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 safety position, where another Wisconsin Badger tops our list.
Previous rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB
1. D'Cota Dixon, Wisconsin
The Big Ten turns over a lot of talent at safety from a year ago, and Wisconsin's D'Cota Dixon will enter 2018 as arguably the top returner.
Dixon has played in 42 games, starting 23 over his career in Madison. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches in 2017, and a third-team All-Big Ten selection by the media. He was a third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2016 as well.
Over his career, Dixon has 134 tackles, six tackles for loss, five interceptions and 13 pass deflections. He will lead the back end of the Badgers defense in 2018.
2. David Dowell, Michigan State
Junior Michigan State safety David Dowell was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the media in 2017, and honorable mention by the coaches.
Dowell has played in 23 games for MSU, with 10 career starters. Dowell has 62 tackles, five interceptions and four pass break-ups over the last two seasons.
The 6-foot-1, 196-pound Dowell made his mark last year by pulling in five interceptions over a three-game span against Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State. His picks against PSU and Michigan played a key factor in the Spartans winning those games.
3. Jordan Fuller, Ohio State
As a true freshman in 2016, Ohio State's Jordan Fuller saw action in 12 games, learning under the likes of Malik Hooker and Damon Webb.
In 2017, Fuller made a big jump for the Buckeyes, finishing with 70 tackles and two interceptions en route to being named third-team All-Big Ten in his first season as a starter.
The former New Jersey high school football player of the year is now the leader of OSU's safety room heading into the 2018 season. His signature moment a year ago came when he tackled Penn State All-American running back Saquon Barkley in the backfield for a loss during a key third-down play during the Buckeyes come from behind win.
4. Khari Willis, Michigan State
Besides Dowell, Michigan State also returns fellow starting safety Khari Willis, giving the Spartans arguably the best safety duo in the conference.
The 6-foot, 214-pound Willis has 112 career tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss, six pass break-ups and two interceptions in 33 career games. He's made 17 career starts in East Lansing.
Willis had a career year in 2017 with 71 total tackles at the boundary safety position en route to receiving honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition a year ago.
5. Amani Hooker, Iowa
Iowa lost a lot of firepower from their defense in 2017, and the Hawkeyes will look towards safety Amani Hooker to lead the way on the back end this season.
Hooker made his first start a year ago against Penn State, where he finished with 13 total tackles. He closed the 2017 season with 12 tackles in Iowa's Pinstripe Bowl victory over Boston College. However, Hooker's signature moment in 2017 came when he picked off Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett on the game's opening play for a pick-six that set the tone for Iowa's upset victory over the Buckeyes.
Look for Hooker to contend for All-Big Ten honors in 2018 before it's all said and done.
