2021 NFL Draft Spotlight: Big Ten prospects (finally) on display this weekend

Big Ten football finally gets underway this weekend and with that several will be early picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, especially if you’re from Ohio State.

The Big Ten is back. That means more first-round prospects on the field with the return of Big Ten football. This season all eyes are on Columbus and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State has more potential first-round draft picks than any other team in the conference.

Can Justin Fields move past Trevor Lawrence as the overall No. 1 pick and Heisman Trophy winner with a considerably smaller sample size? The short answer is no, but Fields is undoubtedly a franchise quarterback. Fields is not the only potential top-10 draft pick playing for head coach Ryan Day.

Shaun Wade has the potential to become the next great cornerback from Ohio State. If Wade can prove his dominance on the perimeter, Wade is likely a top-ten draft pick in 2021.

The Buckeyes are not the only team with top NFL talent. Penn State has arguably the best tight end in the country in Pat Freiermuth. The Penn State junior looks to join the conversation with Kyle Pitts and Brevin Jordan as the top tight end in the 2021 NFL draft. Rashod Bateman will be in the conversation as the best wide receiver in the Big Ten this season.

Here’s an in-depth look at the Big Ten’s NFL prospects playing this weekend.

Shaun Wade, Ohio State, (1st Round) DB

In the tradition of Antoine Winfield, Sr., Shawn Springs and last season’s first-round draft pick Jeff Okudah, Shaun Wade is the next great cornerback in Ohio State lore. Wade played in the slot most of last season with Damon Arnette and Jeff Okudah starting on the outside. It’s Wade’s turn to play the outside this season.

Wade has all of the measurables to be a great corner. At 6-foot-1 and 194 pounds, the Jacksonville, Florida native is big enough to be physical with large receivers with the foot speed to cover smaller, faster wideouts. The Big Ten’s decision to play this season allows Wade to prove he can cover the outside.

Justin Fields, Ohio State, (1st Round) QB

In a “normal” year, 3273 yards, 41 touchdowns, and three interceptions along with 484 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns would get you a Heisman Trophy. Those numbers would also make you the favorite to be the No.1 pick in the NFL Draft. Unfortunately for Fields, Joe Burrow had the greatest single-season in the history of college football and Fields is playing this season with Trevor Lawrence still at Clemson.

Although Fields might never win a Heisman or be the No.1 overall pick in the draft, some franchise will get a quarterback to build a franchise around. Fields has all the tools teams want in the modern NFL quarterback. Fields is both dangerous from the pocket and on the run. The former Georiga transfer can tuck and run when the need arises. One underrated part of Fields’ game is the deep ball. Fields throws one of the best deep balls in the country. Fields has shown an ability to find the open receiver without locking in on one receiver as well.

Pat Freiermuth, Penn State, (1-2 Round) TE

The Big Ten’s decision to resume play helps Penn State junior tight end Freiermuth as much as any NFL prospect from the conference.

Freiermuth is locked in a three-way battle with Florida’s Pitts and Miami’s Jordan to decide which tight end will be taken first. What’s difficult is their skill sets are similar.

None of the three will be confused for a blocker/traditional in-line tight end, though Freiermuth is the more willing blocker. Freiermuth has great hands and does not drop many balls.

Pitts and Jordan might have more athletic upside, but Freiermuth is a polished route runner who knows how to get open and provide his quarterback a safety ack.

Rashod Bateman, Minnesota (2-3 Round) WR

The buzz around the NFL combine last season was that Bateman, not Tyler Johnson, was the more difficult of the two Minnesota wide receivers to cover. This season, Bateman has the stage all to himself. Johnson was Tanner Morgan’s number one target last season; it is Bateman’s turn. Bateman’s challenge is to be WR1 without another experienced wide receiver.

Bateman has all of the tools a number one target for any offense. Bateman has the size (6-foot-1/210 pounds) NFL scouts love. Though not a speedster, Bateman is not a plodder. The junior wide receiver has great feet and hands. Bateman is a polished route runner under the tutelage of wide receiver’s coach Matt Simon, one of the better wide receiver coaches in the country.

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