2025 Big Ten Preseason Top 25 Players: Future NFL Stars Highlight a Loaded Conference

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Jul 18, 2025 4:21 AM ET

The top 25 Big Ten players going into the 2025 season will all soon be part of every list of best prospects in upcoming NFL drafts.

You could triple this list without having to try, but the guys in this bunch all belong among any All-America or top positions lists.

The conference is so big and so good that it lost a ton of players to the next level and graduation, and it didn’t matter. It had a slew of great underclassmen in place, and the top teams went out and grabbed anyone they wanted through the transfer portal.

There aren’t a ton of quarterbacks, but that’s only because the next level talent at the other positions is just that strong. Going into the season, the 25 best Big Ten players are …

2025 CFN College Football Preview: Best Big Ten Players

2025 CFN Preseason Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year

Jeremiah Smith, WR Soph. Ohio State
He’s the best wide receiver in college football, it’s criminal that he’s not allowed to be in the NFL already, and once again, he’ll be a dominant force.

All he did in his true freshman season was catch 76 passes for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns - with a rushing score - as he turned into the signature star of the Ohio State national title run.

- Every Big Ten Team Preview
- 2025 CFN All-Big Ten Team

2025 CFN Preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year

Caleb Downs, S Jr. Ohio State
He’s the best player in college football, it’s criminal that he’s not allowed to be in the NFL already, and once again, he’ll be a dominant force.

All he did in his first two seasons - his first year was at Alabama - was make 189 tackles with off-the-charts instincts and smarts.

2025 CFN Preseason Big Ten Top 25 Players

1. Caleb Downs, S Jr. Ohio State
2. Jeremiah Smith, WR Soph. Ohio State
3. Nicholas Singleton, RB Sr. Penn State
4. Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE Jr. Oregon
5. Nico Iamaleava, QB Soph. UCLA
6. Drew Allar, QB Sr. Penn State
7. Mikail Kamara, EDGE Sr. Indiana
8. Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE Sr. Penn State
9. Dillon Thieneman, S Jr. Oregon
10. Elijah Sarratt, WR Sr. Indiana

11. Isaiah World, OT Sr. Oregon
12. Gabe Jacas, LB Sr. Illinois
13. Bryce Boettchler, LB Sr. Oregon
14. Sonny Styles, LB Sr. Ohio State
15. Makhi Hughes, RB Jr. Oregon
16. Xavier Scott, S Sr. Illinois
17. Aiden Fisher, LB Sr. Indiana
18. Derrick Moore, LB Sr. Michigan
19. Gennings Dunker, OT Sr. Iowa

20. Koi Perich, S Soph. Minnesota
21. Olaivavega Ioane, OG Jr. Penn State
22. Tacario Davis, CB Sr. Washington
23. Carnell Tate, WR Jr. Ohio State
24. AJ Harris, CB Jr. Penn State
25. Max Klare, TE Jr. Ohio State

- Every Big Ten Team Preview

This article first appeared on College Football News and was syndicated with permission.

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