Ranking the Big Ten: Center
As the 2022 college football season quickly approaches, it is time to look at the top players in the Big Ten Conference.
We continue our Ranking the Big Ten series by ranking the top five returning centers in the conference, including a new No. 1 after Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum has been at the top for two years.
Related: QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG |
1. John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota
Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz is the top returning center in the Big Ten and one of the best in Power Five football. After his first full season as a starter, Schmitz was named a second-team All-Big Ten selection by the league’s coaches.
In 2021, Schmitz was second to Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum, now a Baltimore Raven, in Pro Football Focus’s overall offense and run blocking grade. Schmitz scored an 87.3 offense grade and an 86.2 run blocking grade compared to Linderbaum’s 95.5 and 96.3 in the categories.
The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder led the Big Ten in pass blocking with an 80.8. He allowed five quarterback pressures without a single sack or quarterback hit in 2021. In the Power Five, Schmitz ranked third in offense, fifth in run blocking and eighth in pass blocking.
Schmitz is a preseason second-team All-American selection by Lindy’s and is also on the first-team All-Big Ten by Lindy’s and Athlon. Lindy’s crowned the sixth-year senior as the Nation’s No. 2 center.
2. Olusegun “Victor” Oluwatimi, Michigan
Michigan added Virginia center transfer Olusegun “Victor” Oluwatimi, one of the top prospects in the portal, during the off season. Oluwatimi was one of the three finalists for the 2021 Rimington Trophy, which was won by Linderbaum.
The 6-foot-3, 310-pounder started 35 games during his three seasons at Virginia. He was a 2021 second-team All-American by four publications and a first-team All-ACC selection by Phil Steele.
Rated the nation’s No. 3 center in 2022 by Lindy’s, Schmitz led the ACC with an 80 overall offense grade and a 90.2 run block grade. His pass block grade was second to Boston College’s Alec Lindstrom, who was the third Rimington Award Finalist.
Oluwatimi, a 2022 preseason second-team All-Big Ten selection by Lindy’s and Athlon sports, had the third-highest run blocking grade in Power Five last season.
3. Luke Wypler, Ohio State
Ohio State center Luke Wypler had a solid first season as the Buckeye’s starting center, replacing second-round 2021 NFL draft pick Josh Myers.
Wypler, a 2021 All-Big Ten honorable mention by the league’s media, ranked fourth in the conference with a 79.4 overall offense grade and an 83.7 run blocking grade. He had the league’s fifth-highest pass block grade (76.1), giving up eight total quarterback pressures.
The 6-foot-3, 300-pounder is a 2022 third-team All-Big Ten selection by Lindy’s and Athlon sports and Lindy’s named him the Nation’s No. 4 center.
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Ohio State has its sights set high with Heisman favorite quarterback CJ Stroud, running back TreVeyon Henderson, and many more talented skill players. They will need Wypler and the other offensive linemen to help pave the way.
4. Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s center Joe Tippmann ranked third in the Big Ten across the board in PFF’s overall offense grades (85.1), run blocking (85), and pass blocking (76.7). Not too bad for a sophomore in his first year as a starter.
Tippmann was an honorable mention All-Big by the league’s coaches and media in 2021 after an impressive sophomore campaign in which he didn’t allow a sack. In fact, the 6-foot-6, 320-pound junior gave up just four quarterback pressures in 12 games.
The 2022 second-team All-Big Ten pick by Lindy’s and Athlon sports tied for the second-lowest number of pressures allowed in Power Five and tied for the third-highest pass blocking efficiency.
Tippmann has two more seasons of eligibility, and with what he has already accomplished, he could work his way to the top of this list by the time he enters the NFL draft.
5. Juice Scruggs, Penn State
Penn State interior offensive lineman Juice Scruggs is officially making the move from guard to center for the 2022 season.
Scruggs played 685 snaps at right guard and 239 snaps at center for the Nittany Lions last season due to injuries. He was the center against Rutgers and in the Outback Bowl against Arkansas and played primarily in the middle against Illinois and Michigan.
The 6-foot-3, 319-pound redshirt senior made his first career start in 2021 and earned the team’s Dick Maginnis Memorial Award, recognizing the most outstanding offensive lineman.
Scruggs has average PFF grades but showed promise as an inexperienced lineman who was moved around often, only allowing two sacks last season. He showed so much promise that Athlon sports named him preseason third-team All-Big Ten.
