Sports Illustrated Publishers' Preseason All-Big Ten Team

Several Michigan defenders made the Big Ten all-conference first team.

When you go through the Big Ten team by team, you'll come across a lot of very good football players on both sides of the ball. That became very obvious when the nine Sports Illustrated publishers around the Big Ten voted on an all-conference team.

No Michigan players made the first team on offense, but the Wolverines were well represented on defense with five players making the squad. Defensive ends Kwity Paye and Aidan Hutchinson, linebacker Cameron McGrone, cornerback Ambry Thomas and safety Daxton Hill all made the first team per the nine writers.

The nine voters named eight players as unanimous choices. They were Justin Fields, Alaric Jackson, Wyatt Davis, Pat Freiermuth, Micah Parsons, Paddy Fisher, Shawn Wade, Keith Duncan and Blake Hayes.

Ohio State was predicted to win the Big Ten East and overall title, and that was unanimous as well. Wisconsin was picked the win the Big Ten West, and received six votes. Minnesota got the other three votes

Here is a complete list of the first-teamers:

All-Big Ten Preseason Team

OFFENSE

• Quarterback: Justin Fields, Ohio State
• Running Back: Journey Brown, Penn State
• Running Back: Elijah Collins, Michigan State
• Wide Receiver: Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
• Wide Receiver: Rondale Moore, Purdue
• Tight end: Pat Freiermuth, Penn State
• Tackles: Cole Van Lanen, Wisconsin
• Tackle: Alaric Jackson, Iowa
• Guard: Wyatt Davis, Ohio State
• Guard: Blaise Andries, Minnesota
• Center: Josh Myers, Ohio State

DEFENSE

• Defensive line: George Karlaftis, Purdue
• Defensive line: Kwity Paye, Michigan
• Defensive line: Shaka Toney, Penn State
• Defensive line: Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
• Linebacker: Micah Parsons, Penn State
• Linebacker: Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
• Linebacker: Jack Sanborn, Wisconsin
• Linebacker: Cameron McGrone, Michigan
• Cornerback: Shawn Wade, Ohio State
• Cornerback: Ambry Thomas, Michigan
• Safety: Eric Burrell, Wisconsin
• Safety: Daxton Hill, Michigan

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Kicker: Keith Duncan, Iowa
• Punter: Blake Hayes, Illinois
• Kick returner: Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa
• Punt returner: Rondale Moore, Purdue

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

• Offense: Justin Fields, Ohio State
• Defense: Micah Parsons, Penn State

COACH OF THE YEAR

• Ryan Day, Ohio State

WINNERS

• Big Ten West Winner: Wisconsin
• Big Ten East Winner: Ohio State
• Big Ten Conference Champion: Ohio State