Michigan linebacker / safety Jabrill Peppers was voted preseason defensive player of the year in a poll conducted by Cleveland.com, which surveyed media members in Big Ten markets.
Players were given three points for a first-place vote, two for second and one for third.
Peppers, a junior from Paramus, N.J., had 13 first-place votes and 65 points to edge Iowa cornerback Desmond King, who is from Detroit East English.
Michigan State defensive lineman Malik McDowell (Southfield) was third and Michigan cornerback Jourdan Lewis (Detroit Cass Tech) was fifth.
In voting for offensive player of the year, Ohio State quarterback J.