Penn State trio makes list of Top 10 Big Ten players

Under James Franklin’s leadership, Penn State has often produced one or two of the Big Ten’s best players every season. Whether it be more recent players like Micah Parsons, Joey Porter Jr. or Jahan Dotson, or those from earlier years – Saquon Barkley, Chris Godwin, Mike Gesicki, to name a few – the Nittany Lions have been well-represented when it comes to ranking the Big Ten’s best.

However, as true as that statement may be, it’s also fair to say that players from Ohio State and Michigan have often outnumbered the Lions. That’s especially true for the Buckeyes.

But coming into 2023, plenty of excitement surrounds all three of the Big Ten’s powerhouse programs in the east. Michigan and Ohio State rank slightly higher in preseason polls, but the buzz surrounding Penn State makes the Nittany Lions one of the nation’s most trendy picks.

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This week we saw another example of that excitement, as On3’s Jesse Simonton was asked to rank the 10 best players in the Big Ten. Unlike so many other years, it wasn’t the Buckeyes or Wolverines who were represented the most. Instead, it was actually Penn State with three players making the list: linebacker Abdul Carter, cornerback Kalen King and offensive lineman Olu Fashanu. Ohio State and Michigan both had two players each, while Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin earned one each.

And yet, even with all three deserving of the honor, Simonton wrote that he “felt wrong” leaving two other Nittany Lions off his list.

“A trio of Nittany Lions did make my rankings and I still felt wrong about leaving off tailback Nick Singleton and pass rusher Chop Robinson. But that’s the game. Spots are tight,” Simonton wrote.

Simonton even added on Twitter that while many thought Ohio State DL J.T. Tuimoloau was the biggest snub from the list, in his eyes, it’s actually Robinson.

Below is On3’s Top 10 players in the Big Ten for the 2023 season.

The Big Ten’s Top 10 Players in 2023

No. 10) DB Will Johnson (Michigan)

For some, ranking Johnson in the Top 10 might be a bit too rich, but that’s how highly I think of the budding sophomore corner. As a freshman, Johnson lived up to his 5-star hype, intercepting three passes despite teams actively avoiding throwing in his direction. 

If the Wolverines are going to beat the Buckeyes for the third-straight season, they need Johnson to lockdown either Marvin Harrison Jr. or Emeka Egbuka to slow down their prolific passing attack.

No. 9) LB Abdul Carter (Penn State)

It’s a major honor at Penn State to wear No. 11 as a linebacker, but in a single season, Carter more than justified sporting the “stix” for the Nittany Lions. 

A 6-3, 250-pound missile inside linebacker, Carter had 10.5 tackles for loss, finishing with 56 stops, 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and four PBUs.  Carter is the game-changer in Manny Diaz’s havoc-focused defense. He has All-American potential in 2023, especially surrounded by so much other defensive talent.

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No. 8) RB Braelon Allen (Wisconsin)

Allen has been a workhorse in his first two seasons in Madison (over 400 carries and 2,500 yards), but with the Badgers finally modernizing their offense under Phil Longo, he should have more room to operate in 2023. 

No. 7) DB Cooper DeJean (Iowa)

DeJean is the Swiss Army knife of Phil Parker’s defense at Iowa, lining up all across the defensive backfield as an impact playmaker. DeJean recorded 75 tackles and five interceptions — including three pick-sixes, which was more touchdowns than Iowa’s entire receiving room combined in 2022. 

A ballhawk in coverage, but he also provides real value as a defender on the perimeter in run support. Like Kool Aid McKinstry at Alabama, DeJean is a dynamic punt returner, averaging 16.5 yards per return. 

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No. 6) CB Kalen King (Penn State)

While Joey Porter Jr. was seen as PSU’s star cornerback in 2022, King emerged as one of the best corners in the Big Ten, too. The junior led all Power 5 defensive backs with 21 passes defended, adding three interceptions, too. 

King was the nation’s best corner in single-coverage, per PFF, checking in with a 93.3 grade and an 18.3 passer rating allowed. 

No. 5) WR Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)

If not for Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka would be talked about as the top returning receiver in the country. Among all returning Power 5 wideouts, the 6-1, 200-pound junior ranks only behind his teammate in receptions (74), yards (1,263) and touchdowns (10). 

Egbuka was Ohio State’s home-run hitter in 2022, tallying five catches over 40 yards, second-most in the Big Ten. 

No. 4) DL Jer’Zhan Newtown (Illinois)

The anchor of the Fighting Illini’s ‘Law Firm,’ Newton might be the best player in America the casual fan doesn’t know about. He’s a menacing interior rusher — perhaps the most valuable position on the field sans quarterback. 

Starring on Illinois’ Top 5 defense last season, Newton had a whopping 59 pressures, per PFF — most among all Power 5 defensive linemen (edge or interior). He finished the season with 61 tackles, 14 TFLs and 5.5 sacks.

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No. 3) RB Blake Corum (Michigan)

Before tearing his ACL against Illinois, Corum was the best running back in college football last season. Despite defenses loading up the box to stop the junior tailback, Corum still managed to average nearly 6.0 yards per carry, finishing the season with 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns. 

Thanks to the depreciating value of NFL running backs + NIL, we’re blessed with another season of watching Corum on Saturdays. While the Wolverines have another dynamic tailback in Donovan Edwards, Corum is a first-down machine (96 such carries, second-most in the nation, per PFF), who also can hit explosive plays with 15 runs over 20 yards (sixth-most nationally). 

No. 2) OL Olu Fashanu (Penn State)

Fashanu Jr. was projected to be a Top 25 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but he opted to return to school to get his degree and put a full season on tape after missing the final five games last year. 

The 6-5, 320-pound lineman will help open holes for Penn State’s two-headed tailback attack, and he’ll protect Drew Allar’s blindside, where he allowed zero sacks in eight starts in 2022.

No. 1) WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State)

Here’s a hunch that Harrison wins the Biletnikoff Award this fall after getting snubbed in 2022. The former 5-star recruit is arguably the best non-QB in the country, leading the Big Ten with 14 touchdowns and 16.4 yards per catch as a sophomore. 

If healthy all season, Harrison could be a dark horse contender for the Heisman Trophy, which has largely become a QB award.