Borrowing Talent from Big Ten West Foes

Northwestern: Justin Jackson, RB

Much of what I wrote previously in the Minnesota slide applies here.  Yes, Wisconsin has a great running game, but Justin Jackson is arguably the best Big Ten RB not named Saquon Barkley.   He was named First Team All Big Ten by the media and Second Team All Big Ten by the coaches in 2016.  His 117.2/game rushing average and 1,524 rushing yards were tops in the conference last season.  Jackson also chipped in 15 rushing TDs.  His 1,743 all purpose yardage was 2nd in the Big Ten behind Barkley.  At 5’11” 193 pounds that’s a fine height but a perhaps a little underweight for much ground and pound.  But in this super serious exercise I already gave Wisconsin Rodney Smith so he wouldn’t have to be a full bell cow.  Although his numbers at Northwestern suggest he can handle a full workload.