Around the Big Ten East: The Biggest Shoes To Fill In 2020.
Every year star players move on from college to the pros or transfer from one school to another. The players move on and advance their careers but they leave a giant pair of shoes to fill for their college teams. In this series we will look at the biggest shoes to fill on each team and attempt to guess who will fill them in 2020.
Rutgers
Raheem Blackshear
Rutgers did not have a good year but loses very little production from the 2019 season. Raheem Blackshear only played in four games before redshirting but was able to accumulate 310 receiving yards, 88 rushing yards and two touchdowns in those four games. In 2018 he accounted for 953 yards of offense and five touchdowns. Blackshear redshirted after playing in those four games and then transferred to Virginia Tech. He was a diverse and explosive playmaker for Rutgers and will need to be replaced in 2020.
Possible Replacements
The Scarlet Knights do not have another player with Blackshear’s skill set on the roster. Isaiah Pacheco is the starting running back and did a good job in 2019. After Blackshear made the decision to redshirt Kay’Ron Adams and Aaron young were the primary backup running backs. Adams is a more traditional running back and does not pose the threat as a receiver out of the backfield that Blackshear did. He is however, a capable runner between the tackles who can be a consistent threat on the ground.
Aaron Young is a more diverse player at the running back position and was able to accumulate 113 receiving yards on 15 catches in 2019. He has the ability to be a receiving threat out of the backfield but has not yet shown the explosive ability that Blackshear had. Rutgers will need him to become more of a consistent playmaker to keep defenses from keying in on Pacheco. If Young can show more big play ability as a sophomore it will help the Scarlet Knights offense to fill the void left by Blackshear.
The receivers will need to step up and provide more production in the passing game as well. Blackshear was able to contribute in the passing game out of the backfield and as a slot receiver but with his departure, senior Bo Melton and sophomore Isaiah Washington will need to produce at a high level. Melton has shown flashes of his potential over the course of his career but has not consistently produced yet. Washington had a few good games as a freshman In 2019, including a four catch, 63 yard performance against Penn State in the season finale but was not a consistent threat either.
Adams and Young will be counted on to be key reserves in the backfield and to help contribute in the passing game. If Young is able to contribute as a receiver and Rutgers is able to get some consistency from Melton and Washington the team should be able to replace Blackshear effectively in 2020.
Penn State
KJ Hamler
KJ Hamler was a consistent big play threat for Penn State in 2019. He had 56 catches for 904 yards and eight touchdowns on the season before declaring for the NFL draft and being selected in the second round. The volume of Hamler’s production does not completely measure his impact on the game, Hamler was always a big play threat that defenses had to account for, leaving favorable matchups for other players on the offense. Penn State will need to find and a new big play weapon in the passing game in 2020.
Possible Replacements
The player to get the first chance at replacing Hamler will be junior Jahan Dotson. Dotson had a productive season In 2019 with 488 receiving yards and five touchdowns while averaging over 18 yards per catch. Of course, that production came with Hamler on the field and drawing the attention of the defense. There is no way to be sure that Dotson can produce when the defense is focused on containing him until he has the chance to do it but he has produced which is a start.
Dotson has shown improvement over the course of his career, from 2018 to 2019 his receiving yardage more than doubled as he got more playing time. With Hamler gone he will have more targets and should be able to produce at a higher level. Dotson may not have the speed and explosiveness of Hamler, but he is a quick and elusive player in his own right who has shown the ability to make plays at the college level.
In addition to Dotson the Nittany Lions could also use John Dunmore to help fill the void left by Hamler. Dunmore was a 2019 recruit who has good quickness out of the slot and enough speed and explosiveness to make big plays. Dunmore is not yet proven at the college level but was a highly touted recruit who has the tools to be a good slot receiver. He could be a dependable option in the middle of the field and force defenses not to key on Dotson as much.
Fortunately for Penn State they do return Pat Friermuth who is one of the top tight ends in college football. Dotson and Dunmore should be able to provide production at the wide receiver spot and help keep defenses honest downfield. There may not be a single player like Hamler on the roster but the Penn State offense should be able to produce regardless.
Ohio State
Chase Young
The Buckeyes lost quite a few stars from last year’s team including running back JK Dobbins and top 10 draft picks Jeff Okuda and Chase Young. We settled on Young as the biggest shoes to fill for the Buckeyes simply because he was the best player The Buckeyes lost. Young head 21 tackles for loss 16.5 sacks and 6 fumbles forced during the 2019 season. Young was a game wrecker for the Buckeyes and forced offenses to game plan For him opening up opportunities for other players on the defense to make plays. The Buckeyes will need their talented youngsters to step up and fill the void left by the number two pick in the draft.
Possible Replacements
Jonathan Cooper will be a fifth year senior in 2020 and provides steady production and valuable leadership at defensive end. He is a steady performer at one end but The Buckeyes will look for increased production from Tyreke Smith on the opposite end to help replace Chase Young. Smith had five tackles for loss and three sacks during an injury plagued sophomore season. He has shown good pass rushing acumen And good athleticism for the position throughout his career. Smith will be expected to take the next step and become a dominant force at defense end in the Buckeyes rotation.
Defensive line coach Larry Johnson Likes to rotate defensive lineman in and out of the game so Smith alone will not carry the burden of replacing Young. Zach Harrison is a former five star recruit who be looked at to provide a quality pass rush off the edge. As a true freshman last season Harrison had 5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, showing the high end ability he has. Harrison is a tall and well built defensive end with freakish athleticism for the position. Under Johnson’s tutelage he has the potential to become a star for Ohio State.
If either player is unable to take the next step in their development or is not healthy enough to perform The Buckeyes do have other options. Tyler Friday has also shown promise as a strongside defensive end and Javontae Jean Baptiste is an athletic pass rusher who could provide a spark if needed. The Buckeyes may have lost the best defensive player in college football from a year ago but they’ve recruited the position well and are fortunate enough to have talented options available to replace him.
Michigan State
Kenny Willekes
Kenny Willekes was a dominant pass rusher for the Spartans. He totaled 16 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks during the 2019 season. Willekes was a leader on the Michigan State defensive front and was the premier pass rusher for the team. New head coach Mel Tucker will need to find a pass rusher to replace Willekes for the defense to be successful in 2020.
Possible Replacements
The Spartans will start the season with Drew Beesley as a starting defensive end. Beesley has been a trusted member of the defensive end rotation and will be a senior in 2020. He accounted for 6 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks during the 2019 season while serving as a key backup at defensive end. Beesley is an experienced player who has proven he can hold his own at the Big Ten level and should provide good leadership and consistent play up front.
To help make up for the pass rush that Willekes provided the Spartans will need to rotate in younger players who are capable pass rushers. Jack Camper fits the mold physically but injuries limited him in 2019 so he will need to prove he is ready to make an impact in 2020. Camper arrived at Michigan State as a tight end but she witched over to defense and shows promise as a defense end. He has the size and burst to play the position well but will need to capitalize on his opportunities to get more playing time.
Another player to keep an eye on is Michael Fletcher. Fletcher was injured early in 2019 and only played in one game as a true freshman but has the physical attributes to be a quality defensive end in the Big Ten. He has good size and strength and should become a contributor in the defensive end rotation quickly. The Spartans will be counting on these three players to provide strong play across from senior leader Jacub Panasiuk.
Michigan
Cesar Ruiz
Cesar Ruiz has been the starting center for the Michigan Wolverines the past two seasons. He was selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. Ruiz has been a leader on the offensive line and a consistent performer for the Wolverines. Not only will Michigan have to replace their starting center but with four new starters on the offensive line they will need to replace Ruiz’s leadership as well.
Possible Replacements
Zach Carpenter is the likely replacement for Cesar Ruiz. He redshirted in 2019 but is a talented recruit who appears ready to contribute. Carpenter is one of the strongest offensive lineman on the team and has good quickness for his size. He needs experience to be the leader that Ruiz was but he should be a powerful run blocker and capable pass blocker for the Wolverines in 2020. Carpenter has the physical tools to be a good center but will need to take advantage of his opportunity to win the starting job.
Carpenter is not the only offensive lineman competing to fill Ruiz’s shoes. Former walk on offensive lineman Andrew Vastardis has been with the program since 2016 and is an experienced player. Vastardis will provide good competition for Carpenter and is a reliable option if Carpenter is not ready. His understanding of the offense could be an asset for the rebuilt offensive line especially early in the season.
A third player to keep in mind is Nolan Rumler. Rumler was a highly touted recruit in the 2019 recruiting class and will be in the competition at guard or center. Rumler is a talented prospect who has the versatility to play both well. There are talentd options available but some of the options are still very young. It will be difficult for the Wolverines to match the quality play and leadership Ruiz provided but they do have some options going forward.
Maryland
Anthony McFarland Jr
Maryland went into 2019 with a lot of options at running back. McFarland was expected to be the leader of the group but the position overall was considered a strength as well. McFarland ran for over 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns over the past two seasons, making many big plays along the way. He declared early for the NFL draft and was selected in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Terps will need to replace McFarland and rebuild the running back room in College Park for 2020.
Possible Replacements
Tayon Fleet-Davis is a talented running back who never had the opportunity to see significant playing time in Maryland’s crowded backfield. Fleet-Davis had 265 rushing yards and 181 receiving yards with four total touchdowns during the 2019 season. He has shown that he is a versatile and talented running back who can put pressure on the defense in a variety of ways. In 2020, Fleet-Davis will get his opportunity to be a lead running back and prove that he can handle the extra workload.
Jake Funk has shown flashes of productivity during his Maryland career but is coming off his 2nd ACL injury. Funk can be a major player in the backfield if he is healthy but there is no way to know if he will be ready to go for the start of the season or how long he will be able to stay healthy. If Funk is able to stay healthy in 2020 it will go a long way towards solidifying the running back situation for Maryland.
The Terrapins recruited two quality running backs in the 2020 recruiting class. Penny Boone Is a powerful running back who can wear down the defense over the course of a game. We expect Boone to be a contributor as a true freshman. In addition to Boone, Maryland signed Isaiah Jacobs who is a quality running back prospect in his own right. Jacobs is the younger brother of Raiders RB Josh Jacobs and should also be in the mix to get carries for the Terps in 2020.
Maryland has a good mix of players to attempt to reload the running back room. All four backs bring a different set of skills to the position. There may not be a single player as explosive as McFarland, but the terrapins should get good production from their running backs in 2020.
Indiana
Coy Cronk
Indiana is returning most of their key contributors from the 2019 season. Peyton Ramsey and Coy Cronk are two quality players who have transferred out of the program. Neither was likely to be the starter in 2020, but Cronk was the starter going into the 2019 season so we chose him here. Coy Cronk was a steady and reliable tackle for the Hoosiers over the course of his career. He was a starter at left tackle during his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons but was injured early in his senior season. Cronk took advantage of the new four game Redshirt rule and was able to gain an extra year of eligibility. He decided to transfer to Iowa where he will play his final season. Indiana will have to replace a quality offensive tackle in 2020 and find depth at the position.
Possible Replacements
Normally replacing a left tackle who had started since his freshman season would be a difficult task. Due to Cronk’s injury during the 2019 season Indiana was able to find their replacement last season. Matthew Bedford played very well in Cronk’s absence and may have pushed his predecessor to transfer to find a place he could be the starter. Bedford’s strong play as a freshman gives the Hoosiers confidence that their left tackle play will be a strength in the future.
Quality depth at tackle is very important as Indiana learned during the 2019 season. Caleb Jones is a returning starter at right tackle and a good player in his own right. The key reserve at tackle for the Hoosiers will be Aidan Rafferty who will likely be the primary backup at both tackle spots. As the Hoosiers learned last season a team is always one play away from the primary backup becoming a starter. Rafferty was a well regarded recruit in the 2018 class and has the tools to be a solid player on the offensive line if needed.
Replacing Coy Cronk would have been a daunting task if he had not been injured last season. However, Bedford was able to showcase his ability and the Hoosiers are comfortable that they have their left tackle of the future. Indiana also done an admirable job developing players to step in and appear to have found another quality reserve in Rafferty. Cronk was a good player at Indiana but the Hoosiers have already filled his shoes.
For our previous installment of Around The Big Ten East click here.
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B1G Football: Penn State v. Maryland image take by Michael Smith is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
