B1G made emphatic statement on 1st day of draft
Big Ten puts two in the CFP this year and now the 20 players selected from the conference in the first two rounds is the most of any conference in this draft and the most in the common draft era. They are increasingly moving toward parity with the SEC.
I didn't know that Bryce Young was Alabama's first #1 pick since 1948. Even with all of those great players, top-rated recruits, etc. that they've had over the years...
Until Thursday night, they were tied with my Chips at one #1 pick apiece.
While the 2023 NFL draft B1G selections are impressive, they represent one data point for one year. It's therefore too early to suggest SEC parity without comprehensive information indicating a shift or trend.
Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State are all performing at top 10 levels, recruiting well and playing well all at the same time. I think that is the difference in this year's draft. Unfortunately, the B10 still has way too much dead weight. Indiana. Northwestern. Rutgers. Nebraska. Sparty all of a sudden. To catch the SEC, the bottom teams need to step up significantly.
April 29th, 2023 at 11:31 AM ^
With a number of coaching changes this off season some of those bottom feeders may start to climb.
So did Sparty move on from ... *checks notes* ... never mind.
Well he did say "moving toward parity . . . "
And yet it’s still considered an exaggeration
I noticed that. SEC dominated third round, however. And Big Ten did well without Ohio State dominating the picks. The picks were pretty well distributed over a number of schools.
April 29th, 2023 at 10:10 AM ^
The Lions did their part with two players from Iowa.
April 29th, 2023 at 11:09 AM ^
Jack Campbell is going to be a multiple year NFL All Pro player.
April 29th, 2023 at 12:41 PM ^
I really hope his ankles are healed by the start of the season. He had a real bad break of both of them early in the season. It was unfortunate what Corum did to that man’s ankles.
Corum is one of the very best men in the world alive today with that ability.
No he isn't.
Bet you cant name ONE line backer in the NFL today ,{built like Campbell) thats having a successful career ---- there arent any
Better odds hes out of the NFL before his rookie contract is up,then making 1 pro bowl !
April 29th, 2023 at 10:36 PM ^
He’ll be lucky to be on an nfl roster in 4 years. He’ll never make a pro bowl or be all pro.
Too soon.
April 29th, 2023 at 10:37 PM ^
Which is why they’ll continue as a team that barely treads water.
I'll probably get negged for this, but I truly believe that 2023 will really be a dog fight in the B1G - especially the East.
Michigan is Michigan and will always be right in the thick of any B1G and National championship talk. We all know what we have going into 2023
And this might be OSU's most talented squad in 2023 - going back to their Urban Scumbag days - especially if those dipshits can figure out a way to field anything above a high school defense like they've done the last 3 to 4 years, Let's be honest, we weren't the only ones to overrun their sorry defense of the last 3 to 4 years. Everybody did when it counted. Hell, they blew a 14 point lead against Georgia in the 4th quarter - enough said
BUT, and here it is, keep an eye on PSU. They possibly have - finally - a legit QB and more importantly, an OL that can control the LOS and keep their defense from wearing out in the 2nd half like in previous years. Their RB 2nd year duo of Singleton and Allen ranks right up there with the best in the country. My point - I just don't think it will come down to UM-OSU like in the past.
And then 2024, USC and UCLA enter. Exciting times ahead for the conference
April 29th, 2023 at 10:00 AM ^
I dont get this Allar is definitely legit talk. He looked okay last season. He is also a statue. McSorely was phenomenal for them. Its not like all they were lacking was a superstar QB. Virtually every non-elite team faces that dilemma.
Penn State is good and will be good. We play them at Penn State. It will be a very difficult game. But I don’t believe Allar is some secret weapon. If he played like Bryce Young or Caleb Williams I would be concerned.
April 29th, 2023 at 11:35 AM ^
Allar could be another Hackenburg for all we know. Penn State always hypes their QBs. They usually wind up mediocre
April 29th, 2023 at 12:51 PM ^
Clifford was their 2022 QB and he had his moments but nothing spectacular.
I'm not saying that Allar is the next coming of their Kerry Collins - just that from what I saw last year, he'll be very good. The main difference in PSU this year - supposedly from what I've read - is they might finally have an OL with depth. Think back and that's the unit that has always collapsed late in the game- 2nd half in previous years.
And anyone that has read my previous posts, you absolutely know I can't stand PSU but I try to be realistic when posting.
And seriously, I really believe the B1G East goes through the OSU defense and if they can finally put a decent one on the field in 2023. I was reading somewhere that they could have up to seven 1st round picks in the 2024 draft and that's mind-boggling but it won't do them any good if they can't stop anyone. They have really outstanding talent - obviously - but just can't field a defense under Day who is all offense.
We'll be solid - as usual - on both sides of the ball and will be right in the thick of Playoff and NC talk all year. It all comes down to the PSU and OSU games. Nobody else has a shot at us. The UM-OSU games the last 2 years just boils down to UM having superior coaching - Day sucks
You make some good points. If (and it's a big if until I see otherwise) PSU can have solid OL play, then I think they could certainly make a run in the B1G East. They have two very good RBs, probably second only to UM, and Allar could be an upgrade.
But I still give the advantage to UM. Jenkins, Graham, Benny, and Grant are built to shut down the run. Hopefully, between Stewart, Moore, and McGregor, we can field a solid pass rush. And the game isn't until 11/11, so hopefully we will have the 2nd corner figured out by then. Even if not, I trust the coaches to mix in enough coverages to really screw with a young QB's decision making.
UM's offense gets a lot of attention, but damn I'm excited to see this defense next year too.
April 29th, 2023 at 11:38 PM ^
And Franklin. With horrible OL coaching
Clifford was a really good QB for them. Thinking Allar, who looked average at best, is going to significantly improve them is crazy imo. And he’s completely 1 dimensional…no run threat. It’s college football, so they may be better… but it won’t be because clifford was a problem and Allar is a savior
But keep in mind, and being fair, Allar was a true freshman last year and will probably improve significantly over the course of a year. Anytime a kid can get reps as a true freshman is important
If Penn State wants to beat OSU this year, that would be fine with me.
Only partly related to the OP, but someone posted this on r/CFB and it gave me a chuckle:
April 29th, 2023 at 10:59 AM ^
Parity? Well ........ I personally need to see more.
One year of draft results is a single data point. When it comes to the "elite of the elite" in college football, the SEC's long-term results speak for themselves (10 consecutive CFP semifinal wins!!!, 6 of the 9 Titles).
April 29th, 2023 at 11:43 AM ^
That's all fine but if you watch the play on the field, there's a huge difference in quality after Michigan and Ohio. May be changing in Wisky and Nebraska. We'll see
April 29th, 2023 at 12:58 PM ^
To clarify, 20 picks in the first two rounds is "the most for the B1G in the common draft era."
I am sure there was a previous year in which Alabama had something like 37 of the first 32 picks.
Until we hit the very tail end of the 1st round, Iowa had as many 1st round picks as Georgia.
Parity with the SEC is a bit aggressive