Preseason All-Big Ten teams: Which star quarterback gets the first-team nod?

The Big Ten didn’t have a quarterback selected in the first round of the NFL Draft from 1996 through 2018, and the league’s play at that position over that span largely reflected that reality. Much has changed in the Big Ten over the past eight years, and that’s especially true at quarterback.

Since 2019, six Big Ten quarterbacks have been drafted in the first round. But the league has its deepest talent pool at the position right now. Entering this fall, as many as six quarterbacks could land in the Heisman Trophy race and first-round discussion, with another five or six capable of becoming upper-level starters. So determining three teams of preseason All-Big Ten quarterbacks is nearly impossible, let alone deciding on a first-team selection.

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin edges Oregon’s Dante Moore, USC’s Jayden Maiava and Washington’s Demond Williams Jr. — in that order — for preseason All-Big Ten honors in The Athletic’s analysis. In most years, Williams would be a first-team choice; instead, he is the best incoming player ever left off a Big Ten preseason team.

Here’s a look at those quarterbacks and others who land on our preseason All-Big Ten team. To accommodate different schemes, the offense and defense each have 12 players.

First-team offense

Quarterback: Julian Sayin, sophomore, Ohio State

There are at least four Big Ten quarterbacks who could comfortably slot here, but there’s a reason Sayin tops the list. As a redshirt freshman last season, Sayin completed 77 percent of his passes, which was a Big Ten record and the third best mark in NCAA history, and passed for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns to finish fourth in Heisman balloting. And that was in his first season as a starter.

Running back: Antwan Raymond, junior, Rutgers

Rutgers has churned out several talented running backs since joining the Big Ten, and Raymond might be the most talented. Winner of the Cornish Trophy as the top Canadian in college football, Raymond compiled 1,466 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns last season. He rushed for 240 yards against Maryland and 189 against Penn State.

Running back: Bo Jackson, sophomore, Ohio State

Jackson seamlessly replaced a pair of NFL Draft picks and rushed for 1,090 yards and six touchdowns last fall. He is just the fifth true freshman to surpass 1,000 rushing yards at Ohio State, and his best performance (117 rushing yards, 49 receiving yards) came at Michigan.

Wide receiver: Jeremiah Smith, junior, Ohio State

Smith has made a strong case that he is the Big Ten’s greatest receiver, and the numbers back him up. In the past two seasons, Smith has more receiving yards (2,558) and touchdowns (27) than any receiver nationally and the second-most catches (163).

Wide receiver: K.J. Duff, junior, Rutgers

A challenger to join Smith and Miami’s Malachi Toney as a preseason first-team All-American, Duff caught 60 passes for 1,084 yards, which ranked third among Big Ten receivers. His 22 contested catches led the nation, according to Pro Football Focus.

Wide receiver: Charlie Becker, junior, Indiana

Becker came through with massive fourth-quarter catches during the Hoosiers’ national championship run, especially late against Miami and Ohio State. He hauled in 34 catches for 679 yards (20 yards per catch) and four scores.

Tight end: Jamari Johnson, junior, Oregon

In a conference filled with talented tight ends, Johnson stands out as a major threat in the passing game. Despite playing alongside first-round pick Kenyon Sadiq last season, Johnson still started 10 games and caught 32 passes for 510 yards (sixth most by a tight end in Oregon history) and three touchdowns.

Tackle: Carter Smith, senior, Indiana

A unanimous first-team All-American last year, Smith chose to return for his senior year after leading Indiana to the College Football Playoff title and earning the Big Ten offensive lineman of the year award. Smith has 41 consecutive starts at left tackle and is the only returning FBS tackle who graded in Pro Football Focus’ top 10 in pass blocking and run blocking.

Tackle: Trevor Lauck, junior, Iowa

Lauck replaced a four-year starter at left tackle and became a dominant performer in his first season as a starter. According to PFF, Lauck ranked fourth among tackles in pass blocking and allowed just six pressures all season on the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line.

Interior lineman: Kade Pieper, junior, Iowa

In his first season as a starter, Pieper became a force, garnering first-team All-American honors from PFF. Ranked as PFF’s No. 25 overall player entering the season, Pieper expects to move from right guard to center, where he vies to become the Hawkeyes’ second straight Rimington Trophy winner.

Interior lineman: Iapani Laloulu, senior, Oregon

The undisputed leader on the Ducks’ Joe Moore Award runner-up offensive line, Laloulu has 30 career starts at center and was a first-team All-American last year. Laloulu allowed just one sack in 442 pass-blocking snaps and none over the Ducks’ final nine games.

Interior lineman: Justin Evans, senior, Nebraska

Evans is the nation’s top-ranked returning center, according to PFF. Evans, who shifted from guard to center last year, has 31 career starts and paved the way for first-team All-American running back Emmett Johnson last year.

First-team defense

Defensive end: Anthony Smith, senior, Minnesota

Smith led the Big Ten in sacks last year with 12.5 and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors, so it was a surprise to see him return to college football. But the Gophers stepped up and kept a potential first-team All-American to anchor an improving defense.

Defensive end: John Henry Daley, junior, Michigan

Daley, who earned All-American honors last fall, followed coach Kyle Whittingham from Utah and should be fully recovered from the ruptured Achilles he suffered last November. Daley had 11.5 sacks last fall and his 93.4 PFF pass-rush grade ranked behind only Texas Tech’s David Bailey, who went No. 2 in the NFL Draft.

Defensive tackle: A’Mauri Washington, senior, Oregon

An athletic, physical presence in the middle of the nation’s best defensive line, Washington commanded double-teams and clogged running lanes. PFF graded Washington as the ninth-best interior run stopper last year, and he knocked down eight passes, the most among defensive tackles.

Defensive tackle: Tyrique Tucker, senior, Indiana

A returning first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-American defensive tackle, Tucker anchored the Hoosiers’ tenacious defense. Tucker recorded six sacks and 12 tackles for loss as an explosive gap rusher with a reputation as the hardest-working player on the field.

Linebacker: Rolijah Hardy, junior, Indiana

Undersized and overlooked, Hardy played big in major moments for the Hoosiers. He posted 13 tackles at Oregon and 10 against Ohio State in the Big Ten title game to earn second-team All-Big Ten honors. Hardy led Indiana in both tackles (102) and sacks (eight).

Linebacker: Isaiah Jones, senior, Indiana

Jones was a presence in each of the Hoosiers’ big games, from his 10-tackle, two-sack performance against Ohio State to his blocked punt recovery for a touchdown against Miami. Jones recorded 78 tackles — including 15.5 for loss — and seven sacks last fall.

Linebacker: Payton Pierce, junior, Ohio State

Despite playing behind first-round picks Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, Pierce put together a strong season with 43 total tackles, an interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery. Along with Iowa’s Cam Buffington, Pierce should be a breakout performer at linebacker.

Cornerback: Brandon Finney Jr., sophomore, Oregon

Perhaps no cornerback in college football looks the part better than Finney, whose play matches his angular 6-2, 203-pound frame. Finney started 15 games as a true freshman and finished with 42 tackles, two forced fumbles and eight pass breakups. He recorded two of his three interceptions against Texas Tech to earn Orange Bowl Defensive MVP honors.

Oregon defensive back Brandon Finney Jr. had two interceptions in a playoff game against Texas Tech. (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)

Cornerback: Jontez Williams, senior, USC

Injuries robbed Williams of all but five games last year, but few cornerbacks are better in coverage than the senior transfer from Iowa State. According to PFF, Williams has allowed a 25.6 passer rating since 2023, which is the best among FBS cornerbacks. He also has combined for five interceptions the past two seasons.

Defensive back: Zach Lutmer, junior, Iowa

A versatile defensive back capable of playing every position plus return specialist, Lutmer has Iowa coaches making comparisons to former Hawkeye Cooper DeJean. It’s not hyperbole, either. Lutmer had 71 tackles (5.5 for loss), seven pass breakups and three interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown.

Safety: Jaylen McClain, junior, Ohio State

Working alongside all-world safety Caleb Downs put McClain in the shadows, but that changes this fall. McClain should follow Downs as the next great Buckeyes DB and defensive team leader. Last year, he posted 53 tackles with three pass breakups to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors.

Safety: Koi Perich, junior, Oregon

An uber-talented safety, Perich transferred from home-state Minnesota, where he totaled 128 tackles and six interceptions in two seasons. Perich slides in as Dillon Thieneman’s replacement and could fill duties such as return specialist or receiver, which he did with the Gophers.

Specialists

Kicker: Nico Radicic, junior, Indiana

Radicic was close to a sure thing for the Hoosiers last season, connecting on all 87 extra-point attempts and 18 of 19 field goals.

Punter: Hunter Green, senior, Washington

A transfer from San Diego State, Green averaged 47 yards per punt last year. Of his 63 punts, 26 landed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line and 22 sailed at least 50 yards.

Return specialist: Jacory Barney Jr., sophomore, Nebraska

Barney averaged 12.3 yards per punt return and 21.2 yards per kick return last fall and didn’t score a special teams touchdown. Once he breaks a return, those averages will soar.