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The Big Ten has put up banner numbers in the 2023 NFL Draft. The league finished with 55 draft picks, the highest total since 1961, when the draft consisted of 20 rounds. Michigan led the way with nine players, followed by Ohio State and Penn State with six each, Maryland and Purdue with five and Iowa, Illinois and Northwestern with four.

As good as those returns are, they could serve as a curtain-raiser for 2024’s main attraction. In the year The first token draft in 2024. The athleticsDane Brugler had the Big Ten with 13 first-round picks since landing April nine.

It’s not too early to start keeping a close eye on these players. Here are the 10 most surprising potential 2024 draft picks from the Big Ten:

In the past two drafts, Ohio State has drafted three first-round wide receivers (Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jackson Smith-Njigba) — four if you count former Buckeye-Alabama transfer Jameson Williams. The scariest part? Harrison is the best of the bunch.

Harrison (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) caught 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns and averaged 16.4 yards per reception last season. In three quarters of the College Football Playoff semifinal against Georgia, Harrison was unstoppable with 106 receiving yards and two touchdowns. A concussion knocked him out of the game, and Ohio State’s double-digit lead was soon gone. He was the best player on the field that night.

Pro Football Focus ranked Harrison as a true sophomore receiver last year. He is the only unanimous first-team All-American in Ohio State history and also the Buckeyes’ only receiver – ever – with three-touchdown games. Calvin Johnson Harrison becomes the highest-ranked pass catcher since going No. 2 in 2007.

In the year In 2024, the fashion turned down a first-round payday with a 2023 top-10 windfall. If you’re talking about an increase of 15 draft spots, that’s about $8 million more on a rookie contract (plus, regardless of the fad, the NIL pulls in money) to hone his skills against the best NIL edge rushers instead of Big Ten defensive ends.

Last year, Fashion (6-6, 323) didn’t allow a sack and gave up just six hurries in 281 pass blocking snaps. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed one hit to a QB in eight games before being lost for the season due to an injury. His 84.7 pass blocking grade ranks sixth among Power 5 tackles.

With long arms, great size and good feet, Fahanu is perfectly built to play left tackle. Outside of Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, the fashion seems to be a top 2024 offensive line prospect. When it comes to blocking, the fad can stand alone.

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In the year With the nation’s top scoring defense in 2022, two aspects immediately stood out: Illinois’ impressive secondary, which produced three top-100 draft picks last month, and Newton’s dominant interior presence.

A junior, Newton (6-2, 295) earned second-team All-America honors and led the Illini defense in sacks (5 1/2), tackles for loss (14.0), quarterbacks (11) and fumble recoveries (two). According to Pro Football Focus, Newton was the top-rated Big Ten interior lineman against the run, the passer and overall. He finished with 59 tackles and 13 tackles for loss or gain.

Newton was considered a possible first-round pick when he opted to return for one more year. Next year, he will have more luck.

When it comes to pure cornerbacks, King (5-11, 190) could rise up the charts in next year’s draft in Detroit.

Through nine starts and 13 games, King led all cornerbacks in passing yards allowed per unit and single coverage, according to PFF. His 15 forced incompletions per coverage ranked third overall. King also led the Big Ten — and ranked third overall — in passing defense (21) and pass breakups (18). He had three interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. King has good closing speed, impressive ball skills and great lateral movement.

A junior, King has played the past two seasons in a stacked secondary that produced four draft picks, including three Day 2 selections. But King has a chance to go where no Penn State defensive back has gone before: the first round.

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It hasn’t had as many All-Big Ten defensive backs since 2009 as Iowa (15). Many of them turned into All-Americans and Pro Bowlers. No one is more talented than DJ.

DeJean (6-1, 210) played cornerback and Hawkeyes “cash” position (a slot corner / linebacker hybrid) last season, and finished with five interceptions – three of which ran back for touchdowns. As a punt returner, DeJen finished with a 16.5 yards-per-return average. Perhaps no other defender can match his ball skills, and DeJen’s open field is similar to that of a running back.

According to PFF, DJ was the only cornerback with an 85-plus grade in coverage and defense. His 15 run defense stops are tied for the most among all FBS corners. Maybe DeJean will play safety or nickel at the next level, but either way he could be a Week 1 starter.

Robinson didn’t start a game last year, though Lucas Van Ness proved this draft cycle that he doesn’t carry as much weight as he once did. Even as a rotating defender, Robinson still produced one of the best seasons among Big Ten edge rushers.

As a true sophomore, Robinson (6-5, 253) led all Power 5 edge defenders in overall grade (90.6) and passer-rusher (92.4), according to PFF. His 23.6 percent pass rush percentage was sixth on the same team. Before transferring to Penn State, he was a freshman All-American at Maryland in 2021.

An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection last season, Robinson finished with 5 1/2 sacks and 10 tackles for loss. He has great burst on the edge, can attack from multiple angles and finish in physical fashion.

Overshadowed at times by his higher-profile teammates, Egbuka (6-1, 205) should be a prime-time performer at the next level and could even be the NFL team’s No. 1 receiver. There was nothing second to none about Igbuka’s stats last year. With 74 catches for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns, he was off Harrison’s pace last year – Harrison was sixth nationally in receiving yards; Egbuka the ninth.

Egbuka combines premier hands and a high level route to go with power and speed. He gives off a DJ Moore vibe, which is why teams covet a spot in the first round.

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A Big Ten Silver Ball winner (presented annually by the Chicago Tribune to the conference’s top player) and a consensus first-team All-American, Corum was arguably the nation’s top running back based on production. He rushed for 1,463 yards at a 5.9 yards-per-carry average and 18 touchdowns.

A strained MCL and torn meniscus have robbed him of his final two games and could cost defending Big Ten champion Michigan a national title berth. Corum chose to return for his senior year, and should be healthy. With a low center of gravity, terrific balance and footwork combined with power and speed, Corum (5-8, 210) is built to be a multi-down NFL running back.

If you want to bet on the upside, Tuymolow is worth a bet. The nation’s top prospect in 2021, Tuimolow (6-4, 270) has flashed big at times, but he’s still waiting for a performance to last that special season. It may come this year.

Tuimolow was especially lethal against Penn State last year, for which he was named the National Defensive Player of the Week. In that game, he intercepted two passes (one of which he returned for a touchdown), picked up two sacks, recovered a forced fumble, recovered an interception and added another tackle for loss. Four turnovers led to 21 Ohio State points.

But Tuimolow was ineffective the rest of the season, posting just 22 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks. Given his power, length, speed and explosiveness, he has all the tools to be an All-American and first-rounder, though.

All the questions for his brother Tua — and most recently with Bryce Young — will return to the younger Tagovailoa next spring. His size (5-11, 200) will be a factor, but like the others, Tagovailoa has enough of a resume to warrant strong draft consideration.

In just over two seasons, Tagovailoa already holds several Maryland passing records, including career yards (7,879), single-season yards (3,860 in 2021), career completion percentage (currently 67.4) and career touchdowns (51). He had help from some talented quarterbacks like Jacob Copeland and Rakeem Jarrett, but both players were inactive in April.

Tagovailoa projects more like a mid-round pick and his strengths and weaknesses are mostly physical. With big shows related to major competitions, he can raise the stakes quickly.

Other must-sees (listed in alphabetical order) Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin; Eric All, TE, Iowa; Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State; Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan; Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Ohio State; Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State; Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa; JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan; Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota; Brewin Span-ford, TE, Minnesota; Zak Zinter, G, Michigan

(Photo of Marvin Harrison Jr.: Ben Jackson/Getty Images)

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