Ohio State Football: Scarlet and Game’s Preseason All-Big Ten Team
The Ohio State football team looks to have a talented team in 2023. How many Buckeyes made our preseason All-Big Ten team?
The Ohio State football team is getting ready for the 2023 season. With an emphasis on the recruiting trail before fall camp, now would be a great time to explore what lays ahead in the Big Ten.
For the first time in a long time, the Buckeyes are probably going to be behind Michigan in the preseason rankings. But we all know that the games have to be played on the field, and every season new and exciting players step up all around the Big Ten conference. Let’s give you our preseason All-Big Ten team.
Preseason All-Big Ten Defense
Defensive End: J.T Tuimoloau, Ohio State – Tuimoloau deserves to be on this list after stepping up last season as a sophomore. Now with the experience needed to get his sack total up, I expect a double-digit sack season for the former five-star recruit from Washington.
Defensive End- Chop Robinson, Penn State- Robinson is super talented and had a very solid season last year earning an All-Big Ten honorable mention for the postseason team. The transfer from Maryland recorded five and a half sacks last season and he should see more production in his second season in the system.
Defensive Tackle- Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois – Illinois has quietly built a very solid defense under Brett Bielema and Newton is the anchor. Newton had 13 tackles for a loss last season and five and a half sacks. He also made PFF’s “Top 10 returning Interior Defensive Lineman” list for 2023.
Defensive Tackle- Keith Randolph Jr., Illinois – Another Fighting Illini tackle, Randolph possesses the size and quickness that makes for a standout defensive lineman. The third-team All-Big Ten member from 2022 is poised for a big year playing alongside Newton.
Linebacker- Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State- Eichenberg is the leader of the Buckeye defense and had 120 tackles, two sacks, and an interception in his breakout 2022 season. I expect more of the same from Eichenberg in 2023.
Linebacker- Junior Colson, Michigan- Colson was all over the field for Michigan last season. He led Michigan in tackles with 101 and had six for a loss. He was also a second-team All-Big Ten member.
Linebacker- Luke Reimer, Nebraska- Despite missing two games with injury, Reimer led the Cornhuskers with 86 tackles, including four for a loss. He also had five pass breakups to go along with an interception. The senior from Lincoln, Nebraska is sure to have a big year for the home-state team.
Cornerback- Will Johnson, Michigan- Probably the best secondary player in the Big Ten, Johnson was the Big Ten Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 in which he had 27 tackles and three interceptions. He should only get better in year number two in Ann Arbor.
Cornerback- Kalen King, Penn State- The junior standout from Cass Tech High School in Detroit is poised to become the next Nittany Lion first-round NFL draft pick. Named a second-team All-American last season by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, King had three interceptions in 2022 playing opposite Joey Porter.
Safety- Cooper DeJean, Iowa- Dejean had a monster season in 2022 setting an Iowa single-season record of returning three interceptions for touchdowns. He finished five picks altogether and had 75 tackles as well.
Safety– Rod Moore, Michigan- The second member of the Wolverine secondary to make this list, Moore had 71 tackles and four picks in 2022. The sophomore from Clayton, Ohio sure would have looked good in a Buckeye uniform right now.