Matt Hayes

In April, I gave you my top 25 players in the country. This month, we'll go five-deep at each position for the BCS conferences. First up, the Big Ten (* currently suspended):

Quarterback
1. Kellen Lewis, Indiana*
2. Juice Williams, Illinois
3. Curtis Painter, Purdue
4. Todd Boeckman, Ohio State
5. Brian Hoyer, Michigan State
Quick thoughts: Forget about his size, Lewis is the most dynamic quarterback in the league -- but only because Williams still struggles with accuracy. Painter probably is the best NFL prospect. Boeckman's mobility issues were exposed in losses to Illinois and LSU.

Running back
1. Chris Wells, Ohio State
2. P.J. Hill, Wisconsin
3. Javon Ringer, Michigan State
4. Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern
5. Marcus Thigpen, Indiana
Quick thoughts: Beanie Wells could be yet another Heisman winner for Ohio State, and watch how fast Ringer rises up the NFL draft boards when he gets another 1,500 yards.

Wide receiver
1. Arrelious Benn, Illinois
2. Brian Robiske, Ohio State
3. Greg Matthews, Michigan
4. Derrick Williams, Penn State
5. Eric Decker, Minnesota
Quick thoughts: All five have been or will be held back by inefficiency or inexperience from their quarterbacks. Even Robiske, the most polished of the group, needs Boeckman to play well. Imagine this nightmare: Williams has played with a tailback (Michael Robinson) and a safety (Anthony Morelli) at quarterback the last three seasons. Will Daryll Clark or Pat Devlin be any different?

Tight end
1. Travis Beckum, Wisconsin
2. Andrew Quarless, Penn State*
3. Jeff Cumberland, Illinois
4. Carson Butler, Michigan
5. Brandon Meyers, Iowa
Quick thoughts: Beckum is one of the best players in college football at any position. Quarless -- if he can get back on the team -- and Cumberland are two of the top emerging tight ends in the game.

Offensive line
1. Alex Boone, Ohio State
2. A.Q. Shiley, Penn State
3. Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin
4. Ryan McDonald, Illinois
5. Rich Ohrnberger, Penn State
Quick thoughts: A solid group, but nothing necessarily spectacular. Boone is clearly the elite, and he played well in the national title game against LSU.

Kicker
1. Austin Starr, Indiana
2. Kevin Kelly, Penn State
3. Ryan Pretorius, Ohio State
4. Chris Summers, Purdue
5. Brett Swenson, Michigan State
Quick thoughts: Starr is accurate and has a strong leg; the rest of the group is too inconsistent -- especially in key situations.

Defensive line
1. Greg Middleton, Indiana
2. Maurice Evans, Penn State
3. Will Davis, Illinois
4. Matt Shaughnessy, Wisconsin
5. Brandon Graham, Michigan
Quick thoughts: Middleton and Davis are rangy edge rushers who will both get 10-plus sacks. Player to watch not on the list: Lawrence Wilson of Ohio State, who sustained a season-ending injury in Week 1 last year.

Linebacker
1. James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
2. Marcus Freeman, Ohio State
3. Martez Wilson, Illinois
4. Jonathan Casillas, Wisconsin
5. A.J. Edds, Iowa
Quick thoughts: Both Laurinaitis and Freeman would've been first round picks had they left for the NFL, and Wilson -- who played three different positions last fall -- will be a top five overall pick by the time he leaves college.

Secondary
1. Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
2. Vontae Davis, Illinois
3. Morgan Trent, Michigan
4. Austin Thomas, Indiana
5. Donald Washington, Ohio State
Quick thoughts: Jenkins and Davis are the two best cover corners in the game.

Punter
1. Jeremy Boone, Penn State
2. Justin Kucek, Minnesota
3. A.J. Trapasso, Ohio State
4. Ryan Donohue, Iowa
5. Zoltan Mesko, Michigan
Quick thoughts: Boone and Kelly give Penn State the best kicking game in the league, and Trapasso -- like nearly all OSU punters -- excels at dropping punts inside the 20.