They may not be household names yet, but they will be soon. Whether it's filling in a loss to graduation or the NFL or simply just ready to grab the spotlight, these Big Ten players are eager to make you sit up and take notice.
Here are players expected to have a breakout season as picked by writers who cover the league forUSA TODAY SportsNetwork.
ILLINOIS: Luke Altmyer, quarterback
The junior quarterback will look to take the next step after starting nine games under center last season. He threw for 1,883 yards with 13 TDs, while picking up 282 on the ground. Fully expect his poise to show through in 2024 after guiding Illinois on a pair of game-winning drives last season against Toledo and Maryland. — Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star
INDIANA: Donaven McCulley, wide receiver
Donaven McCulley finished last season on a five-game run that, projected over 12 games, would’ve made him a top-three receiver statistically in the Big Ten. Despite interest from schools like Michigan, Penn State and Florida State, McCulley came back out of the transfer portal and returned to Indiana. Curt Cignetti hasn’t been shy in pushing McCulley publicly since then, a suggestion Indiana’s first-year coach believes McCulley has the potential to carry last season’s finish through the balance of 2024, and become one of the best pass catchers in the league. — Zach Osterman, IndyStar
IOWA: Xavier Nwankpa, safety
Heading into his third season with the program, several factors point to a Nwankpa breakout brewing. Having gained meaningful experience last season, Nwankpa continues to learn from defensive coordinator Phil Parker, the 2023 Broyles Award winner. Being a former highly-touted recruit in high school, talent isn’t much of a question for Nwankpa, either.
Nwankpa has a dynamic, game-changing ability at safety and could be primed to force even more turnovers than last season. — Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register
MARYLAND: Kaden Prather, wide receiver
Wide receiver Kaden Prather, a transfer from West Virginia a year ago, is generating some 2025 NFL draft buzz after finishing with 42 receptions for 666 yards and five touchdowns in 2023. The 6-3, 210-pound target has enviable size and should pair with leading returning receiver Tai Felton to give Maryland one of the best pass catching duos in the Big Ten this season.— Mark Giannotto, USA TODAY Network
MICHIGAN: Semaj Morgan, wide receiver
Those who follow the Wolverines are certainly familiar with his game. He made an impact as a freshman last year when he caught 22 passes for 204 yards and a pair of touchdowns, ran four times for 67 yards and a score and also set a Big Ten Championship game record with an 87-yard punt return, but it feels like this is the year the entire Big Ten finds out about U-M's playmaker.
The West Bloomfield product averaged 10.42 yards per touch on offense last year, when he was getting his feet wet and had to work his way up the depth chart on a championship-level team. No longer behind a pair of NFL draft picks in Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson, Morgan figures to be the top candidate to start in the slot and should be one of the top three to five players in touches on U-M's offense on a weekly basis. — Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press
Colston Loveland, tight end
The talented tight end was a solid contributor his first two seasons. But as the lone returning offensive starter, he has the potential to be a top playmaker for the Wolverines. — Rainer Sabin, Detroit Free Press
MICHIGAN STATE: Nate Carter, running back
Carter could be a linchpin in MSU’s new offensive scheme, showing flashes of his potential impact in the spring game as both a ball carrier and receiver. If the offensive line creates space, he could do some damage á la Kenneth Walker in 2021. — Rainer Sabin, Detroit Free Press
MINNESOTA: Darius Taylor, running back
Darius Taylor is already a known commodity, having earned honorable mention all-Big Ten accolades last season, but heading into 2024, he has the potential to morph into more of a national star. Despite an injury limiting him to just six games as a freshman in 2023, Taylor racked up 799 rushing yards and five touchdowns while averaging 5.8 yards per carry. That run was capped off by a 208-yard outing in a win against Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl. Coach P.J. Fleck’s best teams have leaned heavily on bell-cow running backs, and Taylor could very easily occupy that niche. — Craig Meyer, USA TODAY Network
NEBRASKA: Dylan Raiola, quarterback
There’s a reason Dylan Raiola was a five-star recruit and the No. 3 QB of the 2024 recruiting class, per 247Sports’ Composite rankings. His flip from Georgia was a significant win for Matt Rhule, and he can push for a starting job immediately. Raiola helped Buford (Ga.) High School go 11-2 in his senior season, throwing 2,666 yards with 34 touchdowns and one interception. — Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY Network
NORTHWESTERN: A.J. Henning, wide receiver
With Cam Johnson in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys, senior wide receiver A.J. Henning should see an increase in his role and stats. The 5-10 wide receiver from Frankford, Ill., finished third among Northwestern’s wide receivers last season in receiving yards (418) and receiving touchdowns (four).— John Leuzzi, USA TODAY Network
OHIO STATE: Jeremiah Smith, wide receiver
For as much talent as Ohio State has boasted at wide receiver in recent seasons, none of the pass catchers started as true freshmen. That could change with Smith, who was the top overall prospect in the last recruiting cycle and flashed immediately in spring practices in March and April. — Joey Kaufman, Columbus Dispatch
Jeremiah Smith, wide receiver
The top-rated recruit nationally in the 2024 recruiting class only added to his aura in the spring when he dazzled. There is little question that he’s the next great Ohio State receiver in a unit that has produced a ridiculous number of stars lately. But Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave had to wait to play as freshman. It’s doubtful that Smith will spend much time on the sidelines. — Bill Rabinowitz, Columbus Dispatch
OREGON: Iapani Laloulu, center
Though he isn’t filling in at the flashiest position, Oregon is replacing a Rimington Award winner with another stud. With Jackson Powers-Johnson off to the NFL, sophom*ore Iapani Laloulu will step in and start for the Ducks after filling in at center and guard a year ago. It won’t be long until Laloulu begins hearing NFL draft hype himself as he steps into big shoes left behind by Powers-Johnson. — Alec Dietz, The Register-Guard (Eugene)
PENN STATE: Dani Dennis-Sutton, defensive end
Finally, a time to shine with every-down work for the potential game-wrecking edge rusher. There’s reason to believe Dennis-Sutton can be even more productive than those he learned under the past two years — first-round NFL draft pick Chop Robinson and third-rounder Adisa Isaac. — Frank Bodani, York (Pa.) Daily Record
PURDUE: Will Heldt, linebacker
There’s a lot of choices here. Sophom*ore tight end George Burhenn showed his stuff in last season’s finale against Indiana. But Will Heldt is the pick here. Given that Nic Scourton found greener pastures going home to Texas A&M, Heldt can become that game wrecker on defense. At 6-6 and 250 pounds, the sophom*ore linebacker looks the part. He stood out in Purdue’s spring game, including a pick-six. He has size and speed. With the way coach Ryan Walters and defensive coordinator Kevin Kane operated last season, it’s fair to say Heldt will have many chances to put up big numbers. — Sam King, Lafayette (Ind.) Journal & Courier
Kydran Jenkins, linebacker
The Big Ten already knows about Kydran Jenkins. Yet after posting 7.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss last season, the former outside linebacker and rush end shifted to middle linebacker. That move creates questions in the pass rush, which also lost Nic Scourton to transfer. It also might put the defense’s most dynamic player in position to affect games in more ways. — Nathan Baird, IndyStar
RUTGERS: Benjamin Black, wide receiver
Keep an eye on true freshman wide receiver Benjamin Black, who made a big impression in the spring. He has all the tools to become a crucial piece of the offense. — Chris Iseman, The Bergen Record/NorthJersey.com
UCLA: T.J. Harden, running back
T.J. Harden is already coming off an excellent 2023 season, one in which he had 827 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 5.3 yards per carry. But he did so while splitting carries with backfield mate Carson Steele. With Steele now in the NFL, Harden’s workload and role in the offense should increase and allow him to put up even bigger numbers, particularly in new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s scheme. — Craig Meyer, USA TODAY Network
USC: Zachariah Branch, wide receiver/kick returner
Zachariah Branch, a first-team All-America selection as a returner last season, was perhaps the most electric special teams player in college football as a freshman in 2023. Now, the former five-star prospect gets a chance to be the Trojans' top target in a Lincoln Riley-led offense. Branch should have every chance to be a game-changing receiver. — Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Network
WASHINGTON: Denzel Boston, wide receiver
Redshirt sophom*ore receiver Denzel Boston waited his turn behind NFL draft picks Rome Odunze, Ja'Lynn Polk and Jalen McMillan. Now, he expects to be Washington's top pass catcher, especially after grabbing seven receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown in the Huskies' spring game. Boston only has seven career receptions but could be Washington's go-to guy in 2024. — Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Network
WISCONSIN: Trech Kekahuna, wide receiver
Kekahuna played in only five games as a freshman last season but showed his potential in the ReliaQuest Bowl with four catches for 64 yards. He should be UW’s No. 2 slot receiver behind Will Pauling (74 catches, 837 yards), but look for Kekahuna to get plenty of chances in his second season. — Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
