Ohio State dominates All-Big Ten Teams with 16 controversial selections

The Ohio State Buckeyes are licking their wounds after losing to Michigan again, but the days after The Game have been good to the program. Between the positive anticipation for National Signing Day, Jeremiah Smith making Buckeye history, and a spot in the College Football Playoff, the Buckeyes seem fine. On Tuesday, the Big Ten […]

Ian Valentino — National College Football Writer
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The Ohio State Buckeyes are licking their wounds after losing to Michigan again, but the days after The Game have been good to the program. Between the positive anticipation for National Signing Day, Jeremiah Smith making Buckeye history, and a spot in the College Football Playoff, the Buckeyes seem fine.

On Tuesday, the Big Ten announced its three All-Big Ten selections. The Buckeyes lead the way with 16 members across both the media and coaches teams. However, as most would expect, there was a blowback with some of the picks.

With 92 spots filled, the Buckeyes represented 17 percent of all players. Here's the Buckeyes who made each All-Big Ten Team.

Buckeyes on First Team All-Big Ten Team

  • WR Jeremiah Smith
  • OC Seth McLaughlin*
  • OG Donovan Jackson
  • DL JT Tuimoloau*
  • LB Cody Simon*
  • DB Caleb Downs
  • DB Lathan Ransom*

It's easy to see the names who absolutely fit on the First Team All-Big Ten squad. Safety Caleb Downs and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith were no-brainers as elite nationwide talents. They'll continue to rack up awards throughout their careers at Ohio State and in the NFL.

Seth McLaughlin was a solid choice as well. He slightly trailed Logan Jones and Gus Hartwig in PFF grade, but also had the best pass-blocking stats of everyone but Oregon's Iapani Laloulu. It's understandable why he wasn't a unanimous selection in a good crop of centers.

Lathan Ransom was another worthy addition. He was phenomenal throughout the year. Like at center, there was a lot of competition, with Minnesota's Koi Perich and USC's Kamari Ramsey standing out the most to me as best options.

The misses here, I think, are adding Cody Simon, JT Tuimoloau, and Donovan Jackson. Simon was a top run-stuffer in the conference but had a higher missed tackle rate than several of his key peers, and he had little impact in coverage. 

Tuimoloau is a borderline shocking addition, given his lack of production and flash moments. He's tied for 12th in quarterback pressures in the Big Ten, and it seems as though voters heavily weighed his raw sack total over consistent statistical measures.

Jackson was a fine choice. He was a good guard in a conference filled with big-time talents, and it's admirable he slid over to left tackle. He should've been a third-team selection, in my opinion.

Buckeyes on Second Team All-Big Ten Team

  • OC Seth McLaughlin*
  • DL JT Tuimoloau*
  • DL Jack Sawyer*
  • LB Sonny Styles*
  • DB Lathan Ransom*

Jack Sawyer and Sonny Styles are the new names on this team. While I think it makes more sense that Tuimoloau landed here, it's still rich that he and Styles are above some peers. At least with Sawyer, he had the pass-rush productivity and run-blocking consistency to be a fairly easy pick.

Tuimoloau's sacks are more justified to be on the level of Gabe Jacas and Josaiah Stewart, even if he didn't have the breakout moments those two shared. 

Styles is the most interesting addition. While he can do a little bit of everything and played a whopping 633 snaps, he was not a standout performer. He ranked 13th in quarterback pressures, 30th in run defense, and 20th in coverage. 

I like Styles' potential and gifts, but this was a reach.

Buckeyes on Third Team All-Big Ten Team

  • QB Will Howard
  • RB TreVeyon Henderson*
  • RB Quinshon Judkins*
  • WR Emeka Egbuka
  • OT Josh Simmons*
  • DL Tyleik Williams*
  • DL Jack Sawyer*
  • LB Cody Simon*
  • DB Denzel Burke*

I don't think there's much debate about how much of this Third Team belongs. Will Howard, TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, Emeka Egbuka, Josh Simmons, and Tyleik Williams are studs who played well throughout the season. Simon and Sawyer are absolute fits here, if not on the second team. No complaints there.

However, the addition of Denzel Burke is shocking to me. He was not only exposed on the season's biggest stage against Oregon but posted some of the worst coverage numbers of any player in the country. With only two interceptions and two pass breakups, he allowed far more harm than any good produced. 

This was a massive miss by voters. He gave up a 106.6 passer rating with 30 of 36 targets completed. 

Buckeyes named to Honorable Mention

  • DL Ty Hamilton
  • DB Jordan Hancock
  • DB Davison Igbinosun
  • OT Josh Fryar
  • OG Tegra Tshabola
  • LS John Ferlmann

* coaches or media selected denotes player, but not both.

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