The best thing about August is football is just around the corner. While Big Ten players are being honored left and right for preseason watchlists, there is one other out there that’s a tad different. The Athletic‘s Bruce Feldman publishes his “College Football Freaks” list each year and has done so since 2005.
This year, his college football freaks list has 101 names, 24 of which are Big Ten players. Feldman doesn’t give criteria for a player to be included in his list and it takes in several factors. He has players from every position highlighted. He loves his freaks of nature and the Big Ten is home to plenty.
The Big Ten Has 24 “College Football Freaks”
3. Kenneth Grant, Michigan DT
To kick off the Big Ten representation, Michigan’s Kenneth Grant ranks third, and for good reason. Grant was able to chase down Penn State’s Kaytron Allen at 350 pounds. He’s now at six-foot-three and 350 pounds for the Wolverines, so hitting 18.75 MPH again this year should not be an issue.
He’s due to break out in 2024 with the departure of Kris Jenkins. Last year, as a sophomore, Grant amassed 29 tackles, five tackles for loss, over three sacks, six quarterback hurries, five pass breakups, an interception, and a fumble recovery. Grant is a first-round talent set to lead another elite Michigan defense from the interior.
7. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State WR
Feldman believes true freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith looks like an NFL receiver already. At six-foot-three and 218 pounds, Smith has been the most-hyped freshman in recent memory for Ohio State. He has benched 355 pounds and squatted 530 while having a 36-inch vertical and top-end speed of 23.39 MPH.
According to Feldman, Smith already possesses elite traits. He’s expected to start for the Buckeyes this fall in a receiver room full of four and five-star talents. Smith has great hands and is looking to be one of the college football freaks for the foreseeable future.
9. Logan Jones, Iowa C
Iowa has had several freaks in Kirk Ferentz’s time and Logan Jones is just the latest. Last year, Jones was 52nd on Feldman’s college football freaks list and has shot up his rankings thanks to a ridiculous 36.6-inch verticle (yes, higher than Ohio State’s Smith). He set the program record last year with a 695-pound squat and led the team with a 470-pound hang clean.
If he had tested for the NFL Draft this year, he would have been among the best. His best 20-yard shuttle mark is 4.09. The top time ever at the NFL Scouting Combine was 4.14. Jones has some work to do but his head coach believes he’s exceptional. His leadership will help anchor the Hawkeyes’ offensive line in what looks to be another strong group in 2024.
10. Jordan Burch, Oregon DL
Right behind Jones is Jordan Burch of Oregon. From last year to this year, Burch reportedly added 13 pounds of muscle to his six-foot-five, 295-pound frame. He can squat 685 pounds and was clocked at 20.75 MPH top speed.
Last year, Burch was fourth on the list. For the Ducks, he accounted for 34 tackles, a team-leading seven and a half tackles for loss, 27 quarterback pressures, and three sacks. Oregon is expected to compete not only for the Big Ten but for the College Football Playoff as a whole. Burch will be a massive part of that effort.
12. Abdul Carter, Penn State DE
LBU has another college football freak. Last year, Abdul Carter held down the linebacker role but will make the change to defensive end, assuring he gets to use his freakishness to get after quarterbacks. Last year, Carter was a First-Team All-Big Ten selection off a season with 48 tackles, five and a half tackles for loss, four and a half sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, five pass breakups, and five quarterback hurries.
Carter is measured at six-foot-three and 254 pounds with a 4.48 40-yard time. He’s power cleaned 350 pounds to go with a 375-pound bench press and 600-pound squat. Carter is set to take over the edge rushing duties and repeat as a First-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2024.
13. Alex Orji, Michigan QB
Michigan has a full-on battle at quarterback and ranked 13th among the college football freaks is potential starter, Alex Orji. Last year, he was 50th on the list and has since jumped after an impressive offseason. He is one of the top athletes for the Wolverines and was a change-of-pace guy last year.
Orji is a bit of a projection for the Wolverines. As that change-of-pace player, Orji ran the ball 15 times for 85 yards and a score. However, he only has one pass attempt to his name. He has elite balance and mobility for a guy his size (six-foot-three, 238 pounds). Michigan’s title defense may rest on Orji’s shoulders.
18. Zane Durant, Penn State DL
The second Nittany Lion defensive lineman on the list is Zane Durant, a junior defensive tackle. Last year, Durant tallied 17 tackles, five and a half tackles for loss, and two sacks for the Nittany Lions. He jumped up 20 spots from last year’s list and has had a strong offseason to justify it.
His 660-pound squat set a program record at the position and put on a few pounds of good weight to get up to 290 pounds. As a defensive tackle, he has 4.66 speed and is set to be one of the main contributors on the interior defensive line.
19. Sonny Styles, Ohio State LB
Last year, Sonny Styles had flashes as a safety and was 20th among last year’s college football freaks. As a sophomore, Styles started 12 games while amassing 53 tackles, four and a half tackles for loss, and two sacks. This year, with the addition of Caleb Downs, Styles moved to more of a natural linebacker position.
The six-foot-four, 240-pound “freak” has high football intelligence and has had his maturity lauded by new position coach, James Lauinaitis. He reportedly broad jumped 10-foot-11-inches and has a 39-inch verticle. Additionally, he’s quatted 600 pounds for the Buckeyes.
24. Kaden Feagin, Illinois RB
Feldman has some serious praise for Illinois’ Kaden Feagin. The first sentence compares him to Derrick Henry if that says anything. At six-foot-three and 253 pounds, he’s a tad heavier than Henry was at the NFL Scouting Combine. The 20-year-old has a 39-inch verticle and was clocked at 20.3 MPH on a touchdown run last year.
Feagin made a name for himself last year. In his first year at the college level, Feagin rushed for 438 yards and two scores off 95 carries. He added 116 yards and a touchdown off nine receptions. He was the second-leading rusher on the team.
25. Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota LT
Finally, the Golden Gophers have a star at left tackle with Aireontae Ersery. After taking a couple of years to get going when he broke through, he made it worthwhile. He enters 2024 after starting each of the last 26 games for the Golden Gophers. Ersery was an AP First-Team All-Big Ten selection a year ago and earned Second-Team honors from the conference.
The six-foot-six, 330-pound tackle was on the Outland Trophy watchlist and earned the highest run-blocking grade from PFF among all FBS tackles returning in 2024. He moves well for his size as well. His 1.52 10-second split is a Minnesota offensive line record. His big frame was clocked at 18.34 MPH.
“Freaks” Ranked 26-101
26. Donovan Jackson, Ohio State G
28. Will Johnson, Michigan CB
29. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State RB
49. Zachariah Branch, USC WR
51. Jordan Phillips, Maryland DT
57. Tommi Hill, Nebraska CB
63. Jailin Walker, Indiana LB
68. Will Pauling, Wisconsin LB
72. Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota LB
83. Vince Genatone, Nebraska LB
84. Emmanuel Pregnon, USC OL
90. Marlin Klein, Michigan TE
91. Gabriel Nwosu, Penn State K
96. Dillon Thieneman, Purdue S
