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2017 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in Conference Championship Games

By Shawn Spencer

Nov 5, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver John Ross (1) celebrates with wide receiver Dante Pettis (8) after a touchdown against the California Golden Bears during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver John Ross (1) celebrates with wide receiver Dante Pettis (8) after a touchdown against the California Golden Bears during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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2017 NFL Draft Vince Biegel
Apr 23, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers Linebackers Vince Biegel (47) and T.J. Edwards (53) and Chris Orr (50) and Jack Cichy (48) and T.J. Watt (42) pose during the Wisconsin spring football game at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY Network /

Big Ten: Outside Linebackers

This game won’t receive nearly the hype that the Michigan–Ohio State game received, but the conference championship will be on the line. In a game featuring “Linebacker U” it’s only fitting that the prospects to watch are in fact the linebackers.

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    • Penn State and Wisconsin weren’t supposed to be in this game. The Nittany Lions were picked to finish fourth in the East prior to the season, while the Badgers were projected to finish third in the West. Both teams defied the odds and are now on a collision course for the Big Ten title. With Wisconsin currently ranked sixth and Penn State seventh in the penultimate College Football Playoff poll, both teams are on the outside looking in.

    If either team is going to jump into the top four, it’s going to take an Ohio State type of performance. The Buckeyes were outside of the top four two years ago, but moved up to number four by beating Wisconsin 59-0. Ohio State would go on to win the national title that season. In order for either team to pitch a shutout, the linebackers are going to have to play lights out.

    Both schools lost a key contributor at LB this season with Jack Cichy of Wisconsin and Penn State’s Nyeem Wartman-White out for the season. Fortunately for both schools, they have the depth to overcome an injury to the second level of the defense.

    One of these linebackers are going to make a play to win the game. It could be Vince Biegel or T.J. Watt of Wisconsin, or Brandon Bell of Penn State. The NFL will be watching to see who steps up when the spotlight is on.

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