And then there were two.
As a reminder, these rankings are based solely off performances from the 2013 season. So this next player probably won't come as much of a surprise.
No. 2: Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
Previous ranking: No. 10
Making the case for Dennard: Consider this Exhibit A -- his highlight tape from the past season. Watch, then come back. We could close the case right there … but we'll expound for the visually impaired.
No defensive back in the country played better than Dennard, and none was more decorated. He earned the Jim Thorpe Award, became the Spartans' first cornerback to be a unanimous All-American and was this blog's Big Ten defensive MVP. He was even a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy, which goes to the nation's top defensive player.
He anchored the "No-Fly Zone" secondary that allowed just 165.6 passing yards a game, the third-lowest rate in the country. And, put simply, he was virtually unstoppable at cornerback. He showed awareness that allowed him to make a team-high 10 pass breakups, he showed toughness that allowed him to pry the ball from an OSU wideout for a pick, and he showed leadership that pushed the Spartans toward a Rose Bowl.
Dennard didn't boast the best numbers -- four interceptions, 62 tackles, two forced fumbles -- but the mark of a good defensive back isn't how many picks appear next to his name. It's what happens when quarterbacks throw his way. And quarterbacks knew better than to throw in Dennard's direction.
"Because I'm the safety to his side, I don't even get balls thrown my way because of that," Michigan State safety Isaiah Lewis said before the Rose Bowl. "They don't want to throw in that area at all."
Dennard wasn't just one of the best players in the Big Ten. He was one of the best players in the nation. And his ranking here is well-deserved.
No. 25: Illinois QB Nathan Scheelhaase
No. 24: Indiana WR Cody Latimer
No. 23: Michigan State RB Jeremy Langford
No. 22: Iowa LT Brandon Scherff
No. 21: Michigan WR Jeremy Gallon
No. 20: Michigan State QB Connor Cook
No. 19: Wisconsin WR Jared Abbrederis
No. 18: Minnesota DT Ra'Shede Hageman
No. 17: Michigan State LB Denicos Allen
No. 16: Ohio State CB Bradley Roby
No. 15: Iowa LB James Morris
No. 14: Michigan State LB Max Bullough
No. 13: Ohio State OT Jack Mewhort
No. 12: Wisconsin RB James White
No. 11: Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon
No. 10: Nebraska DE Randy Gregory
No. 9: Michigan OT Taylor Lewan
No. 8: Michigan State DE Shilique Calhoun
No. 7: Penn State WR Allen Robinson
No. 6: Wisconsin LB Chris Borland
No. 5: Ohio State LB Ryan Shazier
No. 4: Nebraska RB Ameer Abdullah
No. 3: Ohio State RB Carlos Hyde
