2021 NFL Draft prospects to watch in the Big Ten Conference.
As we begin to look to the 2020 NFL season, the time has come to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft prospects as well. To start the process of breaking down the future stars of the 2021 NFL Draft, I’ll be taking a look at each conference and selecting one player from each team.
The 2020 NFL Draft saw the SEC lead the way with 63 selections, 15 more than the second-place Big Ten with 48. The Pac-12 had 32, the ACC 27 and the Big 12 rounded out the Power 5 with 21. The American Conference led the Group 5 with 17 followed by Conference-USA and the Mountain West with 10 apiece.
Closing out the Group 5 was the Sun Belt with seven and the MAC with two. The draft was rounded out with nine selection coming from Independent teams, six from FCS, and three from Division II/III to account for the rest of the 255 selections.
Our first conference under the microscope is the Big Ten. The most well known 2021 NFL Draft prospects from the conference include Justin Fields and Shaun Wade from Ohio State with Micah Parsons from Penn State. However, beyond the names that have made their way into the early mock drafts, who else could hear their name called in the 2021 NFL Draft?
The common big hitters of the conference are sure to have impact players once again, but what about the lesser-known rosters of schools like Illinois, Rutgers, or Indiana? How about the up-and-coming teams that are sure to stir the pot this year like Minnesota and Purdue?
Of course, the players like Fields, Wade, and Parsons will have an impact, but it’s the rest of the players drafted from the conference that will fill roles, compete for roster spots and possibly be the steal of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Illinois – Jake Hansen, Linebacker, Senior
It’s been an uphill battle for Lovie Smith in Illinois since being hired in 2016, but shaping the defense has been a major focal point for the former NFL Head Coach. Although slightly undersized at just 6-1, 225, Jake Hansen has big-play ability in his skill set that will be sure to gain the attention of NFL scouts as well as NFL playbook knowledge playing under Smith’s system.
As a junior, Hansen forced seven fumbles, leading the nation despite missing the final four games of the season due to injury. The seven moved his career total at Illinois to eight, which is fourth-most in program history. In addition to seven fumbles forced, he also recovered three.
On top of the fumbles, Hansen totaled 72 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks during the 2019 campaign. The stats were enough for him to be named a Butkus Award Semifinalist as well as an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by both the coaches and the media.
On the week-by-week basis, Hansen was named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following a 24-23 upset over No. 6 Wisconsin, a game that went down as one of the biggest upsets in Big Ten history.
In the game, Hansen forced two fumbles, registered 11 tackles, and rounded out his stat sheet with a sack. The second of Hansen’s forced fumbles came with about 7:15 remaining in the fourth quarter with Illinois trailing 23-14.
Indiana – Whop Philyor, Wide Receiver, Senior
In the rise back to prominence in the Big Ten, culminating in an 8-5 2019 season, Whop Philyor has been a key cog in the reemergence of Indiana football. Philyor led the Hoosiers receiving unit during 2019, hauling in 70 catches for 1,002 yards.
Philyor put together a near-complete season, playing in 12 of Indiana’s 13 games. His performance on the field earned him recognition in the conference, resulting in being named Second Team All-Big Ten by the coaches and Third Team All-Big Ten by the media. He was also added to the Biletnikoff Award watch list as well as being named Indiana’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year.
For his career, Philyor has totaled 126 receptions for 1,572 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s also logged six 100-yard games and five double-digit catch games, which slots in for first in program history at Indiana.
After becoming just the seventh Hoosier to have 1,000 yards receiving in a single season a year ago, Philyor has the opportunity to make strides towards the 2021 NFL Draft after bursting onto the scene in 2019.
If he can put together a similar season, or slightly better to ensure growth, he should find himself in the heart of yet another deep wide receiver class entering the league via the draft in 2021.
Iowa – Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Wide Receiver, Senior
For Iowa, Ihmir Smith-Marsette is set to become one of the team’s biggest playmakers during the 2020 season. Not only will he be one of their top receivers, but also a weapon on special teams.
As the team’s primary kick returner during the 2019 season, Smith-Marsette showcased his speed with two kick return touchdowns on 17 attempts, averaging 29.6 yards per return. Although the NFL is trending towards eliminating kickoffs, having that speed as a weapon can open up the playbook for any offense, increasing Smith-Marsette’s draft stock.
Additionally, Smith-Marsette is also a reliable wide receiver. During the 2019 season, he led the Hawkeyes in receiving yards with 722 while also tying for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with five. Hauling in 44 catches, second on the team, Smith-Marsette averaged 16.4 yards per catch.
On top of his well rounded and impressive stat line, Smith-Marsette accumulated a solid amount of accolades as well. At the season’s conclusion, he was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten by both the media and coaches as well as being the Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP, which led to being named to the AP All-Bowl Team.
With another season to go, Smith-Marsette can continue to add to his resume that could make him a low risk-high reward pick come next April.
Maryland – Ayinde Eley, Linebacker, Junior
The first junior on this list, Ayinde Eley will have a big load to carry for Maryland, a team that looks to be back to the beginning stages of a rebuild after seeing their top talent from a year ago leave.
Losing their biggest playmakers, the door will be open for Eley to grow on a strong sophomore campaign. Playing in 11 games, Eley was second on the team in tackles last season, totaling 79. Of those, four were for a loss and he added a 0.5 sack. Filling out the stat sheet, Eley also had an interception as well as two forced fumbles, which led the team.
The stat line was enough for Eley to be named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. Now, preparing for his junior season, it’ll take a near historic year for Eley to be NFL ready by the time April rolls around. With that being said, he should be at the top of the list for the next Maryland player to enter the NFL. From last year’s roster, Eley is the only one returning who totaled more than 60 tackles, meaning he could easily be the star of the Terrapin defense for the next one to two years, depending on when he wants to declare for the NFL Draft.
Michigan – Kwity Paye, Edge Rusher, Senior
Michigan has lost a lot off the edge recently in Josh Uche, Chase Winovich and Noah Furbush to name a few, so now it’s time for another player to step into the opening. The next on the list? Kwity Paye.
A year ago Paye was second on the Wolverines in sacks, behind just Uche, registering 6.5 on the year. Additionally, he led Michigan in tackles for loss with 12.5, more than showcasing his ability to create pressure and chaos in the backfield. If he can bring his tackle total up from 50 last season, he should find his name in the talk of the first few rounds like Uche and Winovich before him.
Another thing Paye has going for him is his progression. As a freshman he had just one sack and then two as a sophomore, so he made a big jump to 6.5 last year. Tackles for loss are a similar story going from 1.5 to 5.5 then to 12.5, more than doubling his total.
If Paye can keep this up, then he could be in for a monstrous senior campaign which would greatly change his status for the 2021 NFL Draft. He doesn’t have to double his numbers again, but if he can continue to increase the total just a little, it’ll continue to show that effort.
Michigan State – Elijah Collins, Running Back, Redshirt Sophomore
Although Elijah Collins obviously won’t have to come out after next season, the option will be there and if he can repeat his 2019 season, the consideration could be there. From Shonn Greene to Le’Veon Bell, Michigan State has made a name for themselves for producing running back talent. Despite the well seeming dry of late, Collins could reverse that in the near future.
After just having eight yards on two carries as a true freshman, Collins redshirted and returned with a vengeance in 2019. As a redshirt freshman, he led the Spartans in rushing yards, going for 988 on the ground and adding 99 in receiving yards. Additionally, he had five rushing touchdowns as well as five receiving touchdowns.
If Collins can continue to make strides as an all-purpose back, his value will continue to rise. With the league seeing what Christian McCaffrey can do in Carolina, teams will look to replicate that in their offense, and with an even break on touchdowns, Collins is taking shape to be on the list of backs that have the ability to do just that. No matter when he comes out, Collins will on the top of a lot of draft boards as a potential game-altering player.
Minnesota – Rashod Bateman, Wide Receiver, Junior
Like Collins at Michigan State, Rashod Bateman doesn’t have to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft, and given what P.J. Fleck is building in Minnesota, he may not want to just yet. However, Bateman could be one of the better-ranked prospects on this list by the end of the season, if he isn’t already.
As a true freshman, Bateman had an impressive showing with over 700 yards receiving and six touchdowns on 51 catches. Then, last season, he improved those numbers to over 1,200 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns on 60 catches. That calculates to 500 more yards and five more touchdowns on just nine more catches.
To put it into perspective Michael Thomas never cracked 800 receiving yards or double-digit touchdowns at Ohio State while Julio Jones didn’t break 1,200 yards or more than seven touchdowns at Alabama. The stats Bateman put up last year are ridiculous.
With that being said, they will also be difficult to replicate. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Bateman fall back slightly, but it also wouldn’t be crazy to think he’ll take another step up. Regardless, another season close to those stats will put Bateman near the top of the 2021 class for wide receivers.
Nebraska – Adrian Martinez, Quarterback, Junior
A team captain as a sophomore during the 2019 season, Adrian Martinez could fit the bill in the 2021 NFL Draft for a team looking for a dual-threat option under center. The Eagles showed that this season taking Jalen Hurts to back up Carson Wentz. Martinez could fill a similar role in the near future.
Through the air, Martinez took a bit of a step back last season, seeing his passing yards drop from 2,617 to 1,956 while his touchdowns dropped from 17 to 10, and interceptions raised from eight to nine. Hopefully, this was just a sophomore slump. If Martinez can return to his 2018 form, then his draft stock could rebound.
What he has going for him, maybe even more than his passing game is his ability to rush the ball. On 144 rushes, Martinez gained 626 rushing yards with seven touchdowns. That alone gives him value in the draft as someone that can have packages made up for him.
Martinez still has a long way to go before he is NFL ready, but the framework is there. With two seasons of eligibility left, he has plenty of time to work on the rough spots of his game and get to the level of a Jalen Hurts-type pick.
Northwestern – Paddy Fisher, Linebacker, Senior
Northwestern isn’t exactly a team that turns out top NFL prospects every year, but Paddy Fisher could change that in the 2021 NFL Draft. After a strong 2019 campaign, he is looking to build on his resume for the draft.
Despite registering double-digit tackles for the first time last season (89) after totaling 111 and 116 his first two seasons, Fisher still was second on the team for tackles a year ago. He also added six tackles for loss and a sack on top of an interception and two fumbles forced.
With the top defensive player from the 2019 season moving on from Northwestern, the table is open for someone to step up and make a big impact. Given what Fisher has shown he is capable of, it would make sense that he would be the one to step up.
If Fisher can get back into the 100 tackles range and add a few more sacks to his total, he could be one of the better linebacker options in the 2021 NFL Draft. Every team can use a reliable tackler in the middle of the field and if Fisher can provide that, he should hear his name called at some point next April.
Ohio State – Justin Fields, Quarterback, Junior
Without a doubt the best prospect on this list, Justin Fields is working his way into the top of the conversation for the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite just one year as a starter, Fields was named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy making him one of the hottest names in college football. Now entering his second season with Ohio State, he looks to continue his dominance.
Playing 14 games under center for Buckeyes, Fields totaled 3,273 yards through the air including 484 yards on the ground. Fields also found the end zone 10 times rushing and 41 times passing while throwing just three interceptions. His passing yards and passing touchdowns led the Big Ten conference while the 41 touchdowns were third in the country behind just Joe Burrow and Anthony Gordon.
With another year coming for Fields, he has the opportunity to prove the stats weren’t a fluke, which few think in the first place. The real battle for Fields will be with Trevor Lawrence as both try and secure being the top pick in the draft as well as the Heisman. The Buckeyes have plenty of weapons returning so there should be no excuse for Fields to not blow away the country with an incredible season.
Penn State – Micah Parsons, Linebacker, Junior
Like Fields, Micah Parsons was a shoo-in for the Penn State rep on this list, but he also has the option to return for his senior year if he would want. Already being touted as one of the top linebackers in the 2021 NFL Draft, Parsons just has to stay the course and continue what he’s done in the past to secure being a top pick come April.
Being the only player for the Nittany Lions in 2019 to crack triple-digit tackles with 109, Parsons has solidified himself as the heart of the Penn State defense. Parsons also was second on the team for tackles for loss with 14, just one shy of the team leader, Yetur Gross-Matos. Parsons also added five sacks to his stat line, which included a team-lead four forced fumbles and one recovered.
Parsons has played in all 13 games both of his seasons with Penn State. Between his stability and impact on the field, he could fill a huge hole in any defense. To put it into perspective, his 109 tackles were just one shy of Luke Kuechly’s sophomore season mark at Boston College while Parsons had more tackles for loss and sacks.
Although Kuechly had more of an impact in the passing game, registering seven interceptions at BC, Parsons is definitely on the same level as a college player. That could very well lead to Parsons becoming the cornerstone of a defense like Kuechly.
Purdue – Rondale Moore, Wide Receiver, Redshirt Sophomore
Although Rondale Moore might not be the best player on the Purdue roster in 2020, he is the best of those that will be draft-eligible. True sophomores David Bell and George Karlaftis will also be the leaders of the Boilermakers for sure, but won’t be able to declare just yet.
Moore redshirted the 2019 season after playing in just four games, but he had one of the more impressive freshman performances of the 2018 season. Posting 1,258 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns through the air, Moore also added over 200 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns as well. Those stats led to him being the first true freshman to be a consensus All-American in Big Ten history.
If Moore can return to that form in 2020, he’ll be sure to reclaim his status as one of the better wide receivers in the country. His speed is his biggest weapon and with teams trying to replicate the framework of the Chiefs, many could see Tyreek Hill in Moore, making him a strong contender for the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Should Moore see a step back, there’s still plenty of time given that he’s just a redshirt sophomore. There’s no pressure on him to enter the draft this coming season and he can opt to return to Purdue.
Rutgers – Tyshon Fogg, Linebacker, Senior
Despite a 2-10 season a year ago, Tyshon Fogg provided a bright spot during Rutgers’ struggles. He didn’t exactly come up with the “big plays” in terms of interceptions or fumbles, but he was all over the field for the defense, leading the team in tackles with 104. Fogg also registered four tackles for loss as well as 1.5 sacks.
The statistics for Fogg earned him the recognition of being named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by both the coaches and media. Additionally, he was a team captain in 2019 as well as Academic All-Big Ten in both 2018 and 2019. Having the ability on the field paired with leadership and a high football IQ makes Fogg that much more appealing in the draft process.
Being a middle linebacker, Fogg could fill a hole that many teams will be in need of. Most top tier linebackers are more of edge rushers that are best off the edge. Being a true middle linebacker that can stuff the run up the middle makes Fogg that much more valuable when the draft rolls around. Even if Rutgers has another poor season, Fogg could again be a bright spot that could warrant consideration in the first few rounds.
Wisconsin – Jack Sanborn, Linebacker, Junior
Despite being on a defense that had both Zack Baun and Chris Orr, Jack Sanborn still managed to lead the Wisconsin defense in tackles in the 2019 season as a sophomore, registering 80 on the year. Now as a junior, Sanborn has the opportunity to lead the defense with both Baun and Orr moving on to the NFL.
Being another middle linebacker, Sanborn has the same opportunity as Fogg with Rutgers, to be a top tier interior linebacker. Baun and Orr will leave a lot of tackles to be had and Sanborn can step up and increase his team-leading total. On top of the tackles, Sanborn also registered nine tackles for loss, behind just Baun and Orr, as well as five sacks, which also just trailed Baun and Orr.
In addition to Baun and Orr last season, Wisconsin has become known for producing linebackers who are NFL ready. T.J. Watt and Joe Schobert are just a few more names on the long list of success stories to come from the middle of the Badger defense.
Should Sanborn make the expected strides into his junior season, he could very well be the next name added to the list in the 2021 NFL Draft.