Three Big Ten players named to Sports Illustrated's Preseason All-American team

Written by Andrew Coppens on 09 August 2013.

The Big Ten has hit hard times as of late, or so the narrative goes in the college football world writ large. Proof of that? Try just three Big Ten players named to the Sports Illustrated Preseason 1st team All-American list. The three players on this years list match the same number on SI's preseason list from a season ago, although there are no repeat players from 2012 to 2013.?

Not surprisingly the three representatives come from "The Game" rivals Michigan and Ohio State. UM's Taylor Lewan (OT) is joined by OSU's Bradley Roby (CB) and Ryan Shazier (LB) on the list. Things got a bit better when SI moved to their 2nd team All-America list, as four Big Ten players were named to that team.?

Michigan State's Max Bullough was joined by Wisconsin's Chris Borland as two-thirds of the 2nd team linebackers, while Nebraska's Spencer Long (perhaps our biggest overlook on the Preseason Top 25 list) represented for the offense and Northwestern's Jeff Budzien (kicker) had the honors for special teams.?

Anyone notice something glaringly missing from the above named list of B1G players? Ya, a lack of any skill position players on offense - no Braxton Miller at QB on either the 1st or the 2nd team? Sorry, that's a slap in the face to our preseason No. 1 player in the Big Ten.?

But, hey, that's why they play the games right? As they say, sometimes in order to get respect you have to take respect and it sure looks like that's exactly what the Big Ten will have to do in this case.?

For what it is worth, only one Big Ten player made 1st team All-American by SI last season and that was OT Taylor Lewan, who somehow was left off the preseason list all together. Yes, not even a 2nd team mention for one of the best lineman the Big Ten produced over the past two years.?

So, perhaps in the end we should take these things with a grain of salt and tell SI as a conference and fanbase where they can shove their over hyped list??

Source: http://www.theb1gtime.com/teams/big-ten/three-big-ten-players-named-to-sports-illustrated-s-preseason-all-american-team.html

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