C.J. Sadler commits to UNC football over Michigan, Colorado, Maryland
Detroit Cass Tech WR/DB Corey Sadler Jr. commits to UNC over Michigan, Colorado, Maryland on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at the Detroit Riverside Marina.
At least Michigan football got one name on ESPN’s list of top 100 college football players.
The Big Ten was well-represented on ESPN’s annual list, taking up 26 total spots, featuring players from 10 of the conference’s 18 teams. Michigan, the 2023 College Football Playoff champions and coming off an 8-5 finish in 2024., feature just one player, however, at No. 81: defensive end Derrick Moore.
Moore, a senior, is the only returning starter on the Wolverines‘ defensive line, which lost Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant and Josaiah Stewart to the NFL. Moore also could have left for the 2025 NFL Draft like several of his teammates, but chose to stay for his senior season, instead, after recording four sacks and 23 tackles over 12 games in 2024.
It’s a big placement for Moore, who might end up a highly desirable draft prospect once he completes this season. But compared to some of its biggest rivals, Michigan falls well short of boasting the nation’s top talent.
The two Big Ten teams with the best representation on ESPN’s list are Ohio State and Penn State. The Buckeyes have the No. 1 and No. 3 players – wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs, respectively – among their five ranked players. Penn State, meanwhile, leads all Big Ten teams with a whopping seven players in the top 100, with running back Nicholas Singleton the highest-ranked Nittany Lion at No. 15.
And they aren’t the only Big Ten teams with multiple players on the list.
Indiana (four), Oregon (three) and Illinois (two) all have multiple players on the list, with all teams ranked in the top 25 in the preseason coaches poll. The only Big Ten team ranked in the preseason top 25 with fewer than two top 100 players is, in fact, Michigan, currently ranked at No. 14 (ahead of Indiana at No. 19).
Four other Big Ten schools – Iowa, Minnesota, Rutgers and Washington – have a player on the list. The highest-ranked team not to feature a player in the top 100 is USC, which received 116 votes in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll.
Michigan State was one of eight Big Ten teams not to feature a top 100 player.
Big Ten players ranked on ESPN’s top 100 players list
1. WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State.
3. S Caleb Downs, Ohio State.
15. RB Nicholas Singleton, Penn State.
17. QB Drew Allar, Penn State.
20. De Modo Fine, Oregon.
22. Olb Gabe Jacas, Illinois.
26. They Dani Dennis-Utton, Penn State.
30. RB Makhi Hughes, Oregon.
34. RB Kaytron Allen, Penn State.
35. DEAD Mikail Kamara, India.
42. DB Koi Perch, Minnesota.
44. S Dillon Theineman, Oregon.
62. LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State.
67. WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State.
72. DT Zane Durant, Penn State.
73. S Xavier Scott, Illinois.
74. Olavian Olavian Ioane, Head of State.
75. TE Max Klare, Ohio State.
77. LB Aiden Fisher, Indiana.
78. Wr elijah sarratt, indian.
81. DE Derrick Moore, Michigan.
82. CB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana.
83. RB Jonah Coleman, Washington.
84. DE Eric O’Neill, Rutgers.
85. S Zakee Wheatley, Penn State.
98. C Logan Jones, Iowa.
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com
