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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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#2 – Michigan DT Rashan Gary

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

The top two players on this list may also be the top two players in America this season, as well as the top two picks in the 2019 NFL Draft.

This type of attention is not new to Michigan defensive lineman Rashan Gary. He was considered the top recruit in the nation in the class of 2016 coming out of powerhouse Paramus Catholic in New Jersey.

He has lived up to the hype during his first two seasons as a Wolverine.

Gary played in every game since he has stepped on campus as a true freshman. He started every one last season and received First Team All-Big Ten honors after contributing 66 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 7 total sacks.

Gary’s film shows a player with elite athleticism for someone listed at 6’5 and 281 pounds. He has a unique package of power and speed that, combined with his excellent motor, make him extremely difficult to contain.

He should have a massive impact as the best player on Michigan’s defense this season, which is almost certainly his last in college before heading to the pros.

Matt Miller of Bleacher Report has Gary at number 3 overall in his most recent rankings for next year’s NFL draft. As Miller says in that piece, Gary would be the best player in pretty much any other draft class.

The two players above him on that list? Number two is Houston’s freakish defensive lineman, Ed Oliver, who has already declared for the 2019 draft.

Number one? Read on…