By JC Nevils
Every year you have players who come out of nowhere and burst
onto the scene to take heed of their respective teams. They may have
been injured, redshirted, or just sitting in the wings waiting their
turn, but either way they show up and show out when given their
shot. I dropped a list of some SEC players who fit the bill already,
and now we move to the Big Ten.
1. WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
It only took a few practices in the Spring to turn
everyone’s head around in Columbus to see what they had. Coming
in as the number one recruit in the nation, Jeremiah Smith already
had high expectations, but he has done nothing but exceed them.
From one-handed catches to snagging balls like an outfielder, Smith
is certainly the real deal. Proof enough is breaking a record for the earliest a Buckeye has ever shed his black stripe.
2. RB Jordan James, Oregon
As a backup last season Jordan James could have easily
been mistaken for a starter, given his numbers. He rushed for eleven touchdowns and averaged 7.09 yards per
carry, leading the conference. Despite limited touches, James certainly displayed himself as one of the most explosive
players in the conference. With Bucky Irving gone to the NFL and
the transition from the PAC-12 to the Big Ten, James will have an
opportunity to make his mark.
Jordan James highlights 🦆 pic.twitter.com/uSqkAuH1qD
— Oregon Updates (@oregon__updates) April 13, 2024
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3. QB Aidan Chiles, Michigan State
While sitting behind D.J. Uiagalelei last season, Aidan
Chiles performed exceptionally well as a freshman. Former head coach Jonathan
Smith, now at Michigan State, consistently inserted him into drives to showcase his talents. Despite being a highly touted All-American in high school, Chiles opted for Oregon State. Now, with both Smith and Chiles at Michigan State, the
starting job seems all but locked up and I expect him to succeed.
I really like how Aidan Chiles is going to be developed by Jonathan Smith in this Michigan State offense
Offense correlates to NFL with a variety of concepts from 12 personnel to spread to heavy run formations and hard play-action. #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/3rxiBAwBbf
— Clint Brewster (@clintbrew247) May 7, 2024
4. LB Tony Rojas, Penn State
Coming into last season, Tony Rojas was expected to contribute immediately in Happy Valley. While he did make plays
and displayed flashes of his talent, the depth ahead of him limited his opportunities. However, with Curtis Jacobs
heading to the NFL and Abdul Carter transitioning to the edge, Rojas now has a prime opportunity to show out. With his
IQ and freakish athleticism, I expect him to fully take advantage.
5. QB Miller Moss, USC
The last two seasons belonged to Caleb Williams at USC, and rightfully so. Williams won the Heisman Trophy in
the 2022-2023 season and was recently selected as the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. However,
Williams decide to sit out of USC’s bowl game, which led to Miller
Moss getting his shot. Moss seized his opportunity, throwing
for over 400 yards and setting a program bowl record with six passing
touchdowns. If he does anything close to that this upcoming season,
it should definitely be a fun one.
