USA TODAY Sports Network 2025 preseason All-Big Ten college football team, awards
The quarterback will change for the Buckeyes but Smith is an immediate threat as one of college football's best playmakers. He was picked by a select group of USA TODAY Sports Network writers to win preseason Big Ten Player of the Year.
He was one of five unanimous selections. Others included: Iowa center Logan Jones, Penn State offensive guard Olaivavega Ioane, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada.
Reporters representing the bicoastal conference named their top players by position, specialists, picked preseason awards and ranked order of finish. Thirteen of the 18 teams had a player receiving a vote. Programs not represented included Wisconsin, Nebraska, Rutgers, Maryland and Purdue, which was the consensus last-place team in predicted order of finish. And, as the transfer portal era would have it, two former Boilermakers — safety Dillon Thieneman and tight end Max Klare — made the All-Big Ten team.
Four different coaches were on ballots, but it was Penn State's James Franklin who was selected Big Ten Coach of the Year. His Nittany Lions were the writers' pick to win the Big Ten, a breakthrough occurrence since the 2016 title, their lone one during the division era. Yet they could join their former division rivals, Ohio State and Michigan, in leading the Big Ten to a third straight national championship.
As Big Ten football media days kicks off in Las Vegas on Tuesday, here are the picks (italicized denotes unanimous selection).
Quarterback: Drew Allar, Penn State
Running back (2): Jonah Coleman, Washington; Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
Wide receiver (2): Elijah Sarratt, Indiana; Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
Tight end: Max Klare, Ohio State
Offensive tackle (2): Gennings Dunker, Iowa; Isaiah World, Oregon
Offensive guard (2): Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State; Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
Offensive center: Logan Jones, Iowa
Defensive line (4): Zane Durant, Penn State; Gabe Jacas, Illinois; Mikail Kamara, Indiana; Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
Linebacker (3): Bryce Boettcher, Oregon; Aiden Fisher, Indiana; Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Defensive backs (4): Caleb Downs, Ohio State; D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana; Dillon Thieneman, Oregon; (tie) Koi Perich, Minnesota and Xavier Scott, Illinois
Kicker: Dominic Zvada, Michigan
Punter: Ryan Eckley, Michigan State
All-purpose: Kaden Wetjen, Iowa
Player of the year: Jeremiah Smith, wide receiver, Ohio State
Coach of the year: James Franklin, Penn State
Newcomer of the year: Makhi Hughes, running back, Oregon
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