its starting lineup on both sides of the ball from last season's improbable run to a Big Ten championship, and senior Marcus Allen may be the best defensive player of all.

After turning down a chance to potentially jump to the NFL after last season, Allen returns to Penn State having earned third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2016.

What’s interesting is that Allen has yet to record an interception in his three seasons as a Nittany Lion, but he’s more than made up for it by forcing and recovering fumbles, blocking kicks and being one of the team’s top tacklers.

One of his most impressive efforts came last year against Minnesota, when the 6-foot-2, 202-pounder racked up 22 total tackles for the third-highest single-game total in all of FBS in 2016.

Allen heads into 2017 as a consensus preseason All-Big Ten selection, and he should only continue to pile up the accolades as the year goes along.

Senior Godwin Igwebuike is the best player and the clear leader of Northwestern’s defense this season, and he’ll be charged with filling the void of star linebacker Anthony Walker on and off the field as much as anyone.

After deciding not to jump to the NFL early and return for his senior year, Igwebuike gives the Wildcats one of the best all-around safeties not only in the conference, but in all of college football.

The 6-foot, 205-pound native of Pickerington, Ohio, led the team with 108 total tackles last season and was named second-team All-Big Ten.

Like Allen, Igwebuike too is a consensus preseason all-conference selection who could end up being a potential first-round pick in next year's NFL Draft.

Ohio State’s secondary was once again decimated by early departures to the NFL this offseason, but the Buckeyes do bring back one returning starter in senior safety Damon Webb.

Having played in 28 career games with 13 starts, Webb will be counted on to be the clear leader of OSU’s revamped defensive backfield in his final year.

A former cornerback who moved to safety prior to the 2016 season, the 5-11, 195, native of Detroit started all 13 games and finished fifth on the team with 57 tackles along with a pick-six against Nebraska.

His play was good enough to earn honorable-mention All-Big Ten, but considering Ohio State’s track record, Webb hasn’t even scratched the surface of his football accolades.

D’Cota Dixon made his debut on Wisconsin’s starting defense last season and quickly established himself as a fixture over the middle.

The 5-10, 199, native of Oak Hill, Fla., started all 14 games and did a little bit of everything for the Badgers in 2016.

Not only did he rack up 60 total tackles, he added four interceptions, four pass breakups, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, forced a fumble and recovered another to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors.

Now a seasoned senior, Dixon will be vital piece on Wisconsin’s veteran defense in 2017.

One of the most versatile defenders in the Big Ten last season was a freshman at Indiana named Marcelino Ball.

The 6-foot, 212, native of Roswell, Ga., had the skill set and aptitude to play either linebacker or defensive back, and the Hoosiers definitely got creative with how they used him.

As a result, Ball ended up finishing third on the team with 75 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, eight pass breakups and recovered a fumble.

He led all conference freshmen in tackles and was named to the BTN and ESPN All-Freshman teams while also garnering honorable mention all-league honors.

Now a sophomore, Ball’s production should only continue to rise as he settles in as a full-time Big Ten safety.