Even the casual football fan understands that players like J.T. Barrett, Jabrill Peppers and Tyler O’Connor will have a major impact in determining how far Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State go in the Big Ten respectively this season. The bigger question mark is who are the most overlooked x-factors that will have the biggest impact on the Big Ten standings in 2016? We took the time to break down the rosters and figure out who we feel will play the most significant roles this coming season. Here is a look at the most significant x-factors in the Big Ten East heading in to the 2016 college football season.
Michigan State: CB Vayante Copeland
The defending Big Ten champion Spartans will have a difficult time repeating without experienced quarterback Connor Cook this season but there are some notable x-factors that will need to step up in addition to O’Connor under center. One of those players is the cornerback Copeland, who was settling in to the No. 1 role for Michigan State heading in to Week 2 a year ago before a fractured vertebra in his neck cost him the remainder of the season. Copeland will be crucial to the success of the Spartans’ “No Fly Zone” defense as a lockdown cornerback and an x-factor in the team’s overall chances of repeating as conference champions.
Ohio State: WR Torrance Gibson
Barrett will need to step up and consistently play at a high level at the quarterback position but he can’t do it alone and one of his top receivers also happens to be our pick for the biggest x-factor at Ohio State in Gibson. Michael Thomas, Jalin Marshall and Braxton Miller all moved on to the NFL and that means the Buckeyes and Barrett in particular will have to rely heavily on Gibson at wide receiver.
Michigan: DT Rashan Gary
Michigan has one of the best incoming freshman classes in the entire country and none of them is projected to be better than the No. 1 overall prospect in Gary. The 6’4’’, 287-pound defensive tackle is an absolute force in the middle of the defense and the Wolverines will need him to be their anchor in the middle as a disruptive force against both the run and pass in 2016.
Penn State: QB Trace McSorley
The Nittany Lions will have a new offensive coordinator in Joe Moorhead with a new quarterback leading the way. McSorley will have big shoes to fill at Penn State but he is a capable young quarterback with an arm to make all of the throws and some considerable weapons surrounding him. Ultimately, the success of the Nittany Lions’ offense will be tied in directly with McSorley’s production.
Indiana: RB Mike Warren
Indiana will need to show major improvement on both sides of the football and no player will be more important to them than their running back Warren. Expectations are high after he averaged 5.9 yards per carry while rushing for 1,339 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman a year ago and the fact that the Hoosiers don’t have a proven backup behind him will make him that much more important.
Maryland: WR Levern Jacobs
The Terrapins are hoping that the Jacobs’ brothers can finally live up to the hype in 2016 after both disappointed for very different reasons in 2015. Levern Jacobs missed the entire year after violating the student code of conduct but is back for his senior season and he has the potential to put up big numbers. Meanwhile, his brother Taivon is a junior that will be returning from injury and if he can help carry the load on offense then Maryland will be that much more difficult to play against.
Rutgers: DE Komoto Turay
Turay absolutely dominated as a freshman in 2014 when he registered 7.5 sacks and three blocked kicks including one to beat Michigan. Nagging injuries and a lack of consistency held him to just nine tackles and two sacks in 11 appearances last season but there was never any doubt about his elite potential as a playmaker that can wreak havoc off the edge. Rutgers needs more from their pass rushers in order to develop a level of consistency they lacked a year ago and Turay will be an x-factor to whether or not they can take that next step and become a formidable group.
