Around the Big Ten West: 2nd Year Players who will Breakthrough in 2020

Every year new recruits arrive on campuses around the country with high hopes and dreams of stardom. Fans are ready for them to take college football by storm and the recruits are ready to be the next superstar. Truth is not many true freshmen become impact players in their first season, and need time in the weight room and experience to have an impact. The next year new recruits arrive and last years class is no longer on fans minds. This feature will focus on recruits from the 2019 recruiting class who will breakthrough and make their mark in 2020.

Illinois

Marquez Beason would not be on this list if he had not been injured prior to the 2019 season. Beason is a 5’11” 185 lb CB from Texas who was a top 100 recruit in the 247 Sports composite. Beason is long enough to play corner against some of the bigger receivers in college. He has the side to side agility to mirror receivers and stick to them in man coverage. His best assets are his speed and acceleration, Beason can run with the fastest of players and has the burst to make up ground in a hurry when he does make a mistake in coverage. He needed to get stronger to play physical run defense and the injury gave him time to work towards that end. Beason will need to be fully healthy but he is an excellent talent.

Tony Adams and Nate Hobbs started at CB for the Illini in 2019 and both will be seniors in 2020. If Beason is fully healthy these two players will not keep him off the field. Safety Stanley Green has graduated which would allow Adams to move back to the Safety position he played in 2018 and Beason to start at CB for Illinois. If Beason is the athlete he was before the injury he will be an instant upgrade at CB. With the rest of the secondary returning from last year there is a chance this group could be really good in 2020, with Beason being the final piece of the puzzle.

Iowa

Dane Belton was not the highest rated recruit in Iowa’s 2019 class but he earned playing time as a true freshman last season. The 6’1″ 190 lb Belton played in 8 games and recorded 33 tackles and 2 TFL. Belton is a physical football player who is not afraid to deliver a hit. He does not have great short area quickness to cover receivers man to man at the line of scrimmage but he has good speed and range and is a classic safety. Belton has good ball skills, he high points the ball well and can make the tough interception. He has a well rounded game and will be a good fit in the Iowa defensive backfield in 2020.

Geno Stone was the starter at SS for the Hawkeyes in 2019 and played well. Stone decided to move on to the NFL and was drafted by the Ravens. With the departures of Stone and CB Michael Ojemudia, Iowa needs players to step up in the secondary. Belton set himself up well with a strong freshman season and will have the first shot to be the SS for Iowa this year. He was a steady performer when he played in 2019 and should continue to progress. With more opportunities to play he will be able to make big plays for the Hawkeyes in the upcoming season.

Minnesota

Tyler Nubin was the Golden Gopher’s highest rated recruit according to the 247 Sports composite in the 2019 class. He was able to crack the two deep during a very successful season for PJ Fleck’s team in 2019. Nubin (6’2″ 205 lbs) had 6 tackles and 2 PBU in a reserve role for the Golden Gophers. He is a big physical player who has good cover skills but is probably better suited for S at the collegiate level. He is long and has good range, but is capable in man to man coverage as well. His diverse skill set and size make him a promising prospect. As Nubin gets more playing time he will be able to impact the game in a variety of ways.

Antoine Winfield Jr was the leader in the Gophers’ secondary last season. He will be making big plays in the NFL next season leaving a giant void in the Minnesota secondary. Nubin is not a shoe in to take Winfield’s open spot but he is likely the best option for the Gophers. He will need to have a strong camp and win the job, but with his skill set he can be a valuable member of the defensive backfield. He limits the offenses ability to create mismatches with his cover ability and is still a good run defender with his tackling ability. It will be impossible to replace Winfield’s production with just one player in 2020, but Nubin could become a future star himself.

Nebraska

Nebraska went in to Arizona and signed DE Ty Robinson, a top 200 prospect in the 247 Sports composite. Robinson has great size at 6’6″ 315 lbs and fits in well on Nebraska’s 3 – 4 defense. He is a strong player who can hold his own at the point of attack. He uses his strength to shed blockers and will be able to make plays at the line of scrimmage. Robinson is a good athlete at his size and with some refinement in his pass rushing skills will be a disruptive player. Robinson can be a unique player on the line that defends the run well and is an impact pass rusher as a 3 – 4 defensive end.

All three starters from the 2019 defensive line have moved on leaving the Huskers searching for a brand new defensive line in 2020. Robinson is one of the most talented defensive players on the roster and has had a year to learn the scheme and work on his game. Nebraska will need him to step up and be a difference maker on the line if they want to have a good defense in 2020. If Robinson is able to unlock his potential he will be an upgrade on the defensive line next season for the Cornhuskers. Scott Frost is entering his third season at Nebraska so he will be looking for players like Robinson to contribute quickly and get the program on track.

Northwestern

Adetomiwa Adebawore was not a big time recruit in Northwestern’s 2019 class. He is not a player with great length for a DE (6’2″ 260 lbs) but is a great athlete. He played in eight games in 2019 and recorded 1 sack and 2 hurries. Adebawore shows great closing speed and explosiveness as evidenced by his 36″ vertical leap. He is an explosive player who can use his speed to become a dangerous pass rusher. He will need to clean up his technique and learn to hold his own at the point of attack against better competition but he has the ability to be a very good pass rusher off the edge for Northwestern.

Injuries allowed Adebawore to get some starts last season and he will look to build on that in 2020. Joe Gaziano started at DE and was the leader of the defensive line as a senior but his departure leaves an opening on the defensive line. DT Alex Miller was also a senior and has moved on as well. With two major openings on the line Adebawore will likely get an opportunity to win the DE spot in 2020. The Wildcats will need his pass rushing ability to replace the disruptive play of their two senior leaders. With his quickness and burst, Adebawore could become an impact player for Northwestern in 2020.

Purdue

Kyle Bilodeau was a high three star recruit according to the 247 Sports composite and participated in the All American Bowl before enrolling at Purdue as part of Purdue’s 2019 recruiting class. Bilodeau has good size at 6’5″ 245 lbs and great athleticism for the position. At the Opening regionals he ran a 4.66 laser timed 40 with a 4.28 shuttle and 34.2″ vertical. He can be a dangerous weapon down field in the passing game with that combination of size and speed. Bilodeau has a good frame and will continue to get stronger and should be a mismatch for most defenses.

Star TE Brycen Hopkins was selected in the fourth round of the NFL draft leaving the TE position open at Purdue. Bilodeau will have to compete for the job but with his size and athleticism should find his way onto the field. Rondale Moore (#4 WR) returns from injury in 2020 and will create space for everyone else on the offense. Bilodeau is the perfect TE to take advantage of this space, he can outrun LBs and make big plays in the passing game. With David Bell on the outside, Moore in the slot and Bilodeau at TE, defenses will be forced to pick their poison against the Purdue passing game. Jeff Brohm coached teams are excellent at exploiting the mismatches their personnel creates.

Wisconsin

Leo Chenal arrived at Wisconsin as part of the 2019 recruiting class as the #2 recruit in the state of Wisconsin according to the 247 Sports composite. He earned playing time as a true freshman collecting 20 tackles and 2 TFL. Chenal (6’2″ 250 lbs) has good speed for his size and moves well in space. He has the strength and toughness Wisconsin looks for in backers and will fit right in with the Badgers defense. He has good instincts and closes on the ball well, making big plays in both the run game and the passing game. Chenal has the tools to be a great ILB in Wisconsin’s 3 – 4 defense.

Chris Orr manned the ILB spot next to Jack Sanborn in 2019 while Chenal was a reserve ILB. Orr and OLB Zach Baun are gone to the NFL leaving the Badgers with two openings at LB. Chenal is a perfect fit at the ILB spot vacated by Orr and should be an instant impact player in 2020. Chenal was forced into the Big 10 championship game due to injury and finished with 4 tackles in the game showing he wasn’t afraid of the moment. He will need to continue his progress going into 2020 to become the player he has the potential to be. Wisconsin may need to replace a lot of production at LB but Leo Chenal will be a big part of that process this season.

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Huskers @Memorial Stadium – Lincoln, Ne image taken by vwcampin is licensed under CC BY 2.0.