Elliott, Bosa named Big Ten players to watch

A day of press conferences and player interviews began Thursday with the Big Ten announcing its annual Players to Watch list.

First, he rushed for a Big Ten championship game record 220 yards and scored two touchdowns, including a championship game record 81-yard rush, in Ohio State’s 59-0 win over Wisconsin.

Those teams taking the plunge today are Ohio State (Urban Meyer, plus linebacker Joshua Perry, DT Adolphus Washington and OT Taylor Decker), Michigan State, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, Indiana and Iowa. There are players from other teams on there too. They were joined by running back Ezekiel Elliott and defensive end Joey Bosa of Ohio State and defensive tackle Anthony Zettel of Penn State and West Branch, Michigan. A select media panel voted for five players in the East and West division with the West garnering six players because of a tie. Northwestern running back Justin Jackson and Iowa defensive end Drew Ott round out the players to watch.

Elliott also was the victor of the Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States in 2014. Bosa was tabbed a consensus first-team All-American last year, while Calhoun, Caputo and Pierson-El also claimed All-America laurels.

The only minor surprise from the All-Big Ten Team is that Zettel is the only Nittany Lion on it. DaeSean Hamilton, Austin Johnson, Jordan Lucas, Nyeem Wartman-White, Brandon Bell, and of course Christian Hackenberg all were likely considered for the honor, but were ultimately edged out.

The list includes the defending Big Ten Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player and Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year (Bosa), as well as the 2013 Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year (Calhoun).