The Big Ten doesnt put together an all-freshman team, so it's our job to pick out the best first-year players that the conference had to offer during the 2015 college football regular season. Here's our list of the 8 Best Freshmen In Big Ten Football For 2015.
8. LB Dedrick Young -- Nebraska Cornhuskers
Young won a starting job out of camp as a true freshman, and he made sure that first-year Huskers head coach Mike Riley didn't regret it. He finished with 58 tackles on the year, 3.5 for a loss.
7. LB Troy Reeder -- Penn State Nittany Lions (redshirt)
Reeder had a sizeable impact in Penn State's last 11 games, posting 67 tackles and an interception.
6. DB Isaiah Wharton -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights (redshirt)
Wharton was a star for a uneven Rutgers defense, leading the team with ten pass break-ups. He also had 57 total tackles, flashing versatility as both a run and pass stopper.
5. RB Saquon Barkley -- Penn State Nittany Lions
Barkley is an absolute firecracker on the ground and a star in the making. He surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in his first season with Penn State, rushing for 6.2 yards per attempt.
4. RB LJ Scott -- Michigan State Spartans
Scott has been a stabilizing force for a Michigan State offense, and it was his second effort ability which was a key during the team's 22-play drive which ultimately put Iowa in the Big Ten title game.
3. QB Clayton Thorson -- Northwestern Wildcats (redshirt)
Thorson's dual-threat ability was a major key in Northwestern's fourth double-digit win season in program history. No freshman QB in the nation did more damage on the run and out of the pocket than Thorson.
2. LB TJ Edwards -- Wisconsin Badgers (redshirt)
Edwards doesn't get much publicity, but he was the leading tackler for a Wisconsin team which rode its defense to a 9-3 record. He finished with 80 tackles (5.5 for a loss) and a forced fumble. 12 of those came in a fantastic debut in the season opener against Alabama. Get to know him. He's only going to get better.
1. DB Jabrill Peppers -- Michigan Wolverines (redshirt)
You could argue that no player in the Big Ten did more for his team in more facets of the game than Peppers, let alone freshman. He started every game for Michigan at safety, returned both kicks and punts and was also used on offense as a special weapon during the second half of the season. 45 tackles 10 pass break-ups, 417 return yards, etc, etc, etc. Peppers' stat line and impact was stellar across the board, be it on offense, defense or special teams.
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