Top 25 Football Players in the Big Ten, Part 3

It’s Wednesday, marking the mid-point of our top 25 players in the Big Ten. The first two days (found here and here) have provided some discussion, but little controversy so far.

Let’s see if today changes that:

15. DB Nathan Gerry, Senior, Nebraska

Gerry is far from a household name, but there are not many better safeties in the Big Ten, let alone college football, than the Huskers’ senior.

Gerry has been a mainstay in Lincoln, playing in all 39 games in his college career and making every start on the back end of Nebraska’s defense the last two years. He has 199 total tackles, three forced fumbles and nine interceptions in his three seasons in school.

14. QB CJ Beathard, Senior, Iowa

Michigan fans are familiar with Beathard as the quarterback that Jake Rudock was benched for, which led him to Michigan as last season’s starter. If you didn’t watch Iowa’s signal-caller last season, you missed out on one of the best quarterbacks in the conference.

Beatheard led the Hawkeyes to an undefeated regular season and appearance in the Big Ten title game while posting 17 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. His strong play will be a huge factor if Iowa is to prove last year was not a fluke this upcoming season.

13. RB LJ Scott, Sophomore, Michigan State

Michigan State is the Jason Voorhees of the Big Ten, meaning they just will not die and go away. There always seems to be a running back waiting in the wings to be the next Spartan star and Scott fits the bill there.

Scott led the team in rushing (699 yards), carries (146) and rushing touchdowns (11) as a freshman and stamped his name into college football history with his performance in the Big Ten title game and the win-clinching drive for MSU.

12. RB Justin Jackson, Junior, Northwestern

Jackson is a workhorse for the Wildcats and was a consensus All-Big Ten second teamer in 2015. He was the fifth player in NU history to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons and already ranks sixth in program history in career rushing totals after just two seasons with the program.

He has a nose for the endzone with 15 career touchdowns and has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, making him a total offensive threat for the rest of the Big Ten to have to deal with.

11. OL Pat Elflein, Senior, Ohio State

Elflein is an All-Big Ten guard who will slide over to center in 2016 and is arguably the best the conference has to offer as an offensive lineman.

The Buckeyes lost a ton of talent to graduation and the NFL after last season, but he is one of the established stars left on the roster and will lead a retooled offensive line in Columbus this season. He could have easily joined some of his teammates at the next level, but decided to stick around for his senior year and try to make another run with Urban Meyer and company.

More:

Top 25 Football Players in the Big Ten - No. 25 through 21

Top 25 Football Players in the Big Ten - No. 20 through 16

That’s it for today! Check back in tomorrow for 10-6 on our list of the Big Ten’s top 25 players. Sound off with your thoughts in the comments below!