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Wisconsin Football: Top Five Big Ten Defensive Players

By Sam Land

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after their 27-21 win over the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after their 27-21 win over the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Do any Wisconsin football players rank among the best defensive players in the Big Ten?

Wisconsin Football
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 02: Quarterback J.T. Barrett /

When you think of Big Ten football, you probably don’t envision the type of explosive offenses seen elsewhere across the country.

That’s because defense reigns supreme in the Big Ten. That’s not to say the conference doesn’t boast some high-powered offenses from time to time. However, most teams who win in this league do so by utilizing a stifling defense.

Last season’s Wisconsin squad is a great example. The Badgers’ elite defense a year ago was perhaps the biggest reason for one of the best seasons in program history.

Ohio State also routinely wins the Big Ten and competes for national championships with dominant defenses. The Buckeyes are loaded with a plethora of stars on that side of the ball every year. Last season was no different, as Ohio State saw five of its defensive players get drafted in the 2018 NFL Draft this past spring.

However, the best defense in the conference this season will likely belong to Michigan. Coach Jim Harbaugh has done an excellent job at recruiting and developing defensive talent over the last few years, and the result is a unit that should be as good as any in the nation.

Many of the Big Ten’s defensive stars from last season are gone. Michigan’s Maurice Hurst, Ohio State’s Tyquan Lewis, Denzel Ward, and Sam Hubbard, Iowa’s Josey Jewell, Penn State’s Marcus Allen, and Wisconsin’s Nick Nelson are just some of the names who have moved on.

That being said, there are still plenty of talented defensive players returning this season. Let’s check out some of the top names from around the conference.