With the NFL draft approaching, some of the top Big Ten players have decided to skip their senior season and enter the NFL draft early. This year there are seven Big Ten players deciding to leave early.
Big Ten Early NFL Draft Entrants
Edwin Baker (Michigan State)
Peter Konz (Wisconsin)
Riley Reiff (Iowa)
Whitney Mercilus (Illinois)
Jerel Worthy (Michigan State)
Ken Plue (Purdue)
Tiree Eure (Minnesota)
This group is heavy on lineman as it includes three offensive linemen and two defensive linemen. Reiff, Konz, Mercilus and Worthy all earned All-Big Ten First Team honors in 2011. In total 65 players have decided to enter the NFL Draft early this year. The group is headlined by Heisman winner Robert Griffin III and Heisman Finalist Andrew Luck and Trent Richardson.
Big Names Return for Senior Season
While some players are taking their talents to the NFL there are other elite Big Ten players returning for another year of college. Topping the list of players returning for another season on campus are Michigan’s Denard Robinson and Wisconsin’s Montee Ball. Robinson was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2010 and led Michigan to a Sugar Bowl victory this past season. Ball set the Big Ten season touchdown record as well as tied the FBS record for most touchdowns in a single season.
One more year
Two Big Ten players have been granted a sixth year of eligibility after petioning the NCAA for a medical hardship waiver. Purdue QB Robert Marve and Minnesota DB Troy Stoudemire will return to their respective teams in 2012 after being approved by the NCAA to do so. Marve, a transfer from Miami (FL), split time at quarterback with Caleb TerBush this past season while throwing for 633 yards and four touchdowns. Stoudemire has been a solid defensive player for the Gophers after making the switch to defense in 2010. But where Stoudemire has made a name for himself is on special teams where he has already set the Big Ten kick return yards record with 3,102.
To stay updated on sporting news and analysis of the Big Ten, subscribe to receive Examiner Alerts from Big Ten Examiner Kevin Cline. You can also follow Kevin on Twitter.
Comments