Ranking the Big Ten: Center
As the 2025 college football season quickly approaches, it is time to look at the top players at each position in the Big Ten.
We continue our annual Ranking the Big Ten series today with the centers. As usual, the conference is filled with some of the top offensive line anchors in the country this season.
Previous Ranking the Big Tens: QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG
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1. Logan Jones, Iowa
Few interior linemen in the Big Ten bring the combination of experience, intelligence, and athleticism that Iowa’s Logan Jones does heading into the 2025 season. The former defensive lineman-turned-center has now fully grown into his role anchoring the Hawkeyes’ offensive front, and it’s shown with each passing year.
With over 30 career starts under his belt, Jones has become the reliable engine of Iowa’s traditionally physical run game, helping pave the way for one of the most consistent rushing attacks in the conference.
With Iowa looking to modernize its offensive approach, Jones’s leadership will be more important than ever. If the Hawkeyes are going to take a step forward offensively in 2025, it’s going to start with Logan Jones at the center of it all, both literally and figuratively.
2. Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
Oregon’s Iapani Laloulu enters the 2025 season as one of the most physically imposing and technically sound centers in the Big Ten. After transitioning to the middle of the Ducks’ offensive line in 2024, Laloulu wasted little time showing he could handle the responsibilities that come with the role.
The 6-foot-3, 330-pound sophomore brings a rare combination of brute strength, footwork, and football IQ that has made him a rising name not only in the conference but on national watch lists as well.
Laloulu has already proven he can go toe-to-toe with elite talent, and heading into just his second year at the position, the ceiling remains sky-high. If he continues on this trajectory, don’t be surprised if Laloulu ends the season as an All-Big Ten selection and a foundational piece for Oregon’s push toward conference contention.
3. Greg Crippen, Michigan
Greg Crippen enters the 2025 season as Michigan’s starting center, a role he solidified in 2024 after earning seven starts, including pivotal games against Michigan State, Oregon, Ohio State, and Alabama. His 558 offensive snaps and a 72.1 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus underscore his reliability and technical prowess at the position.
A former four-star recruit from IMG Academy, Crippen has honed his skills over several seasons, learning from standout centers like Andrew Vastardis, Olu Oluwatimi, and Drake Nugent. His commitment to improvement is evident in his consistent performance and adaptability, making him a cornerstone of Michigan’s offensive line.
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With a full offseason to refine his technique and build upon his 2024 experience, Crippen is poised to be a key asset for Michigan’s offense in 2025. His leadership and technical skills position him among the elite centers in the Big Ten, contributing significantly to the Wolverines’ offensive success.
4. Carson Hinzman, Ohio State
When it comes to anchoring one of the most consistently dominant offensive lines in college football, few do it better than Ohio State’s Carson Hinzman. After taking over the starting center job in 2023, the redshirt junior has developed into one of the most reliable interior linemen in the Big Ten.
With two full years of starting experience under his belt and a deep understanding of the Buckeyes’ offense, Hinzman enters 2025 as the undisputed leader of an offensive front tasked with protecting a new quarterback and powering another high-octane attack.
Ohio State enters the season with legitimate national title aspirations once again. Hinzman’s leadership in the trenches will help shape a unit that’s breaking in new starters and looking to reestablish itself as one of the Big Ten’s most physical lines.
5. Justin Evans, Nebraska
Nebraska had a significant void to fill in the middle of its offensive line following the departure of center Ben Scott. By the end of the spring, Justin Evans had left no doubt about who was next in line.
Evans started all 13 games last season at left guard, but he did start one game at center in 2023. His move to full-time center this offseason has gone exactly as NU’s staff had hoped.
With Nebraska aiming to take a tangible step forward in 2025, Evans’s presence at center could be a big reason why. If the Huskers’ offensive line takes the next step, don’t be surprised if Evans garners serious All-Big Ten consideration by season’s end.
