2012 BIG-TEN'S TOP FIVE RB's

With roughly three months until fall practice and four until the season opener, I wanted to start rating top players at each position. I researched last years stats, returning OL, and a few other resources that will be of importance to the success of these five RB's. Here is what I have came up with. 5. Lev'eon Bell 6'2" 237 LBS, JR Michigan State

Columbus, Ohio's own Lev'eon Bell just keeps getting bigger and better every year. Rumored to be upwards of 240 LBS, Bell combines power, strength and at times, finesse to his arsenal of skills. Bell seemed to take over the starting spot last season and is one of the reasons why Edwin Baker took off to the NFL. This year he will be the "man" and shouldn't have to split as many carries with Larry Caper as he did Baker. Bell rushed for 948 yds on 182 carries last season, averaging a 5.2 yds a carry. That comes out to just over 15 carries a game and roughly 67 yds a game with 13 TD's.. With four returning starters back on the OL, a new QB and depth issues at WR, look for Bell to pick up his carries this season. He shouldn't have a problem breaking 1,000 yds, Bell can catch the ball out of the backfield as well. 4. Silas Redd 5'10" 209 LBS, JR Penn State

Redd was quietly the third leading rusher in the conference last year. Another Jr. RB who had an impressive sophomore season. He has the numbers to prove it, 244 carries 1,241 yds, 5.1 avg and 7 TD's. Some may have Redd rated a little higher than me going into the up coming season but let me tell you why I have him at four. Penn State lost four OL, and everyone knows if there are OL issues there is probably low RB production, especially in the Big-Ten. He averaged 20 carries a game last year and should stay around the same this upcoming season. 3. Fitz Toussaint 5'10" 200 LBS, JR Michigan

When it comes to quickness, vision, and agility, Toussaint is the best the conference has to offer. Taking over the top RB spot about 1/4 way through the season, Toussaint didn't dissapoint. Averaging 5.6 yds a carry on 187 attempts, the JR. from Northern Ohio tallied up 1,041 yds. He averaged just a little over 15 carries a game last season, look for him to add more carries and yards. Michigan returns three OL one of them is the Big-Ten's best in LT Taylor Lewan. This may may be the year a RB rushes for more yards than QB Denard Robinson. 2. Rex Burkhead 5'11" 210 LBS, SR Nebraska

Burkhead is your prototypical blue collar RB, some may call him a throwback, whatever that means. Burkhead carried 283 times last season, a little over 23 a game. He only averaged 4.8 a carry, Burkhead isn't a great athlete possessing speed and quickness but a bruiser that wears defenses down. He started to wear down at the end of the year and that causes Nebraska problems because the offense runs through him. He 1,357 yds and 15 TD's last year and he probably won't match those numbers again. Never the less, He is their work horse and still will run for well over 1,000 yds and 10 td's. 1. Montee Ball 5'11" 210 LBS, SR Wisconsin

This is a no brainer, right? I mean he carried the ball over 300 times last season and averaged 6.3 a carry. Does Ball only weigh 210 LBS? He run as if he is 250 LBS, scoring 33 rushing TD's and 1,923 YDS, Ball is a one man wrecking crew. Wisconsin is losing the right side of the line including the center but OL in Wisconsin are all big and just waiting their turn. Ball won't match those ridiculous numbers but he will easily hit 1,500 -1,600 yds and 20-25 TD's.