Phil Steele releases 2023 preseason All-Big Ten team

The Big Ten is absolutely loaded with talent entering the 2023 season. Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State have put together some of the best rosters in college football, while programs like Wisconsin and Iowa are looking to bounce back after disappointing seasons.

College football expert Phil Steele recently released his preseason All-Big Ten team. It’s no surprise that players like Blake Corum and Marvin Harrison Jr. are on the list, but Steele does expect some players going under-the-radar to have big years, too.

Here’s a look at Steele’s preseason All-Big Ten team, which has Michigan leading the way with seven first-team selections:

Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten team

First-team offense

QB JJ McCarthy, Michigan

McCarthy impressed in his first season as the starter, passing for 2,719 yards and 22 touchdowns, while adding five rushing scores. The Illinois native led Michigan to a Big Ten title and spot in the College Football Playoff, where the Wolverines lost a heartbreaker to TCU.

The rising junior proved in 2022 that he is a winner who makes big plays in big moments. Michigan is expected to be right back in the College Football Playoff picture again in 2023, and McCarthy is a big reason why.

RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin

Allen enjoyed a breakout season in 2022, rushing for 1,242 yards over 12 games. For his efforts, Allen received second-team All-Big Ten honors. He was also named the Offensive MVP of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl after rushing for 116 yards and a touchdown against Oklahoma State.

The Badgers had a disappointing year in 2022, but it wasn’t because of Allen. He should excel in new offensive coordinator Phil Longo‘s system. Longo had excellent running games throughout his time at North Carolina.

RB Blake Corum, Michigan

Corum was likely one of the easier selections for Steele after he rushed for 1,463 yards last season, despite missing a pair of games. Corum was named a unanimous first-team All-American in 2022 and was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award.

The Virginia native considered turning pro after his impressive 2022 campaign but opted to return to school for one more year after going down with an injury against Illinois. He and Donovan Edwards enter the season as the top running back duo in the country.

WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State

Harrison is widely considered to be the top receiver in the country after catching 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns a year ago. He was honored as a unanimous All-American in 2022 and was named the Big Ten Receiver of the Year. He is considered by some to be the top player in college football and is expected to be a top 10 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

The son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, Harrison Jr. was at his best on the biggest stage last season. He had 33 receptions for 538 yards and six touchdowns in five games against ranked opponents in 2022. Ryan Day has yet to name a starting quarterback, but whoever it is will be throwing to arguably the best receiver in the country.

WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

Another stud receiver for the Buckeyes, Egbuka is coming off of a season in which he caught 74 passes for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Washington native ranked ninth nationally in receiving yards and ninth in catches of 10 or more yards in 2022.

Having Egbuka and Harrison opposite each other makes it tough for defenses to pay too much attention to any one receiver. Look for Egbuka to have another big year in 2023 after earning second-team All-Big Ten honors a season ago.

WR Isaiah Williams, Illinois

After signing with Illinois as a quarterback, Williams switched to receiver ahead of the 2021 season and is now one of the best wideouts in the Big Ten. He caught 82 passes for 715 yards and five scores last season, while also leading the Big 10 in yards per punt return.

Yes, its defense was a big reason why Illinois went 8-5 last year. But Williams also played a large role in the turnaround after the Illini went 5-7 the previous season.

TE Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota

One of the top weapons on the Minnesota offense, Spann-Ford led Minnesota in receptions with 42 last season. He was also second on the team in receiving yards with 497.

The Minnesota native is entering his sixth season with the Gophers after redshirting his first year on campus in 2018. He wasn’t used much in the passing game early on in his career but enters 2023 as a true threat that defenses must pay attention to.

C Drake Nugent, Michigan

A transfer from Stanford, Nugent was excellent during his time with the Cardinal. He has appeared in 27 games, with 24 starts in his college career. The Colorado native was named honorable mention All-Pac-12 each of the past two seasons.

Nugent was also a leader while at Stanford and was named a team captain for the 2022 squad. He joins a Michigan offensive line that is coming off of a great season.

OG Zak Zinter, Michigan

Zinter helped the Wolverines win the Joe Moore Award, which goes to the best offensive line in college football, each of the past two years. The Massachusetts native has appeared in 33 games, with 31 starts, so far in his college career.

Zinter was named second-team All-Big Ten in 2021 and received first-team honors in 2022. He shared Offensive Player of the Week honors for the Wolverines after wins over Penn State and Nebraska last year.

OG Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

Jackson is back after starting all 13 games at left guard for the Buckeyes in 2022. The Texas native was named first-team All-Big Ten last season after helping Ohio State reach the College Football Playoff.

Jackson signed with the Buckeyes as a five-star recruit, the No. 14 overall player in the country and the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in the class of 2021, according to the On3 Industry rankings. He appeared in all 13 games as a true freshman that season.

OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State

Fashanu was honored as a second-team All-American in 2022 after starting eight games at left tackle. He didn’t allow a sack in 281 pass blocking snaps, while being named Offensive Player of the Game after matchups against Purdue and Auburn.

In addition to All-American honors, Fashanu was also named second-team All-Big Ten. He was tabbed the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman for the Nittany Lions in 2022 as they finished 11-2 with a win over Utah in the Rose Bowl.

OT Jack Nelson, Wisconsin

The returning starter at left tackle, Nelson had an excellent year for the Badgers in 2022, while earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.

Nelson started all 12 games last season and led the Badgers with an 83.1 pass blocking rating, according to PFF. That was the highest rating for a Wisconsin offensive lineman since 2019. Nelson was at left tackle in 2021, after starting all 13 games at right guard in 2021.

First-team defense

DE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State

One of the top defensive ends in the country, Tuimoloau enters the 2023 season with 45 tackles and 15 tackles for loss so far in his career. He was named first-team All-Big Ten after producing 28 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss in 2022.

Tuimoloau also had a pair of interceptions last season, including a pick-six against Penn State. In that game, Tuimoloau recorded three tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

DT Keith Randolph, Illinois

Illinois had one of the best defenses in the country in 2022 and Randolph was a big reason why. As a sophomore last season, Randolph recorded 53 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

He was second on the team in tackles for loss and sacks and earned third-team All-Big Ten honors. He is ready to start in the middle for the Illini again this season after appearing in 13 games, with 12 starts last year.

DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan

Jenkins started all 14 games for the Wolverines last season as Michigan won the Big Ten and advanced to the College Football Playoff. He finished the year with 54 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss.

He was named the Michigan Defensive Player of the Week four times last season and shared the honors once more. For his career, Jenkins has played in 29 games with 18 starts.

DE Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois

The second Illinois defensive lineman on Steele’s first-team All-Big Ten list, Newton had a breakout season for the Illini last year. He was named first-team All-Big Ten and a second-team All-American after recording 14 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 2022.

Newton led Illinois in tackles for loss, sacks, quarterback hurries and fumble recoveries last year. He also tied for the national lead in quarterback hits with 19, according to PFF. He’s a big reason why Illinois should have an excellent defense again in 2023.

LB Maema Njongmeta, Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s leading tackler last season, Njongmeta played in 13 games and made 11 starts last year, while finishing with 95 tackles. He added 12.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and an interception for the Badgers.

The 2022 season was a breakout year for Njongmeta, who played in only seven games his first three seasons on campus. He should be a star on the Wisconsin defense again in 2023.

LB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State

Eichenberg is back for a fifth season in Columbus after an impressive junior campaign. The Cleveland, Ohio native led the Buckeyes with 120 tackles and 12 tackles for loss last year. He is back for another season, despite graduating in May.

Of Eichenberg’s 120 tackles last year, 77 were solo stops, which was good for No. 5 nationally. He was named first-team All-Big Ten and a second-team All-American in 2022.

LB Abdul Carter, Penn State

Carter had a record-breaking season as a true freshman in 2022. The Philadelphia native quickly established himself as one of the best linebackers in the country, recording 56 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 13 games, with six starts.

Carter earned second-team All-Big Ten Honors last season and joined current Penn State defensive line coach Deion Barnes in 2012 as the only Nittany Lions freshmen to record 10 tackles for loss and six sacks in a season.

LB Junior Colson, Michigan

The leading tackler for the Wolverines in 2022, Colson recorded 101 stops, including six tackles for loss, while starting all 14 games. He was a part of a Michigan defense that was one of the best in the country last season and should be again this year.

Colson has made plenty of big plays in each of his two seasons in Ann Arbor. As a freshman in 2021, he played in all 14 games and made seven starts. Colson shared Michigan Rookie of the Year honors that season.

CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa

While the Iowa offense struggled last season, the Hawkeyes defense was excellent. DeJean was a big reason for that as he intercepted five passes in 2022 — returning three for a touchdown.

DeJean set the Iowa single-season record with his three pick-sixes. He was also named the MVP of the Music City Bowl after helping the Hawkeyes to a 21-0 victory over Kentucky.

CB Kalen King, Penn State

Another ballhawk in the secondary, King intercepted three passes last season while appearing in 13 games, with nine starts. He should be a full time starter for the Nittany Lions as a junior in 2023.

The Detroit, Michigan native led the Big Ten in passes defended (21) and pass breakups (18) last year, while earning third-team All-Big Ten honors.

S Tyler Nubin, Minnesota

The Illinois native is back at Minnesota for his fifth and final season after choosing to wait to chase his NFL dream. Nubin made 55 tackles and had four interceptions in 2022.

He is one of the most experienced players in the Big Ten, having appeared in 43 games so far in his career. Nubin was named second-team All-Big Ten following last season.

S Rod Moore, Michigan

Moore shared Michigan Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 after starting four games at safety. He followed that up by putting together another excellent season as a sophomore in 2022.

Last year, the Ohio native led all Michigan defensive backs with 71 tackles and had a team-leading four interceptions. He has played well in each of the past two seasons against his home-state Buckeyes as Michigan has won the Big Ten title both years and reached the College Football Playoff both seasons.

First-team special teams

K Drew Stevens, Iowa

The South Carolina native had an impressive first year on campus, setting the Hawkeyes school record with 16 made field goals. He impressed after joining the Iowa program as a walk-on ahead of the 2022 season, making 16 of 18 field goal attempts, with a long of 54, which came against Northwestern.

Stevens came out of nowhere to turn into one of the best kickers in the Big Ten last season.

P Tory Taylor, Iowa

Taylor and Stevens combine to help make up one of the best special teams units in the country. The Australia native Taylor was named a first-team All-American last season after averaging 45.4 yards on 82 punts.

With the Iowa offense struggling throughout the season, Taylor got plenty of opportunities. He put 38 of his 82 punts inside the 20, including six in the Music City Bowl against Kentucky.

KR Jaylin Lucas, Indiana

A bright spot for the Hoosiers last season, Lucas became the first Hoosiers player since Tevin Coleman in 2012 to return a kickoff for a touchdown. He finished with two kickoff returns for a touchdown in 2022, which led the FBS.

Lucas, who is also a running back, also contributed some as a pass catcher last year. He is dangerous every time he touches the ball.

PR AJ Henning, Northwestern

The Michigan transfer showcased his skills as a punt returner and receiver for the Wolverines last season, returning 28 punts for 201 yards and a touchdown.

He also caught nine passes for 60 yards, while earning All-Big Ten honors as a returner.

LS Sean Wracher, Indiana

Wracher has served as the long snapper for the Hoosiers since he arrived in 2019 and has done an excellent job. He was named an honorable mention All-American long snapper in 2022.

The hope is that the Hoosiers as a team will be better this year entering Wracher’s fifth season with the program.

Second-team offense

QB Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
RB Nick Singleton, Penn State
WR Daniel Jackson, Minnesota
WR Jeshaun Jones, Maryland
WR Cam Camper, Indiana
TE Luke Lachey, Iowa
C Nick Samac, Michigan State
OG Isaiah Adams, Illinois
OG Trevor Keegan, Michigan
OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
OT Julian Earl, Illinois

Second-team defense

DE Deontae Craig, Iowa
DT Logan Lee, Iowa
DT Michael Hall, Ohio State
DE Chop Robinson, Penn State
LB Aaron Casey, Indiana
LB Michael Barrett, Michigan
LB Cal Haladay, Michigan State
LB Curtis Jacobs, Penn State
CB Max Melton, Rutgers
CB Will Johnson, Michigan
S Beau Brade, Maryland
S Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin

Second-team special teams

K James Turner, Michigan
P James Evans, Indiana
KR Nick Singleton, Penn State
PR Quentin Redding, Minnesota
LS Peter Bowden, Wisconson

Third-team offense

QB Tanner Mordecai, Wisconsin
RB Roman Hemby, Maryland
RB Donovan Edwards, Michigan
WR Chimere Dike, Wisconsin
WR Cornelius Johnson, Michigan
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Penn State
TE Cade Stover, Ohio State
C Hunter Nourzad, Penn State
OG Matt Jones, Ohio State
OG Tanor Bortolini, Wisconsin
OT LaDarius Henderson, Michigan
OT Bryce Benhart, Nebraska

Third-team defense

DE Adisa Isaac, Penn State
DT Simeon Barrow, Michigan State
DT Tommy Akingbesote, Maryland
DE Joe Evans, Iowa
LB Jacoby Windmon, Michigan State
LB Bryce Gallagher, Northwestern
LB Deion Jennings, Rutgers
LB Jaishawn Barham, Maryland
CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State
CB Quinton Newsome, Nebraska
S Lathan Ransom, Ohio State
S Cam Allen, Purdue

Third-team special teams

K Caleb Griffin, Illinois
P Colton Spangler, Maryland
KR Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
PR Isaiah Williams, Illinois
LS Tyler Duzansky, Penn State

Fourth-team offense

QB Kyle McCord, Ohio State
RB Miyan Williams, Ohio State
RB Gabe Ervin, Nebraska
WR Billy Kemp, Nebraska
WR Will Pauling, Wisconsin
WR TJ Sheffield, Purdue
TE Colson Loveland, Michigan
C Jake Renfro, Wisconsin
OG Josh Priebe, Northwestern
OG Quinn Carroll, Minnesota
OT Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern
OT Mason Richman, Iowa

Fourth-team defense

DE Jaylen Harrell, Michigan
DT Mayan Ahanotu, Rutgers
DT Mason Graham, Michigan
DE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
LB Gabe Jacas, Illinois
LB Nic Caraway, Purdue
LB Tyreem Powell, Rutgers
LB Steele Chambers, Ohio State
CB Ja’Quan Sheppard, Maryland
CB Johnny Dixon, Penn State
S Quinn Schulte, Iowa
S Rod Heard, Northwestern

Fourth-team special teams

K Nathanial Vakos, Wisconsin
P Brian Buschini, Nebraska
KR Quentin Redding, Minnesota
PR Tarheeb Still, Maryland
LS Brady Weeks, Minnesota

It should be a fun race in the Big Ten in 2023 as Michigan and Ohio State are two of the top national title contenders, and Penn State is also a preseason top 10 squad. As you can see from Phil Steele’s Preseason All-Big Ten team, the league has a ton of talent. It won’t be long until we see how the season unfolds.